You have been selected in the first round!

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.   Colossians 3:12 (NIV)


The 2014 NFL Draft began last night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City where the National Football League franchises gathered to choose newly eligible football players to be on their teams. These young men have worked hard for most of their lives to achieve football fame and soon the fortune that comes with being selected in the first round.  

Some people search all their life for some kind of significance wondering if only I was successful; perhaps a celebrity or a gifted athlete. If only I had fame and fortune, everything would be perfect. Yet all this pales in comparison to what you and I already have.

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul wrote that you and I were chosen by God to be holy and loved by Him. God chose you, selected you, drafted you to be on His team. No random coincidence, God knew you from the beginning of time and He has called you to be His ambassador of love in this world. And what God has called, He will empower. 

So right now imagine God calling your name, pointing to you to come forward onto the platform where He hands you the jersey of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Feel the surge  of His Holy Spirit empowering you as you rise to go and live for Him and for His team.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,
Kyle

Need:
The 41 Encounter members preparing for a Mission Trip to Haiti are about $2500 short of the $40,000 they need to raise. If you would like to contribute to their fund please make your checks to C3 with a note in the memo “Encounter Mission Trip”. Or you can donate on the C3 App under “Giving” by scrolling down to Encounter Mission Trip. Thank you in advance for your generous help.     

Are you passionate about living out your purpose through your profession?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, Colossians 3:23

According to the U.S. Dictionary of Occupational Titles, there are 20,000 different job options in the United States. That is a blessing and a curse.

A hundred years ago, it was virtually assumed that you would do what your parents did. But we live in a unique time in history in a unique society where we’re free to pursue our passions and make them our professions. So how do we discover what we should be doing?  Well what are you passionate about?

“What makes you cry or pound your fist on the table?” If you want to discover your passion, you need to identify what makes you sad or what makes you mad. Or to put it in biblical context, what makes you feel like turning over some tables? 

That’s what Jesus did in John 2. Jesus was going up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. I’m sure the disciples thought it was going to be a routine Passover, but Jesus turned the Temple upside-down. He didn’t kneel to pray. He pulled out a whip, started a stampede, and turned over some tables. Why? I believe it was because He was passionate about the misuse of God’s house. 

I think Dorothy Sayers was right when she said, “To do them justice, the people who crucified Jesus did not do so because he was a bore. Quite the contrary; he was too dynamic to be safe. Today we have declawed the lion of Judah and made him a housecat for pale priests and pious old ladies. ”

Jesus was passionate about living out His purpose. Are you?

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Christian Persecution

An Islamic extremist leader has taken responsibility for kidnapping 276 schoolgirls three weeks ago in Nigeria. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claimed responsibility for the April 15 kidnappings. He now is threatening to sell the girls, attack more schools and take additional girls.  

In Nigeria, Christians in the Muslim-majority North have been the targets of relentless deadly attacks by Islamic extremists. More than 200 pastors in the Northeastern Borno state have either fled, closed their churches, or have been murdered by the militant Islamic groups like  Boko Haram. Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sinful,” has been terrorizing Nigeria for about a decade. 

The anti-West Islamist group is opposed to educating women because its version of sharia law calls for them to be in the home raising children and caring for their husbands.

Pray for protection and peace for Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus world’s greatest liberator of women.  

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

”God has set eternity in the human heart…Ecclesiastes 3:11

When Todd Burpo who along with WORLD magazine senior writer Lynn Vincent wrote a book about his son Colton’s account of visiting heaven, he never in the wildest dreams imagined it would hit the New York Times best-seller list, selling 8 million copies in paperback and e-books.  The film adaptation of Heaven Is for Real, released this Easter  is approaching the 66 million dollar box office mark. Heaven is for Real is striking a chord in the hearts of Americans who yearn to receive what God’s  word says,”God  has  set eternity in the human heart…Ecclesiastes 3:11  We all have innate longing  inside of us to know our destiny.   

Heaven Is for Real even though not your typical “Independent Christian film” is so much more than an “imaginative adaptation” as atheist director Darren Aronofsky’s Noah was. Director Randall Wallace, is a vocal Christian  who when asked in interviews professes to believe in a literal heaven, that man is made in the image of God, and that Jesus is the only way to salvation. Actor Greg Kinnear, who plays Todd Burpo, is also a professing Christian who reportedly attends church regularly. Heaven Is for Real deals in a sincere way with the real life struggles’ of  a pastor, a man of character who spend as much time worrying about  providing for his family, dealing with skeptics and their own doubts as he does preaching the Gospel. 

