ermoian’s encouraging e-mails

e³
ermoian’s encouraging e-mails

Welcome to e³. Each weekday I will send to the people of the Celebration and others this e-mail devotional. I will include a plan for reading the Bible in its entirety in 2002. On one of the verses I will share a comment and practical application. Each email also includes upcoming events at C³, needs and prayer requests. Enjoy!

What you just read above is a portion of what I believe is the first daily email I began sending to the people of Celebration Community Church in early 2002. That means with the exception of a few weeks over the years when other staff members wrote this email, I have sent out about 3,500 of these messages over the last 14 years.

This summer seems to be a logical time to conclude these weekday communications. I am planning on taking some vacation time in a week or so when our four grandchildren from Atlanta come to town in June. Then in July I will for the first time in twenty years be taking a study leave.

During that time my plan is to pray, read, reflect, study and help design a successful succession plan for Pastoral Leadership at C3. In addition, I plan on researching the launching and administering of a thriving ministry to senior adults.

C3’s e-news weekly will continue to be e-mailed to those who subscribe to it on Tuesdays, updating you on what’s happening at C3. It will also become available on our C3 Hays app beginning this week. If you are not yet using our app on your smart phone or tablet I encourage you to do so.

If you are looking for a good online devotional to read each day I suggest Rick Warren of Saddleback’s “Daily Hope” http://rickwarren.org/devotional.

Thank you for reading e³-ermoian’s encouraging e-mails or as it is known now, PK’s blog. Writing these daily devotionals have been a privilege and a pleasure. It is always an honor to hear when people mention they had enjoyed it.

Also thank you SO much to my wife Debbie who for the last 14 years has supported me while I write these devotionals mostly in the evening in my office at home.

Thank you also to Doug Folland who has for many years formatted these words and sent them to you electronically each week day.

I close, as I have since the beginning.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

“Greater love has no one than this”…

Memorial Day is when we honor the men and women of our Armed Services who have made the supreme sacrifice; who gave their lives for their country.

They gave up their hopes and dreams, families and friends. They submitted themselves to rigorous discipline and placed their lives in great peril. Their sacrifice should inspire in us a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, bought with a price. And that gratitude should compel us to lives of service as well: Serving Christ, our neighbor, and yes, our nation.

I can't help but recall the brilliant film “Saving Private Ryan”. James Ryan, now in his seventies, has returned with his family to the military cemetery in Normandy. He visits the grave of Captain John Miller, the man who, a half a century before, led the mission to retrieve—to save—Private Ryan. At the end of the mission, Miller was fatally wounded. As he lay dying, his final words to Private Ryan were, "James. Earn this...earn it."

Private Ryan, out of gratitude for Captain Miller's sacrifice, did all in his power for the rest of his days to live a good life to earn the sacrifice others had made for him.

Memorial Day is a great time for each of us to look into the mirror...to examine our own lives. Are we living good lives in gratitude for all those who have sacrificed for us—including our men and women in the military, our families, our friends, and most of all Christ?

Are we, out of gratitude, living for Christ, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, ministering to those in prison, in whatever harvest field to which the Lord has called us?

Examine your life today on this holiday as we celebrate the freedom we have been given through Christ’s death on a cross. It is a sacrifice that we DO NOT HAVE TO EARN. Our freedom as citizens have been protected by our Constitution and paid for by the sacrifices of those who served and died in service of our country.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Tomorrow May 31^st 2016 will be the last day I will be writing this daily blog for the duration of the summer as I go on vacation and study leave. My plan is that in the fall, PK’s Blog will come out on a weekly instead of daily basis. C3’s e-news weekly will continue to be e-mailed to those who subscribe to it on Tuesdays, updating you on what’s happening at C3. It will also become available on our C3 Hays app beginning this week. If you are not yet using our app on your smart phone or tablet I encourage you to do so.

No Summer Slump Here!

As many of you know I am a Chicago Cubs fan. But there is the dilemma we Cub fans have had in the past. We start off every season at Spring Training full of anticipation and high hopes only to come crashing down painfully by the end of August. For years I have been saying in mid season, ”It’s just a summer slump”. Up until this season the Cubs have been having a summer slump since 1908. Summer slumps affect ball teams, businesses and they certainly affect churches too.

