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<title>North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene</title><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/index.html</link><description>Sunday worship at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><dc:rights>&#xa9;2008 North Raleigh Nazarene</dc:rights><dc:date>2010-09-05T13:23:04-04:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Sun, 08 Jun 2008 16:32:01 -0400</lastBuildDate><<pubDate> attributes>value</<pubDate>><<itunes:duration> attributes>value</<itunes:duration>><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Red Letter Words: Worship</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-09-05T13:23:04-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html#unique-entry-id-187</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html#unique-entry-id-187</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how the worship looks to other people. ...  It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right place.


...We are not to worship saints, prophets, statues, angels, any false gods, or Mary, the mother of Jesus.   We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing. ...  Worship can be public praise to God in a congregational setting, where we can proclaim through prayer and praise our adoration and thankfulness to Him and what He has done for us. 

...True worship is not confined to what we do in church or open praise (although these things are both good and we are told in the Bible to do them). ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Red Letter Words: Serve</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-08-29T13:57:17-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html#unique-entry-id-186</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html#unique-entry-id-186</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A farmer had a team of horses in which one horse consistently worked harder than any of the others. 

...In fact, pastors often refer to what they call the 80-20 rule, which states that 20 percent of the church members do 80 percent of the work. 

...Some don&rsquo;t serve because their commitment to Christ and His church is half-hearted. 

...Some quit serving because they were serving out of the wrong motivation. ...  But for whatever reason, many Christians grow weary of the hassle of serving the Lord and retreat to a more comfortable seat on the sidelines.


...Jesus said, &ldquo;The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Red Letter Words: Trust</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-08-22T13:31:03-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html#unique-entry-id-185</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html#unique-entry-id-185</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The note read: "pour all the water into the top of the pump to prime it, if you do this you will get all the water you need".   Now the man had a choice to make, if he trusted the note and poured the water in and it worked he would have all the water he needed. ...  Or he could choose to drink the water in the jug and get immediate satisfaction, but it might not be enough and he still might die. ...  He poured the entire jug into the pump and began to work the handle, at first nothing happened and he got a little scared but he kept going and water started coming out. 

...Jesus calls on two people to trust Him in different ways&ndash;but both are offered the chance to &ldquo;prime the pump&rdquo; of faith by forcing reliance on Jesus Christ. ...  Then we have an anonymous figure that has faith in Jesus but hasn&rsquo;t taken a public stand, acknowledging Him before the crowds. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Red Letter Words: Pray</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-08-15T13:33:58-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html#unique-entry-id-184</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html#unique-entry-id-184</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this simple prayer is that it is a clear and compelling articulation of a relationship of trust.   Jesus does not hold back in asking for what he needs, and in encouraging us to ask for what we need. 

...In a loving community, we can be released from our fears, knowing that there will always be somebody to offer us a piece of bread or to stand with us in solidarity.   When our own basic needs are being met, we are then free to go out into the world and be bearers of Good News and liberation to others.


The Lord&rsquo;s Prayer reminds us that prayer is something that can be taught, which means that it can be learned. ...  Prayer is not a competition, and it&rsquo;s okay if it doesn&rsquo;t come naturally, or if you feel like you have to work at it and you&rsquo;re not really sure that you&rsquo;re doing it right. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Red Letter Words: Forgiveness</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-08-08T12:49:56-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2010#unique-entry-id-183</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2010#unique-entry-id-183</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When a person is caught committing a crime, they are placed in the center of the village and are surrounded by the rest of the people.   One by one the people around the circle face the accused and state the good things the person has done, recounting in great detail positive memories of the man or woman in the middle.   The ceremony itself can last for days, and at its closing the person is welcomed back into the tribe with great jubilation.


...He taught them saying: &ldquo;Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins.   But if you don&rsquo;t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.&rdquo; 

...Perhaps he knew that the one thing we needed in our own lives to grasp the love and forgiveness of God is to provide the same to others. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Red Letter Words</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-08-01T13:42:05-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2010#unique-entry-id-182</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2010#unique-entry-id-182</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Red-letter Bibles have become so common that it&rsquo;s easy to assume they have been around for as long as Bibles have been printed. 

...Klopsch was an early supporter of Moody&rsquo;s Bible Institute in Chicago, rallying Christian Herald readers to send in contributions for the financially strapped school.


