http://necchurch.org/blogBlog Updatesen-us by Jay Close “The wheel in the sky keeps on turning, don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow.” Maybe you remember the words to that old rock song. I thought of them while reading this week’s passage from Ezekiel. That Old Testament prophet has...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=107419Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:04:16 Z By Mark Arsenault During a storm, with the disciples rowing furiously across the Sea of Galilee, fear crept in. It’s dark and they’re three miles out - too far to go back.  Suddenly, they see our Lord walking toward them on the...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=107321Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:52:06 Z By Ronnie Cordrey Disclaimer:  my mind is a highway with many exit ramps . . . I usually take every one. In other words, the following thoughts are random! Remember the movie “Footloose?”  In that movie, Kevin Bacon actually...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=107194Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:39 Z By Mary Clift “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2.       Don’t you think God loves mystery?  You know those times,...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=107145Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:39:22 Z Growing up, I can’t tell you how many times I was told to be a good boy.  Whenever my parents were leaving me with a sitter, sending me off to school, or counting on me to behave, it was a phrase I heard most often.  In many homes, it’s...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106967Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:50:18 Z By Chris Booth I would not deem myself as a consistent reader throughout the year; however, if I get a chance to take a vacation I do like to be challenged and inspired through a good book.  Recently I began reading a book by Wess...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106904Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:41:05 Z By Joe Arnold   Really, in many ways, it’s a miracle that I became a Christian and am still, by His grace, a follower, however imperfect.  You see, I’ve always been a questioning soul even though I was raised in church and have a...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106878Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:35:20 Z By Michelle Melhorn   It's that time again . . . school supplies, litter the aisles, parents elbowing each other for the last box of markers (classic colors, not bold!), shopping for new school clothes, new bedtime routines.  If...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106825Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:55:35 Z By Randy Gordon   Luke 19:48 (NLT)  But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.   Do you remember the old E.F. Hutton commercials? They all ended with E.F. Hutton speaking and...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106785Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:42:56 Z By Ben White   Spring ushers in new life.  Grass begins to grow.  Flowers begin to bloom.  The bare trees are soon full of big, green leaves; that is, except for the tree that provides much-needed shade over the back deck at...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106748Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:56:24 Z By Mike Mack   My 17-year-old son Jordan just purchased his first car, a sporty little blue Saturn (formerly owned by Jon Wren and then Murphy Belding).  Jordan finally had freedom! He could drive to his friends’ houses, to the...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106698Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:20:50 Z By Wendie Gabbard   A few years ago, 3-D pictures came out called Stereograms.  They grew in popularity and seemed to be everywhere; in art shops, department stores and endless merchandise carts in the shopping malls.  They...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106642Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:42:01 Z By Joy Clevenger My best friend and I worked at a summer camp for four years and became friends with the caretaker’s son.  A huge deal to fifteen-year-old girls since he was definitely the “cool” kid.  We’d hit the teenager jackpot at...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106577Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:57:54 Z By Melody Mathews Eva:  “Mom!  Nate hit me on the head!!” Nate:  “No, I didn’t!  I wasn’t anywhere near you!” Eva:  “Yes you did . . . you butt-head!” Lily:  “Make them shut up, Mom!” Just a...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106510Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:13:41 Z By Cricket Hater I will admit, I am a sucker for fashion makeover shows! I think you can probably find one on any time of day in some form or, fashion (no pun intended!). There are shows that ambush the couture-challenged. Shows that feature...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106428Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:02:30 Z By Mary Clift I have always enjoyed making things.  When I was young, I always had a new craft or project that I was working on.  As I got older, the projects became larger and included things like furniture.  There’s something...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106375Thu, 28 May 2009 18:44:40 Z By Logan Murphy   During this time of year, there just seems to be a buzz about many things: school is close to ending, vacations are quickly approaching, pools will open soon, yard work doesn’t feel like a chore yet, bird nests are...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106342Thu, 21 May 2009 14:55:53 Z By Steve Scott In my spare time, when I can stay awake long enough, I like to read.  Most often, I find myself reading leadership books or biographies about great leaders in history because I can learn so much from their experiences- both...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106307Thu, 14 May 2009 16:35:02 Z By Shannan Volters Okay, I know what you’re thinking:  she’s going to write about David and Goliath.  (1 Samuel 17)  You would be wrong - at least in part, because I plan on writing (mostly) about the other people in the...