Rite Of Passage

Last Sunday I was invited to speak at Hays High’s Baccalaureate service preceding graduation ceremonies. I recall that when my son Devin graduated in 2008 I was able to share at his Baccalaureate 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.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Superhero Worship

At a funeral service I presided at last Saturday, an articulate, good looking, well built, young man in his thirties with tattoos up and down his arms stood up in the congregation and expressively communicated some memories of his relationship with the deceased. What he said next though is something I have never heard come out of anyone’s mouth. He claimed to be a follower of the mythical Norse God Thor popularized by comic books and recent movies. I was stunned. But later on it got me thinking, “What is it about superheroes that makes them so wildly popular in our culture, popular enough to inspire hero worship? I believe the trend towards a fascination with superheroes is a way of addressing our deep need of a supernatural savior.  

There is no question that this generation is enamored with the concept of a superhero that is able to defy gravity and other human constraints. Many wish that they were actually themselves the one who has superhero powers acting with completely benevolent motives. There are people who dream of and even dress up like and attend conventions paying homage to their favorite superhero. Wishing there were indeed someone who could fly, penetrate walls and hold up falling towers. Someone who could zoom around the world preventing disasters and crimes at once—someone who was, in essence omnipresent and could keep us safe from evil’s grasp.

The adulation this generation has for comic book superheroes truly displays a craving for justice, healing, protection, righteousness and salvation. We who have been blessed with God’s Spirit of understanding are most fortunate to be able to seek His future promises in the pages of Bible and not in a comic book or on a theater screen. For we know, indeed, God is who we seek and He is the only One who can satisfy this hole we have in our soul.

Jesus could heal the crippled, cleanse those with leprosy as well as walk on water and calm a tempest in the sea with just the command of His voice.  God gave Christ the ability to read the thoughts of others, command the demons to obey Him and expand five loaves of bread and two fish to feed over 5,000 with leftovers to boot.  

After the funeral service I looked for the Thor follower but he was nowhere to be found. One thing I  know  for sure; during my message to those gathered in the chapel of a funeral home, all there heard me share the good news about my superhero. He is the One who lived a perfect life and  defeated death. They heard me speak about His superhuman ability to do what no one has ever done before; been resurrected from dead with the promise that  those who follow Him will also be raised up to meet him in the clouds when He comes again.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle   

The End

New Mid-Week Series On Wednesday!

The 41 Encounter Members preparing for a Mission Trip in Haiti are about $2,500 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.

Greatest Returns

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me…for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

The Barna Research Group have shown that the majority of people give their lives to Christ before the age of 18, but this is the first study that has shown the probabilities at various ages.  It also has shown that the evangelistic impact is getting younger.  

The study points out that children and adolescents are most impacted evangelistically by family members, peers and their churches activities like Sunday school, Kids Church, VBS, etc .  In fact, the years prior to age 12 are when a majority of children make their decision as to whether or not they will follow Christ. 

This is why we at Celebration Community Church concentrate so much of our time and resources on Children, Youth and College ministries.  We invest in programs like our Elevate Kids Club, our G0-FISH children’s ministry which puts on summer camp June 3-5 Vacation Bible School July 21-25 and KidFest Aug 16.

Even though the Barna study says that only 4% of teens have a likelihood of trusting in Christ we at C3 believe it is a good investment to pour a tremendous amount of time and money into a relevant youth and college ministry. Our CrossCurrent student ministries goes on mission trips, puts on summer camps for Middle School May 27-29 and High School July 31-August .  This summer also makes our 11^th Annual Youth Conference June 27-28 that attracts hundreds of Middle and High School students to a weekend of great music and challenging messages. Our Encounter College Ministry has in the last year been reaching 250 + FHSU students every week and continues to operate throughout the summer.

There is no summer slow down when it comes to doing whatever we can to reach  young people for the Lord at C3. 

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Men's Breakfast Tomorrow

7:30AM In The C3 Pond 

Connection Class Tomorrow

10:00AM In The C3 Pond 

You Become Who You Hang Out With

I recently read something Rick Warren wrote that got me thinking ”, The moment your kids start going to school, you no longer have the primary influence on their life. They start to become influenced by their peer group. And the older they get, the more they look to their peers. 

So, as a parent, you need to continually have a conversation with your kids about who their companions are going to be. You need to help your children understand the impact friends have on them and the importance of choosing good friends.

We need to encourage our children to make friends with others who will pull them up instead of drag them down; who encourage them and be positive influences in their lives. Because the number one factor that will determine whether they succeed or fail in life is the kind of friends they choose – friends who hold them back or friends who spur them on.”

