NHCS Chapel 4-26-2024 | WE DON'T OWN THE RIGHTS TO THE MUSIC! | By New Horizon Christian School | Good morning Just when I think I'm not being loud, you still hear me. It is a great morning. We only have two more 8th grade chapels. That's just crazy to me. I know but that kind of means that the school year is almost over. Yeah. I hear lots of yes but a couple ahs. Uh this teacher might say yes. Alright, without some more talking, it is my honor to introduce this week's eighth grader, mister Bryden Holkamp. Hello, welcome to my 8th grade chapel. Can I please have Ainsley and Havlin come up for a pledge and prayer? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god oh say can you see by the dawn's early light whatsoever we at the twilight satisfy parts we watch were so gallantly streaming is reckless gave birth to the night that our flag was still say or the land of the free Dear god, thank you for this day. Hope this chapel goes good. Thank you for bread and going putting into my life. Hope this chapels goes great. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen. Can I please have the eighth grade girls come up? As long as it's worth it a praises to shout that brings Jericho down If you're grateful, come on. Because you're faithful. Praise because there's no place to hide weeks old Whoa. Hello my name is regret I'm pretty sure we have met every single day of your life I'm the whisper inside and won't let you forget Hello my name is defeat you recognize me just when you think you can win I'll drag you right back down again till you've lost oh these are the for the very of the ones who came am no longer all the records behind who makes all things new has proven it's I'll be saved I sing hello us that we should changed I have been amazing true king yeah I am a child of Now, I'd like to introduce my preacher and my grandpa, Poppy or Pete Donnelly. Good morning, New Horizon. As you now know, I'm Bryden's grand puppy. I'm glad to be here though and so you know, one of the things when I was coming here, I was thinking I was born in a different century than most of you. Well, all of you guys in school and maybe a couple of the teachers. So I was born in nineteen fifty Yeah. My sentiments exactly. You know. So that puts me at 73 years old. Been around for a long, long, long time, right? 73 years and things have changed in those 73 years but remarkably a lot of things stay the same. Now, when I was born, it was custom especially in my family. They were Irish, Italians. So, it was a custom in my family that you would name your children after a saint. And pray to god that they would emulate the saints. Well, my parents chose to name me Peter Thomas Donnelly The Doubting Denier. And so it it does kind of work because when I was growing up when I would be at church and we would hear the gospel reading of of god calling Peter a rock and upon this rock, I will build my church. In the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I was proud to be named Peter. And then we have that awful story of Peter. Which is a lot like all of us. You know, full of bravado. You know, says, when Jesus says that they will, all the disciples will will abandon me and Peter says, not me. I will die with you before I will abandon you. And so Jesus says, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times. So, what he meant by that is before the sun rises, that's when the cock crows at sunrise before sunrise, you're going to deny me three times. And so in my life I was true to my namesakes I was a doubting denier I went to a Christian school. I went to a Catholic grade school We we learned about who Jesus was. We learned about who God was. But when I got out into the world, when I got to high school, high school went bad because I got to high school in 19sixty-five. Long time ago. Um most of the teachers were Christian themselves I don't think it's that way today I think you may run into opposition especially you eighth graders and seventh graders, you guys are going to come out of school and go to a public school and you're going to run into people that are opposed to Christianity They have been deceived by the great liar. Who's, do you know who the great liar is? Oh, wow. We got a lot of people. Who is the great liar? Satan. Satan. He's the great liar and so they've been deceived by him. They might not even know they've been deceived by him. They think they're so smart that that's just the way life is. But when I got to College. It it was completely anti Christian. And I remember being in a class. Don't even remember what the class was. It had nothing to do with what the professor professed. He talked about the Bible being of having two different gods. There was the Old Testament god who was mean and tough and then there was the New Testament kind god and when you hear this over and over and over, it works on you unless you keep your faith really strong. Well, my I I had lost my faith through just being beaten away. None of my friends were Christians. None of my friends went to church. So, I lost my faith and then I learned later on, this image of the two gods. came from the first century. It played the early church for three centuries. They were the gnostics. Any of you ever heard of the Gnostics? I think in in John second and third letter, that's who he's talking about or the gnostics who thought that you had to have a special knowledge to know who Jesus was and who god was. You needed this special knowledge. Well, you guys, we don't have to have a special knowledge, do we? We need to know that Jesus is lord. Right? Isn't that what all we need to know? And so you guys especially when you get out into the world this summer, when you run into people that don't believe. You need to keep your faith strong. You need to keep your faith, faith vibrant. You know, I lost mine because I lost contact with other Christians. I lost contact with my church. It was me against the world and I had lost contact with Jesus That's why I