Letting Go-Taking On

“Rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God.” Joel 2:13

From now until Easter this daily blog will serve as a guide for you during this Lenten season. In it there will be a daily entry. Each day will contain a reading from Scripture, a short reflection, and practical ways to engage God throughout the day. Consider now, setting aside time today and each day between now and Easter to read, reflect, pray and engage GodThere was nothing Jesus was more attached to than his Father. Jesus himself said, “the Father and I are one.” What a beautiful picture. This is God’s vision for each of our lives, a deep internal reality that there is nothing that stands between God and us. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. We can easily become blind to the things that we have subtly attached meaning and significance to outside of Christ. There are times when we simply fail to see how our children or our work, or our recreational activities have somehow become the most important thing in our lives, receiving the bulk of our time, money and resources.

Lent is a season of letting go. It’s about growing in spiritual awareness; an awareness that exposes the existence of our earthly attachments (food dependence, media addiction etc) and draws us closer to the ever present passionate love of Christ.

Lent is also a season of taking on. It is about making choices that grow you closer to God (bible reading) and God’s people (church  ‘c’ommunity group attendance, service projects).

Reflect: Ask God to reveal to you anything, mindset, attitude, or behavior that has become a barrier between you and Him. Take an attachment inventory. Walk through your home or office, and in your mind give all you have to God.  Be quiet and listen to what He wants to say to you.     

Is there something He is telling you to let go of today for the next 40 days?  Certain foods? Addictive substances?  Negative thinking?

Is there something He wants you to take on today for the next 40 days? Scripture memorization? Exercise? Having a Daily Quiet Time? Daily random acts of kindness?

Giving up something for Lent will not gain you favor in God’s eyes, He already loves you fully. But giving up what may be taking His place in your life will grow you closer to Him.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT 6-8 pm

What Time Is It?

I like watches. I probably have 7 of them in my dressing table. I always like to know what time it is.  Jesus always knew what time it was--time to heal, time to teach, time to rebuke, time to go on a retreat, time to attend celebration dinners. His Father let him know when it was time to die. Jesus told his disciples that their traveling teaching ministry was almost over. “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21). He knew that his royal entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday would be his last.

A great miracle happened amidst the palms. Great crowds of people recognized that the man on the humble donkey was their Messiah, the fulfillment of all Old Testament Scripture. Their hosannas showed that they knew what time it was--that the Son of God was in their midst.   

Do you know what time it is? It’s time for you to claim, or re-claim all over again, Jesus Christ as your Lord and King.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT 6-8 pm

The stones will cry out

Hosanna ,blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”  “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19: 38-40

As we begin our countdown to Easter, I have been reading ahead looking at Jesus’ last week on earth which began on Palm Sunday.  As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a humble donkey he must have found immense delight in the praises and hosannas that he received along his route. Surely there was faith to be found in Israel!

Some wouldn’t give it, though. “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out’” (Luke 19:39,40). The Pharisees thought the crowd's words were sacrilegious and blasphemous. They didn't want someone challenging their power and authority, and they didn't want a revolt that would bring the Roman army down on them. So they asked Jesus to keep his people quiet. But Jesus said that if the people were quiet, the stones would burst into cheers. Why? Not because Jesus was setting up a powerful political kingdom but because he was establishing God's eternal Kingdom, a reason for the greatest celebration of all.
God will be worshiped one way or another. He can make stones sing out if the people are silent.

We don’t have to wait to wave palm branches or shout out in praise, “ Hosanna in the highest”. Like palm branches we can lay down our wills and  surrender our hearts giving to Christ the obedience, adoration, and service he deserves.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Countdown to Easter

Perhaps you saw someone last week with gray smudges on their foreheads. Some Christian churches not only use the term "Ash Wednesday" to mark the beginning of Lent the 40 days leading up to Easter, but they literally apply ash paste to the worshipers as a reminder of our sin, and the terrible price that had to be paid to remove it. Lent is a time when Christians have historically prepared their hearts for Easter with reflection, repentance, and prayer.

In these devotionals from now until Easter I will help us prepare for the coming of that most important day on the Christian calendar, Resurrection Sunday!