...When reading Jesus&rsquo; words, &ldquo;This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you&rdquo; (Luke 22:20), he thought of printing all of Jesus&rsquo; words in red, the color of his blood.


&ldquo;Modern Christianity,&rdquo; Klopsch wrote in an explanatory note in his red- letter Bible, &ldquo;is striving zealously to draw nearer to the great Founder of the Faith.   Setting aside mere human doctrines and theories regarding Him, it presses close to the Divine Presence, to gather from His own lips the definition of His mission to the world and His own revelation of the Father...   The Red Letter Bible has been prepared and issued in the full conviction that it will meet the needs of the student, the worker, and the searchers after truth everywhere.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Jonah: Unbelievable God</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-07-25T13:59:18-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2010#unique-entry-id-181</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2010#unique-entry-id-181</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Born in a small town in Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (782-753 B.C.), Jonah's mission was to preach repentance to one of Israel's dreaded enemies, Assyria, in its capital city, Nineveh.


When God commanded Jonah to leave his native city in Israel to go to Nineveh and preach, Jonah was furious. ...  The point was, if Jonah could have pity on a bit of vegetation, couldn't God have pity on an entire city full of people?


Most of the discussion that surrounds the Book of Jonah concerns whether or not these events could actually have happened. ...  That it took a miracle for Jonah to survive his long stay inside the fish is not denied.   If God could create a world, fish, and Jonah, he certainly could handle a matter like that (1:17).
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Jonah: Attitude Adjustment</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-07-18T13:26:34-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2010#unique-entry-id-180</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2010#unique-entry-id-180</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A few years ago there was a church here in the United States that lost fifteen percent of its membership over an issue regarding baseball caps. 

...This is what happened: A couple of high school athletes were late getting home on a Saturday night, because their team had played in a tournament a number of miles away. 

...The next Sunday, even though the boys had plenty of time to shower and get ready, they still wore their baseball caps. 

...To make a long story short, the leaders of this church said to the pastor that he needed to fix the situation because people were pretty worked up about it.   The pastor was back and forth on the issue, thinking, These guys have a right to wear baseball caps if they want to. 

...The question for this morning is &ldquo;What is standing between me, and the people God is concerned about, in my life that needs to die in order for me to influence them toward Jesus?&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c; Jonah: Second Chances</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-07-05T12:31:24-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2010#unique-entry-id-179</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2010#unique-entry-id-179</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Declaration of Independence, approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, is a statement of the principles that two days earlier had led Congress to vote for the independence of the American colonies from Great Britain. 

...In 1776, 99.85% of Americans professed Christianity as their faith [98.3% Protestant, 1.55% Catholic] while 0.14% were Jewish and 0.01% claimed neither Christianity nor Judaism. ...  Benjamin Rush, the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence wrote in his letter to his wife during his final illness: &ldquo;Blessed Jesus, wash away all my impurities, and receive me into thy everlasting Kingdom.&rdquo; 


Thomas Jefferson had to defend his faith before the world, as he wrote in a letter to his friend Benjamin Rush, &ldquo;I am a Christian in the only sense in which He [Jesus] wished any one to be. ...  In seeking independence from Great Britain the colonists declared to the world their belief in a personal, infinite God-&ldquo;their Creator"-who endowed them with certain "inalienable" or absolute rights...

...May we learn from this account that God is the God of second chances and we have hope when we place our dependence upon God.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Jonah: Man on the Run</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-06-13T13:11:01-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jun-2010#unique-entry-id-178</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jun-2010#unique-entry-id-178</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We are going to be beginning a five-part series on the book of Jonah. 


...It&rsquo;s the story of a guy who doesn&rsquo;t do what God wants him to do. ...  The whale throws him up on shore, and he gets to be a real boy for the rest of his life. 

...The Book of Jonah contains a story that a lot of people consider to be a kid story that you hear only about in Sunday school.   The truth is though, that the story of Jonah really speaks into all of our lives if we listen to the Spirit of God. 

...	&bull;	when we seek the fleeting pleasures of this world over the eternal joy of God;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Jordan Unfried  &#x7c;  Graduation Sunday</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-06-06T13:21:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jun-2010#unique-entry-id-177</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jun-2010#unique-entry-id-177</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Today is a day we celebrate the graduates in our church. 


The transitions and life changes that are ahead for our graduates can be a scary thing, especially when the unknown can appear so daunting.   We come along side them to pray over them, encourage them, and send them into a world that needs the love of Christ.


North Raleigh is not a place to come and worship for ourselves, but a place to teach, develop, and send out the next generation of leaders in the church &ndash;a place where Christ comes first.   The importance of a community of believers, the necessity of communal worship is the message we leave our students with today.


...As humans, we are not perfect, and yet in our imperfections, we&ndash;the body&ndash;can direct people to the One who is perfect, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Relearning Prayer</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-04-25T13:49:48-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/apr-2010#unique-entry-id-176</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/apr-2010#unique-entry-id-176</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[People rush from one commitment to another, often trying to squeeze in even more responsibilities along the way.   Sadly, our frantic scheduling and multi-tasking even impacts our relationships, which can cause some people in our lives to feel neglected or insignificant.   It&rsquo;s a far different picture, however, when we look at the relationship God wants to have with His people. 


...Because He is &ldquo;attentive to [our] cries&rdquo; (verse 15), we can be assured that our prayers don&rsquo;t just bounce off the ceiling. ...  And this compassion leads to powerful acts on our behalf when we seek Him in prayer.   Today, Pastor Rick continues sharing his heart about the importance of meeting with others in corporate prayer.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  The Practice of the Presence of God</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-05-23T13:45:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/may-2010#unique-entry-id-175</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/may-2010#unique-entry-id-175</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[He was assigned to the monastery kitchen where, amidst the tedious chores of cooking and cleaning at the constant bidding of his superiors, he developed his rule of spirituality and work. 


In his book"Maxims,&rdquo; Brother Lawrence writes, &ldquo;Men invent means and methods of coming at God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. 

...First published around 1699, four conversations and fifteen letters from this Carmelite lay brother were published in a little book titled, The Practice of the Presence of God.   John Wesley is thought to be the first person to bring 'The Practice of the Presence of God' to the US when he made his first visit to Georgia.   In it we learn how to engage in a continuous conversation with God&ndash;a way of faith, love, humility, and simplicity that anyone can practice anywhere at any time.


To live moment by moment conscious of the Lord's presence is the key to Christian living&ndash;this is the key to a growing personal relationship with God in the midst of the busyness of life. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  How Corporate Prayer Will Change Our Church</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-04-18T13:16:21-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/apr-2010#unique-entry-id-173</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/apr-2010#unique-entry-id-173</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The doctor had been somewhat delayed at the hospital, and the lab work took a little longer than usual so by the time she left the clinic she was running quite a bit behind schedule.   She still had to pick up her prescription, pick up the children from the baby-sitter, and get home and make supper, all in time to make it to the prayer meeting at her church that evening.


As she began to circle the busy Wal-Mart parking lot, looking for a space, the windows of heaven were opened and a downpour began.   While she wasn&rsquo;t usually the type to bother God with small problems, she began to pray as she turned down the row closest to the front door. 

...The words weren&rsquo;t even completely out of her mouth when she saw the backup lights of a car come on at the end of the row.   It was the best space in the whole parking lot, right next to the handicap spots and straight out from the front door. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Resurrection Sunday</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-04-04T14:16:39-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/apr-2010#unique-entry-id-172</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/apr-2010#unique-entry-id-172</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A number of years ago, during a British Conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world gathered together and debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. 

...When it comes to the grace of God, it is, without question, one of the most unlimited, and sad to say, most unappreciated attributes of God Himself.   It seems as if the longer that we are saved; the more familiar we become with grace; thus, the more careless, and callous toward it.


But, I submit to you today, that Resurrection Sunday is the day to remember that Grace is God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. 

...An example, we read in the Bible: If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we&rsquo;re a pretty sorry lot.   But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Liar&#x2c; Lunatic or Lord?: Dangerous Jesus</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-03-07T13:27:33-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/mar-2010#unique-entry-id-171</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/mar-2010#unique-entry-id-171</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Lewis, lay theologian and Christian apologist, makes this statement, &ldquo;A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.   He would either be a lunatic-on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or he would be the devil of hell. ...  You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. 