Throughout the summer most churches experience a significant decrease in attendance and giving. Even though you may be away on vacation our church’s activities in the summer don’t slow down. Your church needs you to be faithful in sending in your weekly tithes and offerings so we can continue to be faithful in fulfilling our church’s mission, no matter what season it is.

You can you continue to donate even when you cannot attend church services by mailing a check to 5790 230th Ave or you may give online. You may make one time gifts, scheduled weekly withdrawals from your bank account through our website or by using our Celebration Community Church app C3 Hays on your smart phones and tablets. It’s really easy!

As I close, I want you to know that this summer I’ll be hosting our grandkids, taking a little vacation and for the first time in 20 years embarking on a “Study Leave” during the month of July. As a result I will be suspending the writing of this daily blog as of May 31^st. (I’ve written one every weekday since April 2003). But know that I will continue to tithe (give 10% of my income ) to my church even when I am gone.

Thank you for your faithful giving to our ministry and mission so far this year. It’s because of your giving to God we are able to reach people with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ!

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

THIS SATURDAY WE NEED LOTS OF PEOPLE TO HELP AS WE BEGIN DEMOLITION IN OUR WORSHIP CENTER. Bring work gloves, brooms, shovels, sledge hammers, pick axes and wheel barrels to remove tile and carpet. We will gather at 8am. Stay as long as you can.

BELIEVER BAPTISMS & CHILD DEDICATIONS

This weekend if you have not yet been baptized as an adult believer do so AFTER our 11:30 Sunday services. Child dedications will take place during all of our services on Sunday at 8:30, 10, 11:30 am and our new Saturday night service at 5pm. Please RSVP for either child dedications or believer’s baptism on your C3 app or email me at kyle@celebratejesus.org.

If you spend your weekends at Lake Wilson you don’t have to miss church. Come to Celebration @ the Lake, Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day at 9:30am at Foxtail campgrounds Lake Wilson.

Believe and Be Baptized

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend and the “unofficial” start to summer. This time of year is a special time for me personally because it was in the Spring of 1982 at the Little Brown Church of the Valley in Studio City California that I was baptized as a believer.

Many years before that my parents brought me as an infant to a church for a “christening” but I have no memory of that event. On the other hand the first day of Spring in 1982 is a day I will NEVER FORGET. It was the day I experienced for myself, surrendering my life to Christ and committing to follow Him.

A couple of summers ago while on vacation in California, my wife Debbie and I visited that church that never closes its doors and I relived my baptismal experience of 34 years ago as if it were yesterday! Later that afternoon God led me to share the Good News of Jesus and to baptize a 40 year old former gang banger in the pool of the hotel we were staying in. Isn’t God AWESOME!!!

This weekend I encourage everyone who has not yet been baptized as an adult believer to do so AFTER our 11:30 Sunday services. Child dedications may take place during all of our services on Sunday at 8:30, 10, 11:30 am and our new Saturday night service at 5pm. Please RSVP for either child dedications or believer’s baptism on your C3 app or email me at kyle@celebratejesus.org.

Let me know if you’re ready to make the decision to be a follower of Jesus and to publicly profess our faith in Him through baptism.

God Bless you as we get ready to enjoy Summer and be sure to remember your church in your giving even when you are away on vacation.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

THIS SATURDAY WE NEED LOTS OF PEOPLE TO HELP AS WE BEGIN DEMOLITION IN OUR WORSHIP CENTER. Bring work gloves, brooms, shovels, sledge hammers, pick axes and wheel barrels to remove tile and carpet. We will gather at 8am. Stay as long as you can.

If you spend your weekends at Lake Wilson you don’t have to miss church. Come to Celebration @ the Lake, Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day at 9:30am at Foxtail campgrounds Lake Wilson.

By Faith…

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40

Yesterday Pastor Derek on behalf of the Celebration Community Church Board affixed his signature to a loan document for three million dollars to fund C3’s building expansion and renovation. To move forward with such a project requires great faith.

The Bible’s Hebrews 11 has been called faith’s “Hall of Fame” where a select group of God’s heroic people were commended for their great faith.

I would like to commend YOU, heroes in my personal “Hall of Faith”. The women & men of Celebration Community Church who…

By faith support VBS, Youth Conference and Haiti Mission Trips.