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

TONIGHT 6:30pm in the Café’ at C3

Celebrate Health presents Heart Health Class

Thank Heaven for Little Girls…

Last Saturday night I witnessed over thirty men having a tea party. Many of them were getting their fingernails polished. Still others were dancing with females other than their wives. OK before your imaginations run wild, I was describing the second annual Daddy /Daughter Date Night sponsored by C3’s Men’s ministry. Luke Haines, Matt Dumler, Vernon Wells and the rest of the Men’s Ministry team outdid themselves providing an atmosphere of music, food, fun and more importantly memories made with daughters and their Daddies.

More and more fathers and in some cases grandfathers are becoming aware of their influence and positive role modeling they present by regularly dating their daughters. The research clearly says that Daddies make all the difference in the world," says Kevin Leman, national speaker and author of What a Difference Daddy Makes. "I have tremendously more impact on my daughter than my wife does." The way a father treats his daughter is an indicator of the kind of boy she will later date and the man she will eventually marry.  

I can remember men in our church like Rick Claiborn and Craig McGuire who made a point of regularly taking their daughters out on one on one dates and letting the girls pick the destinations and topics of discussion. It meant SO much to their girls.

If you are the father of daughters I encourage you to teach her by your actions, how a lady is expected to be treated by the boys she will eventually date. And on top of all of that…. These are fun memories you will both be making that will last forever!

See my C3's Daddy / Daughter Date Night Album on Facebook!
 

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Celebrate Health presents Heart Health Class

Tuesday 6:30pm in the Café’ at C3

My response to the beheadings and to Bill O’Reilly

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10

My heart has been heavy for the last week having participated in the funerals of a 50 year old friend and a still born baby. But what has burdened me the most this week was the brutal decapitation of 21 Christians on a beach in Libya.  

In a message to the “crusaders,” a masked man holding a knife proclaims with a North  American accent that the group is, “chopping off the heads of those that have been carrying the cross illusion.”

The video made of the slaughter was entitled, “"A Message Signed With Blood To The Nation Of The Cross."

As Franklin Graham said in an interview with Greta Van Susteren “I am perplexed as to why our President will not acknowledge the truth and call Islamic extremism what it is. In a statement the White House even called the 21 Christians who were beheaded “Egyptian citizens,” refusing to identify them as Christians. The truth is--their barbaric murderers openly said they killed them because they were “people of the cross.”

What so many Christians don’t realize is that there is far more persecution in the world today towards followers of Christ than in the history of humankind. Credible research estimates that Christians are being violently killed now more than any time in history because of their faith.” It is so far beyond the first century persecution of the church and a reminder that this persecution will only increase the closer and closer we get to the second coming of Jesus Christ.

"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God… Revelation 20:4

So what are we as Christians to do? Fox’s Bill O’Reilly has challenged me along with other pastors, priests, rabbi’s and clerics to  e-mail the President and say enough is enough! What should I do? Should I insist that he use the names “Christian” and “Islamic extremist”? If he hasn’t yet I’m sure an e-mail from me and others isn’t going to change his mind at this point. Should I encourage him to order more bombings or deploy more troops to the Middle East? What Old Testament eye for and eye retribution will quench any blood thirsty desire for reprisal for these inhuman injustices? What are we as Christians, people of the cross to do? My answer to this question is to ask another question.   

What does Jesus say we should do?  

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be true children of your Father who is in heaven; Matthew 5:43-45

The question for each of us who are followers of Jesus is this. Are you willing to believe these paradoxical statements that Jesus makes about loving and praying for our enemies and the blessings that come to those who are persecuted in his name… or not? Our Master tells us that our reward for remaining faithful to Him to the end is the Kingdom of Heaven.  

Be blessed today as I invite you to pray for the persecuted church around the world AND for their persecutors.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

If you want to find out more about the persecution of Christians around the world visit the website of a ministry we have supported each year through our Community Mission Auction, The Voice of the Martyrs 

 www.persecution.com/

Problems produce...