As our local schools wind down the academic year and Fort Hays State University and Hays High School prepare for graduations this weekend, I got to thinking about how thankful I am for the awesome student ministries we have at Celebration Community Church. Encounter our College ministry led by Dr Jeff Burnett right down to DeLynn Rice’s Go-Fish Children’s church with Nick Eiden and previously Derek Mayfield in between leading CrossCurrent, C3 is totally committed to teaching students not just information but more importantly the formation of Christian character in the context of a community of faith . As we conclude our first year of private Christian pre-school and elementary education at Hays Victory Christian Academy we are modeling for even our youngest children to live their lives as Christians in a world that doesn’t. 

As the school year comes to an end I want to personally thank and encourage you to do as well all of the teachers in public and private education alike who are committed to being positive role models living out the Gospel  and influencing young people to make good  and Godly choices in their lives. 

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle 

God Is A Baseball Fan

You've probably heard that God loves baseball. After all, He began his holy book with Genesis 1:1. “"In the big inning..." Everyone who loves baseball like the Lord does feels a tremendous rush this time of year with another set of words: Play ball! Last night one of the three men’s softball teams that Celebration Community Church has fielded in the Hays Recreation League had its first games of the season. (Thank you to our team sponsors, AdvoCare, Covenant Builders, Hays Academy of Hair Design & RoofMasters).What a joy it was playing on a team of guys, all connected with C3, all pulling for each other to do their best win or lose.

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 you to join Christ’s C3 team by attending our Connections Class THIS SATURDAY at 10am. RSVP by calling the church office at 625-5483.
It’s time to get up and out of the bleachers and get in the game God is calling you to play with His team.  

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 7:30am. Luke Haines will be sharing how God has become the captain of his family’s team. 

New mid-week service, The End, starts May 21st @ C3

What's In A Name

Yesterday as a part of the series “Heaven Is For Real” I shared the parable Jesus taught about Heaven & Hell known as the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. Without even reading these verses in Luke 16:19-31, a great lesson is revealed just by carefully considering the title. Take a moment to think about the difference in this title, between the two men.
The difference is, only one of them has a name.
The rich man in hell has no name.  No name that is, known to Christ.  He had and enjoyed many things on earth: lovely home, fine clothing and gourmet food, position of honor- Just not a relationship with the God of heaven.  His money could not buy that.  I'm sure they knew his name at the bank, the car dealership, the club. But not in heaven. That’s not to say rich people can’t go to heaven, of course they can, but money is not the ticket in.

Lazarus, by contrast, had and enjoyed very little of material things.  But he is the true rich man in the story.  Because what he did have was worth far more than all of the rich man's things put together.  Lazarus had a name known to God.

"I have called you by name; you are mine!" Isaiah 43:1.

Jesus’ death on a cross redeems the whole world.  But only those who put their trust in Him, and Him alone, have their names written in the book of life and on the lips of the Good Shepherd: "He calls His own sheep by name" John 10:3.

God has blessed you in many ways.  But nothing compares with knowing that your name is known to Him!

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Tonight:
Father/Son Fishing Trip
Location: Meet at C3 but we fish at Cedar Bluff
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
RSVP to: mans@celebratejesus.org 

Coming Soon:
New Mid-Week Series at C3
The End
Starting Wed. May 21st 7pm
 

The Toughest Job In The World

Dr. Tony Campolo is a well-known and highly-respected, inspirational speaker, who over the last several years has spent much of his time traveling around the world on speaking tours. Meanwhile, his wife, Peggy, has chosen to stay home and give herself and all that she has to the bringing up oftheir two children, Bart and Lisa.  On those rare occasions when Peggy does travel with Tony, she finds herself engaged in conversations with some of the most accomplished, impressive, influential, sophisticated people in the world.

After one such trip, Peggy told Tony that sometimes as she visits with these powerful peopleshe finds herself feeling intimidated and sometimes even questioning her own self-worth.  Tony said to her:  "Well, honey, why don't you come up with something you could say when you meet people that will let them know that you strongly value what you do?

Well, not long after that the Campolo’s were at a party when a woman said to Peggy in a rather condescending tone, "Well, my dear, what do you do?"  Tony Campolo heard his wife say:

"I am nurturing two Homo Sapiens into the dominant values of the Judaeo-Christian tradition in order that they might become instruments for the transformation of the social order into the kind of eschatological utopia God envisioned from the beginning of time." And the other woman said: "O, my, I'm just a lawyer. Thank you to all the Mom’s who have the toughest jobs in the world.

Here is a video we viewed in the EDGE services on Mother’s Day which proves the point.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB3xM93rXbY

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

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.