...Your life on this earth and for all of eternity is affected by your answer to this question.   All other religions [such as Hinduism; Buddhism; Confucianism and Islam] were founded by human beings and are based on man-made philosophies, rules and norms for behavior. ...  True Christianity is based on a vital, personal relationship with a Risen Founder who is our living Savior and Lord. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Liar&#x2c; Lunatic or Lord?</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-02-28T18:37:12-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/feb-2010#unique-entry-id-170</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/feb-2010#unique-entry-id-170</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[During Lent, many of us set aside time for prayer and devotion, or give up pleasures and conveniences, in order to draw nearer to Christ's sufferings. 

...We are going to take the next four weeks to examine the great truths about Jesus and the final days of his earthly ministry from Luke Chapter 9. 

...In his commentary on Luke chapter nine, Warren Wiersbe writes: Jesus is about to embark on His final &ldquo;campaign&rdquo; in Galilee before going to Jerusalem to die (v. ...  He sent the apostles out to minister and prepared them in private for the ministry they would have after His return to glory.   The Twelve still had a long way to go before they could assume places of leadership and service, but Jesus was patient with them, just as He is patient with us.


I believe in these verses that we will study over the next four weeks will share with us great truths about who Jesus is. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Hungry for God</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-02-21T13:35:01-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/feb-2010#unique-entry-id-169</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/feb-2010#unique-entry-id-169</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Listen]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Big Enough to Bless Me</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-02-07T14:33:18-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/feb-2010#unique-entry-id-168</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/feb-2010#unique-entry-id-168</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Learn what the Bible has to say about the character of God and fall in love with the One who reigns supreme over heaven and earth.


Have you noticed that the word blessing is slowly going away from our modern vocabulary and has kind of gone out of favor for


...You can still hear it occasionally in certain context like when someone sneezes, or after someone has done a good deed, but it is often little more than a kind farewell. ...  Even today's believers who regard the word as having any real meaning to it rarely use it except on a special occasion.


...The tithe is God&rsquo;s property that we are required to return to Him; however an &ldquo;offering&rdquo; is that which we give voluntarily out of our own property after the tithe has been given.   As we give our tithes, and give offerings above our tithe to God, He will continue to bless us and multiply our return as we worship in obedience to His commands.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Big Enough to Guide my Life</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-01-17T13:27:33-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jan-2010#unique-entry-id-167</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jan-2010#unique-entry-id-167</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[There have been days in my life where I have certainly questioned God and wondered if He was sure He knew what He was doing. ...  What I am learning is that people in Scripture, people in history, people in my present life had it bad, too, and they all found a way to understand the will of the Lord. 

...There are times in our life that God must bring us to the edge of despair before He can give us hope for the future.   There are times in our life that God must bring us to the edge of hunger before He can fill us.   There are times in our life that God must bring us to the edge of desperate thirst before He can pour His spirit on us.   We may not think that God has been directing our steps but it has been His desire to birth within us a hunger and a thirst for His satisfaction; for His goodness. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Big Enough to Trust</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2010-01-10T13:37:28-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jan-2010#unique-entry-id-166</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jan-2010#unique-entry-id-166</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[But what most of us do is we give the problem to God for a little while (or only give certain parts of the problem to Him - hanging onto parts ourselves!), and then when things don't go the way we think they should, we run and get our problem back! 

...Asking God for something is like using a credit card: When we ask for something, we "give Him the card". ...  But when we "take it back,&rdquo; for whatever reason, He has to stop working and wait for the "card" back.   And when we try to help God out, we wind up with the "card stuck in the machine"-and nothing gets done until we get our hands out and let God work! 

...Sometimes God doesn't explain what's happening to us or where He is leading us-When He does this, we are to blindly trust that HE knows what He's doing! 

...And we know that God is all power and all knowledge-So stop and think: How much better off we would be if we put our TOTAL trust in God and let Him do for us what HE knows is best! 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  The Christmas Gift</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-12-28T18:09:39-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/dec-2009#unique-entry-id-165</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/dec-2009#unique-entry-id-165</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a young boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. 


...Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, and then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?" 

...After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front on my house?" 

...He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.


