New Year Starts with a New Sunday Series

Beginning this Sunday I'll be teaching a series that I hope uses the newness of the year to refresh us on what we are supposed to be doing as a church in 2011. The series is about "vision", and in it I'll be sharing God's vision for NHC.

The great chapters of biblical history began with a leader or prophet proclaiming God's vision for His people and the world.

• God told Abraham he would be the father of a great nation.
• Moses was told that he would lead God's people out of slavery and back to their home.
• David longed for Jerusalem to house the Tabernacle and later the Temple.
• John the Baptist cried out to "prepare the way of the Lord" before Jesus began His ministry.
• Jesus said, "I will build my church".
• Paul's passion was to take the Gospel to Spain.
  

Recently, through our Connection Groups I asked for your questions about why we do things like we do to reach people to discover life in Christ. Many of the questions showed me that our vision has leaked! By that I mean that we have had the same priorities and have been headed the same direction since 1996 (when we wrote down our Vision Statement), but many of us have forgotten why. And it's my duty, as lead and primary teaching pastor to keep the vision before us clearly and often.

God told the prophet Habakkuk to "Write down the vision and make it plain" to the nation. If we don't understand "why" then we can't know "how". Vision explains the "why".

So do everything you can to be at NHC the next six Sundays.

Rick

If you missed Sunday...

...and you want to make one last offering for the year, the office at church will be open Tuesday through Thursday this week. If you want to mail it in, as long as it's postmarked by Dec. 31 it the IRS will accept it as a 2010 gift.

This year was one of major financial recovery as God blessed us, allowing the church to climb out of a deep "red" hole caused by the recession. Thanks to Him and all of His who were both obedient and generous in their giving.

There are also some who, because of decreased income were not able to give as much. Remember that not only does God promise to meet our needs, but instructs us to give "as we are able". No gift given cheerfully is too small!

And please remember to pick up your 2011 box of offering envelopes this Sunday! They're located on the window ledge in the lobby. You can return unused envelopes and we'll "recycle" them by putting them in the chair back pockets. Just mark through your number in the top right corner with a marker. Drop them off at the Welcome Center.

Thanks! God bless and have a marvelous New Year.

Sunday Feedback December 26

It was a Plan B day!

Thanks to everyone who pitched in to bring it all together.

Philippians 3:8-14.

If you missed it, we missed you!

Next Sunday begins an important new series to start off the new year. Check out Habakkuk 3:1.

No youth pizza tonight! Stay home and be safe.

Nathan has been admitted to the hospital with gall stones. Surgery coming.

YES! Church today at 11:00

Since we're predicted to have rain throughout the morning with temps well above freezing we are having church as planned, with one gathering only at 11:00.

Adam and Melissa Hoffman will be sharing with us about their mission and some powerful lessons God has taught them as they've followed the Shepherd through valleys this year.

Christmas Week @ NHC

Sunday, December 19
Worship Gatherings at 9 and 11. The Advent Conspiracy series wraps up.
Contagious Youth Bowl and Bell. 5PM at Nags Head Bowling. Then to Taco Bell. Contact Andy for more info. 441-7548

Christmas Eve Communion - an excellent opportunity to invite friends, family and neighbors.
5:00PM (childcare provided)
6:30PM (no childcare)

Sunday, December 26
Worship at 11AM only!
Global Team members Adam and Melissa Hoffman with the U.S. Center for World Mission will be on hand to update us on their ministry and lives. This year the Hoffmans have endured much in their personal lives that you'll want to hear, and it's their first visit with us in a couple years.


The church office will be closed week days through Monday, Dec. 27.
Closed Friday, Dec. 31 for New Years holiday.

Sunday Feedback December 18

What was it about Christ that compelled the Magi to travel and seek Him, then as pagans worship Him? Ever take that for granted?

A week of serving the homeless wrapped up with breakfast.

Be sure to invite others to attend our Christmas Eve gatherings at 5 and 6:30.

Tammy and the Building of an Orphanage in Nepal

NHC partner Tammy Stump has been in Nepal for months building an orphanage. Here are pictures of their progress.

Crime on the rise - be aware

The repressed economy has caused an increase of crime here in Dare Co.
Here's a report of a foiled burglary in Southern Shores this week.

Be safe. Lock up your homes and cars. Break ins are on the rise and with Christmas coming and so much "under the tree" they'll continue.

Be wise as a serpent. And look out for your neighbors, too.

Your "Room @ the Inn" story

This week we're hosting local homeless folks at NHC, providing them a warm, safe place to sleep and 3 meals a day. We're helping "the least of these" in a sense.

If you're involved, whether providing a meal or spending a night, you'll likely have a story to tell about how God used this experience to grow and shape you into being more like Christ.

So, please, take a few moments and share that story with the rest of us by clicking "Comment".

God is at work!

Sunday Feedback December 12

When Kingdoms Clash. How do you face Herod's kingdom in your own life experiences?

Who noticed our house lights were on today? They were repaired Thursday. We're experimenting with different patterns.

Don't forget to pick up your Christmas hams!!

Baptism! Ty Lawrenson and Jay and Marleet Blackwell. (First time I've seen a kiss as part of a baptism!)

We welcomed 6 new partners today: Jack and Susan (who didn't stand up) Eaton; Debbie Thorne; Jay and Marleet Blackwell; Bruce Herrington. Get to know them!

Room at the Inn started Sunday night with 5 men and one woman getting a great supper, a hot shower and a warm place to sleep. Thanks for everyone who is giving this week.

Shout for Joy Feedback

We would love to hear your feedback about the Christmas Concerts. Not so much whether or not you enjoyed the music, but more about the impact it may have had in helping you to reach your community to discover life in Christ.

Did you invite a friend, neighbor, coworker who doesn't attend church? Did they show up? Did they talk with you about it? Let us know, so that we know this event is fulfilling its purpose, and so that we can continue to do it in the future.

Goats, chickens, bricks and Christmas (Update!)

NHCers are already sharing how they are giving goats, chickens, sheep, cows, etc. to 3rd World families with the money they're saving this Christmas by not splurging on gifts.

Want to know how to do that? Here are some suggestions for your Advent Conspiracy giving.

Go to World Vision. They can take your financial gift and with it purchase the gift - a goat, pig, sheep, emergency food - you choose and see that a needy family gets it.

Another idea is Compassion International. There you can take your financial savings and invest it in the care and education of a child. You'll get to communicate with that child via mail and share photos, etc. A number of our congregation, including our youth group have "adopted" Compassion Intl. children. ChristianBook.com has a great offer right now. Sponsor a Compassion Child and they'll give you a $25 gift card. Here's the link.

A third option is to help Tammy Stump, one of our own NHC partners, finish the orphanage she is building in Nepal. She's there right now overseeing the construction. Her mission, Amazi International has the info for projects with which your gift can make a difference.

Larry and Sheila Benson's mission includes a clinic and a Christian school on a tiny island off the coast of Honduras. There are always needs in both school and clinic, and you can send a gift for either or both. The Bensons are NHC partners and 3 of their mission's board members are as well. Go to Missions Encounters International for ideas.

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Jesus Loved Them...Shouldn't We?

I hope every NHC partner will take a few minutes and read this post on my blog.