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106236Tue, 12 May 2009 14:59:09 Z By Jon Wren “I love it when a plan comes together” – Hannibal Smith, the A-team . . . Remember the A-team?  Growing up I used to love to watch that show and see how Hannibal’s team put a plan together that involved different people,...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106160Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:55:13 Z By Laura Wingfield While preparing for this writing assignment, my “blogger friend” told me to read through the Scriptures until I found one that grabbed me.  Okay, that sounded easy enough.  Here’s the one that got to me:  2...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106118Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:22:48 Z By Jay Close Ever been lost? Not just temporarily misplaced, but really lost? I’ve been lost in both Pennsylvania and Ohio. On both occasions I tried to follow the map with bad results. My wife Darlene wandered through Ohio with me and...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106069Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:35:43 Z By Barb Gritton When I read, I see pictures in my head. It could be a novel or a biography, a do it yourself manual or a script.  A movie plays in my mind,  illustrating whatever is on the page. The people and the scenes are so vivid...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=106012Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:12:48 Z By Joe Arnold I may not like to admit it, but I’m a struggler. I’ve been a Christian for over 30 years. I try and follow God everyday, but when times are difficult, I struggle.  How about you?  The Psalms were written as songs...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=105938Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:45:45 Z By Tari Reynolds Ah, family vacations, road trips, visiting relatives who live in other states. With all that our modern technology has to offer, the age-old question still persists: “Are we there yet?” Those little voices from the back seat...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=105906Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:19:48 ZBy Jerry Anderson “Deuteronomy” means law. Ugh! Who wants to read about law except lawyers, right? Should we skip this book? Not so fast! Our passages in Deuteronomy this week capture the final instructions Moses gave to his people before his...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=105856Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:40:47 Z By Vicki Cherry “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold” is a modern translation of Romans 12:2, and I first heard that paraphrase when I was a teenager.  It was probably said by one of my youth group sponsors, or some other adult...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=105821Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:20:53 Z By Bill Clark After reading this week’s Bible reading plan, I’ve got some questions.    Do you ever lack faith?  I do.  When it happens, do you find yourself complaining about life, your 401k, your job, your...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=105782Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:58:57 Z By Tom Black I’ve spent most of my life thinking that I should be able to do things on my own.  I guess being told to “walk it off” or “deal with it” really stuck with me as a kid.  It wasn’t until I walked away from a business...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=105728Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:51:07 ZBy Murphy Belding When I read the Scriptures for this week, I was struck with this thought:  “Only willing believers grow.”  John Stott, a British Christian leader who is noted as a leader of the worldwide evangelical movement, said...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=1177Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:11:08 ZBy Deborah Dale.     Almost 3 years ago, our family had a sense that we needed to be doing something different. Bruce and I had had the privilege of going on a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic together. The...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=1133Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:15:28 Z By Matt McFarren I am a Kansas boy, born and raised. I grew up in a small town right in the middle of the state and of course, the stereotypes of Kansas for the most part are true. Yes, it is flat. Yes, there is a lot of wind and tornadoes....http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=1092Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:12:28 Z By Bob Cherry My wife thinks it’s absurd, but I love to read and study maps.  Two nights ago I had my atlas (which lays right next to my Bible on my nightstand) and I spent about a half hour looking at the maps of Chicago and...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=1057Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:21:01 ZBy Diedre Wade If you’ve known me for any length of time, you probably know that my favorite place in the world is Ireland. The people are hospitable, the culture is rich in history and tradition, and the scenery is absolutely...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=996Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:27:27 ZBy Mike Mack.  What makes you say, “Wow! That’s amazing”? For me, it’s a stunning sunset, certain worship songs, especially when Gordon is singing, and that sacred moment when each of my kids was born. As a mountain biker, here’s some pretty...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=967Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:17:45 Z By Randy Gordon.  As I went through this week’s reading, I was struck by some of the situations that parents were put into. Most of these happened in the Genesis reading.  Abraham is asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. As a...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=937Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:58:45 Z By Ronnie Cordrey.  Wow, week one is certainly full of some big events; events that we will read about throughout the year as others in the Bible refer to them. Just a few that really caught my attention: 1.    Birth of...http://necchurch.org/default.aspx?p=23763&beid=907Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:41:11 Z