...His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent.   And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it... then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Jesus: The Name Says it All&#x21;</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-12-20T13:18:39-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/dec-2009#unique-entry-id-164</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/dec-2009#unique-entry-id-164</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel&rdquo; &ndash; which means, &ldquo;God with us.&rdquo; 


...But the angel said to them&hellip;&ldquo;Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.&rdquo; 


...I recently read about a dad who tells of the time his family was out on their annual Christmas-light drive through town.   A light snow covering made the displays all the prettier: twinkling lights of reds, greens, blues, garlands, majestically decorated evergreens&hellip;the children were wide-eyed. 


...There was starkness and a dignity about the display that spoke louder than all the other light shows that night.


...We invite you to bring family and friends with you to our Christmas Eve service at 5:00pm this coming Thursday.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Shepherds&#x2c; Sheep and a Savior (children&#x27;s presentation)</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-12-13T12:53:29-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/dec-2009#unique-entry-id-163</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/dec-2009#unique-entry-id-163</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[On a hill just outside of Bethlehem, lowly shepherds were tending their sheep at night. ...  People had been passing through for several days as the census was underway, but they hardly spoke at all as they walked by on their way to Bethlehem. 

...They may have been at the bottom of the social ladder in Bethlehem, but God chose shepherds to be the first ones to see the Savior!   This is their story-what they heard and what they saw that marvelous night when God came to dwell with men. 

...To all of our faithful volunteers who minister in the children&rsquo;s area, we say thank you for your service.   Amy Manshack serves as the Director of Children&rsquo;s Ministries here at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Trust God for the Impossible</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-11-29T18:07:18-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/nov-2009#unique-entry-id-162</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/nov-2009#unique-entry-id-162</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Join with us as we see what Simply Christmas is all about ~ a real authentic Christmas this year.


Every Sunday of this time of advent we will feature a presentation from the Seasonal Choir; a live drama vignette; the lighting of the candles on the advent wreath; and a teaching message from Pastor Rick.


...On December 13, we will feature our children&rsquo;s ministry as we view Christmas through the &ldquo;stinky, smelly shepherds&rdquo; &ndash; to seize the moment.   December 20th we will view Christmas with a simple perspective through Jesus&ndash;the name says it all!


We will bring our celebration of advent to a crescendo on Thursday evening, December 24, at 5:00 p.m. as we will gather for our annual Christmas Eve Service&ndash;featuring a moving time of worship, the Christmas message through a simple format, the candle lighting and communion.   Christmas is wonderful time of the year to invite friends, family and neighbors to join you to experience Simply Christmas.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Never Underestimate your Influence</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-12-06T13:39:02-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/dec-2009#unique-entry-id-161</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/dec-2009#unique-entry-id-161</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Right at the beginning the angel announced to Mary that she would conceive a son as recorded in Luke 1:26-27, "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin&rsquo;s name was Mary."


...He was forced to go through a troubling time before God revealed his divine plan for Joseph and his family. ...  I believe it was so that Joseph would learn how to trust God for all the important decisions that he would be called on to make in the next few years. 

...I have read about Joseph, "If a type is to be sought in the character of Joseph, it is that of a simple, honest, hard-working, God-fearing man, who was possessed of large sympathies and a warm heart.   Strict in the observance of Jewish law and custom, he was yet ready when occasion arose to make these subservient to the greater law of the Spirit. ...   Joseph is known to us only as a dim figure in the background of the Gospel narratives, yet his whole-hearted reconciliation to Mary, even in the face of possible slanderings by his neighbors, is indicative that he was not unworthy to fulfill the great trust which was imposed upon him by the Eternal Father."
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Identity Theft: Who I am in Christ</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-11-22T14:22:52-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/nov-2009#unique-entry-id-160</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/nov-2009#unique-entry-id-160</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In this series, we have addressed several different lies that our spiritual enemy wants to use to rob us of our spiritual identity. 

...In John 8:44, Jesus said, &ldquo;When he [the devil] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.&rdquo; 

...We learned the truth which is that we have to be broken, vulnerable and weak because God&rsquo;s strength is made perfect in our weakness. ...  We learned the truth which is: God&rsquo;s power can change anything in us that holds us bondage. 

