Moments ago another college campus shooting took place, this time at my alma mater, Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL.  The shooting took place in Cole Hall where I had multiple classes, on the stage where we used to have Campus Crusade evangelistic outreaches.  As I write this reports are flowing in that a man entered the class in the middle of a geology lecture filled with some 200 students and wounded at least 17 people, several of whom may be dead.  A combination of reactions fill my heart:

1.      Angry.  Hopefully it is righteous anger, but only the Lord Jesus had that perfectly.  It makes me ask the question that the Psalm writer asks:

 Psalm 94:3   O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? 

God’s answer is this: 

 Romans 12:19   Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 

2.      Sober.  This is another chilling example of depravity in our culture.  While we should be horrified by wickedness, we should expect that sin will often take morbid and dark forms such as this.

 Romans 3:10-12  ”None is righteous, no, not one;  ¹¹ no one understands; no one seeks for God.  ¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 

3.      Saddened.  It grieves me to think of the fear and pain happening on the campus that brought me such sweet memories.  Unfortunately many of these students will have this forever mark and stain their college years.  

4.     Hopeful.  At Virginia Tech there was a great outpouring of Gospel ministry that happened as a result of that tragedy.  Somehow, God is pleased to get glory in dark providences such as this.  Let’s pray for those who are injured, scarred, and for those who will minister to them in the coming days, weeks, and beyond.

This Friday our leaders will travel to Pine Valley for our annual leadership retreat.  As I prepare for our time, I’m reminded of several helpful admonitions concerning our responsibility to those God places in authority over us in the church:

Hebrews 13:7  Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:17-18  Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  

2 Thessalonians 3:1  Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you… 

In light of these passages, pray for us in three areas: 

1. Pray that God would spiritually refresh us this weekend so that we might exhibit godly lives worthy of imitation.

2. Pray for us as we consider how we might be more effective in “keeping watch over your souls,” as those who will give an accounting for our labors. 

3. Pray that God would give us great wisdom in planning how to be most effective in our ministries so that “the Word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored.”

 I’m so grateful for these godly men and for the deep love, respect and friendship that abounds among us.  Pray that God would strengthen and equip us, and that we would come away from this time renewed in our zeal for the glory of God and the good of His church.  We look forward to worshipping with you this Lord’s Day.

I’m preparing for our worship service tomorrow, thinking about our confession of sin, and this truth came alive to me from some morning reading: When we confess our sin, the very nature of the activity requires a call to humility.  One of the most distinctive marks of Christian maturity is the absence of pride.  Listen to how Paul, the most eminent saint in history, describes himself:  

Ephesians 3:7-8  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.  8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Recently I’ve been reading Holiness, a Christian classic by the 19th century Anglican bishop J.C. Ryle.  Listen to his rich words on the need for humility: 

He that desires to be saved, let him know this day that the first steps toward heaven are a deep sense of sin and a lowly estimate of ourselves.  Let him cast away that weak and silly tradition that the beginning of religion is to feel ourselves “good.”  Let him rather grasp that grand scriptural principle,  that we must begin by feeling bad; and that until we feel really bad, we know nothing of true “goodness” or saving Christianity.  Happy is he who has learned to draw near to God with the prayer of the publican, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”                                          Holiness, p.282

Lord Jesus, we thank you that the way of salvation is the way of humility.  The way of forgiveness is the way of the cross -to have our hearts humbled before you, not proud or lifted up in our own estimation.  Left to our own designs, we would find a thousand ways to make ourselves look better, more esteemed by others, more righteous in our own eyes, and more puffed up in the esteem of ourselves.  Thank you, Jesus that you walked the road of humility before us: 

Philippians 2:3-8   Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

Matthew 11:28-30  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

Matthew 18:4   Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

May God grant us humility before him as we seek His face in worship tomorrow, as we confess our sin without any sense of self-justification, and as we walk before Him, rejoicing in the ancient truth:

Matthew 23:12  “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Grace and Peace -Pastor David 

The following announcement is from a good friend of North City, Dr Peter Jones, director of Christian Witness to a Pagan Planet.  The upcoming seminar will certainly prove helpful as Christians engage our culture concerning stewardship of our planet and vital topics such as global warming.  Make plans to come if you are able.  Here is the announcemt from CWiPP:

Are you concerned and confused about how we as Christians should view the earth and our mandate to protect and keep it? Please join us on Wednesday, January 23 at 7:00 p.m. for a public lecture held by Christian Witness to a Pagan Planet (CWiPP), the ministry of Dr. Peter Jones, on the topic of Deep Ecology and Spirituality.  Our speaker, Dr. Cal Beisner is the associate professor of historical theology and social ethics at Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the author of eleven books and hundreds of articles, both academic and popular.  The lecture will be held at New Life Presbyterian Church: 615 W. Citracado Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025.  Please contact Alicia Gutierrez at 760-580-7434 for more information. 

After a short holiday break, Women’s Bible Study has begun again!  The women of NCPC are studying the book of Acts on Wednesday mornings and evenings — call the church office for details - (858) 748-4642

We Californians love our individualism.  Yet we must confess that individualism at times can take us to a place that is far from biblical. God, in His infinite wisdom and design, has created us to live in community with one another. A community of unity among diversity that reflects to the world the transforming power of the gospel!Our Community Groups here at North City are one way that we are seeking to encourage this type of life style. And so, I would like to encourage you to consider being part of one of our groups, especially those of you who feel disconnected from the rest of the body.After a holiday break, our North City Community Groups are again in full swing!  We have four groups that meet around the county for you to choose from.   Be sure and get information about our groups on Sundays or call the church office for more info!

Hello all.  We have decided to start a blog where the NCPC pastors (and others) can share information and ideas.