What should I do when life doesn't make sense?

I am going to make this as short as I can…

I believe and I know the Lord has given me a message to share with our Cypress family this weekend. In the midst of painful and confusing days we are living in, the Lord is our strength and safe refuge. 

See you soon,
Pastor Ken …

P.S. This weekend we are also collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. 

Bring your gift-filled shoebox to the lobby and we will take it from there!

For more information- Shoebox Instructions

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Calling the Church to Concentrated Prayer for the George Family

Nathan George, son of Pastor Dale and Kathy George, passed away yesterday at his home in England.

We are opening the Alton Darby worship center from 6-7pm tonight. You can come and go at any time during that timeframe. Pastors and the Prayer Team will be available to pray with you or you may pray individually or as a family.

If you cannot be here tonight, please pray wherever you are, whatever time works for you.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

Five things to pray for:

1. Thank God for the HOPE of heaven, where we know Nathan is with his Savior.
   
2. COMFORT for Nathan’s wife, Lauren, for his parents, Pastor Dale and Kathy George and the extended family
   
3. STRENGTH for the coming days as they travel and make decisions and gather together as a family
   
4. PROTECTION – that the Lord will protect the hearts and minds of those mourning Nathan
   
5. In the midst of this devastating loss, pray that God would be GLORIFIED and that many lives will be CHANGED because of Nathan’s life and death.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

Pastor Ken

My thoughts and reflections from the last 7 days regarding the murder of Amanda Blackburn

For those who haven’t heard, Amanda Blackburn (my niece and cousin to Dayne Gowan, worship leader at Cypress) was killed as the result of a home invasion in her Indianapolis home one week ago. As the family has been going through the stages and emotions of grieving, I wanted to put some thoughts to paper, so here is some of what I’ve been thinking in recent days:

1. I am disappointed in ignorant comments people make on social media. Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but everything you post SHOULD BE TRUE. Just because you have an opinion doesn’t mean you should share it. Social media has become for many a cesspool for gossip and argumentation. Ask yourself…is what I’m about to say true, helpful and does it build people up? Have I talked to the person directly about this? Have I really prayed about this to seek the Lord’s guidance? If not, maybe I should keep my mouth shut.
   
   
   Now that I got that off my chest, let me turn the page to the other
   things I’ve been thinking about over the past 7 days…
   
   
2. Faith in Jesus is the anchor that holds even in the midst of the fiercest storm. The winds and the waves still know His name and obey Him! So when it comes time to seek refuge in the midst of the storm, choose wisely. Also, you build your foundation in times of calm, then the storms often reveal the quality of that which we’ve spent years building.
   
   
3. There is healing in loving relationships. Over the past week, my mom’s house has been like a constant revolving door of family and friends coming to “JUST BE THERE.” The ministry of presence. There is nothing to say, there is no magic verse that takes away the pain, just being there and saying, “I care” and “I’m sorry.”
   
   
4. The Hope of Heaven is something to look forward to. When we have faith in Jesus, we grieve during times of loss, but not as those who have no hope. Hope in Jesus prevails even in the face of physical death.
   
   
   One of the best pieces on hope was written by my parents’ pastor at Trinity Wesleyan Church in Indianapolis, Pastor Mike Colaw, as he reflected on this tragedy. Well worth the read.
   
   
5. Family and friends often gather for the first week or so. Most people’s lives go back to “normal” after a couple weeks. Those affected most keenly by loss will be forced to find a new “normal” which will never be what it was. It’s a long process that has certain steps that cannot be rushed or skipped. Go through the process.
   
   
6. God can be glorified even in our darkest hours. Amanda loved to refinish furniture by taking items often viewed as junk and working to redeem them into something beautiful.
   
   
7. Prayer makes a difference. You feel it, and you sense it. As the Lord brings Davey and his 15 month-old son, Weston, to your mind, lift them in prayer. They will need it in the days to come.
   
   
8. Faith and a relationship with Jesus is THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT you will ever pass on to your children. Prioritize and live life in light of this truth.
   
   
9. We live by faith, not by sight, therefore, by faith, we choose to believe the best is still yet to come! Only God can turn tragedy into triumph. We trust Him in life and we will trust Him in death.

Come As You Are

This has been a great week for some. For others, you are going through the most challenging time of your life. No matter what, be sure to get to Cypress for a service this weekend. You will hear amazing stories of God at work in our church.

This would be the perfect weekend to invite a friend!

Come...see what God is up to…

Connect...with your church family in worshiping our great God…

Be open to the Change that happens within you as you open your heart to Christ.

See you soon!

Pastor Ken

Two Things I Want You to Know

1. This weekend is going to be another amazing weekend at Cypress! Corporate worship is biblical and a great way to start your week off right.
   
   I am excited to have the opportunity to interview Jon Erwin, one of the Erwin brothers who co-wrote, directed, and produced the film WOODLAWN.
   