Rick

The Love Continues

Sunday night the ladies from the Twisted Sisters Connection Group took on a huge task and fed the youth group dinner. For several weeks now the students have been doing a study on God's love and loving others. We launched the series with the movie, To Save a Life, on a Saturday night and have used clips from the movie since as illustrations for each lesson. Duringthis time we have seen several new faces as guests have been attending with their friends.


The ladies prepared and served us a delicious meal. They actually waited on us like waitresses at a restaurant. These ladies shared Christ's love to our students and youth ministry team by being servants. The menu was baked ziti, salad, garlic bread and brownie fudge sundae.


There was a twist to the meal. Students tend to stick with the same group of friends at youth group and don't really take the time to get to know others in their group, much like adults do in "big" church. Every 5 minutes or so the students had to pick up their plates and move to another place at our giant table and could not sit with someone they had already sat with. It was lots of fun and helped students and leaders get to know each other better.


Contagious Youth want to thank the ladies of the Twisted Sisters group for loving on us. Our students see the same adults week after week ministering to them so it was great for them to see others in the church love on them as well.

Sunday Feedback December 5

Video testimonies about God's work in lives during 40 Days of Love. A shared life story is a powerful thing.

Our choir and band gave us a glimpse of this week's concerts, Wednesday and Friday nights. Wow!

Communion, the picture God gave us of the greatest love ever shown.

New partners lunch and interviews! Six new partner are joining the family.

The youth Agape Feast. Tell us about it!

FYI, our auditorium lighting should be fixed this week!!

Tell us all about your Sunday!

And don't forget your homework assignment. Matthew 2:1-18:
How many wise men?
What were their names?

Advent Conspiracy

If you missed Brenda's story about Advent Conspiracy on Sunday, here it is!

Clothing needed for 9 year old girl

We've been made aware of a need for clothes for a 9 year old girl. Her dad has been uable to find work. She wears size 9-10. if you have something you can give or perhaps know of a family that might be able to donate used clothes, please let Ramon Sanchez know.

Thanks.

Weekend Feedback Nov. 27-18

Feel free to include comments about Saturday's Celebration of Life for Tommy Drake.

Sunday everything (it seems) that could go wrong went wrong at 9:00, but just to show it's not by might or by power but by God's Spirit, He blessed our blunders.

Who's in on the Advent Conspiracy? Share your thoughts and ideas.

Next Sunday: Celebrating 40 Days of Love!

Absent from the body; present with the Lord - updated

Tommy Drake went to take his place around the throne of God Sunday morning.

Funeral arrangements are pending, but will be held at Nags Head Church.

Claire, Cathy, Chris and Leslie are in need of your prayers.

Updates will be posted on this blog as they are known.

Update: see the comments about giving financially to help Claire with expenses.

Update: The service celebrating Tommy's life and faith will be at NHC on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 2PM. A viewing is planned from 1:00 until just prior to the service, but that is pending. Burial will be in the Manteo Cemetery after the service.

Update: following the burial we will return to the church for a reception. Please bring a dish of finger foods if you are able to the service and leave it in the kitchen.

Update: Although the service begins at 2PM, there will be a viewing from 1:00-1:45.

Day 40! Share your story.

If you began the 40 Days on that Sunday so loooong ago, today is day 40.

Take a moment to share with the rest of us what God taught you about Himself, yourself and others when it comes to love.

Keeping up a Daily Devotion after 40 Days

So you're just about to finish your devotional book "The Relationship Principles of Jesus". You've been consistent with it, reading a chapter every day, and you know that it has been a good growth experience for you. You wish it didn't end.

But tomorrow is Day 40. What do I do next?

Here are some suggestions to continue a daily devotional reading.

Our Daily Bread. If you like holding a devotional in your hand (like the book), try Our Daily Bread. It is published quarterly and we have free copies at the Welcome Center at NHC. You can also subscribe to it and they'll send to your house. It's free.

Get another devotional book. There are lots of them out there, so be careful that the one you choose is from a Christ-centered source. Most of the well-known evangelical Bible teachers have written them, so if you have a favorite teacher, do a bit of research (@Amazon.com for example) and see if he/she has written a devotional. There are also classics like "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

The Purpose Driven Life. Another 40 day devotional book. It's written by Rick Warren. We have copies for sale at the Welcome Center. Or, if you've been through 40 Days of Purpose, maybe it's time to re-read it.

On-line devotionals. If you regularly spend time in front of your computer this might be a good option for you, and if you have a laptop or smart phone, it's even better. There are a number of good devotionals available. Some you can subscribe to, so they come in your email every day. Others you just put on your list of "favorites" and each day a new one is there at their site for you. On the right side of this blog's page is a list of onliners we can recommend. Just click the links and get started.

Of course, as good as any devotional is, it shouldn't replace your own time reading Scripture. And a lot of people find it encouraging and worthwhile to keep a journal of your thoughts as you read.

The church's purpose: Not either/or but both/and

Last night while on the road one of my long-time favorite Bible teachers was on the radio. I have multiple copies of his books, in fact his latest, an autographed copy, is right beside my recliner at home. I've been to his church and heard him preach; listened to him share insights at conferences. I've used his Bible studies in small groups. For me, he is one of the best and has my respect.

But on this particular program He made a statement that I believe is wrong. Here's what he said. "The church is not for assembling 'seekers' but for making disciples".

Why, I wonder, does it have to be one or the other? Shouldn't it be both?

I suspect that had this brother been a missionary or a church planter he would have a different perspective. None of us who is now on the path of discipleship (a disciple is a learner) started as a disciple. None of us are Christians from birth, but from re-birth. And before that re-birth took place, like Nicodemus in John 3, the Ethiopian in Acts 8 and Cornelius in Acts 10 we were all "seekers". That's where we all began.

Our church's vision statement says we are to be about the purpose of "evangelism" - which is sharing the Gospel with seekers - and "edification" - which is building up believers, or discipleship. A church that is one-sided will be out of balance. A church all about "seekers" will fail to see them grow into fully-devoted followers of Christ once they become disciples. A church that is all about making disciples will turn inward and will miss out on evangelizing the lost community around them.

Our goal is to accomplish both, along with the purposes of fellowship, worship and ministry. And by being balanced in them - which is a never-ending pursuit - we'll continue to be a healthy, growing congregation. In our view, NHC should be both an assembly of "seekers"- where those who don't yet know Christ can discover Him - and a disciple-making body - where believers can learn and become like Christ.

So, if that's who what we're to be about as a church, here are the questions each of us should be regularly asking ourselves.

1. Am I concerned about non-believers in my life? Do I take opportunities through my words and my actions to point them to my Savior? Do I regularly invite the unchurched to come with me to church?

2. Do I see consistent growth in my relationship with Christ and with His family? How do I measure that growth?

3. If I am a maturing believer, what younger, newer believer am I investing my life in to help him/her grow as well? That is making disciples.

Sunday Feedback November 21

God's love is never-ending for us, and his desire is for our love to copy His for others. Lots of us were challenged to love others who may not be so lovable.

Chris Jolly encased in plexiglass. Where's the love in that?

Just so you know, NHC have at least 124 shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child.

Remember to pray for Tommy Drake.

Share with the rest of us how today's worship was used by God in your life.