We can rejoice when we run into problems ...they help us learn to be patient and patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

Troubles are a part of life, God does not look upon trouble quite the same way that we do. Where we see stress he sees opportunities. Where we see crisis, He sees growth and betterment. God's purpose in times of crisis and trouble is to teach us His children precious lessons. They are intended to educate, and build us up. And when we learn from them and ride out these storms of life, we will see God’s promises fulfilled. There are over 7,000 Bible promises that come directly from our Lord. So during times of trouble claim these promises as your own and look for His love which is guiding you to become the person that we are capable of being for our benefit and His glory.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Tomorrow in this blog:

My response to the beheadings and to Bill O’Reilly’s challenge

What Shall We Say?

This week I have been with two different families who have suffered the sudden loss of one of their loved ones. One in a tragic vehicle accident, the other birthing a still born baby. At times like these I struggle with what I can say that might ease the pain or lessen the grief of their loved ones. But in the face of such great mysteries - life and death - there are no easy answers.

What are we to say to these things?

The Apostle Paul answers this question in this way, "If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?" Romans 8:31

One thing that I do know is that in the midst of the uncertainty and the sorrow that comes in this life, God shows up to offer a supernatural kind of comfort for those who are believers. God uses suffering though painful experiences to strengthen us for the future trials of life.

Suffering is one God’s main ingredients to build character in us. The key is how we respond and learn from the problems we encounter. God is far more interested in our character than our comfort. In the grand scheme of things, the meaning of life, the reason we live the life we are given is about our relationship with God, and then others around us. And as the scriptures say it rains on the just and the unjust… meaning that God allows certain sorrows to come into our lives so that we might flee from a false dependence on our own abilities securities false sense of control.

"We can rejoice when we run into problems ...they help us learn to be patient and patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

Remember that God is at work in your life, even when you cannot see Him. We will all go though trials and suffering because of the fallen world we live in. We will only grow in the midst of them when we allow ourselves to learn and mature from those painful experiences. You will have far more contentment and joy in your life when you cooperate and allow God’s love to rule in your life, and surrender your fears, desires and pain over to Him.

Troubles are a part of life, God does not look upon trouble quite the same way that we do. Where we see stress he sees opportunities. Where we see crisis, He sees growth and betterment. God's purpose in times of crisis and trouble is to teach us His children precious lessons. They are intended to educate, and build us up. And when we learn from them and ride out these storms of life, we will see God’s promises fulfilled. There are over 7,000 Bible promises that come directly from our Lord. You need to think about these promises like a credit card with no spending limit and that you do not pay back, except by your love, trust and obedience. So during times of trouble claim these promises as your own and look for His love which is guiding you to become the person that we are capable of being for our benefit and His glory.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Where your treasure is, there your HEART will be also

"Your heart will be wherever your treasure is." (Matthew 6:21)

Wherever I put my time, my money, my effort, my energy, wherever I invest myself - that's what's going to attract me.

For some of you, your heart may be in your home. That's where you're putting your time, your money, and your energy - fixing it up. Or your heart may be in your work. That's where you're putting your time, your money and your energy. Or it may be in a hobby. That's where you're putting your time, your money and your energy. Wherever your treasure is, your heart's going to be there. So every time I give to God, it draws my heart closer to God. The first Christians were famous for their generosity. "The community of believers... shared everything in common." (Acts 4:32) They were a family; they shared it all: 'What's mine is yours, and you can share it with me.' It was voluntary. Christianity says, "What's mine is yours and you can share it with me."

Rick Warren writes ,”When you're a parent, and you have little kids in your home, you enjoy watching them share with each other? When you see that your kids are unselfish, you're very happy with that. And God is the same way. When God looks down on us and He sees us being generous with each other He says, "That's My boy! That's My girl! They're doing what I want them to do." Because God is generous, and He wants us to become like Him.” Be generous and your heart will follow.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Praise Him In The Storm

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3

Last Wednesday at the Leavenworth National Cemetery we laid to rest Tim Lang, a soldier of the Lord who survived two tours of duty in Iraq but died suddenly in an accident on an icy road. Tim and his wife Amy had been long time Celebration Community Church members who served in various ministries throughout the church including singing on our worship team. Tim’s service began with the playing of the Casting Crown’s song, “Praise You in the Storm” Unexpected crises are a part of life, they are like storms that often come upon us quickly and can shake the very foundations of our lives.

