Nathan Persell 9/21/23 Nathan Persell 9/21/23

My Tribute to the Leader of the Band

Reflecting over the years, I can look back and see where the Lord blessed me by placing individuals in my path who greatly impacted my life. These individuals came into my life at pivotal times and helped instill traits like a strong work ethic and the importance of integrity and accountability. They provided me opportunities where I was blessed to form life-long friendships and bonds that made me a better person than I could ever have been alone. God used these individuals to help mold and shape me into who I am. One of these was my high school band director, Ernest O. Hebson, Jr.

This past week, I learned Mr. Hebson, age 84, joined the Lord's Heavenly ensemble. He was the founding director of the Fort Walton Beach High School "Pride of the Miracle Strip" Viking Band. He invested 30 years (1969-1999) and touched thousands of young lives, building a program rooted in tradition through the motto, "Excellence Without Exception." I was blessed to be one of those lives touched and changed when my family moved to Fort Walton for the final two years of my high school education in the summer of 1977.

Mr. Hebson's legendary leadership taught by example several life principles that went well beyond music and impacted many lives, mine included. One principle was the importance of being a part of something bigger than self. Only someone of Mr. Hebson's caliber could consistently take a group of teenagers with a wide range of abilities, motivations, and talents and mold them into a high-performing machine. His ability to do this gave us opportunities to perform in prominent events like the Rose and Orange Bowl Parades, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Parade, to name a few - events that only a very few high school bands would ever have the privilege of participating in.

The last thing any Viking Band member wanted to do was to let their section or our band leader down, which led to another lifelong Hebson principle: the power of high expectations combined with support and the push for continuous improvement. It didn't matter if you were a naturally gifted musician or an average player, Mr. Hebson fostered a desire to take what was already "good" and make it even better. How often did we hear him say, "One more time"? More times than any of us could count!!!

I can't help but think of some of the lyrics of Dan Fogelberg's beautiful song, Leader of the Band:

"But his blood runs through my instrument

And his song is in my soul

My life has been a poor attempt

To imitate the man

I'm just a living legacy

To the leader of the band

I am a living legacy to the leader of the band."

I join many in offering my heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Hebson, Trey, Reed, and their families. I hope you will feel a sense of the admiration, love, and gratitude so many of us have for this remarkable soul - Our Leader of the Band.

Robert Trigg

Class of 1979

Nathan Persell 2/2/23 Nathan Persell 2/2/23

Celebrating HIS blessings!

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share some exciting news about the growth and progress of our church. I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve seen some significant increases in a few key areas as we roll through the first month of this new year!

First of all, our online presence has really taken off! Our average weekly views on Facebook and YouTube during the month of January from 2022 to 2023 increased from 249 to 385. This means that more and more people are tuning in to our services and getting connected with our church community.

And speaking of online, our preschool’s chapel online videos have racked up over 90,000 views in the last month! That's an incredible number and just goes to show how much people are craving connection and community during this time. If you haven’t had a chance to view one, click HERE for a sample.

But it's not just our online presence that's growing. Our Good Neighbor Thrift Store has seen a 37% increase in revenue year over year and even more customers - 30% more, to be exact! Laura Beth Snow and company have developed a wonderful following with their humorous Facebook updates. Check out an example by clicking HERE. It's amazing to see the impact that the store is having on our community and the difference that our church is making in people's lives.

Another awesome effort making a positive impact in the community can be found with the weekend food backpack program. Every Thursday afternoon, more than 30 volunteers gather and prepare around 400 bags that go out to needly students in 8 of our local schools!

On the worship front, our worship leader, Jamel Boast, and the worship team have been hard at work creating something special for all of us. They've collaborated to create several brand-new original songs that are sure to inspire and uplift us in worship. They have introduced 3 so far and have more coming soon! The plan is to have this new music available for download in the near future!

And the best part? We’re seeing growth with in-person worship attendance too! Our in-person worship is on the rise, with over 60 more people joining us each week in this new year. It’s amazing to see how our community is growing and thriving, both online and in person.

Finally, I wanted to mention that our weekly E-News subscribers have also increased. We are currently averaging 273 views each week for January (compared with an average of 239 views this time last year). This just goes to show that people are hungry for updates and information about our church and what we're doing.

All in all, it's been a truly exciting and blessed time for our church and I'm so grateful to be a part of it. Like James 1:17 shares, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Here's to continued growth and progress in the future!

Nathan Persell 11/3/22 Nathan Persell 11/3/22

A Matter Of Focus

We are at the beginning of November with the holiday season upon us. The weather is finally starting to cool a little, football season and Fall Festivals are underway, and mid-term elections will take place next week. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like our already full calendars continue to add more and more activities to them, the to-do lists grow, and the days are racing by at some hypersonic speed leaving many of us exhausted and overwhelmed.

Especially for those of us who tend to follow an “I need to be in control” approach to dealing with all this busyness, I sometimes feel like I’m pedaling as fast as I can and yet going nowhere or even backward. I recognize I am furiously working on many things but am I accomplishing anything truly important or worthwhile in the “big picture”? I can quickly identify with Martha when our Lord says to her in Luke 10:41-42, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” In short, do I easily get lost in all the busyness and distractions, or do I seek and try to focus on the main thing? And what is that “main thing”?

I feel like many of Alan McBride’s recent messages are speaking directly to me in that he is reminding us of the true and important mission of the church: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Furthermore, Pastor Alan’s message last Sunday asked if our efforts and actions reflect the fruit of the Spirit (as shared in Galatians 5:22-23 – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control …). Do others see His Holy Spirit working in and through me? Or do they see me looking out for me and handling these busy and challenging times “my selfish way”?