Week 6 of 40 Days of Love

Sunday begins the final days of our 40 day journey studying together Jesus' principles of relating to one another in love and the Bible's great love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. What a fantastic study it has been! Thanks to Tom Holladay and Rick Warren for writing the materials for us.

This week our youth, who have also been focused on practicing godly love, are distributing Thanksgiving turkeys to a limited number of families. They already have all the recipients lined up.

Sunday night is our annual church conference. Important, because it casts the vision for 2011, we hope our partners will come out and hear what we believe God is leading us to do in the next year.

Wednesday night is our annual Thanksgiving Worship Gathering at 7PM. Lots of worship, music, Scripture and a report from Larry and Sheila Benson, our missionaries in Honduras.

Sunday, November 28 we'll begin a series on how to make Christmas more about giving and less about spending through the Advent Conspiracy. (It's not a theory!)

Have a great Thanksgiving! Give thanks to the Lord...His love endures forever!

Why do you use different Bible translations when you teach?

One of our questions was, “Why do you use different translations (versions) of the Bible when you teach?” Good question. I use different Bible translations for several reasons.

First, because I can! Computer programs have made it so copy and paste is simple. My Bible program allows me to look at numerous translations at the same time.

Second, because sometimes one translation says the verse in a clearer way than others. That doesn’t mean the meaning or interpretation is changed, but the words are easier to understand. One of the great things about a church that is reaching out is that there are always very young believers. Good communication means the communicator is reaching every level if possible. That doesn’t “water down” the Scripture. It simply makes it easier to grasp for some.

Third, with the plethora of translations available (most of which are well done and faithful to the original languages) and knowing that any number of them might be in the laps of the congregation, sticking to one isn’t an issue.

When I teach from a particular passage, as I did recently in Romans, I’ll primarily use one version as my base. Currently my two favorites to use are the New Living Translation and the Holman Christian Study Bible. There are versions I will not use (the Good News Bible and the Revised Standard Version, for example) because their scholarship and/or choices are not close enough to the original manuscripts meaning.

I also steer clear of using paraphrases, such as the Living Bible and The Message. But on the rare occasion I do refer to one I point out that it is a paraphrase. A paraphrase, by the way, isn’t a bad thing. But neither is it a translation from the original languages. Instead, a paraphrase asks, “How would I say that in my own words?”. So a paraphrase is subjective. But then, really, what is a sermon? It’s an explanation of a text in the preacher’s own words.

In the notes we give out on Sundays we always include the references for each Scripture verse used and I encourage everyone to go home and look them up as a follow up to the sermons. God’s Word needs to dwell within us, and that takes study.

Be like the Bereans. Luke noted in Acts 11:17 that they were “more noble than the Thessalonicans because they searched the scriptures daily to see if the things [Paul had taught them] were so.” Check that verse out, by the way.

Rick

Buy a ham and support missions!

Again this year, Brad and Rebecca Meyers will be taking orders for both Thanksgiving and Christmas Boars Head brand hams.

With every ham purchased $10 will be given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions. The cost per ham is $35. Last year $750 was raised just through the hams. Let's shoot for $1000 this year!

Think your gift to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® won't make a difference? Every penny given to Lottie Moon is used to help support more than 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries (including one of our own NHC families) serving overseas. Last year, those missionaries reported 506,019 baptisms and 24,650 new churches. The lost are believing because you give!

Orders will be taken on Sundays in the church lobby Nov. 21 for Thanksgiving, and December 5 and 12 for Christmas. You can also order by emailing brad@obxdeli.com or calling 449-2627. Hams will be ready for pick up at NHC at our Thanksgiving Eve gathering and on Sunday, December 19.

Project Turkey in a Box

Coming into this week we had one family to deliver a meal to. As of today we are looking at 13!! Thanks to those who have helped find families who can benefit from a Thanksgiving dinner kit delivered to their home.

We now need 13 boxes to package the meals up in. If you have access to boxes please let me know.

This will be a great event for the youth group as we have been learning about loving others. We will be sharing Christ's love in a practical way on Sunday.

andy

Sunday Feedback November 14

Marathon Sunday.

One gathering.

Shoebox Sunday.

Love is not easily angered.

You were there. What did you see God doing?

Don't forget that if you were serving in children's ministries and missed the worship gathering the message is up on our pod cast at nagsheadchurch.org.

Marathon/Shoebox Sunday!

"The facts, just the facts, Ma'am."

• Nags Head Church will meet together for worship at 11AM only this Sunday. It's our once a year time to do this, so don't miss it. You'll see folks that you may have been missing.
• The Marathon starts at 7AM and with the exception of a few stragglers, all are beyond NHC by 10AM. So traffic is not an issue in getting there for the 11AM start.
  
• If you want to come out early and cheer on the runners, you can get into the parking lot. Our Hospitality Team will be set up with coffee at 7AM.
• If you are serving this Sunday and will by default have to miss the worship gathering the message "Love is Not Easily Angered" will be available online via our podcast by Sunday afternoon. You don't want to miss this one!
• Don't forget to memorize this Sunday's verse! "Love doesn't keep a record of wrongs." - 1 Corinthians 13:5
• Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes are being collected Sunday, too. Bring them into the auditorium. Click here for more info.
  

Communion at Nags Head Church (Pt. 2)

Because of these Biblical principles (in the previous post) that guide our observance of Communion, which includes liberty, Nags Head Church's approach to Communion allows us to both form our own traditions and stay true to the Scriptures.

For example, we observe Communion on Wednesdays, on Sundays, on at least one Friday and then on Christmas Eve, whenever that falls each year. Starting in 1991 when Rick came as our pastor, we went from a church that celebrated communion once/quarter (4 times a year) to a monthly celebration on Sunday evenings. That change kept in mind that Communion is the most intimate gathering of the church. On Sunday nights we were able to have more of that "family reunion" time that Sunday mornings couldn't provide with so many guests.

We also for many years included a covered dish meal that typically followed the Lord's Supper. Logistically, however, even after moving into the new building we found ourselves out of space for everyone to sit together. That dictated we do something differently. God uses things like crowding to move us forward. Our belief that as we grow larger we should be growing smaller at the same time through Connection Groups gave us the natural transition to allow "meal fellowships" to become part of our small group strategy. And think about it, even in a room with 150 people at tables, your real fellowship is limited to those at your table.

Because our Sunday worship gatherings take into account that the church is inviting and bringing their non-believing friends moved us to establish a second worship gathering designed especially for believers. That led us to begin First Wednesdays, and we then began to observe Communion at those gatherings.

Back in the summer of 2010, realizing some folks' schedules just made it difficult to be at church midweek the elders decided to add some additional Sunday mornings throughout the year as Communion gatherings as well. In July and August of 2009 and 2010 Communion was held on Sundays, and our plan now is to offer it at least once per quarter on Sunday mornings.

One of the great characteristics of NHC is that change is part of our make-up. We're not afraid to change if and when we see it is needed or beneficial and when that change is in keeping with our vision and purpose.

So,in addition to the 9 or 10 First Wednesdays, we'll be having Communion 4-5 times on Sundays plus Good Friday and Christmas Eve. That means at NHC you’ll have at least 15 opportunities to come to the Lord’s Table.