...&ldquo;I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him.   May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Identity Theft: I&#x27;m Not Good Enough</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-11-15T13:14:07-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/nov-2009#unique-entry-id-159</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/nov-2009#unique-entry-id-159</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It was difficult for soft spoken and calm-natured Norm to face the pressure of panicked agents, and their intense, and sometimes angry demands for immediate service. 

...As a Christian, Norm had prayed and asked the Lord to enable him to have a spiritual impact upon his coworkers, but being soft-spoken and often overpowered by driven and ambitious agents, he was content to let his life, rather than his words be his witness.   One day as he arrived for work, he heard the shocking news that the president of the company had been diagnosed with an aggressive, inoperable, malignant tumor.   Norm had always had a burden for this man who lived a lifestyle totally contrary to God&rsquo;s Word, but there was no way that he felt adequate to speak to this highly intelligent and driven executive about his need for a Savior. 

...Moses truly believed that he was not good enough and offered God reasons he strongly believed that should surely disqualify him. ...  Is God only able to use talented or important people to carry out His will, or is God able to use ordinary people as well? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Identity Theft: This is Just the Way I Am</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-11-08T14:02:19-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/nov-2009#unique-entry-id-158</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/nov-2009#unique-entry-id-158</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Case Study: You were asked to teach your Connection Class on Sunday morning by the lead teacher on the subject of Biblical humility.   You agreed and pored over God&rsquo;s Word for two weeks, and then poured out your own heart to your Connection Class on how God had been dealing with your pride as evidenced in some of your own conflicts with others. 


That Sunday afternoon you received an email from someone in your Connection Class that morning who wrote that they disagreed totally with the steps you laid out as a way to let God develop humility in us. 

...	b	Immediately reply with an email of your own letting them know that they are the one who does not understand, or live a life of humility.


...	e	Pray over it asking God for insight into how you can further grow in humility and asking God for wisdom as to how to talk with this person so that a conflict is resolved and you can both grow in the process.


...So God wants to teach us all how to respond to conflict in a godly way, as Paul did with his Corinthian critics. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>James Knoxx  &#x7c;  Gideons International</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-10-25T13:10:24-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/oct-2009#unique-entry-id-156</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/oct-2009#unique-entry-id-156</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Gideons International, founded in 1899, serves as an extended missionary arm of the church and is the oldest Christian business and professional men's association in the United States of America. 


It's been nearly 100 years since The Gideons International placed the first Bible in a hotel room in Montana. ...  Through God's grace and to His Glory, more than 1.3 billion Bibles and New Testaments have been placed by The Gideons.   In addition to their well-known hotel-room Bibles, the Gideons also distribute Bibles to members of the military of various countries, to hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, and students.


The organization describes its link to the story of Gideon himself: "Gideon was a man who was willing to do exactly what God wanted him to do, regardless of his own judgment as to the plans or results. ...  This is the standard that The Gideons International is trying to establish in all its members, each man to be ready to do God's will at any time, at any place, and in any way that the Holy Spirit leads." 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  How to Stay Calm under Fire</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-10-20T18:12:27-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/oct-2009#unique-entry-id-155</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/oct-2009#unique-entry-id-155</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[He climbed by himself, and not far from the summit, was forced to spend the night out in the open without a sleeping bag or tent.   It was an agonizing bivouac, but Buhl survived&mdash;in part, he later wrote, because he sensed that he shared the ordeal with a companion. 

...In "The Third Man Factor," John Geiger, a fellow at the University of Toronto, presents many accounts of such experiences, and not only from climbers.   Among those who have felt a ghostly companionship, he cites Charles Lindbergh on his solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927 and the last man to walk out of the South Tower of the World Trade Center before it collapsed on 9/11. 


...Geiger writes, &ldquo;the experience has occurred again and again, not only to 9/11 survivors, mountaineers, and divers, but also to polar explorers, prisoners of war, solo sailors, shipwreck survivors, aviators, and astronauts. 

...Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the roaring furnace and called in, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the High God, come out here!" 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Church under the Big Top</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-10-20T18:12:26-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/oct-2009#unique-entry-id-154</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/oct-2009#unique-entry-id-154</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Listen]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Ryan Walker  &#x7c;  LIFE Groups</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-10-04T13:20:17-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/oct-2009#unique-entry-id-153</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/oct-2009#unique-entry-id-153</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Listen]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  The Pursuit of Joy: Part 4</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-09-27T13:36:33-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/sep-2009#unique-entry-id-152</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/sep-2009#unique-entry-id-152</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[And come back and see me in a week," said the wise man. 