God wants to use the storms of our lives to teach us to trust Him and to make us stronger in our personal development and in turn for us to be able to help others through the storms in their lives.

That’s just what Tim did after he returned stateside dedicating his life to helping veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

I remember attending a Promise Keepers Event some time ago with Tim and about 75 other Celebration Community Church men. We heard one of the speakers say, “At this moment you are in one of three storm categories; either you just came out of a one, or you are in a one right now, or you are headed into one. Such as it is with crises, they cannot be escaped, even if you hide in the storm shelter it is still there pounding away!

What we can be assured of is that through the storms of life, God is with us.

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus:]
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Choose “The Song”, not “50 Shades of Gray”

According to Church and Culture’s James Emery White , “millions will mark this Valentine’s Day weekend by taking in the new release of Fifty Shades of Grey which tells the story of literature student Anastasia Steele and her sexual encounters with the young entrepreneur Christian Grey. Dubbed by many as "mommy porn" because of its escapist appeal to working mothers and suburban housewives, sexual practices such as bondage, domination, sadism and masochism are featured throughout in one sex scene after another, almost as if the point is to glamorize and promote these abominable acts.

As Genesis outlines, we were made in the image of God as male and female. Sexuality was God’s design. Which means that not only is sex a good thing, it’s a God-thing. It was part of His desire and design for our bodies and lives. But sex outside of marriage trivializes and then destroys the emotional union it was intended to provide as a compliment to the lifelong commitment of marriage. It does damage to the soul and makes a mockery of the intimacy it was created to serve.”

In lieu of viewing the lewd 50 Shades of Gray I invite you to come to Celebration Community Church tonight to view The Song, a modern retelling of Song of Solomon and the temptations he experienced in his day. The Song is set in the world of country music with it allure to fame, fortune and sex outside of the sanctity of marriage.

I highly recommend this film and hope that you will join Debbie and me at C3 tonight.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Our love should reflect God’s love for us

The love between Solomon and his bride did not diminish in intensity after their wedding night. The lovers relied on each other and kept no secrets from each other. Devotion and commitment were the keys to their relationship, just as they are in our relationships to our spouses and to God. The faithfulness of our marital love should reflect God's perfect faithfulness to us.

Paul shows how marriage represents Christ's relationship to his church in Ephesians 5:22-33 and John pictures the Second Coming as a great marriage feast for Christ and his bride, his faithful followers in Revelation 19 and 21. Many theologians have thought that Song of Songs is an allegory showing Christ's love for his church. It might be even better to say that it is a love poem about a real human love relationship, and that all loving, committed marriages are reflections of God's love.

Tomorrow night at 7:05 pm 98.5 The Truth is hosting “The Song” a modern retelling of the Song of Solomon. Come and see how our true love reflects God’s love.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Sex is only for those married

¹² You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain. Song of Solomon 4:12

We are in Day 5 of a 7 day countdown before the free screening of the movie “The Song” at Celebration Community Church on Friday February 13th at 7:05pm. “The Song” is a modern day re-telling of the Biblical Song of Solomon. Throughout this week I will be sharing personal insights as well as excerpts from Matt Chandler’s book "The Mingling of Souls”.

Throughout this week we have felt like awkward onlookers when we read this intensely private and intimate exchange. In the ecstasy of their love, the lovers praise each other using beautiful imagery. Their words may seem strange to readers from a different culture, but their intense feelings of love and admiration are universal. Communicating love and expressing admiration in both words and actions can enhance every marriage. In comparing his bride to a private garden, Solomon is praising her virginity. Virginity, considered old-fashioned by many in today's culture, has always been God's plan for unmarried people—and with good reason. Sex without marriage is cheap. It cannot compare with the joy of giving yourself completely to the one who is totally committed to you in marriage.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Sex is Sacred

Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry; the king is held captive by its tresses.
How beautiful you are and how pleasing, my love, with your delights!

We are in Day 4 of a 7 day countdown before the free screening of the movie “The Song” at Celebration Community Church on Friday February 13th at 7:05pm. “The Song” is a modern day re-telling of the Biblical Song of Solomon. Throughout this week I will be sharing personal insights as well as excerpts from Matt Chandler’s book "The Mingling of Souls”.