The key to Communion is not when it is observed or even how often, but that whenever we come together around the Lord's Table it is with a clean heart of gratitude for what Jesus did for us on the cross. And it is our conviction that every partner do all he/she can to participate as often as possible.

Project Turkey in a Box

On Sunday, November 21st, Contagious Youth of NHC will be delivering Thanksgiving meals to families in need. Students will gather at NHC and pack boxes with everything a family would need to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner. They will load into vehicles with their adult leaders and deliver the meals. Students will then gather back together to talk about the experience of this local mission/ministry project.

You can get involved in two ways:

1. We need families to deliver meals to. If you know of a family in need that could benefit from this project please contact Andy. You would then become the contact person between the youth group and the family to let them know we are coming and when we will be coming to deliver the groceries.

2. Turkeys, the number of turkeys donated will depend on the number of families we have to deliver meals to. Currently we have 5 turkeys donated and are hoping to have 5 more. If you can bring a turkey to church on Sunday, November 21, please let Andy know.

For more details, info or to get involved e-mail andy@nagsheadchurch.org

Communion at Nags Head Church (Pt. 1)

When the Lord Jesus began the first Communion gathering with His remaining 11 disciples (Judas had left the Supper to betray Him) He gave them this command: "As often as you do this do it in remembrance of me". As a Christian church we view that command seriously and as a baptist church view it as one of the two ordinances Jesus gave the church, the other being baptism.

There is quite a bit of Scripture to draw from that teaches us about the meaning and purpose of Communion or the Lord's Supper/Table, beginning the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper. We can also learn from the first church in Jerusalem the importance of observing Communion and from Paul's corrective letter to the Corinthian church we learn even more about it.

Some try to argue that Communion should be observed each Sunday. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with a weekly observance, it seems clear that becoming legalistic about when to have Communion misses the point. Jesus didn't dictate how often or even when. His first Communion was in the middle of the week, either on a Wednesday or Thursday night. So that tells us it doesn't have to be on a Sunday.

The Jerusalem believers, we're told in Acts 2, observed Communion daily. But then in 1 Corinthians 11:17 Paul speaks of Communion being observed when the church gathers together. Yet nothing is said of if it was every time they met or if it was only when the whole church met together or if it was in home groups. Nothing is said that it must be on a Sunday or any other particular day. And since nothing definitive is said we have to surmise that in this area of "how often/when" God gives us liberty. In other words, there is no hard and fast rule. We are free as a church to make those decisions.

It's also vital that we understand the purposes of Communion as set forth in the Scriptures. First, Communion is a time for believers to gather together to remember the suffering and crucifixion of Christ as our Savior. Because it is an ordinance of the church it is also open only to those who know Christ as Savior. That Jesus did not begin the first Communion until after Judas had left reinforces this.

Second, it is a time for fellowship in the church. Fellowship is much deeper in meaning than what we tend to first think. Fellowship may include food, but food isn't a necessity for fellowship. In fact, the word for fellowship and communion in the Greek language are the same and means "partnership". Gathering around the bread and the cup is a spiritual time of recognizing we belong together because we belong to Christ.

Third, Communion is a time for introspection - each believer looking within his/her own heart and evaluating his/her own relationship both with God and with one another. So, it is a time for reconciliation both with God and with others who may need my forgiveness or I may need theirs.

Fourth, Communion is a time to be reminded that Christ is returning. He told us to continue observing Communion until the day we observe it with Him. It gives us hope.

Fifth, the elements of Communion - the bread and the cup of wine (or in our case juice) are simply symbols of Jesus body and blood. They do not in some way physically or mystically become His body and blood. But they are real reminders as we eat and drink them together.

These principles from the Bible guide our approach to Communion.

Next: Why do we observe Communion when we do at Nags Head Church?

Ministry with Love

We have a fantastic ministry opportunity for a Connection group or a couple of groups to work together.

The youth group is having an Agape Feast on Sunday, December 5^th from 6 to 7pm. This dinner is a part of our 40 Days of Love. The purpose behind the dinner is for students to get to know students, who they wouldn’t normally talk with, hang out with, to help them build relationships.

The details are simple for a Connection group to get involved. The group will gather at NHC on that Sunday afternoon and prepare a meal for the youth group, a dinner for 50. This dinner won’t be potluck or buffet but a menu created by the serving Connection group. The food costs will come out of the youth budget. The meal will be served to the students.

What’s in it for your group? You get to work together as a group to minister to the church. Your group will strengthen your relationships. Most importantly your group will model to the youth what ministry done in love looks like. I bet you would have a whole lot of fun in the process.

If your group is interested in preparing and serving this meal please contact me, andy@nagsheadchurch.org.

Sunday Feedback November 7

Love lets it go. I heard from several about how God used the Word this morning in lives. If you feel comfortable sharing, please do.

Great music selection to go with the message.

Did you meet someone for the first time today?

What really bugs you?

Our nursery opened up a new room today for infants!! Three nurseries going on now!

Did you consider becoming an organ donor?

Next week is Shoebox Sunday. Let's set a new NHC record so children can hear of Christ and so we can plant seeds.

And next Sunday is Marathon Sunday. 11:00 Worship gathering only. It's our one time of the year to pull us all together at once.

Fall Back Tonight!

It's the good change - the one we like because it gives back the hour we lost in the Spring!

Two Gatherings tomorrow at 9 and 11. "Love Lets It Go".

Memory Verse: "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." (1 Cor. 13:6)

Also Sunday at NHC you'll be able to sign up to be an organ donor. A table will be set up in the lobby with forms and information.

If you're not already a donor, please prayerfully consider becoming one. Your unselfish final act could save lives.

Some Christmas Giving Ideas from Advent Conspiracy

Just click on the graphic a time or two to enlarge it.

Tonight at 6:30

Vote tomorrow! It's our watch.

David Barton of Wall Builders explains scripturally and historically why we need to vote prayerfully and righteously. It's not just about the economy, and he explains why.

Take the time to watch.

(For our men who have been to the Maximum Man conferences, David Barton is no stranger.)

Sunday Feedback October 31

Loving with our words honestly, carefully and with building words.

Trunk or Treat! Another incredible bridge to our community!

Your group leaders have something you can do to help with a future sermon series.

Don't forget your homework!

Here's our memory verse for the week: "Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth." 1 Corinthians 13:6 NIV)

How was Sunday?

Trunk or Treat Sunday night

As of Saturday night there is still room for a few more trunks! Contact Andy by Sunday afternoon to get in on the fun and outreach.

Catch up on Paul and Brenda Lawler

Here's a great article in Virginia Living magazine that tells the story of friends and former NHCers Paul and Brenda Lawler and their Faith Farm. Great read!

Bewitched Believers

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:1-3 KJV

(First off, this isn't a "Halloween" post. If you want to read something about the evils of trick or treating you'll have to go somewhere else. And there are a gazillion places on the web to do that.)

Often I've shared while teaching a tidbit of my personal background and church heritage. While my childhood pastors proclaimed salvation by grace there was always the sense in those churches that behind every corner lurked an evil temptation. So there was always a level of distrust when the church ventured beyond the walls of "the church". Be careful out there...if they don't dot their "i's" or cross there "t's" just like us, chances are there's something bad in the mix.