...Without the chickens and cow, the woman, her husband, the children, and his two parents got along quite peacefully. 

...This is hardly surprising when we consider that we are bombarded on a daily basis with advertisements whose sole purpose is to breed discontent so that we will buy their product.   How tragic it is that we live in one of the most prosperous nations on the face of the earth and we still struggle with contentment. ...  It appears that the more people have the more discontent they are&hellip; Typically the richest people in the world are the most miserably unhappy. ...  In marked contrast with the widespread discontent of our world, the Apostle Paul spoke on the subject of contentment in the last chapter of his letter to the church at Philippi. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  The Pursuit of Joy: Part 3</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-09-20T13:06:17-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/sep-2009#unique-entry-id-151</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/sep-2009#unique-entry-id-151</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Antoine de Saint-Exupery's delightful fantasy about The Little Prince includes the story of a fox who wishes to be tamed, thereby becoming unique in all the world in the sight of the little prince who tames him.   At their departure, the fox gifts the little prince with three insights that clarify his purpose, including this simple secret: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."


...Paul revealed his heart when he wrote to the saints in Philippi of his longing for completeness in his relationship to Christ: "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 

...The world's agenda burdens us with a multiplicity of worries and "desires for other things" (Mark 4:19) that can never satisfy the spiritual hunger of the human heart. ...  Our Lord wants us to lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, so that we can run with endurance the race that is set before us as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith (Heb. ...  Paul lets us in on a discipline that can revolutionize our lives: "one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead..." 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  The Pursuit of Joy: Part 2</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-09-13T14:18:32-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/sep-2009#unique-entry-id-150</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/sep-2009#unique-entry-id-150</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In our text today, Paul tells us that nothing is to be done out of &ldquo;selfish ambition.&rdquo; ...  Rather, there is a threat to the fellowship on account of the self-preoccupation of certain individuals who have formed cliques or parties within the church&rdquo;.   Paul says that if there is to be true joy in the church, these groups must stop fighting for there own rights and start looking out for the needs and interests of the other groups. 

...And when you are, you&rsquo;ll be looking at that door over there and knowing that practically everybody who walks through it wants something out of you.   You&rsquo;ll learn what a lonely job this is, and you&rsquo;ll discover the need for somebody like Harry Hopkins, who asks for nothing except to serve you.&rdquo; 

...But the moment we begin seeking to bring joy to others rather than ourselves, we will find it. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  The Pursuit of Joy</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-09-06T13:05:34-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/sep-2009#unique-entry-id-149</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/sep-2009#unique-entry-id-149</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We chase after the boy, the girl, the car, the job and the American Dream only to find that happiness is a moving target.   While happiness is short lived and good times are in short supply, there is still the pursuit of something better, something lasting, something called JOY.


In this four week study of the book of Philippians, we will go on a quest to unlock the power of joy in our lives.   For centuries the book of Philippians has been called the &ldquo;Epistle of Joy&rdquo; as it overflows with joy and thanksgiving.   Written by Paul while in chains and under house arrest in Rome, his writing is really a love letter to brothers and sisters in Christ that he deeply loves. 

...In addition, we encourage you to join us as we take &ldquo;The Philippians Challenge&rdquo; during this time by reading through the book of Philippians (about 12-15 minutes) every day during the month of September.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  A Unanimous Agreement</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-08-23T13:41:07-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2009#unique-entry-id-148</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2009#unique-entry-id-148</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Mark Barnes, the district superintendent of the North Carolina District of the Church of the Nazarene met with the local church board of North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene.


The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a pastoral review and ministry evaluation.   At the close of the meeting, the members of the church board came to a unanimous decision to extend Pastor Rick&rsquo;s call for another four years. 


Pastor Rick feels there are some other unanimous agreements that need to be made this morning. 

...It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.   It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Is Heaven a Real Place?</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-08-09T13:36:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2009#unique-entry-id-147</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2009#unique-entry-id-147</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and ready for me to enter it and abide in peace eternally without fear of being ejected.   There is a valley of deep shadow between the place where I live in California and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. 


