Turning the Page—Liberty HS Baccalaureate (June 3, 2010)

As the Pastor of Student Ministries at GPCC, I have had the privilege and responsibility of casting the vision for what I believe God wants for our students. As I prayed and sought God’s direction, He seemed to be pointing back to this idea of a STORY and hence, the reason we have called our ministry, EPIC.

EPIC is defined as a “grand” story that highlights the adventures and achievements of a hero. A list of EPIC stories would include:

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh

2. The Iliad

3. The Odyssey

4. Beowulf

5. Star Wars

6. The Lord of the Rings series

I haven’t always been a reader but over the last 12-13 years I can’t stop reading. I didn’t use to enjoy reading because it was something I HAD to do. Of course, school always had us reading and not necessarily “fun” books and having a mother as a teacher meant my summers were consumed of weekly trips to the library and “countless” quiet hours for reading. Now, I always have a book on me, and though they are normally “non-fiction” books about ministry, leadership, or creativity, I do wander upon a good Fiction book every now and then. But not every story grabs my attention. To me, the characteristics of a great story are:

· Intriguing characters

· Depth and yet ease of plot

· A story that is bigger than the characters

· A deep longing for the next chapter

You are about to turn the page and enter a new chapter of your life . . . literally. The next chapter of your life, for many of you the next 4-8 years, will be some of the most rewarding and yet challenging times in your life. It is during this chapter of life that:

· Ties from friends are stretched and yet new ties are made with new friends.

· The role of parents move from parental authority to counselors, friends, supporters.

· You will determine who and what you want to be for the rest of your life.

· For many of you, this chapter of life is where you will meet your damsel in distress or your knight in shining armor.

This new chapter in your life is HUGE!! So how does God want you to handle this new chapter? Four things I want to share with you tonight from Ephesians 5.15-17, concerning how you need to live this chapter of your life:

1. Be Prepared–prepared for the twist and turns (v.15)

a. There will be ups and downs during this phase of life. Seeking godly counsel from parents, wise friends, etc. is essential during this time of life.

b. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

2. Live life on purpose (v. 16)

a. Don’t hold back.

b. God didn’t design us to live a mediocre life.

c. God designed us to live life on purpose for Him.

d. But in doing so, live for God, not for self.

3. Keep God as your focus. (v. 17)

a. It is easy in life to go with your plan, your parent’s plan, or someone else’s plan, but ultimately you must go with what God want for your life.

b. If God is not the main character in your story than you are not living the right story.

c. The most important part of God’s plan is for you to be a part of HIS story.

God desires that you play a part in a GRAND story—a story that is bigger than yourself but a story in which you are one of the main characters. So how do you become part of God’s story?

Roman 10.9-10 states, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

You must choose to be a willing participant in God’s story. It is not up to your parents, friends, church, pastor, etc. It is solely up to you. So have you entered God’s story? If not, I am asking you to please find me after the service and simply say—“So I want to be part of God’s story!” and I would LOVE nothing more to help you enter this amazing Story God has planned for you.

If you are here tonight and you already have made that chose and you are living out the story, as you turn the page and begin to live out this next chapter, make sure God is your focus, that you are living on purpose, and that you are prepared for what life brings your way.

Prayer

God, thank you for allowing us to be a part of Your story. Thanks for this moment in the life of these graduating seniors where they turn the page and enter a new chapter. Yet as they do so, God remind them of their need for you. Remind them that life isn’t worth living if you are not the main character. For the parents, we ask that you give them the strength and wisdom to help their seniors in this new chapter. Thanks again for the opportunity to stand here and to talk to this group. Use them in mighty ways to enrich and bring depth to your story.

Soul –shaper, heart-breaker,

How long before the dark pain ends?

You said you’d fix me, feed me, show me,

Now I’m waiting for your promise to send . . .

When will the healing begin?

Broken, bruised, and battle-weary,

I came to you to heal my soul

But wounds and scars were rediscovered,

Heartache, sorrow left uncovered

Blood and tears drained out fill up my bowl

When will you give me control?

My own hands broke my heart in pieces,

A scattered life worth less than jagged glass

I glued it together, torn and tattered,

Fragile, weak, ripped and shattered

And watched tears fall as it broke again

And so I offered it to you . . .

You tore me up! You smashed me down!

You ground the points into my suffering

But you take my shame and guilt, my story,

Into a mosaic worth your love and glory

And so now it’s my offering . . .