So, we couldn't participate in certain things at school or in entertainment. Square dancing in PE class required us to have a letter from our parents exempting us. Walt Disney movies (while Walt was still in charge) that were always innocent and tasteful were taboo because the price of admission went to foster the "Hollywood lifestyle" of people like Liz Taylor, etc. At least that's what I heard.

It's taken me forty-plus years to recover from legalistic leanings. Yet I have to confess, buried somewhere deep in my soul are the tendencies to revert to a self-righteous position of condemning things not really addressed in the Scriptures. I fight it regularly, and only by God's grace do I not go back. Such a thought sends chills up my spiritual spine.

One thing I've learned in my years of pastoral ministry is that certain personalities (mine included) are drawn by Phariseeism. You know - the Pharisees were the religious fundamentalists of Jesus' day who said, "We're right and everyone else (including you, Jesus) are wrong." They claimed to be the anointed keepers of the Law.

Within every church, going back to the 1st Century are personalities who either were saved out of legalism or who because of their upbringing are drawn to the idea that the stricter the rules, the holier the life. And inevitably that belief leads to tightening the turniquet around the life of the Spirit in the hearts of believers.

Paul called those in the Galatian churches who had reverted back to grace plus law "bewitched". It's as though they were under a spell. Following Paul's departure from their region, Judaizers - Jews who taught Gentiles that before you could become a Christian you had to first become a Jew by circumcision (ouch) - came into these fledgling churches, pulling out their credentials as teachers, and brought the confusion that legalism brings, especially to those of us with a bent toward that kind of thing.

Here's where I see the Judaizers today. Sure, they're in local churches. Always will be. They've always had their publications. My mom used to subscribe to one and I read it as a kid every week. But with the free soap box (that I am currently using) of the internet, they are just a Google away from anyone's computer. And from the computer their interpretations go directly where? Into our minds.

Graciously the Holy Spirit has been teaching me for 44 years that Christianity brings liberty, not bondage to standards we create that the Creator never intended. Straining at gnats and fixating on the speck in someone else's eye only breeds a negativism that stifles what matters most: loving men and women into the Kingdom of Christ.

"So, be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear." That was a good lesson from my childhood. At NHC we've determined not to allow Phariseeism in any form to take a foothold among us. And that includes in me as well. Our elders are committed to that. We won't permit ourselves to major on the minors, which is the hallmark of a legalistic spirit.

So, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 KJV

(You'll note that for this post I've chosen to use the Authorized Version of the Bible.)

Rick

Sunday Feedback October 24

We actually are looking for feedback. The only way to do that is in the comments!

CREST Follow Up

If you missed CREST, you missed lots of news and communication about what's up at NHC.
Sooooo....

Here's the gist of the Elders Report from CREST that Rick gives ('cause we don't want anyone to be in darkness!)

Since our last meeting we’ve made it through another summer! Summer was full of ministry and outreach, with Surf Camps, Operation Back Pack, and of course, lots of guests. In a resort area like ours, summer is a different beast for churches than in most areas. And we survived!

Can you believe that sometimes folks serving in ministry receive critical remarks – usually from guests. We don’t expect everyone who walks through the doors to understand, agree with or appreciate the ministry and vision God has given us. But we also don’t want those of you serving who hear or see those criticisms to let them get you down. You work hard at what you do, and you get it. So we came up with a memo on how to handle criticism. All our Ministry Team leaders were sent a copy and asked to distribute them to their teams. So if you didn’t get one, ask your leader why not?

All totaled 18 people publicly professed Christ by being baptized during the summer. That’s amazing. We’ve also had a large number of folks commit and covenant with us as partners in the last few months. Seven came in since our last DNHCU class in September. That’s encouraging.

We’ve also had a lot of people move away this year, more than I can remember in any other year. Mostly they moved for financial reasons. So it seems that as we take a step forward in growing with new folks, we take a step back at the same time with people moving. We’re also missing people who perhaps were extra busy in the summer and haven’t found their way back yet. But Sunday’s attendance indicated they are coming back.

You might remember that after the last CREST meeting we asked those interested in Disaster Response to meet together. Twelve of us met and we’ve taken some positive steps, esp. with the NC Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief team, to partner with them in case of a catastrophic storm. Good ideas were shared.

In August we had a workshop as elders about systems. As we mature as a church and grow larger we keep finding it necessary to tweak our systems to make sure no one falls through the cracks. We have a great data base program that Jim Bailey has run with, and will be getting on line with some better ways of tracking ministry teams, connection groups, new partners, NHCU, building use needs, etc. Most of all we plan to form an assimilation team to help attenders take the steps needed to become committed partners.

One thing we’ve noticed lately is a bit of a paradox. Our attendance in everything is down. Sundays are down from last year. First Wednesdays are about half of what they were a year ago. As you can see, CREST isn’t bringing in too many. So we’re thinking of what to do about it. Part of it can be attributed to people moving. What is paradoxical to us is that we’ve seen a greater number of baptisms this year; a greater number of new partners and our offerings have been stronger than the last two years. So we’re seeing some positive growth in essentials that indicate strength as a church, just without as many people.

Burnie took a break from his elders responsibilities in the summer and now Steve is taking a break.

We said goodbye to Jay and Alicia, sending them out to India as missionaries. John and Cindy Peterson with Campus Crusade visited us. We were able to help Janessa Long get to China and we heard a report from Taylor Edmonds who is serving another two year term in Rome. And right after our last meeting Tammy Stump left for Nepal. Let me encourage all of us to keep up with all our missionaries. As we receive updates we post them on our blog. Most of them also send out fairly regular emails that you can receive if you ask. Larry and Sheila Benson will be here the end of November and the first of December. And next summer Stan and Sandy Anonby will finally be back for another visit with us from Brazil.

In the summer months we took a look at the great doctrines of grace and salvation from the heart of Romans. Then we spent 4 weeks talking about what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. Now we’re in 40 Days of Love through mid-November. Then we’ll be in the Christmas season. There’s a lot of excitement right now about the 40 Days and our groups are going strong. When it’s over we’ll see that God has taught us some of the deepest life-changing truths in the Scripture about loving Him and others.

Right now we’re working on next year’s budget. Would you pray with us that our collective ministry purposes and vision will guide us through this process. It’s not just about putting numbers on a paper that we think will “work”. It’s about seeking God’s will and plans for us and exercising faith. At the end of November we’ll be meeting again as a church to see the new budget proposal. I hope it’s scary.

We’ve heard of one family in our church going through a really tough financial time, and we know there must be others. Please: we have funds to help. Not unlimited funds, but we can help. We just have to know how to help. So if you know someone in the church with a pressing burden, encourage them to talk to one of us and let us know. It’s sad when folks don’t ask and we could have helped.

Guess what’s coming soon? Operation Christmas Child. November 14 is when we’ll collect all the boxes, so start getting ready. That follows Trunk or Treat pretty quickly. We’re also observing Organ Donation Sunday on Nov. 7, which gives everyone an opportunity to register as an organ donor.

Part of being a good Christian is being a good citizen. That means we should exercise

our right to vote. I hope you will prayerfully consider how you will vote.

Burnie’s working on some ideas to help us raise awareness and giving toward paying off our building. At the same time we really need to get busy finishing the upstairs for our youth. They’ve been patient. I want to promise them that they’ll be in their own space next year and early. But I can’t make that promise on my own.