   Here’s an excerpt from an article in The Washington Times:
   
   Mr. Erwin and his brother, “Woodlawn” co-director Andrew Erwin, grew up with the story of Woodlawn High School in their native Birmingham. Their father, former Alabama state Sen. Henry “Hank” Erwin, was a young evangelist in 1973 when he helped diffuse racial violence at the school that had grown so bad that the FBI was contemplating its closure.
   
   “Politics couldn’t stop it. Police couldn’t stop it. Teachers couldn’t stop it. Nothing could stop the violence,” Jon Erwin said. “The only thing that literally turned the school around, and turned around a situation of despair into a situation of hope, was an entire football team committing themselves to God and each other and saying, ‘We are going to model this thing that Jesus said 2,000 years ago — to love God and to love each other.’”
   
   Invite friends to go see the film, then bring them to Cypress this weekend to hear the fascinating behind-the-scenes story.
   
   
2. We have been celebrating the 256 people who took the NEXT STEP in their faith journey last weekend by getting baptized. It was an amazing experience to witness moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, young teens - people of all ages - declare that Jesus is their Lord and Savior!
   
   If you were among the 256 – CONGRATULATIONS! You have taken a very important step on your journey with Christ.
   
   But (and this is SO IMPORTANT!!!) - don’t stop there! Keep taking those “NEXT STEPS” toward becoming more like Christ. Just like any relationship takes an investment of time, the same can be said for our relationship with Christ. Spend time with Him!

Looking forward to a great weekend!

See ya soon,

Pastor Ken

P.S. Here are some NEXT STEPS to consider:

SquareOne – a 4 week class that covers the basics of how to walk with Christ- begins this Sunday!

Connection Event – November 8 – both campuses! Find out how to get plugged in at Cypress.

Discovery Seminar – November 16 – A quarterly seminar taught by Pastor Ken, where he will share his own faith story, the Cypress history, what Wesleyans believe and why, and where Cypress believes God is leading us in the years to come. This class is necessary for those interested in membership at Cypress.

Share Your Story! – Be sure to take a few minutes to share the story behind your baptism: When and Why did you decide to get Baptized? What did it mean to you? What has Christ been doing in your life? We LOVE to hear stories of lives being CHANGED by Christ!

Top 10- Monday Reflections from this Past Weekend- 256 Baptisms!

Someone asked me in the days leading up to our “Open Baptism” what was I expecting. I answered them that I honestly had no idea what to expect; I just knew we were following a clear God prompting that had come to the surface rather quickly (just two weeks prior). I felt we had to be obedient to do what I sensed God leading us to do. I felt we needed to be prepared as best we could be and whatever the result ended up being, it would be fine, because the result is always up to God.

I woke up about 3am this morning reflecting on this past weekend and praying. So, what are my thoughts today? Let me bullet point a few in no particular order.

1. WOW…God never ceases to amaze!
2. This past weekend was incredible, but the NEXT STEP is so important! I don’t want last weekend to turn into a memory of a God moment. I want last weekend to become a catalyst of a God Movement in personal lives and our church.
3. I am so proud of the staff team at Cypress Church. It’s one thing to get an idea, it’s often another thing to actually pull it off.
4. We spent time this morning, as a staff, praying for the 256 people that were baptized. Praying the enemy will not sweep in and snatch away the seed and moment from this past weekend. If you would join us in praying, that would be great.
5. Never underestimate what God is up to or capable of. I saw some people baptized this past weekend that, if I had to place a bet, I would have said no way…and it’s almost like God said YES WAY!
6. Don’t forget a new session of Square One kicks off this coming weekend (10/25). It’s a great next step for those newer to their faith journey or those looking for a refresher course on how to get started taking those next steps.
7. See #1 again…no, seriously!
8. I don’t know for sure what the “great cloud of witnesses” really looks like, but I wonder if family and friends were cheering on from heaven (Hebrews 12).
9. It takes a certain level of courage to walk down front and get baptized. It requires a different level of courage to walk the life God desires.
10. Thank You, Jesus, for everything!

The excitement is building for this...

I have been looking forward to this weekend with great anticipation. We are doing something I have never done, nor have I ever been an eye witness to…Open Baptism. To be honest, it excites and concerns me all at the same time.

Why it concerns me…

- I like to plan ahead and know what to expect

- I want to be sure people understand what they are doing and why

- I have no idea what is really about to happen

Why it excites me…

- Because I have no idea what is really about to happen

- Because we are following God’s lead and prompting on this

- Because we are teaching God’s truth and then giving people an opportunity to respond…like, right nowJ

- Because I believe we will be eye witnesses to miracles and the celebration of life change like never before!

Come ready to connect, to worship, to encourage, to respond…to celebrate CHANGED LIVES for Christ!

I’m praying and believing this will be one that we all remember for a long time.

See you this weekend,
Pastor Ken