The artist’s hand knows better than

The work of art could ever know

And so now I take my shattered life

And I finally give you control.

Cailin Coane. February 13, 2010

Above are pictures of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) students at Olentangy Liberty High School.  This morning we partnered with them to pass out 1200 (that is 100 dozen) free Krispy Kreme donuts to all the students entering the building.  There was card attached explaining that we just wanted to show them the love of Christ in a practical way.

After the blitz, we took the rest of the donuts down to the administrative offices, the teacher’s lounge and the janitor’s office.

It was an amazing morning and a GREAT event.  Looking forward to doing the same with Olentangy and Olentangy Orange High Schools.

Very proud of our EPIC students who showed up to help.  Thanks Anna J., Hannah F., Morgyn C., and Kennedy B.  Also a big thanks to Josh Dixon for helping us pass them out as well.

This year our focus is on becoming ONE with God, the Holy Spirit, Yourself, and Others.  No more weird and awkward internet searches or talks at the brainstorming table with our volunteer staff.  This year it is wonderful to talk about how we are or are not connecting with God.  We have already had great conversations about the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives and what that mean not only personally but in the context of community as well.

Perhaps all of this is why I am so EXTREMELY excited about this year’s CHILL.  On February 12th-14th, we will embark on an exciting journey in search of connectedness and fullness with the God, ourselves and others.

In preparation for this year’s CHILL I have been engrossed in Francis Chan’s newest book, Forgotten God.  It is a look at the Holy Spirit’s role in our life and how we often if not always forgot about His presence, role and work in us as children of God.

I am excited about not only what the re-introduction of the Holy Spirit is doing in my life but what He may do in the lives of our High School students at and after The CHILL.

Please be praying about what God will do at this year’s CHILL and what He is doing in preparation for it. 

Title:  Four Warning to Assure Us We Live a Truly Dangerous Life for Jesus Christ.

#1.  Don’t Live for Artificial Danger (4.10-11)

• We all want to live an exciting life.
• Who, in Heaven, is going to give you a high-five for doing a daring stunts or for being an amazing athlete?
• A real man, doesn’t go off for crazy adventure but instead finds a woman who loves God, marries her, loves her and raises his children.
• Artificial danger = skateboarding, x-games, cheap thrills.
• Real danger = standing up for Christ in your school.

#2.  Don’t be Replaced (4.13-14)

• Perhaps the worst feeling in Heaven is finding out God had a job for you but you were replaced because you fought against it.
• God does have a job for you, but if you aren’t willing to do it, God will replace you.
• God won’t use you if you aren’t willing to step up.

#3.  Don’t Wish for Another’s Life (4.14)

• Don’t wish for someone else’s adventure–live for you own adventure.
• Don’t just sit back wishing you were someone else.  Live your own life w/ the purpose God has for you.
• Stop living a fake life–Stand up and Be Real!!!
• Know why you are here–for such a time as this!
• The greatest feeling in the world is to wake up and know your life is filled with Jesus.
• Live your life to the fullest!

#4.  Don’t Hold Back Anything (4.15-16)

• If I die, I die–but I WILL obey!!
• “It is not the last drop of blood that is hard for a soldier to lose.  It is the first drop.”  Abraham Lincoln in a response to a question about the Civil War soldiers.
• Have you spilled the first drop of blood for Jesus yet?
• Don’t hold anything back!
• How must Jesus do you have on you?
• Jump in to a dangerous live with Jesus.

God put you in this generation for such a time as this–Live & Live to the fullest!!!!

Once again, there is NO Middle School EPIC this coming weekend.  High School will meet as usual (Sunday night from 5:00 pm–7:00 pm)

If you are a senior and you are interested in attending, this is what we need though from you:

• 3 Pictures of Senior (as a baby, child, senior)
• Full Name of Senior (i.e. Ryan Gabriel Smith)
• Parent’s Full Names (i.e. Ken and Tamara Smith)
• Graduating High School (i.e. Brown County High School)
• Next Step for Student—Job or College (i.e. Liberty University—study psychology or youth pastor)
• If your student is Valedictorian we would like to know that as well.

Please e-mail me at ryan@gracepoint.cc with the above information and attach the pictures if you like.

Here are the details:

• May 29th-30th
• Time:  6:00 pm–10:00 am
• Cost:  $20.00
• Need:  Airsoft gun and supplies (we have some on hand), waiver form, sleeping bag, tent, $20.00

Dinner and Breakfast will be on us!

Here is the promo video for Man Camp:  Airsoft Style