By faith spend time in C3’s prayer room. (which will remain open through renovation)
By faith you make being a part of a small group a priority in your life.
By faith you give at least 10% of your income to Christ and His church.
By faith you disciple others, pouring your life into the lives of a few others.
By faith you collect groceries for distribution at Thanksgiving.
By faith you fill shoeboxes for kids around the world for Christmas.
By faith you prepare refreshments, communion, set up chairs, greet guests.
By faith you invite friends, coworkers, relatives and neighbors to church.
By faith you … come to Unite Marriage Ministry events to become a better spouses, attend Celebrate Recovery to let go of your hurts, habits and hang-ups, make quilts to give to families who are hurting and in need of comfort, forgive those who have hurt you, accept rejection and mocking for Christ's sake, stand alone for God's honor when everyone else seems to be going with the crowd.

By faith you pray, read your Bible, worship God, serve Him by serving others and seek to share His Good News in word and deed.

BY FAITH you give generously, above and beyond to our Forward Faith Capital Campaign. (If you haven’t yet you may still pick up an Orange Commitment Card and do so this Sunday).

It's all done by faith! Faith in what? Faith in the reality of who God is, what God has done and what God promised in His word to do. Faith is your heart's response to God's love and truth.

And remember this truth, that without faith it is impossible to please God…. Hebrews 11:6

I THANK GOD FOR YOU AND YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO HIM.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

THIS SATURDAY WE NEED LOTS OF PEOPLE TO HELP AS WE BEGIN DEMOLITION IN OUR WORSHIP CENTER. Bring work gloves, brooms, shovels, sledge hammers, pick axes and wheel barrels to remove tile and carpet. We will gather at 8am. Stay as long as you can.

If you spend your weekends at Lake Wilson you don’t have to miss church. Come to Celebration @ the Lake, Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day at 9:30am at Foxtail campgrounds Lake Wilson.

Saved People Serve People

Last night over 180 kids and volunteers gathered for the first night of Celebration’s Vacation Bible School “Cave Quest”. Thank you to Children’s and Family Director DeLynn Rice and her team for helping these kids to realize that “Jesus is the light of the world”.

Throughout the week the kids will learn through music, videos, skits, story, songs and tasty snacks that Jesus gives us hope, courage, direction, love and power.

DeLynn says that this year’s VBS is a cut above the others we have done in the past because of the amount of dedicated helpers who are serving this year. Our volunteers are amazing!

Throughout the year hundreds of Celebration folks serve in events like VBS, Kids camp, Kid Fest, Youth Conference, Mens’ & Womens Conferences, Middle School and High School camp. Think about all of the people who greet at the door, serve refreshments, set up chairs, work in the tech booth, sing and play on the platform, teach in children’s church, youth group and various small groups.

At C3 we like to say that “Saved People Serve People”. Are you serving in a ministry at Celebration? If you are then THANK YOU for your selfless service. If you are not yet serving please contact alicia@celebratejesus.org.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

THIS SATURDAY WE NEED LOTS OF PEOPLE TO HELP AS WE BEGIN DEMOLITION IN OUR WORSHIP CENTER. Bring work gloves, brooms, shovels, sledge hammers, pick axes and wheel barrels to remove tile and carpet. We will gather at 8am. Stay as long as you can.

If you spend your weekends at Lake Wilson you won’t have to miss church. Come to Celebration @ the Lake Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day at Foxtail campgrounds Lake Wilson.

VBS BEGINS TONIGHT!

Calling all explorers for Cave Quest, this year’s Vacation Bible School for kids 4 years old to incoming 5th graders. BEGINS TONIGHT at 6pm!

Come join Celebration’s dedicated Children’s Church Team led by DeLynn Rice as kids learn relevant Bible stories, eat delicious snacks, play fun filled games, make some wonderful crafts and make even more wonderful friends! And it's all absolutely FREE!

This year’s VBS will ground kids in the rock-solid foundation of God’s love, a love that takes us through life’s dark times. Kids will learn how to follow Jesus the light of the world!

Rice says, “The kids who come to Cave Quest will experience God's Word in surprising and unforgettable ways! Each day, loving leaders will reinforce one simple Bible truth—which makes it easy for kids to remember and apply to real life!”

For express registration you may sign up online at C3’s website, www.celebratejesus.org, or register at the door on Monday night at 5:45pm.

If you have any questions you may call 625-LIVE.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Memorial services for Wayne Haver will take place TODAY (Monday) at 10:30 am at WaKeeney’s Veterans Cemetery.

Cave Quest

Beginning Monday night, our church will host Vacation Bible School for the children of our church and the community. VBS will be one of the most important outreach events of the summer, possibly of the year.VBS is important because children are important to God. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).

There’s an aging of the church in America. Fewer children fill the seats than 30 years ago. VBS provides an opportunity to share the Gospel with children in an exciting manner. We have never let the size of our church or the lack of workers to ever prevent our church from hosting a VBS. Even before we had a building we put on a VBS. Jesus told us to, “Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest" (Luke 10:2). God desires children to know Him.

VBS is one of the most time-consuming, largest outreaches our church or any church will offer. As much as the work, cost and involvement is required to host a VBS, the results can and we pray will be tremendous. Will you pray today that God will bring dozens of new children to our VBS on Monday?

Do you know any young people 4 years old through incoming 5^th graders? Please invite them to register for Cave Quest which begins Monday night.

For express registration you may sign up online at C3's website, www.celebratejesus.org or register at the door on Monday night at 5:30pm.

If you have any questions you may call 625-LIVE.or contact C3's Children’s Director DeLynn Rice at delynn@celebratejesus.org.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

If you want to connect with some other guys from C3 and enjoy a great meal for FREE, come to C3 Men’s Ministry Breakfast THIS SATURDAY at 8:30am. Luke Haines will be sharing about his recent trip to Israel.

Saturday at 1pm, 54 C3 college students will be leaving for a week long Mission Trip to Haiti. Please pray for the Encounter group, their safety and effectiveness in sharing the love of Christ with the children in the orphanage they will be visiting.

Memorial services for Wayne Haver will be Monday morning at 10:30 am at WaKeeney’s Veterans Cemetery.

Visitation will take place Sunday evening from 6-8pm at Keithley Funeral Home 400 E. 17th in Ellis.

It Takes a Village

Most families in America today have material goods and luxuries unknown to previous generations. Most have greater prospects for a long life, unparalleled opportunities for education, leisure, entertainment, and recreation. Based on all of that you might think, families would be happy and trouble-free. Yet families today face incredible conflict and hardship. Families struggle with domestic abuse, divorce, government dependence, single parent families and so much more.

Your family may not have these problems, but the evidence shows that parent-child relationships are facing ever increasing hardships and Christian families are by no means immune. Serious questions face Christian parents as they strive to raise their kids in a healthy way in the midst of a dark and depraved culture.

Is it possible to raise Godly children despite modern social pressures in entertainment, recreation, and education?

You have heard the expression, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Well at Celebration Community Church we know how difficult it is to “train up a child in the way they should go” (Proverbs 22:6) and recognize that we are the kind of “village” families need. This is why we host opportunities like Celebration’s Vacation Bible School where we avail ourselves to parents to help them raise up good and Godly children in a society that scoffs at traditional family values.

We are blessed to have DeLynn Rice (and by the way it is her birthday today) and her Go-Fish Children’s Ministry team who week after week share with kids and their families the love, logical discipline and Biblical learning that supports a healthy family lifestyle.

If you know of a 4 year old up through a 5^th grader, invite them to be a part of “Cave Quest” C3’s VBS beginning this Monday May 23^rd at 6pm. This year’s VBS will ground kids in the rock-solid foundation of God’s love, a love that takes us through life’s dark times. Kids will learn how to follow Jesus the light of the world!

For express registration you may sign up online at C3’s website, www.celebratejesus.org, at the RSVP tile on the C3Hays APP or at the door on Monday night at 5:30pm.

I am proud to be a part of the C3 village.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Vera Haver’s husband of 45 years, Wayne Haver passed away suddenly this afternoon from an apparent heart attack. Vera is a faithful member of C3 and heads up our Prayer Quilt Ministry as well as Live to Give Ministry which operates The Bargain Hut and The Ellis Thrift Shop.

Wayne was 68 years old and a well respected citizen of Ellis.

When and where services will be held are yet to be determined.

Please let us all unite in prayer for Vera and her family.
PK

If you want to connect with some other guys from C3 and enjoy a great meal for FREE, come to C3 Men’s Ministry Breakfast THIS SATURDAY at 8:30am. Luke Haines will be sharing about his recent trip to Israel.

