With the 33 senseless murders on the Virginia Tech campus a few days behind us I think its time to reflect and learn from this demonstration of evil in our world. There are many unanswered questions and many things we do not know. But there are a few things I would like to point out for you.

It is not a time to rant about police strategy, campus awareness, or point the finger at anyone to find someone to blame.
Our first and total committment should be to the comfort of the ones who have lost their family members, to pray for them and lift them up to God asking Him to bring comfort in this difficult time. Trying to answer the why for them will be hard. All of us can empathize with the anger, sorrow, and despair they are now feeling.

God weeps with them.

Can you imagine the pain He feels when a person created and purposed for good works has their life come to a sudden unexpected end. He is grieved when one that is created in His image is overcome by the power of darkness, who now under the total control of demons and death, injures and destroys life. It reminds us that our enemy in life is not a person, in this case a deranged young man, our enemy is not an object, the guns he used, but our enemy is evil itself, the devil who is behind all the evil and rebellion in the world. If you want someone to blame and hate, then hate the devil. He hates what is good, seeks to kill, steal and destroy, and works to hamstring the efforts of Christians to bring the hope of life to the world.

Jesus said "for this purpose I came into the world, to destroy the works of the devil" You and I must carry on this mandate by seeing the real enemy and commit to stand up to his strategies by overcoming evil with good. As we share the message of His love and life changing power accompanied by the good works we were created for we establish the Kingdom of God here on earth.

This tragedy reminds us that the work is not done and we must engage our lives in the work of the cross, bringing the eternal perspective back into the lives of those in our world. Shed a tear as you pray and feel the loss, then rise up with a strong new determination to make a difference!

May God help each one of us to shine His light brighter today!! PB

What a great day to exercise your faith and believe God for the miraculous! Here is a great question? How many impossible things have you done this year so far?
I love asking myself that question because it keeps me in the faith zone! Since we know that the way to please God is living by faith it stirs me to continually stretch myself into new arenas, to look for opportunities, to seek the counsel of God and step out in uncharted waters confidently!

When the Holy Spirit stirs the heart with an impossible vision or dream it is like the pool of Siloam that used to be stirred by an angel at certain times of the year. The first one in the water would be healed. What that means is the people there had to be waiting with a vigilance, always keeping an eye on the water, being ready to move. Those that got distracted always missed the opportunity because they were not paying attention!

Sometimes we get so concerned with the challenge that we are facing we do not realize the opportunity that God has just put in front of us! It might be that someone in your world needs to see you walk in faith and unveil the goodness and greatness of God! It might be that God wants reveal to you a solution to a problem that has never been seen before and package it as a new product, sell it, and become a millionaire in the process so you can support spreading the Good News to every creature! You never know! Thats why we are to always declare that all things work together for our good! God causes that and if we are paying attention we will see it and find joy and peace in the midst of doing life! Live the Good Life in God today!

Have a faith filled day! PB

Wow! What an incredible weekend! God moved on this place in a wonderful life changing way! Thank you to all the volunteers that make things happen on the weekend! Your part is absolutely the biggest key to what makes New Beginnings great! May God bless all of you!

I'm back at the blog desk after a short vacation! I also have an email blast that should soon be functioning to keep connected with those who like email! There is so much technology hitting the seen I can't even dream of keeping up, but we want at NBCC to use the technology that will be most helpful to the most people. Let me know what works best for you!

Lisa and I are SOOOOO glad to be back and we are ready for this great season of coming "Alive" to every promise of God! It is easy to get caught in the busyness of life and miss the beautiful things that are happening. Spring is that season that things come alive. I think this is one of the most beautiful times of the year when all the trees and bushes bloom! God causes an annual renewal and wake up in the spring time. That is the God we serve. His Kingdom works in cycles and when we are aware of those and don't let them pass unnoticed we reap great rewards. Let me encourage you to not let this beautiful time go unnoticed because of all the things you have going on! Go get a camera and find the most beautiful flowering tree and take a picture. Just that alone will remind you that God can take something that looks dead and bring it to life!

What are you needing Him to bring back to life in your world? Don't be fooled by what it looks like on the outside! God is working on the inside and "life" will work its way to the surface of any situation or circumstance if we will be patient. Reaffirm your trust in God! In fact say with me right now: "I put my trust in you Father, You are my hope and my strength! I trust You!

If you really mean it, your heart will respond with joy and peace! Now enjoy it for the rest of the day!

God Bless, PB