The sacredness of the marriage bed is seen here to be a correlation of, for instance, entering the Holy of Holies in the temple of God. I don’t want to overstate it. This is an analogy, not an equation. But it’s a good, biblical analogy. There was something holy taking place between husband and wife. “Holy” has often been defined as “being set apart for special use.” Sex certainly fits that description. It is not for everybody. It is set aside for special use in marriage. Sex is holy. It was sacred, special and unique.

Do you ever think of your spouse’s body as a holy temple of God? You should.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Love Me Tender

As we begin this new week we are in Day 3 of a 7 day countdown before the free screening of the movie “The Song” at Celebration Community Church on Friday February 13th at 7:05pm. “The Song” is a modern day re-telling of the Biblical Song of Solomon. Throughout this week I will be sharing personal insights as well as excerpts from Matt Chandler’s book "The Mingling of Souls”.

⁵Your breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies.
⁶Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.
⁷You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
⁸Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions’ dens and the mountain haunts of leopards.
⁹You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace“ Song of Solomon 4:5-9

This metaphor Solomon uses may be a little difficult to decipher, but let me see if I can break it down for you. Fawns are baby deer, right? Now, if you saw two baby deer grazing among the lilies, how would you approach them? Let’s assume you have some sense and an appreciation for nature. What do you do? Well, for instance, you don’t tackle fawns. You approach them quietly and gingerly. And if they don’t run away as you slowly approach, you don’t make any sudden moves when you get there. Are you following me here?

We see in this portion of the text that marital sex is not only romantic but also gentle. Women want to feel safe and secure. They want to feel embraced more than grabbed, caressed more than groped.

Make no mistake: Solomon looked at his wife’s naked breasts. He was going to touch them and kiss them. He wanted to go further.

But he was going about the whole thing with an evident tenderness. He was interested in more than his own gratification; he wanted his bride to feel sexual pleasure too—but beyond that, he wanted her to feel loved.

Is your primary motivation during sex your own pleasure, or to make your spouse feel loved? Does it show in how you act? Have you had a real conversation with your spouse about whether they feel safe and secure during sex?

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Microwave or Crockpot?

¹ How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead.
² Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.
³ Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
⁴ Your neck is like the tower of David, built with courses of stone.
Song of Solomon 4:1-4

Today is Day 2 in a 7 day countdown before the free screening of the movie “The Song” at Celebration Community Church on Friday February 13th at 7:05pm. “The Song” is a modern day re-telling of the Biblical Song of Solomon. Throughout this week and next I will be sharing personal insights as well as excerpts from Matt Chandler’s book "The Mingling of Souls”.

It is pretty clear that this couple saved themselves for each other, because we’ve seen the whole romance from the beginning. It’s also very clear that the romance didn’t stop on their wedding day. Husbands, notice how Solomon proceeded. He wasn’t quick or rough. He hadn’t even touched her yet. He spent the first moments where intimacy began to build by saying, essentially, “Your soul is beautiful.”

I have often quoted Dr. Kevin Lehman who in his best selling book, “Sex Begins In The Kitchen” says that men are like microwave ovens …they get hot fast. Women on the other hand are like crock pots, they are slow cookers that take a while to heat up.”

Notice Solomon wasn’t in a hurry. He gazed at her beauty and went step-by-step, slowly praising her—eyes, mouth, cheeks, neck. This whole thing is very, very romantic. Notice he hadn’t even gone below her veil yet. (Yet!) He started from the top and worked his way slowly down, doling out praise in a very measured fashion.

As he did this, what do you think happened to her nerves, her fear, her insecurity? If he had just hauled off and grabbed her right off the bat, her guard would likely have gone right back up again. But he slowly disarmed her before he disrobed her. We know from previous chapters that she likely carried around some insecurity about her body, about her appearance, as nearly every woman does.

Solomon, the wisest man in the world understood this simple principle and so should we all. Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13…

Love is………………patient.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Funeral Services for Tim Lang

Davis Funeral Chapel
531 Shawnee St.
Leavenworth Kansas.
913-682-5523

Visitation with family Tuesday 6pm-8pm

Memorial Service Wednesday at 11am.