Leap of Faith

One of my favorite movies is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In it Harrison Ford’s character is faced with an impossible leap across a multistoried chasm. He recognizes he is being confronted with a "leap of faith".

Remember when Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat and walk to him across the water. It was a call to voluntarily give up the security of the boat for the insecurity of walking on rough water (Matthew 14:22-31). With single-minded obedience, Peter takes the first step and, when his foot doesn't sink into the water, his faith is affirmed.

When Indy, the character in the movie takes that step of faith, he is rewarded with firm footing underneath him that was clouded by the illusion of a fateful fall.

Likewise, only by leaving the security of the boat does Peter discover that the greater security is in Jesus. In truth, the only security is in Jesus. Peter learns firsthand - or perhaps firstfoot! - that Jesus is his firm foundation under all circumstances.

Peter also learns that what we see and think, apart from Jesus, is not a reflection of reality. The mythology we live by is that the greatest safety is in the boat; the reality is that the safest place to be is walking toward Jesus.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

If you want to connect with some other guys from C3 and enjoy a great meal for FREE, come to C3 Men’s Ministry Breakfast THIS SATURDAY at 8:30am. Luke Haines will be sharing about his recent trip to Israel.

God Is a Baseball Fan

You've probably heard me tell the joke about God loving baseball…

“…After all, He began his Holy Bible with Genesis 1:1. “"In the big inning..."

Everyone who loves baseball feels a tremendous rush this time of year with another set of words: Play ball! Tonight I will be playing on one of four men’s softball teams that Celebration Community Church has fielded in the Hays Recreation League. (Thank you to our team sponsors, Covenant Builders, Gutierrez Mexican Restaurant, Great Plains Dermatology, Hays Academy of Hair Design , RoofMasters, Slater’s Slices and Sweeney Pavement Maintenance.) What a joy it is playing on a team of guys, all connected with C3, all pulling for each other to do their best win or lose and all representing Christ in our words and attitudes.

Some of my best memories in life revolve around teaming up with others to accomplish a purposeful task. The success of whatever you do in the game of life depends largely on developing a strong team with a deep sense of commitment to a cause and to one another. Real successful teamwork is built on three factors: a compelling purpose, crystal clear communication, and a code of commonly held values. That’s what a good church is all about. A group of Christians committed to Christ and to fulfilling His Great Commandment and Great Commission.

We were never meant to play this game alone. God has called each one of us to connect with His team , His church where we can learn to grow in our faith, encourage one another, serve those in need and share His good news with others.

I want to encourage all of the men for you to come to our monthly Men's Breakfast THIS SATURDAY at 8:30 am. There will be great food,fellowship and Luke Haines will be sharing about his most recent trip to the Holy Land…. Not Wrigley Field…..Israel.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Coach Kyle

If you want to connect with some other guys from C3 and enjoy a great meal for FREE, come to C3 Men’s Ministry Breakfast THIS SATURDAY at 8:30am.

Luke Haines will be sharing about his recent trip to Israel.

Don’t Fear Failure

This last weekend was a time where many people attended graduations. Debbie and I drove to Lawrence and back on Friday to attend our son Taylor’s “Masters in Social Work” ceremony. I am sorry to say I cannot remember what the Commencement Speaker talked about. To be honest most speeches are forgotten soon after delivered and this is coming from me, a person who delivers a 30 minute “speech” every Sunday.

I do remember hearing about a high school commencement speaker this year who was the president of a large corporation. He was chosen for the occasion because of his success. Yet his speech came with a most unusual wish for the graduates.

The speaker told the students sitting before him in their graduation gowns, “If I could have one hope for you as you go out into the world, it would be this: I hope you fail. I hope that you fail at something that is important to you.” He went on to say how his own early life had been one failure after another, until he learned to see failure as an effective teacher.

A recurring story of the Bible is that mountains of faith rise from the valleys of failure. Before discovering the high ground we are looking for, we may need to see the failure of the dreams we hold in our hearts and trust instead in the love, wisdom, and guidance of our God.

On numerous occasions Jesus told his followers, “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am with you!” - Matthew 14:27 (NLT)

I believe that too many Christians are afraid of failure. We fear failure so therefore we do not even strive to succeed. God rarely makes our fear disappear. Instead, He asks us to be strong, take courage and learn from the times we fail.

