NLC News October 20 2022

THIS COMING WEEK:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23
8:30 a.m. GROWTH CLASSES

• Video series on "ROMANS" in Room 111

9:30 a.m. CONNECTING POINT (Dining Room) and Connecting Point for Kids (Rm 101)
10 a.m.  WORSHIP - NLC Kids & The Crew (Jr/Sr High)

• Pastor Mark preaching - You Belong Here! series on Ephesians - (Ephesians 3:1-13) - "Serve Through Suffering"

5:30 p.m.  LIFELINE Young Adult Growth Group

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24
6:30 p.m. UNITY MEETING (Trustees and Elders)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25
6:00 a.m. MEN'S BIBLE STUDY - 10 Commandments - Dining Room

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26
2:10 p.m. GOOD NEWS CLUB - Jefferson Elementary
6:00 p.m. WORSHIP REHEARSAL - Gym
6:30 p.m. PRAYER GATHERING - Room 113

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27
After school GOOD NEWS CLUB - Monson-Sultana School
5:30 p.m. CELEBRATE RECOVERY - Join us for DINNER - Dining room
6:30 p.m. CELEBRATE RECOVERY - Worship / Teaching / Small Groups

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. GLEANINGS FOR THE HUNGRY 40TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL -
43029 Rd 104, Dinuba (north of Sultana)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30
8:30 a.m. GROWTH CLASSES

• Video series on "ROMANS" in Room 111

9:30 a.m. CONNECTING POINT (Dining Room) and Connecting Point for Kids (Rm 101)
10 a.m.  WORSHIP - NLC Kids & The Crew (Jr/Sr High)

• Pastor Mark preaching - You Belong Here! series on Ephesians - (Ephesians 3:14-21)

5:00-7:00 p.m.  FAMILY FUN NIGHT & TRUNK OR TREAT (Grab & Go Meals will be replaced by free hot dogs, chips, and snacks in the evening)

Received Last Week (10/16)……........$5,088
Benevolence Fund... ................................$50
Received year to date ………............$55,003
Budget to Date: ………..…..................$56,748
Budget Goal: ……….........................$421,553
Needed Weekly: …...............….....……$8,146

I had some interesting conversations while in the emergency room with a friend this week. He so naturally moves toward people and engages them about Jesus that it's difficult to avoid having interesting conversations! And I thought I was outgoing!

I watched my friend approach a man in a wheelchair. He was wearing a "Men of Valor" t-shirt which caused my friend to immediately recognize him as a believer. Their conversation could be heard around the waiting room, as well as his prayer. That sparked more conversations over time: "I noticed you praying. I'm a Christian, too." My friend also introduced me to everyone he met as "my pastor" and invited them to New Life Community in Dinuba. Since we were there from 9:00 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. I lost track of the number of people who may, indeed, come to church this Sunday!

After telling me he was also a believer, one man told me that he was a gun-lover and would do whatever he had to do to keep his guns from anyone who wanted to take them. I smiled and told him I knew people who felt the same way about their pets, but that I encouraged our church to stay focused on Jesus. I encouraged him to do the same. We can live for Jesus with or without guns...or pets.

Another man and I talked through all the churches he'd attended over the years, and about the church he's in now, in Visalia, which is anticipating the retirement of their long-serving pastor. I appreciated the love he expressed for his pastor and how he was praying for a godly man to replace him. Then he told me he was a "first and second amendment Christian," and started to tell me how important it was for us to fight for our rights and freedoms as Christians. Again, I smiled and said how grateful I was for our freedoms, but that my faith in Jesus wasn't affected by such things. We could live for Jesus in any country, under any rule, under any leader, though maybe it would cost us more in some situations than it does in America today.

Though we had several heart-warming conversations and prayers that day, you can tell I was struck by the way these two men in particular had compromised their faith in Jesus. It was Jesus-plus guns, or Jesus-plus freedom. I understand. I sometimes feel like it should be Jesus-plus a lot of things I care about. But it isn't. Our salvation is in Jesus alone. And if we could stick with doing the things Jesus called us to do: loving one another, forgiving, and serving, we'd have much less time or interest in adding to the life of faith Jesus has called us to.

What I'll remember most of the day is the way my friend unashamedly and with care, spoke to others about faith in Jesus, about his pastor, and about his church. And how he prayed with a couple over their son, with the man in the wheelchair, with a mother with her grown son, and  with others. God, help me to live less concerned for myself and more freely for Jesus!