Let me switch gears now and give you a bit of what the Bible calls a warning. One of the things that all this technology revolution has produced in our culture is an overload of information. In a couple clicks you can open up all kinds of blogs, articles, videos and you have more knowledge at your fingertips than ever before. But keep in mind that knowledge and wisdom are two different things. The thing that separates wisdom from knowledge is what the Bible calls “discernment” – being able to distinguish from what is true and right, and what may appear to be true and right, but has bits and pieces of things that are not.

How do I keep from being deceived?

1. Know the Word. It’s is truth.
2. Pray for wisdom. James said if we ask, God loves to give it.
3. Trust those God has placed in your lives to guard you from wolves . In Acts 20 that’s what elders are instructed to do.
4. Surround yourselves with people with true wisdom. Walk with the wise.

This Wednesday Night: CREST

There's an amazing praise to give God this Wednesday night. Don't miss the opportunity for the jaw dropping news. 7PM.

This week's memory verse

"Let love be your highest goal." - 1 Corinthians 14:1

You can do it!

Sunday Feedback October 17

Love Matters Most.

Today is the start of 40 Days of Love.
Homework. Scripture memory.
Learning to love God and love our neighbors.
Excitement among our groups.

We sold out of books, so if you didn't get one, more are on order.

Did anyone notice the bagels? Thanks NY Bagels!!

Team Trunk or Treat

You can join the team to be a part of Trunk or Treat today! Simply follow this link and fill out the easy online team registration. What an incredible opportunity we have to reach out to our community and share the love of Jesus Christ!

Kick Off Rally!

Saturday evening 6-7 PM. Come get pumped up for 40 DOL!
Sit with your group!
Cake and beverages to follow.

Expect opposition

The enemy of Christ and His Church is not a happy camper.

He knows that over the next 6 weeks Nags Head Church will present a united front. Think about it:

• Everyone will be doing the same daily devotions.
• Everyone will be studying one of the most powerful passages in the Bible - 1 Cor. 13 together in our groups.
• Everyone will be memorizing Scripture - hiding God's Word in our hearts. (Remembering that Jesus battled him in the wilderness by quoting the Bible, I think this one really worries Satan.)
• Everyone will be encouraged to let God's agape love be active in our daily relationships. What's more powerful than that?

So don't think the adversary isn't ready to do whatever he can to ruin things. Of course, he can't defeat God. But he can use you or me to mess things up.

So beware, your adversary the devil is on the prowl. Don't give him an opportunity in your life, your family or your group!

Sunday Feedback October 10

A picture perfect day on the Outer Banks!

The excitement for 40 Days of Love is building.

Commitment. Balance. Relationships. Are you growing?

Lots of The Relationship Principles of Jesus books picked up today.

Congrats to Andy for hanging with us for 10 years!

Share how being with your church impacted your life today.

Update from Don and Mary DeHart in British Columbia

Dear Nags Head family,

What a summer! Busyness came like a flood following the camps and our September holiday. NAIM had asked us to be part of a new department combining Recruiting, Summer Ministries Initiative and First Nations Partnership under one flag. At times it seemed like I'd been "pushing a rope" the past year. This enlarged vision will bring strength of several individuals to a combined effort as we move ahead in the good changes NAIM has in focus.

One of the initatives we are launching, we are calling Orientation Gatherings, long weekends in many areas gathering Native believers into long weekend experiences to invite them to look at NAIM and consider how they may wish to speak into and invite our partnership in their communites.

We just returned from a Talking Circle in Billings, Montana...very encouraged. The vision we hold in trust is beginning to draw God's people all over North America. We met Crow, Yakima, Lumi, Northern Cheyenne, Eastern Chippewa, and other First Nations people who love Jesus and want to bring their own people to Him. There were no "big people" there...just folks like us without fame or notoriety...but with a strong vision for Native people to take their rightful place in God's kingdom work.

So I wanted to share one story for your hearts. See link below.

Here is the story from Montana: http://www.ccci.org/ministries-and-locations/ministries/campus-ministry/native-american-students-two-worlds.htm

We hope to go home to Mt. Currie next week before NAIM's Operations Council and Staff Conference (Oct 20-28) and a trip to Vancouver Island for another Talking Circle, (Oct. 17) depending on my getting some overdue bases covered here in preparation for both. We've prayed much and wanted to be part of seeing the work at Sachteen move forward before snow. There is in place a workteam of local believers, Native and non-Native, planning to continue the infrastructure setting the Red Soul Rising camp on more solid footing October 15-17. I will have to leave Saturday afternoon in to make prepartation for the Talking Circle(actually from our perspective, it's a Listening Circle, as we gather with several trusted Native believers to gain their voice and vision in the direction we see God drawing the ministry we share, some are NAIM staff, others are not...yet).

We will be taking a team of 6 or 8 older youth from Chicago RSR Youth Connection to Mt. Currie in December for several days RSR follow-up and hopefully take as many older youth from Mt. Currie back to Chicago to spend Christmas and New Years with the families of the follow-up team, the Lord willing.

As well, NAIM has asked me to help assemble a team of 2 Native and a non-Native brother from New Mexico Navaho ministries to hold a series of Great Commission Workshops in different locations from Vancouver to Regina in early January into Spring 2011. These will be venued to gather Native and non-Native local believers into groups to to stir up and train local believers to reach the on 98% Native people in most communities who have yet to turn to Jesus.

So, there is lots on the plate, but following the vision God has sown in our hearts is joy beyond expression. At 63, I've never been so excited about minsitry.

Thank y'all for being who you are in our lives,
don and mary

Pray for Your Pastor on Monday

Here's a blog by another pastor that explains why it is so important. He does a great job explaining what is hard to explain.

I don't know about rainy days, but Mondays always are tough.

Sunday Feedback October 3

Our last Sunday in "Body Parts". And a rainy one at that.
Everybody signed up for a 40 Days Connection Group.
Kit Lewis talked about being mentored and how it has been the greatest.
Paul challenged us to live together in harmony.
New partners welcomed into the family.

Sunday all the purposes come together. What did you see/hear/do at NHC?

Starting October 16-17

Imagine the whole church not only hearing the same sermon on Sunday, but studying the same lessons in our Connection Groups and doing the same daily devotions. Hey, we've done that kind of thing before!

A six week Sunday series and Connection Group study through 1 Corinthians 13. In addition, we'll all be doing the same 40 day devotional on The Relationship Principles of Jesus.

It begins with a Kick Off Rally Saturday, Oct. 16 @ 6PM for everyone. Sunday, October 17 starts the six weeks.

If you're not in a group, now's the time to join one! You can do that by being at NHC on Sunday.

Sunday Feedback September 26

Ministry Fair!

An interview with Brenda, who left mad, came back humble and loves her church family.

A plea from Paul to give our lives away as worship to God.
A warning not to be proud when we do.

What did God use at NHC to impress your heart, mind, soul and strength today?

Roles and Teamwork: A Part for Every Part 4

Here's a great example of how the church should work together in harmony and with each part serving in his/her giftedness. It's pretty amazing!