Our son Taylor will embark later this summer on a one year assignment to the Middle East. He will be stationed in Jerusalem with the task of aiding those who are persecuted in war torn Palestine.

I pray for his safety and applaud his courage for stepping out in faith to make a difference in the name of Jesus Christ.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Graduation: A Rite of Passage

Last Wednesday I attended the Hays High Baccalaureate service and it got me thinking about when both of my sons graduated, I was able to speak at their Baccalaureate services and I shared the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage.

According to Cherokee legend the boy’s father takes him deep into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone for the night.

The boy is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the perils of the night, the boy is recognized by the tribe as a man.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. As he sits upon the stump he can hear all kinds of noises in the forest. His mind imagines that wild beasts must surely be all around him. He fears that maybe even some human might jump him and do him harm.

Throughout the night the whistle of the wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but the boy sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could prove that he was a man.

Finally, after a horrifyingly long night the sun finally appeared and the boy removed his blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been there all night protecting his son from harm.

This story reminds us as Christians that we too are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is sitting on the stump beside us watching over us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is remember that He is with us always.

To all of the parents of sons and daughters and to all of this year’s graduates (including my youngest son Taylor who receives his Masters Degree in Social Work from KU this weekend)

We celebrate with you!

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

When God is Silent Part 4

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Some of the hardest things to do in life is to wait on God. But we have to trust that even though we can’t see it God knows what he is doing.

In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom wrote about an incident in World War II that taught her to trust that God knows what he is doing. She and her sister, Betsy, had been sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp by the Nazis for harboring fugitive Jews. The barracks they were assigned were not only over-crowded, but flea- infested. As Corrie lay in the dry straw she had made for a bed, not only was she suffocated by human bodies, but fleas bit away at her skin and she got so frustrated and complained to God. “God why these fleas? Haven’t I gone through enough God? I can take anything but fleas. You’ve got to be joking God.”

It was there in Ravensbruck that Corrie and her sister Betsy started a Bible Study in their barracks for Jewish women.

It was illegal to study the Bible in those prison camps and if the guards came into the barracks and found them, death was certain. But to Corrie’s surprise the Bible Studies grew and grew and no guard ever interrupted, never came into the barracks. After weeks and weeks of the Bible Studies, Corrie and her sister finally found out why the guards never came into their barracks. One of them overheard a guard say, “We don’t go in there because of the fleas.” She could not understand the reason for the fleas at first but it all made sense to her now. God had worked it all out for good.

Friends, you never know how God is orchestrating his plans and his will in your life. He is behind the scenes making it all work out for good And we just have to trust he knows what he is doing even when he is silent.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

When God is Silent Part 3

Do you know why God is sometimes silent when we go through difficulties? It is because he is testing our faith. God often uses trials and difficulties to mature our faith.

Rev. Harold Wilke, who was born without arms found ways to deal with discrimination from an early age. He was barred from his local elementary school. Wilke’s church discouraged him from seeking ordination but feeling called by God, he was ordained in 1939, but only after demonstrating that he could conduct the rites of the church as well as a person without disabilities. His work in disabled rights was recognized with his participation in the White House ceremony for the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 with the first President Bush.

When he was a preschooler he was struggling to get his shirt over his head and shoulders. He recalled in an interview, “I was grunting and sweating and my mother just stood there and watched.” A relative turned to his mother and said, “Ida, why don’t you help the child?” His mother responded through gritted teeth, “I am helping him.”

Sometimes God stands by in silence like a caring mother who does nothing because it actually helps us to mature.

Jesus’ half brother James wrote, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:2-4

Tomorrow we will look at our lack of understanding of God.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

When God is Silent Part 2

Some of the hardest things to do in life is to wait on God. I saw written once, “God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time.” Dealing with God’s timing takes certain knowledge of who God is.

God’s view of time is quite different than ours. The Bible says that for God a thousand years is like a day. In other words, for an eternal God a thousand years is really not that long of time.

Remember when you were a kid and how hard it was to take long trips in the car?

I heard about a 4 year old kid traveling with his mother in the car and constantly asking the same question over & over again? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? "When are we going to get there? When are we going to get there?"

