NHCF Blog

by Graham MolThe earlier sunrises, the later sunsets, the warmth in air, the budding blossoms and leaves, these are all things that mark the beginning period of Spring and one can sense the anticipation building for those sweet Summer rains. One of joys of the changing seasons, especially that of going from the dry, desolate Winter into Spring is that you are reminded of the incredible beauty of God's creation. Our plum trees in full blossom and now starting to sprout leaves "And I think to myself,What a wonderful world"This is the refrain Louis Armstrong repeats in his famous song, as he reflects on the things of beauty and wonder in this world. It is a delightful song, a happy song, and a good reminder to stop a moment and take in the wonder and beauty of this world around us. Although marred by the curse of sin, this world we live in still bear much of what made it "very good" in the beginning when God created it.It is good for us to look upon all that God has made and delight in it, to gaze with awe and wonder at the beauty and intricacy at which He has crafted each little and mighty thing. Our appreciation leads to worship of the One who made it all:Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3)I would like to encourage you to look around and notice the signs of the oncoming warm weather, the hints of Springtime and as you do so take time to worship the Lord in wonder and gratitude for everything that He has made.10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;    it flows between the mountains.11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;    the wild donkeys quench their thirst.12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;    they sing among the branches.13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;    the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,    and plants for people to cultivate—    bringing forth food from the earth:15 wine that gladdens human hearts,    oil to make their faces shine,    and bread that sustains their hearts.16 The trees of the Lord are well watered,    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.17 There the birds make their nests;    the stork has its home in the junipers.18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;    the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,    and the sun knows when to go down.20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,    and all the beasts of the forest prowl.21 The lions roar for their prey    and seek their food from God.22 The sun rises, and they steal away;    they return and lie down in their dens.23 Then people go out to their work,    to their labor until evening.24 How many are your works, Lord!In wisdom you made them all;the earth is full of your creatures.25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small.(Psalm 104:10-25)What a wonderful world indeed!https://youtu.be/rBrd_3VMC3cGod BlessGraham

by Graham MolIn Paul's first letter to the Church at Corinth he makes an interesting statement about how he uses his freedom in Christ. The following passage comes from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.Someone might say that Paul was being two-faced or hypocritical or inconsistent. They might say that he became a different person depending on who he was around. For example, Paul would be the guy "drinking tea" with the teetotallers one day and having a pint with the guys the next. Or eating kosher with the Rabbinovitz's last night and having a cheese and bacon burger for lunch with the Joneses today. At first glance it may seem that Paul is inconsistent, "I have become all things to all people..." but that would be to ignore his reason for doing so."...so that by all possible means I might save some." Paul was deeply committed to sharing the Gospel. He was one hundred percent devoted to winning souls for Christ. In this quest he was unwavering. Although he could act differently around different people, Paul always knew who he was, a child of God and a servant of Christ. And as Christ's servant he was always trying to reach the lost with the Gospel message.Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of Paul's words really captures that heart of what Paul was saying. "I kept my bearings in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view." In this Paul was a pioneer of missionary work. Those who go as evangelists on missions…