Guest Blog: Don't Worry About Your "Ministry" - A Part for Every Part 3

With our Ministry Fair coming up this Sunday, and as a follow up to Pastor Tom's message I thought this was great stuff. So many people will sit and wait for some divine revelation as to what they should do to serve the body of Christ. Why not just roll up your sleeves and serve?

Howard Diehl, one of our new friends in Grenoble, France shared this blog post on Facebook. It's well worth your read. Written by Mark Altrogge.

Sunday Feeback September 19

Taylor Edmonds reporting about Rome.
Interviews with Jimmy Gradeless and Don and Frank Kirschner.
"Vital Organs" message by Pastor Tom Lee.
Worship led by MP 13.

So how was it?

Taylor's Mission

If you were at NHC today, you heard Taylor report on her past two years in Rome as a Journeyman with the International Mission Board.

Email info@NagsHeadChurch if you would like to contact Taylor or be placed on her email list.

Please Let Me Sing in the Choir - A Part for Every Part 2

Watch and listen to this video.

Today we do in ministry what God's gifted us to do, as Tom will share on Sunday. I wonder if the old guy in the song ever found his part in the body.

In fact, I think this song was written for Tom and Steve!

A Part for Every Part

It's amazing how many guests comment on their Communication Cards about the warm, friendly welcome they received at NHC. Not only that, but at every Discovering NHC class someone says that the welcome they got at their first visit made a big impression.

In our current series "Body Parts" we're seeing from the Bible how every partner in the church has a special function. But here are some suggestions for all of us about how we can each make sure everyone is welcomed.

1. Look around for someone you've never met and meet him/her/them. Make it more than a "Hi, glad you're here". Take a moment to give your name and ask for theirs' and where they're from. You might find a neighbor you've never met. And don't necessarily wait until you get inside. As you're walking from your car take a moment to introduce yourself.

2. Don't find a seat and sit until you've met someone new. When you do that, you're saying, "This is all about me." It's so easy to gather with our friends and forget that God has brought people to worship with us that perhaps know no one there.

3. Arrive a few minutes early and plan to stay a few minutes late. One of our purposes for gathering is fellowship. That extra five minutes before and after could make the difference in someone else's life.

4. Consider that guests might not know...

• That we have a wonderful and secure nursery and Kids Worship.
• That coffee and pastries are available and that it's OK to bring their coffee into the Gathering.
• That we provide an outline to follow.

So feel free to ask welcoming questions like, "Did you find everything all right?" Or, "Did you get a cup of coffee?" "Do you know we have a great nursery for your little one?".

5. If you're asked a question that you don't know the answer to (that happens to me often), encourage them to inquire at the Welcome Center. Our First Impressions Team is trained to either have the answer or to know how to find it.

6. Note where the "Visitor Parking" spaces are located (and don't park there!). They are closest to the front doors on the south side of the building. Let's give the best spaces to our guests. Try to park on either the east or west sides of the building, unless you have little ones. We have reserved spaces for families with young children on the south side as well.

Let's be conscious of those around us who might be guests, but who don't want to feel like strangers. A welcoming, hospitable congregation does amazing things to open folks up to the family of God.

Sunday Feeback September 12

On a gray, rainy morning we began a new series, "Body Parts".

Thanks to Jake and Dianne George for being our display parts today!

A family needs a stove

We have a family at school ...a grandfather raising 4 grandchildren...who told me that their stove broke over a week ago. He tried to fix it, but was unable to get it working.

Does anyone know of a good used stove, gas or electric, that might be donated to the family or bought at a reasonable price?

Just let me know. Thanks,


Bonnie Beacham

Sunday Feedback September 5

We finished up another series today. A new one begins next Sunday.

If you were at NHC you witnessed God's family in motion, serving one another. Did something grab your attention?

Don't forget (if you forgot) that NHCU is next weekend, Saturday and Sunday. It's not too late to register. Call the church office (441-7548) or email info@nagsheadchurch.org to sign up.

If you're reading this between the hours of 3 and 7 PM on Sunday why aren't you at the picnic?!!

Prayer request from the Hoffmans re: adoption

It seems things might not be working out with this adoption. Sunday has expressed that she is not sure about the adoption and needing more time to decide. Please pray for Sunday that she will have wisdom from the Lord and be able to make a sound decision. We truly feel that she is not in a place to parent, but that is her decision.
Pray for us as well.

Adam and Melissa

F1RST Wednesday Tonight!

After taking the summer off, F1RST Wednesday is back! Come out and enjoy fellowship, intimate worship, communion and an extended prayer time focused on safety in the storm.

6:30 @ NHC!

Hurricane notification

In the event of a disastrous/catastrophic hurricane we need to know how to keep up with our church family. We learned some lessons from Katrina and the Gulf Coast.

So, using email, please consider telling our staff and elders if you are riding out the storm OR if you are evacuating. Include a contact phone # and your local address.

Your info will not be shared beyond our staff and pastors. Email to info@nagsheadchurch.org.

Thanks, and be safe. Remember, if you leave, take your picture ID that includes your local address with you so that you'll be allowed back after the storm. This link to the Dare Co. office of Emergency Management gives some great tips about getting ready.

Regardless, we will have worship gatherings as scheduled this Sunday.

Sunday Feedback August 29

The last Sunday of August! Can it be?

If you were late you missed the band's rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". A prelude to next Sunday's message concluding Romans 8. (See verses 31-38), and you might have missed the first point of the message, since the bulk of the songs were at the end rather than the beginning today.

What did you see and/or hear today that God used to enable your worship, fellowship, growth or ministry? It might have been a conversation, a song or seeing someone serve others.

Share it with the rest of us.

Playing the Blame Game

In last Sunday's message from Romans 7 one of the points was "Don't play the blame game" when guilty of sin in your life.

Here's a story in today's news that illustrates just how we do that.
"Woman from Easton woman blames gin-soaked raisins for violation"

(I wonder if the raisins were singing "Heard it from the grapevine"?)

Alex who was lost and now is found in Nepal

Howdy,
Here is a picture of Alex. I had given him one of my tshirts, so no you can't buy NC tshirts in Nepal.

He is the sweetest young man and really has a heart for the Lord. Today i was laying in my room cause I am sick along with a lot of other kids, and he came in my room and said can I pray for you? So I said ok, he came and sat on my bed and laid his hand on my forehead and started praying in Nepali. You would never know 5 days ago he was living on the streets huffing glue. What a blessing this has been for me to be around him.

Tammy

Sunday Feedback August 22

Share some of what you experienced Sunday at NHC!

Good bye Les and Carol Petrie! You'll be missed, but we know there's a church in FL about to get a big blessing.

Tammy's in Nepal

Here's an excerpt from Tammy's most recent email. This will give you an idea of the work she is doing for Christ with street kids.

After we ate we were going to get a taxi and here comes 3 other boys, I told them I couldn’t take them to eat tonight I had to leave. They were asking him where he was going and we didn’t want to answer but I guess he said church or something. Then a boy Raju asked if I was Christian and I said yes and he said "I also Christian".

He is a really nice kid. He said "I want to go to school also, I want to go to the church with you, you take me." Then Sanu, my buddy from last time also said, "I’m going with you, I want to go with you Tammy" (it was much easier when they called me miss, now that they call me tammy its much more personal ) it tore my heart out to say "I can’t take you now." How do you tell a boy that just wants someone to love them that you can’t take them???