Finally, the Mom got so irritated that she said, "We still have 90 more miles to go. So don’t ask me again when we’re going to get there." Well, the boy was silent for a long time. Then he timidly asked, "Mom, will I still be four when we get there?"

To a small child, a couple of hours car ride seems like an eternity.

To an adult it doesn’t seem so long because a grown up has experienced time.

To God, a few years on earth seems like a few seconds because he has experienced eternity.

I think we sometimes appear to God like the child constantly nagging from the back seat. “God when is this going to happen? When are you going to answer my prayer? When God? When?”

Tomorrow we will look at what God is trying to teach us as we wait on him.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

When God is Silent Part 1

Some of the hardest things to handle are the times in our lives when God seems like he is a million miles away and is not answering our prayers. God promised in his word to always be there but sometimes it seems as if he giving us the silent treatment. Job wrote in the Old Testament,

"But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him." Job 23:8-9

Maybe you have a situation in your life and you are wondering where God is.

Maybe it’s an illness you deal with and you are wondering if God notices.

Maybe it’s a rebellious child and you’ve asked God to help; but your child continues their bad behavior. Maybe you’ve been abused and the pain is deep and it just won’t go away and you wonder if God even cares. Maybe you have a decision that you need to make but there is no clear picture as to what you should do. And when you ask God he seems silent.

Well throughout this week will be focusing on the discipline of waiting on God and listening for Him even when he appears to be silent.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

TONIGHT at 6:30pm

Moms' Night Out

In celebration of Mother's Day, Celebration Community Church is showing the film, “Moms' Night Out” TONIGHT ( Friday) at 7:05pm. Moms' Night Out tells the story of a young Mom who is desperately in need of moms' night out.

But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a paper bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for three hours—what could go wrong? Moms' Night Out is an endearing true-to-life family comedy that celebrates the beautiful mess called parenting.

This family friendly film is a part of the church’s radio station, 98.5 The TRUTH’s monthly Free Friday Family Film series. Popcorn and pop are also free.

The church is also honoring all Mothers this weekend with drawings for five unique gift baskets. One gift basket will be given away at each of the five church’s services Sunday at 8:30, 10, and 11:30 am as well as our brand new service on Saturday night at 5pm.

Come celebrate God’s gift of our mothers this weekend at C3.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

TODAY is the NATIONAL DAY of PRAYER

Today is the 65th annual National Day of Prayer and it is a wonderful opportunity to see the healing and renewing power of God made manifest through the citizens of Hays who will be gathered from noon to 1pm at the Ellis County Courthouse.

The theme for 2016 is Wake Up America, emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to return to the God of our Fathers in reverence for His Holy Name. The scripture verse chosen by the national organizers is from Isaiah 58:1 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.”

Dr. Tony Evans, the 2016 Honorary Chairman, wrote a special prayer that will be read by local participants throughout our nation at all of the gatherings. Millions of people will come together from coast to coast to pray at thousands of events facilitated by groups like the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance and people just like you!

As your pastor and partner in ministry I am always SO proud of all of the C3 folks who show up each year to pray.

Below is the prayer written by Dr Tony Evans. If you cannot attend the event today I encourage you to join millions of Christians throughout our nation in praying this prayer sometime during the noon hour.

Dear heavenly Father, we come to You today as a humble people desperate for Your supernatural intervention on behalf of our beloved nation. First, we thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on our land, blessings that have allowed us to bring so much good and benefit to not only our own citizens but also to the rest of the world. The very ideals upon which this country was founded were based on biblical truths, no matter how some try to rewrite history to deny that very fact today.

It is why our hearts are so broken over how You continue to be marginalized and dismissed by both our people and institutions. We are also saddened by the fact that Your people have contributed greatly to the spiritual apathy that now engulfs us. Our satisfaction in remaining religious without being fully committed to living out the truths of Your Word has caused us to become co-conspirators with the forces of evil that are destroying us as a society.

It is for this reason that we personally and collectively repent of our carnality and recommit ourselves to becoming visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ. Enable us, by Your Spirit, to no longer be secret agent Christians but rather to publicly declare and live out Your truth in a spirit of love so that You feel welcome in our country once again.