Some of you may recall an earlier blog where I joked about being caught smiling again on the platform when the praise band is leading worship. I shared I find joy when I join the band and our church family in praising our mighty God. I am finding out that I must continually focus on seeking the Lord first and foremost and ask His Holy Spirit to guide me if I truly want to have the peace, kindness and other “fruits” I seek as I navigate these crazy busy days with all its static and distractions.

Yes, things can seem overwhelming at times. But when I seek to put the Lord first on my to-do list and remind myself that with His guidance, I can do all things through Christ because HE gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). Important things then take on a sharper focus, and I can trust Him to show me the way.

When the family moved to Ft. Walton Beach many years ago – we started attending the little base chapel on Hurlburt. One of my favorite chaplains at that time would always close the service with the following benediction:

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the years: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied:

“Go, go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be for you better than a light and safer than a known way.”

May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face shine on you and be gracious unto you; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Today, tomorrow, and all of your days.

Amen

Nathan Persell 8/4/22 Nathan Persell 8/4/22

Rebooting Hope

Wow, here we are again! It's that time of year when young and old, parents and children, teachers and students, everyone focuses on heading "back to school"! As a retired educator, I fondly remember participating in 33 of these seasons. I easily recall the mixture of anticipation and excitement as well as anxiety and fear most of us have this time of year. One aspect that always excited me about this season was everyone having the sense of starting a new year fresh with a blank slate regardless of previous years. In short, we always kick off a new school year with a fresh supply of HOPE.

According to Google, the Bible mentions the word HOPE about 129 times. It is one of the essential virtues of being a Christian, alongside faith and love. There are multiple references to hope throughout the Psalms, like in Psalm 62:5: Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him; and Psalm 147:11: the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

A huge blessing of walking closely with our Lord and Savior is He can always provide HOPE regardless of circumstances or challenges. Isaiah 40:31 makes a case for having hope when the prophet shares: but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

I trust this will be a season of renewing hope for you. This Sunday, Pastor Alan and Matt Gregory will bring back a wonderful tradition of having a blessing of backpacks during the service, where the entire church family joins in praying for every student, teacher, administrator, staff member, and parent as we head back to school.

Speaking of renewing hope, our church is starting a new ministry this fall called REBOOT Recovery. This 12-week, faith-based, peer-led course helps combat veterans, first-responders, and their families heal from service-related trauma. This group will meet on Monday evenings beginning Sept. 12. If you are interested in learning more about this effort, please contact Steve Walsh or Pastor Alan. They will be sharing more information about this effort in the coming weeks.

We are also celebrating the resumption and expansion of the food pack back support program for needy students, thanks to Kay and Mark Munday and an incredible group of volunteers. They will resume meeting on Thursday afternoons beginning Sept. 15 to pack bags of food and snacks for needy students to take home for the weekend. If you are interested in learning more about this project, don't hesitate to contact the church office by CLICKING HERE.

As you enter this exciting and hopeful time of back to school and the coming fall - I conclude with the following from Paul as shared in Romans 15:13: May the GOD of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Robert Trigg joined the NUMC staff in the fall of 2017 where he serves as our Administrative Support person in the church office. He is also a long-term member of our Worship Team where he plays bass and is caught smiling on a regular basis. Robert and his wife, Martha, are retired educators and have been members of NUMC since 1994.

Nathan Persell 6/16/22 Nathan Persell 6/16/22

I Caught You Smiling Again

Following many worship services, a dear friend, Dave Stimpson, will come up to say hello and express his appreciation for the worship team's efforts to invite all into a closer encounter with God through the songs shared in that service. He often says, "I caught you smiling again up there." Others have shared similar comments reflecting that I always seem joyful while the team is leading in worship. My reply: guilty as charged! I find joy when I join with you in praising our mighty God! Regardless of how I may feel at the beginning of a service, something special warms my heart when the team and congregation join in lifting songs of praise and worship to our Lord! I guess that is why Psalm 100:1-3 is one of my favorite verses:

  1  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
   2   Worship the Lord with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
   3  Know that the Lord is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

It just so happens that the worship team is currently studying the book of Philippians, in which the apostle Paul, writing from prison, includes the word "joy" sixteen times in his letter to the Church at Philippi. If Paul can be joyful from jail because of his relationship with Christ, I want that same relationship too!

Does this mean I am always joyful? The honest answer is, of course not! Like so many, I deal with the same stresses and hardships of this world that can easily rob us of a sense of peace and happiness if we allow it to. But even when these challenging and uncertain times weigh me down, I, like Paul, can focus on following and worshiping our Awesome God. And when I do, He lifts me and renews my hope with a sweet sense of His Spirit's presence.

Something special (and joyful) occurs when we gather to seek and praise God together! Jack Hayford shared, "Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped." The Psalmist must have also sensed this when he shared in Psalm 92:1-2: It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

A significant source of my joy comes from understanding that regardless of what happens in this fallen world, I can always experience the peace and JOY of a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit through joining with our church family in heartfelt praise and worship of our Mighty God. I am so grateful I am a part of this church family where I find joy and encouragement as we seek Him who provides us with all good things, including joy!

I recently saw on the Saddleback Community Church website: "Church isn't an event to attend - it's a place to belong. We need each other to get through this journey because we can do more, be more, and endure more when we're walking through life together."

So dear church family, I look forward to seeing you Sunday! Yes, you may catch me smiling again.