...But I am not afraid, because the best friend that I have ever had went through the same valley alone, a long, long, time ago and drove away all the gloom. ...  He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows, and I shall not lose my way when He is with me.   I hope to hear your sermon on "Heaven" next Sunday from my home, but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. ...  Yes, I am ready to go and may not be here while you are talking next Sunday, but I shall meet you there some day."
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  How Much You Matter to God</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-08-03T08:57:13-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2009#unique-entry-id-146</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/aug-2009#unique-entry-id-146</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Today Pastor Rick celebrates his second anniversary as Lead Pastor of North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene. 


...He was presented as a candidate to serve as our pastor and following a vote of the membership, Pastor Rick began his ministry at NRN on August 1, 2007.


In observance of this anniversary Pastor Rick will be presenting once again the first message he preached at NRN.   Over the past two years the church has gone through the ReFocus process and today there are many families who are active at the church who were not here in 2007.   Rarely will Pastor Rick repeat a message, but today he shares once again a landmark message which reminds us of his heart and philosophy of ministry.


...The question is not how do we get our church to grow; the right question is: What is keeping my church from growing?&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Summer Picnic Sunday</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-07-13T18:07:30-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2009#unique-entry-id-145</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2009#unique-entry-id-145</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Listen]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  Living Grace to Grace</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-07-13T18:07:29-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2009#unique-entry-id-144</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2009#unique-entry-id-144</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A Churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.   "I&rsquo;ve gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons.   But for the life of me, I can&rsquo;t remember a single one of them. 

...But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.   But I do know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. 

...We will look at how past experiences of life can cripple us, like the Churchgoer who wrote the letter noted above, or, can help mold us to live our lives from &ldquo;grace to grace.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  A Congregational Code of Conduct</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-07-01T18:06:28-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2009#unique-entry-id-143</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jul-2009#unique-entry-id-143</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In what the news called "The Miracle at Quecreek," at 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2002, nine miners, trapped for three days 240 feet underground in a water-filled mine shaft, decided they were either going to live or die as a group.


The 55 degree water threatened to kill them slowly by hypothermia, so when one would get cold, the other eight would huddle around the person and warm that person, and when another person got cold, the favor was returned.


"Everybody had strong moments," miner Harry Mayhugh told reporters after being released from Somerset Hospital in Somerset, Pa.   "But any certain time maybe one guy got down, and then the rest pulled together.   And then that guy would get back up, and maybe someone else would feel a little weaker, but it was a team effort. 

...In the closing chapter of First Peter we read words of encouragement and see the antidote for dealing with stress. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Guest speaker: Judy Buttles</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-06-07T17:59:22-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jun-2009#unique-entry-id-142</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jun-2009#unique-entry-id-142</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Judy started playing the piano as a child, and soon found herself (at the age of 9) as the pianist for the Prosser, Wash., Church of the Nazarene.   Married to Stan, with three grown sons, Judy worked alongside Stan, a music minister at Kennewick, Wash., Church of the Nazarene for nearly 30 years.   Judy is a classically-trained piano performance graduate of Northwest Nazarene College and teaches piano for her livelihood.


...Doctors informed her she would be fortunate to ever use her hands for even rudimentary tasks, with no possibility of ever again playing the piano.


...Judy&rsquo;s story has been featured in "American Music Teacher" magazine and national American Medical Association conferences. ...  Join her as she shares God&rsquo;s handiwork in a way you won&rsquo;t soon forget.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Rick Hudgens  &#x7c;  The Antidote to Suffering</title><dc:creator>http://www.nrnazarene.org</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-06-14T13:16:58-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jun-2009#unique-entry-id-141</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts_files/jun-2009#unique-entry-id-141</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:13-14: &ldquo;Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. ...  As we study 1 Peter chapter 4 today we will see that Peter shows us some unexpectedbenefits that can come to Christians when they go through suffering in thewill of God. 

...When she told her family she had become a Christian and changed her name to Faith, her father exploded in rage.   Her father and brothers stripped her naked and bound her to a chair fixed to a metal plate with which they wanted to electrocute her. ...  Although they had bound her, she was able to touch a corner of the Bible. 

...The next day, her friend asked neighbors what they had thought when they had seen Faith running naked through the streets. ]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
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