Friday, March 28, 2014

Have You Ever...

Have you ever said something...only to regret it later?
Have you ever started on a new path of thinking and living...only to fall back to your old ways?Have you ever made a promise...only to break it within hours?
Have you ever felt the exhilaration of a miracle...only to stumble and sink within seconds?

Have you ever felt HOPE WAS LOST and so were you...only to experience LIFE AS NEVER BEFORE?

There are very few things as powerful as the personal testimony of a life changed by Christ! Do not miss this weekend at Cypress. This would be a great weekend to extend an invitation to a friend.

If you are looking for Hope & Encouragement…you’ll find it here this weekend!

See you soon,
Pastor Ken

Friday, March 21, 2014

Do You Have an "Anti-Christian" Friend?

I want you to take a moment and think of the most "anti-Christian" friend you have or someone you know. I personally hope you are friends with someone like this…how else will they come to know Christ…but through you? If you don't have a friend like this (you should work on developing one) then think of the most foul-mouthed person at your work, or in your neighborhood. Okay, do you have that person in mind? Now, hit the fast forward button (let's say ten years) and picture that person being the most well-known Christian leader in ALL OF AMERICA who is writing books, preaching on TV, starting churches and ministries all around the nation. It's one thing if they are two different people, but when it is the same person, that’s CRAZY!

I can hardly wait to dive into the life story and insight as we study a guy named Saul who became known and referred to as the Apostle Paul.

There really is HOPE FOR EVERYONE!

Bring that "friend” with you this weekend, the Lord might just call our nation's next Billy Graham!

See you soon,
Pastor Ken

Friday, March 14, 2014

Two extremes when it comes to...

There seems to be two extremes when it comes to being at our best to be used by the Lord. On one end of the spectrum is the person who has so little self-worth/value that they believe there is nothing they could ever do, become, or contribute in life that would make a difference to another person. How tragic. At the other end of the spectrum lies the person who is so "full of themselves" that they think they can do any and all things, to the point others can't stand to be around them. They actually believe anything that ever gets accomplished is due to them, not God. How tragic.

This weekend’s message is an interesting study of one man who was called out of a lowly place in life and thrust into the highest position of leadership in his country. Yet, the person that he became and the lessons of his lasting influence are far more significant than the accomplishments of his day.

See you this weekend as we learn from Gideon.
YOU are a mighty warrior!  Pastor Ken

Friday, March 7, 2014

A Story of God's Grace...

Deceiver…Lying…Fleeing for life…Manipulator…Called by God…Maturity…Grace…Pain…Triumph

These words seem to be contradictions but, for our benefit, they all fit together into what ends up being a beautiful story of God's grace and human choice. This weekend, we dive into the "at times” surreal story of Jacob, who later becomes known as Israel.

No matter where you are or what you've done, God's grace can redeem and refurbish...for His glory and His plan! I believe the power of Christ really can change a life, change a family, change a community and, as in the story of Jacob, literally change the world!!  HOPE

See you this weekend,
Pastor Ken

PS. Don’t forget daylight savings time begins this weekend. It’s always tough to lose that hour of sleep but it means spring is just around the corner!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

8 + 12 + 90 + 30 + 1 = What I Experienced Last Night!

Last night, I taught Discovery Seminar. It's one of the Cypress events I look forward to and it’s always a highlight of mine! In Discovery Seminar, we talk about how you can discover our heritage, our doctrine, your faith, our church, and our future together.

At the end of the evening, I always give a clear picture of what it means to be a Christ follower, or a Christian, and then provide people an opportunity to respond. Last night EIGHT people prayed to step across a line of faith for the first time in their entire lives! Death to Life!

TWELVE people made a decision to get back on track, spiritually speaking. These twelve indicated that they had once made a decision to follow Christ but, for whatever reason, they had drifted and, in that moment, were rededicating themselves to live their best for Him.

During the first break, a man came up to me to say thank you and to ask information on Celebrate Recovery. He told me that yesterday was his NINETY DAYS SOBER and that he was drug free!

After the seminar, a lady came up with tears in her eyes and wanted to thank the church for all of its support as she was celebrating that the Lord had helped her to quit smoking after THIRTY YEARS and she exclaimed, “I finally was able to quit...I couldn't have done it without the Lord and this church helping me!”

And ONE other woman, with tears in her eyes, stated that she had been divorced for several years and she wanted to start anew and afresh with the Lord in the area of her sexual purity. She wants to experience the deep cleansing and soul-satisfying relationship only the Lord could provide!

On nights like last night and mornings of reflection like this...I am so glad to have a firsthand eyewitness account of what Christ was talking about in Isaiah 61...

Isaiah 61:1(NKJV) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Your Thankful & Rejoicing Pastor,
Pastor Ken