As for the real Colton Burpo, he’s now a teenager, a “pretty normal kid,” according to his father. He attends public school, plays sports, does his own laundry, and gets in trouble for the typical mischief of a teenage boy—but “his faith in who God is incredibly solid,” said his father. Colton was skeptical about the film at first. When he first heard about the movie deal, he called it “a bad idea, because movies are never as good as the book.” He’s since changed his mind after seeing the film.. 

I encourage you to see Heaven is for Real and if you can join with the C3 congregation this Sunday as we hear from Jesus himself about heaven and hell.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Heaven Isn't Boring

Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov writes, "I don't believe in the afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life fearing hell or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse."

In his book, The Journey of Desire, John Eldredge, writes, "Nearly every Christian I have spoken with has some idea that eternity is an unending church service .... We have settled on the image of the never-ending sing-along in the sky, one great hymn after another, forever and ever, amen. And our heart sinks, 'Forever and ever? That's it?  

That's how a lot of people think about heaven—that it's going to be a place where we do nothing or the same thing all eternity long.  In other words, a place that's    b-o-o-o-r-i-n-g! But that is not true. I’m sorry if you’ve gotten the impression that heaven will be boring, because the opposite is the case! Heaven instead will be far more fascinating than anything we’ll ever experience on this earth.

For one thing, God will have work for us to do. Unlike our work on earth, however, it will never be monotonous or dull, nor will we grow tired or weary. The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what will be involved, but whatever it is, we’ll take delight in it and find it completely fulfilling. The Bible says, “No longer will there be any curse…. and his servants will serve him” (Revelation 22:3).

In addition, we’ll have all eternity to explore the riches of God’s creation, including the unimaginable glory of heaven. We also will be reunited with all those who’ve gone to heaven before us, and we’ll understand, as well, all the things we find confusing right now. As the Apostle Paul said, “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully” 
(1 Corinthians 13:12).

Billy Graham once wrote, “Don’t be deceived into thinking hell will be a place of fun and excitement; nothing could be farther from the truth. Not one word in the Bible about hell would ever make you want to go there. Instead, put your life into Christ’s hands, and make Him the foundation of your life — and your hope for eternity. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him” (Romans 15:13)

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Praise Report:

Congratulations to Cody Oberheim, Kendra Jermark & Mallory Flaggor who were all baptized Sunday afternoon by Encounter Director, Dr. Jeff Burnett

Will There Be Sex In Heaven?

Here is a fact that might upset you. There is no sex in heaven. I know what you are thinking… No sex for eternity? Sounds like hell to me! Before you start to reconsider eternity in heaven, consider the reason for this. Jesus is very clear, there’s no marriage in heaven. And because sex is a gift of God to be enjoyed only in the context of committed love and marriage, then obviously, there would be no sex in heaven. Now I realize that may upset you. But before you start having second thoughts about where you really want to spend eternity, recognize this.

In Matthew 22, the Sadducees, in an attempt to discredit Jesus, came to Him with a question regarding marriage and the resurrection. Jesus answered them with these words: “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (v 30). Jesus teaches here that marriage is a relationship to be enjoyed in this life, but it will not carry forward into the next life. While we do not lose our identity in heaven we will not hold the same relationships that we do on earth. Our existence will be quite different from what we are used to here.
The fact that there is no marriage or sex in heaven actually shows us how incredibly awesome heaven is! 

There will be no need for sexual intimacy with a marriage partner because the joys and of heaven will be so great. So, I hope you are able to recover from your initial reaction and realize that this is actually a reflection of just how incredibly great heaven will truly be. 

Your pastor and partner in ministry,
Kyle

National Day Of Prayer

Today, all around the nation, prayer services will be held in and around government buildings. On the National Day of Prayer people of faith gather together to specifically ask God to heal, bless, and prosper our country. In cities and towns across the United States, people will listen to prayers for our families, schools, businesses, churches, media, and government.

Since our earliest years as a nation our leaders have called us to prayer, especially during times of crisis. Throughout our history prayer has been an important part of our national life because we have realized that we need God’s wisdom and guidance. Today, our problems are so complex and the forces against us are so evil that we dare not face them alone and without God’s help.

The Bible commands us to pray “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” 1Timothy 2:2. This should be true on a personal level; don’t let a day go by without praying for our nation and its leaders but we also should come together to pray corporately because God is pleased when His people come together as one voice united in prayer.

I urge you to support this year’s National Day of Prayer and to encourage others to do so as well. Remember the Bible’s promise: “The prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective” James 5:16

I will be participating today at the Ellis County Courthouse and I invite you to join me at 12noon.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle