Hope and Peace

Hope. And peace. These are words that my wife, DeLynn, and I have been talking about for some time now.

As many of you reading this blog know, we have had a great deal of challenges with the health of our two sons, Landry and Kelby. The past six years have been hard. Parents (or parent figures) know how tough it is to see your children hurt. Many have said, “If only I could take their place, I would!” I know that feeling (I’ve admittedly thought that myself), but we all know that’s just not the way God designed it.

We have realized something huge through all these trials: There’s a big difference between praying for your kids and actually surrendering them to Him. We have learned through the most difficult experiences of our lives that for us to have peace, surrendering our kids to the Lord is not only important, but it’s essential.

DeLynn and I know that God has so many promises for his followers. And because we can stand on His Word, we can have hope. And with hope comes peace!

I was so excited that I came across my verse of the year a couple weeks ago. I knew the minute I read it that God had shown me my 2015 Verse of the Year. We are so full of hope for healing in both of our sons. I am choosing to stand on this verse for the days ahead:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13

Pastor Brant

What is your Scripture Verse of the Year?

Memorize it. Meditate on it.

Mark it on the wall of the service you attend.

Scripture Verse of the Year 2015

Over 50 years ago when I was in elementary school there was a program called the Weekly Reader in which young readers were awarded points for the most books we read. Since volume was all that mattered and I remember picking out all the short books I could find. I wasn’t reading for understanding. Today as a follower of Jesus Christ and a pastor of one of His churches I no longer read for quantity but rather for inspiration and enlightenment and the one book that provides that for me in the Bible. There is one book of the 66 books that comprise the Bible that I find most people avoid reading... the Book of Revelation.

Unlike what most people think Revelation is a book about the future and about the present. It offers future hope to all believers, especially those who have suffered for their faith, by proclaiming Christ's final victory over evil and the reality of eternal life with him. It also gives present guidance as it teaches us about Jesus Christ and how we should live for him now.

The book of Revelation does reveal future events, but there is not the gloomy pessimism we might expect. The drama of these unfolding events is spectacular, but there is nothing to fear if you are on the winning side. Revelation is a book of prophecy that is both prediction (foretelling future events) and proclamation (preaching about who God is and what he will do). Prophecy is more than telling the future. Behind the predictions are important principles about God's character, his promises and what he expects from his church.

I have chosen for my scripture verse of the year Revelation 1:3 “God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near”.(NLT)

As we read these words, we are promised that we will be blessed if we read what it says and DO what it says. This summer the teaching pastors of C3 will speak on the seven churches in Revelation and I will teach a mid-week in depth Bible study on the entire book.

I am sure that in the year to come I will be blessed by teaching from this book and my prayer is that you will be blessed by hearing and applying it to your life.

Throughout this week in this blog you will be hearing from C3 staff members about their Scripture Verse of the Year.

What will yours be?

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

What is your Scripture Verse of the Year?

Memorize it. Meditate on it.

Mark it on the wall of the service you attend.

It's A Wonderful Life

On Christmas Eve after sharing “Good News of Great Joy” with close to 800 worshippers at C3, my son Taylor joined Debbie and I in watching my favorite Christmas movie. In “It’s a Wonderful Life” George Bailey lived a life of selfless service. Young George Bailey was the best and brightest kid in Bedford Falls. After a lifelong of letting others take the metaphoric first and best piece of the pie, Bailey faced what theologians call “The dark night of the soul”. He foresaw losing his business, his livelihood while facing prison for something he hadn’t done. In desperation, he pleads with a Grinch-like figure, Old Man Potter for a loan on his life insurance when he is told “it seems George you’re worth more dead than alive!”

So George Bailey decides that his only solution is to throw himself off the bridge into the frigid waters below and at least supply his family with the money from his life insurance.

But thanks to the prayers of his family and others throughout the community God steps in and an angel is sent to earth to stop him before he can take his life and then gives him the divine gift of seeing what life would be like if he had never been born.