Thank You for Your promise to hear our prayers when we call to You with hearts of repentance and obedience, which is how we are appealing to You today, Father. On behalf of Your church, we affirm afresh the priority You are to us that You would fill every dimension of our lives as we seek to bring You glory through the advancement of Your kingdom in our personal lives, our family lives, and in the lives of our churches and our government leaders. We confidently invite heaven’s intervention into all the affairs of our nation and we praise You in advance for Your answer.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

If you are able please join me at the corner of 8^th and Fort today (Thursday May 5^th) as we exercise our Constitutional right to assemble to give praise and thanks to the Lord as we intercede and petition God to continue to Bless America!

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

FREE!

I Am Offended

In an old episode of T.V.’s “Seinfeld”, Jerry’s friend George cleverly attempts to establish his own charity. Since he doesn’t really support any cause except himself he creates a vague shell organization called “The Human Fund”. As he promotes the “cause” he finds that people are generally pretty happy to be associated with this nice sounding foundation.

George’s charity did not offend anyone, unlike the name of Jesus in today’s pluralistic, politically correct, easily offended culture. Yesterday I shared that one of the reasons I believe so many people get so upset at the name of Jesus is because of the exclusive claim that Jesus made when asked by one of his disciples about the way to heaven.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

I know that another reason people are uncomfortable with Jesus; it is because of what he did for them on the cross.

In 1st Corinthians 1:18 we read “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

What is the folly, the foolishness, the offensiveness of the cross?

We will look at that on Friday.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer. Join me at the Ellis County Courthouse (8th & Fort) from 12 noon - 1 pm.

At The Name Of Jesus

This week we are going to look at one of the most culturally believed lies. You may have heard it. You may of said it. You may even up until now believed it. It doesn't matter what you believe about God as long as you are sincere.

If you watch somebody on any day time talk show talking about “things of faith” they can talk with ease about ‘spirituality’ or a ‘higher power’ or the ‘universe blessing them’ and there is no problem at all. But whenever the name of Jesus is mentioned, there is controversy. What’s fascinating to me is this is almost no one denies the existence of Jesus. In fact even those who are cynical aren't going to try and tell you that he did not live. They are going to also acknowledge that he was a very wise teacher. His message of helping the poor, loving others, being generous and forgiving are phenomenal. Even if one hates Christianity, it is virtually impossible to hate the teaching of Jesus. So his detractors don't debate his existence or the beauty of his teaching.

So why do so many people get so upset at the name of Jesus? I believe people get rattled and bent out of shape because of the exclusive claim that Jesus made when asked by one of his disciples about the way to heaven.

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Boom! There it is. This is what sets Jesus apart from all other world religions. It's the exclusive claim that he and he alone is the way to the father. Jesus said I am THE way, not A way, not one of many ways, but the ONLY way to heaven.

Tomorrow we will look at why the cross of Christ offends so many people.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

GOT KIDS??? COME TONIGHT!

Come out and cheer for C3’s 4 softball teams playing each other TONIGHT at 7pm at Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.

God Never Said That

Recap

Today we begin the last week of the series about the misconceptions that people think are in the Bible. Let’s recap what God never said.

Doesn’t God want me to be happy? No, not if it means doing things that conflict with what his word says. Happiness is never going to be found in the happenings of this earth. Happiness is only found in the Lord.

God will never give you more than you can handle. is a spiritual myth. God Never Said That. In fact God will often give you more than you can handle so you will stop trying to rely on yourself and learn to rely on Him.

It doesn’t matter what I do as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. That’s not true. Sin hurts everyone. We live in a culture that tolerates sinful behavior and sin hurts. That’s why Jesus died on a cross, to free us from the power that sin has over us.

"Money is the root of all evil. That is not in the Bible. What Jesus does say is, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."

What Jesus is really saying is, “You cannot serve both God and money”. We have to get our priorities in line. God’s word says that our hearts will follow our treasure. When we put God first in our finances he promises to provide for our every need.

This week we are going to look at one of the most culturally believed lies. You may have heard it. You may of said it. You may even up until now believed it. It doesn't matter what you believe about God as long as you are sincere.

Tomorrow we will look at the controversy that arises when we use the name of Jesus.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

The Board of Directors of Victory Christian Academy is pleased to announce that Debbie Ermoian will be joining the VCA staff as the upper grade elementary teacher. Debbie has served USD 489 School District at Jefferson and Roosevelt Elementary and Hays Middle School since 1993. She has twice received “Master Teacher” honors.