No matter how much I try to shut off towards them I can’t. I about lost it right then and there. I know you can’t help everyone, but to have to tell a child no you can’t help them is the most heart wrenching thing, especially after you have built a relationship with them and they would do absolutely anything for you. I know what tonight held for them, a cold piece of concrete huddled together, filthy dirty and not one to care where they are or how they are. I'm glad I have a room to myself right now, cause this is tough. Every time they see me they are hugging me or holding my hands and walking with me, or asking if they can pay the bill so they can count the money back to me. I just love these kids.

Congratulations Stan and Sandy!

Happy Anniversary!

Today Stan and Sandy Anonby, our missionaries in Brazil, celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary. You can email them at stan-sandy_anonby@sil.org.

Stan and Sandy plan their next visit to NHC in the summer of 2011.

Sunday Feedback August 15

Today was one of those rare Sundays when we not only worship and hear God's Word, but we also celebrated Communion and Baptism. It was really an Acts 2 kind of day.

So many believers struggle with a desire to run to Law rather than Grace. And others reject Law altogether as meaningless and are "anti-nomians" (against Law). Do you feel a pull to one or the other extreme?

Chad Hardison debuted his new song about God's Grace today during communion! Great song, Chad. I hope we'll sing it often. You might have been familiar with the chorus, taken from the Gospel song "Grace Greater Than Our Sin".

Congrats to Jen and Lilly on their baptisms today!

Update from Larry and Sheila Benson

(The past couple of weeks we've asked NHC to pray for the Bensons in Honduras, but have withheld details for safety reasons. They're now at liberty to share more of what is happening.

First of all, we grieve with those who have lost loved ones in Afghanistan recently. Here on Helene the last three weeks have been a trial for sure.

On Friday, July 23rd, a doctor from the United States showed up and tried, through inciting a riot, to remove us from the Clinic property. After multiple threats on Friday, the riot ensued on Saturday starting about 2pm in the afternoon. I was down island with a team and only two people on our team were left behind to feel the wrath.

It has been very unsettling. The riot threatened to break down the doors of the clinic but that did not happen. Community leaders finally met Monday night and voiced their support of the clinic.

We do not know where this is going to end up. Our Board with Mission Encounters International has been very supportive. We are committed to ministries here as long as the community wants us here. Right now their voice is that they still do.

We are expecting another attempt from this doctor, but we do not know when.

We will host a team from Washington State starting on the 14th for one week. Please pray for that week, that ministry will be uninterrupted. Our hearts are heavy as we see the island changing, the road is an improvement, the digital tower makes communication easier, but there is such a need for the gospel of the Lord to go out and be proclaimed. Lives need to encounter God, lives need to be transformed, and communities and nations need to be impacted for Christ.

This is difficult in a time of stress, questions, and heartache. We need your prayers that the ministry will continue on, that God will speak clearly to the hearts of the people of Helene and that God will protect His ministry here. We need your loving support though e-mails, and words of encouragement. Please pray for us as we trust God together.

Larry and Sheila

Sunday Feedback August 8

Backpack Sunday!

We're moved from slavery to liberation.

Janessa Long shared about her coming term in Asia to share Christ with students. (The love offering was very generous!!)

Great songs that blended well with the message.

High Five to our Tellers Team today. Mark and Charlie stayed until 1:30 counting and making the deposit.

The chairs were stacked and the floor cleared in record time!

What did today's worship gatherings teach you about the God we serve?

Truefaced- Trusting Grace

Tax Free Weekend and Operation Backpack

This weekend is tax free weekend!

Take advantage of this great deal and stock up on supplies for Operation Backpack.

This Sunday is backpack Sunday. Prize for the best backpack. Look for the supply drop in the lobby to drop of your supplies for this fantastic bridging event for our community.

Our "Purpose Driven" Blog

Our blog has been up and running for a couple of years or so and without any real concerns. The original purpose of this blog (as opposed, for example, of our church's web site) was to give Nags Head Church family a safe place to share news, prayers, praises and get some teaching from our pastors and leaders.

But the reality is that anything on the web is pretty much wide open. Keeping the blog as a safe place for NHC is still our purpose here. So for that reason the blog will tighten its "security" measures by one level - requiring comments to be moderated.

What that simple step does is it continues to allow anyone to read what is posted, but ensures that their comments are reflective of the purposes and values of this church. So, please continue to read and to comment.

But if you are not a part of this church community and your comments reflect either a critical spirit of her members, purposes or values, or anything deemed to be harmful or belittling to the church or our beliefs, your comments will not be welcomed and posted for others to see.

If you have a cause or reason to debate who we are, what we believe, our purposes or mission, please feel free to contact our staff. But that is not the purpose of this blog.

Sunday Feedback August 1

Freedom and death come together for us in the Gospel. We died with Christ and now are alive in Him.

Great baptism video!

We heard from John and Cindy Peterson about campus ministry.

Kidmo was stomping up a storm!

New worship leader and a mean cowbell player.

Can you believe it is already August? But thank God for the cooler temps today.

Energizing the Church: Don't get swallowed up in gossip

One of the things that has given our church the witness we have in the community and has strengthened us as a body is our commitment to work with partners who are having personal struggles and a refusal to tolerate gossip. If you’ve taken my DNHC class you’ve heard me talk about our attitude toward gossip because it can destroy a church’s unity faster than anything.

Often as pastors we’re called into situations involving partners and their relationships that need our attention. When that’s the case we do our best to protect the confidentiality of those involved and we also do our best to be patient and gracious. Life change doesn't always happen overnight. That means that we choose to be slow in pulling the discipline trigger unless it’s a situation that needs quick action.

I’m not inclined to believe that gossip is a problem here. If it is, I'm always to the last to hear any of it, and there's a reason for that.

Listen to the wisdom of James 3:3-6.
Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. 4 And consider ships: though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our [bodies]; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.

Here are some facts we need to remember:
1. When I listen to gossip I’m part of the problem.

2. When I listen to gossip it does nothing to bring me closer to Christ.

3. There are 2 sides to every story and usually somewhere in between is the truth. Perceived truth is not always real truth.

4. People who are having problems at home or at work will quickly make the assumption that people are talking about them when they aren’t. But that’s one of the negative byproducts of being entrapped in sin.

5. If we become known as a church that allows gossip our witness to the community as a body of Christ is damaged. And that kind of damaged reputation is difficult to overcome.

6. If someone who feels wronged by another approaches you with his/her story follow Christ’s instructions: tell him/her to go to the one who has offended him/her and work it out. If they have done that and want you to go with them to that person, then be spiritually ready to do that. But go with great humility and be full of the Spirit.

7. If I feel I'm the subject of gossip I shouldn't spread it by telling someone else that there's gossip going on about me. That's just another form of gossip. But I should follow point 6 above.

Having said all that, being in a church with multiple worship gatherings poses a special challenge. Have you ever missed someone at church and assumed that he/she/they are attending the other gathering? Maybe they are. But don’t assume that. Maybe they’re going through a struggle and could use someone to check in on them.

But again, be prepared. They may want to dump on you. But don’t let them. Rather encourage them to go to whoever they feel has wronged them, whether it’s a spouse or another church partner or a pastor and deal with it properly.