In this classic Frank Capra film one line stands out more than any other Clarence the angel says to George: “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives and, when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” I want to share the Good News with you this day that Jesus reminds us of the infinite value of investing ourselves in the world of people instead of the world of money and possessions.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:19-21.

As we conclude this year I want to encourage you to ponder this question. WHAT IF JESUS HAD NEVER BEEN BORN? The world and your life would be infinity darker like all who inhabited the town of Potterville.

Be sure to give thanks to God with ALL that is in you for the WONDER-FULL LIFE we can live now and for eternity because of Christ.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

What is your scripture verse of the year?

Find out mine THIS SUNDAY at 8:30 10, 11:30 and 6pm at C3.

Help take down our Christmas decorations after each service THIS SUNDAY

Coming Soon:

Participating Vendors:

• Celebrate Health will be doing free blood pressure screenings
• Hays Med- Stroke and Heart Attack education, SANE, Nurse Hotline, Urgent Care Center
• Rooks County Medical Center
• Doctors without Delay
• NWKS Area on Aging
• Clinkscales Elder Law
• Angel Care Home Health
• High Plains Mental Health
• Inspire Fitness
• Avry’s Birth Doula Services
• Breastfeeding Education
• The Center for Life Experiences- Support Groups
• Hospice
• Good Samaritan Adult Day Care
• Ellis Good Samaritan Center
• Registered Pharmacist Consultation
• High Plains Independence
• Celebrate Recovery
• Angel Care Transportation
• Harvest America Corporation
• Willow House
• Registered Dietician
• Diabetes Education

Unto you is born this day

Debbie and I wish you a wonderful Christmas Day!
Your pastor and partner in ministry,
Kyle

Wise Men Still Seek Him

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:17-18

Not much is known about the Magi, traditionally called wise men. We don’t know where in the “East” they came from. Tradition says they were men of high position from Parthia, near the site of ancient Babylon. How did they know that the star represented the Messiah? They could have been Jews who remained in Babylon after the exile and knew the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah’s coming. They may have been eastern astrologers who studied ancient manuscripts from around the world. Because of the Jewish exile centuries earlier, they would have had copies of the Old Testament in their land. They may have had a special message from God directing them to the King of Kings.

Interesting note: there is no mention of these travelers being kings as in the song “We Three Kings” or are we told how many of them are there? We imagine three because of the three gifts mentioned. What we do know is that these wise men sought out the Christ child.

Tonight, Christmas Eve at 4 & 6pm at Celebration Community Church in Hays and at 6pm at the inaugural services at C3 Colby we will look at what the wise ones of today will find if they seek Christ.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

The Word

John 1

Exposure: Read the first chapter of the Apostle John's account of Jesus' life. Look around your home at lit candles. Spend some time just reflecting and looking at the candlelight.

Exploration: This chapter is known for being written in almost a mystical style yet it also tells the narrative of how God prepared the world for the arrival of His Word. What was your favorite part about the chapter?

Expression: What is significant about understanding that Jesus is The Word and that He has been God since the beginning?

Experience: "Follow me" is a statement you find in John 1. What was it like when Jesus asked you to follow Him?

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Tell your friends to come to Christmas Eve Services at 4 & 6 pm

Joy to the World

This is the final week of our Advent journey as we “Rediscover the Christmas Season”. With help and thanks to a You Version devotional, we have looked at the significant characters in the greatest story ever told, the coming of Christ and the first Christmas.

Each weekday this blog has included four elements that we have interacted with the Bible story. Exposure, Exploration, Expression, and Experience.

Psalms 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his and not we ourselves we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. for the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Exposure: Read the passage from Psalms. Get a group together and go Christmas caroling. Visit some rest homes or shut ins like a group of us pictured above did last week.

Exploration: What were people's responses to your singing? What is your favorite Christmas caroling song? Why is it your favorite song?

Expression: Copy down in your own handwriting the lyrics to your favorite Christmas carol. Ask God to use this season to help you experience the joy and peace the song communicates in a new way this year.

Experience: What is your favorite memory of a Christmas carol?

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Christmas Eve Services 4 & 6 pm