Burial at Leavenworth National Cemetery Wednesday 12:30pm

If you have not yet enrolled in this Sunday’s Connection Class, it is not too late.

C3’s membership class meets in the Pond (children’s church area) at 12:45pm and concludes by 2pm. Lunch will be served and childcare is provided.

Come find out how you fit it to God’s grand plan for Celebration Community Church.

E-mail ericka@celebratejesus.org to RSVP

Contract Vs. Covenant

“My beloved is mine and I am his…” Song of Solomon 2:16

Today in this blog we begin a 7 day countdown to the free screening of the movie “The Song” at Celebration Community Church on Friday February 13th at 7:05pm. “The Song” is a modern day re-telling of the Biblical Song of Solomon. Much debate has raged over the meaning of this book. Some say it is an allegory of God's love for Israel or for the church. Others say it is a literal story about married love, sex and intimacy. In reality, it is both—a historical story with two layers of meaning. On one level, we learn about love, marriage, and sex; and on the other level, we see God's overwhelming love for his people.

Beginning today and throughout next week I will be sharing personal insights as well as excerpts from Matt Chandler’s book "The Mingling of Souls," which addresses relational intimacy.

In a Biblical marriage, husband and wife give themselves to each other…”My beloved is mine and I am his” verse 2:16. A contract says, I will keep my part of the bargain as long as the other party does. A covenant is not a 50/50 relationship, it is 100/100. Yet at any given time either spouse won’t have 100% to give, but this does not diminish the other’s commitment because they are not in a contract but a covenant. As in the covenant of grace initiated by God to save us sinners, one party can give 100% (God) even if the other gives nothing (you and me).

In a Christ-centered marriage, you give yourself to your spouse regardless of what you get back, because that’s what true love is and because that’s what true love does and because this kind of love is what gives glory to God.

This is why a covenantal biblical marriage is so important—and why divorce is so serious. Just a few weeks ago I heard an expression that is now burned into my soul.

Adultery IS grounds for divorce, but it is also grounds for forgiveness.

In forgiving our sinful spouses for whatever they did, we begin to understand on a much smaller scale what it meant for our Holy God to forgive and restore us.

God’s relationship to the church is also not contractual but covenantal. And what’s mind-blowing about God’s covenantal love toward the church is that God fulfills the obligations of both parties! God has put on my life the command that I am to love my wife, Debbie, as Christ loved the church. That is God’s command on my life—regardless of whether or not she reciprocates that love. I don’t love her as Christ loved the church in order to get something from her; I love her that way because that is what God has commanded me to do, and that’s the way He has loved me.

Do you show this one-way, unconditional, covenantal love to your spouse? What steps can you take to show more of this type of love to your spouse?

As you read Song of Songs between now and Valentines Day, remember that you are SO loved by God, and that is the way we are to love everyone else.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

It is with deep sorrow that I share with you that former Hays resident Tim Lang was killed yesterday Feb 4th at 1:30pm in an truck accident. Tim and his wife Amy were faithful members of C3 before they moved to the Topeka area.

Tim’s daughter Kayla and her husband Carmen Acosta serve on the C3 music team that plays in the Worship Center.

Details about where you can send condolences to Amy and Kayla will soon follow.

The Eyes of the Lord are Searching

2 Chronicles 16:9 “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (NLT)

The Bible says that the eyes of God are looking for people to use. God is looking for people who can make a difference in this world, who can make the world a better place. But God just has one requirement. If you want to be used by God there’s one condition. They have to be fully committed. Notice it does not say slightly committed or half committed, God is looking for people who are “fully committed to Him”.

What is the difference between being partially committed, half-committed, casually committed and fully committed? I believe that the Bible tells us that there are five aspects of being fully committed to Christ. We are called to run this race of life by fulfilling the five purposes God’s word puts before us.

1. Worship God by honoring Him with all that we are and all that we have.
2. Connect with other believers in fellowship.
3. Grow in Spiritual maturity through discipleship.
4. Serve God and your church through using your gifts in ministry.
5. Share the Good News of Christ’s love with others.

These are the values we teach and commit to in C3’s Connections Class.

If you have not yet taken the Connection Class I encourage you to be a part of this 1-1/2 hour class This Sunday February 8th 12:45pm at C3.

Lunch will be served and childcare provided upon request. Contact ericka@celebratejesus.org.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Super Bowl of Faith (part 2)

I don’t know which Super Bowl team you rooted for on Sunday but the guys I was cheering for were the team chaplains. For the last 18 seasons I have had the privilege of serving as volunteer team chaplain for the Fort Hays State University Men’s Basketball Team. (I also assisted the FHSU football team for 8 seasons from 1997-2004 and presently Dr. Jeff Burnett, Director of C3’s Encounter college ministry does so.) Yesterday in this blog we looked at the 20 year veteran Seahawk chaplain Karl Payne and today we will meet the New England Patriots Jack Easterby.

Easterby has only been with the Patriots one year after a three year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. When K.C. player Jovan Belcher committed murder-suicide, the Chiefs turned to Easterby for guidance.

According to ESPN.com, Easterby is treated a little different than most team chaplains. “The typical team chaplain is a pastor at a local church who volunteers to host Saturday chapel for 10 or so players who attend and is compensated with cash in a collection plate. In New England, Easterby has an office and it's near Coach Bill Belichick's. He hosts Bible study, works coaches' hours in his office counseling players and their wives. When he's not listening, he's texting. When he's not texting, he's writing players and coaches individual notes, recapping their personal goals and reminding them of how thankful he is to know them.” “The Patriots, since his hire, say they are not the same, no matter what the result of Ted Wells' investigation into whether the team illegally deflated footballs in the AFC championship game. Owner Robert Kraft calls Easterby a 'wonderful individual,'” and Tom Brady has told friends Easterby is one of the main reasons for the Patriots' success this past year. Safety Devin McCourty calls him 'a godsend to this team' who has 'helped create better men.'" Easterby refers to himself as the Patriots “Character Coach”. I like that title. From time to time I remind the FHSU Tiger players that athletics are a blending of the gifts that God gave us of body, mind AND Spirit and without being in touch with our spiritual selves we are out of balance and therefore cannot compete to the best of our ability. The same goes for you and me. We have all been recruited to participate on Christ’s championship team called the church. Each one of us are to get out of our seats as spectators and get on the field as players.

Your Character Coach,

P.K.

I’ve got 5 primo tickets for Thursday Nights FHSU basketball games. Email me at kyle@celebratejesus.org if you can use them.

Super Bowl of Faith

I don’t know which Super Bowl team you were rooting for yesterday but I was keeping my eyes out for two men on opposing sidelines. The Seattle Seahawks Karl Payne and the New England Patriots Jack Easterby are not players or coaches but rather are their respective team’s chaplains. Dr. Karl Payne has been the Seattle Seahawks Chaplain for 20 years. He’s at the 30-yard sideline on game days. During the week, he meets with team members and is a fulltime pastor at a local Seattle Church. Regardless of a player’s chapel attendance, Karl commonly serves as confidant and inspiration coach. Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor says, “It’s good to know a guy like Karl, he keeps me going, he keeps pushing me and he just motivates me every week.”

NFL players, coaches and staff work in a unique profession. As chaplain, Karl is player-appointed, required to give discreet, pastoral care. Dr. Payne sees himself as an “encourager, trainer and someone who tries to give the players tools they can work with day in and day out to keep balanced. In interviews with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) on Super Bowl Media Day, Seattle players shared what their faith in God means to them.

Clint Gresham, the team’s long snapper realizes that championships are temporal but his faith in Christ is eternal. Lineman Russell Okung likens himself to a soldier in God’s army taking ground for Christ. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson says he takes Christ with him wherever he goes and his Scripture Verse of this year is John 3:30 “He must increase and I must decrease”. This season, Karl Payne says he has watched players mature deeply in their faith, several who are team leaders and many who have become outspoken in their convictions.

Tomorrow we will look at Patriots Chaplain Jack Easterby and some of the faithful players from New England.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

   

Come to Hays SOUTH Wendy’s TONIGHT (Monday) 5-8pm and C3’s College age ministry Encounter will receive 20% of your purchase to help fund their summer mission trip to Haiti.