failed. And I was fortunate that I was able to come back. I came back through things that God had done in my life. Through people that God had put in my life. And one of them sat there in the front row. Fourth one from the end. My wife Tammy. I thank her. Um I also came back through learning about who Jesus is and learning that he has immense power that he told us that he is stronger than the devil. Do you, do you know where he says that? He says that in three of the gospels When the Pharisees accused Jesus of of casting out demons in the name of Beelzebel. Jesus tells him that a house divided against itself cannot stand and then if and if Satan's house is divided, it cannot stand. But then it then but then there's a passage. Where Jesus says, if you want to rob a strong man, you must first bind him. Then you can enter his house and Under his possessions So, what does Jesus mean by that? Rob, a strong man I was always shocked that Jesus would talk about robbing somebody. But if we think about it, Jesus doesn't or if you're going to rob somebody, you don't rob a strong man and that's kind of dumb. You know, you can get whipped. You rob a rich man. So, now we know right off the bat that Jesus is talking about something else. So, who do you think the Strongman is Jesus is talking about No, who's the own man? He's the devil and Jesus says, he's the strong man because he can bind the devil and in Mark's gospel, if you think about it, the very first miracle that Jesus performs in Mark's gospel. Is an exorcism. He saves a man who is possessed by the devil. He saves him by unbinding him. That he goes into the devil's domain. And he loots the devil's possession of people possessed by the devil by releasing us from the power of the devil. That Jesus is the stronger man. We know that from in the gospel when Jesus is baptized, what happens when Jesus is baptized? Right. The dove. It was the spirit of god that comes down like a dove. It fluttered and made a sound. You know, if we think about the sound it made, it made us sound like the wind. Because in Hebrew and Greek, both, the word for wind and the word for spirit is the same word and it's numos and so, we have the sound of the spirit coming down that sounds like a dove. You know how a dove sounds when it takes off? I mean, they take off and almost fly vertical. And it was god the father that said, this is my beloved son Listen to him. So, I'm going to give you a couple things when you go out. This is kind of your homework for life. And this this particular event occurs in Matthew, Mark, and Luke Where Jesus and his disciples, the disciples had just seen Jesus feed 5000 people and they've taken a boat across the Sea of Galilee and they're on the North Shore of the Sea and they're headed to Caesarea, Philippi. And they're walking along and in those days, you know, they didn't have Ubers. They didn't have taxis. They didn't have buses, trains. So, you were either going to walk or you're going to have, if you were wealthy and had a a horse or a donkey or maybe a camel, you could ride but you were going to walk. You would be like walking from here to Mount Vernon. We would never think of doing that, right? But they did it all the time, every day. So, they're walking along. You have a lot of time to be with people when you're walking from here to Mount Vernon. Or with the disciples from to Caesarea, Philippi. And Jesus asks his disciples, I guess they're walking along and they're concentrating. I'm not tripping and falling. And so Jesus being Jesus, has to ask him a question and he says, who do people say I am? And the disciples answered, different things. Some say you're John the Baptist. You know, Herod himself thought that John the Baptist had been reincarnated as Jesus. And some of the disciples said, people say you're Elijah. The prophet. The guy with the chariot that went up. And he said, others say you're some of the old prophets that have returned. And and we have that same thing when we think about, well, who do people say Jesus is? And you might think, well, my mom and dad tells me that Jesus is the son of god and my teacher at school says one thing, our PBS says, you know, he was an itinerant preacher in the first century and some atheist is going to tell you something else. We get all these ideas about who Jesus is but you know what happens next? Jesus asks the disciples another question. Probably the most important question that anyone in here will ever be asked in their life. The most important question of all. And Jesus says, who do you say I am? He's not asking what other people say. He's asking, who do you say I am? Well, how are you going to answer that? Especially if you don't know him. The only thing I know about Jesus is what I saw on PBS and read in a book. Well, that's not a very good answer and I think that might be our eternal question when we meet Jesus. Is Jesus may ask us? Who do you say I am? And to answer it you need to know and meet our savior. You need to talk to him and be with him That's how you'll know who Jesus is you have to put out some effort. He's always there with open arms waiting for you. He waited for me a long time. But I finally came to him. Thank god for that, right? Um I would like to close and we didn't lose it Hopefully, we didn't we lost it once, deleted it. We had to have eighth grader help to teach me how to use my own phone. But my morning devotion actually was yesterday. My morning devotion yesterday. Um this was the first reading in my morning devotions and after I read it, I thought, wow. This needs to be directed especially to the eighth graders. You guys are getting ready to go and leave this wonderful environment where you can worship god and maybe some of you are going to go to a public school. So this is especially for you but it's for all you guys. You guys are going out this summer and you you don't know who you're going to encounter. And this reading is from coincidentally, first Peter. The fifth chapter starts in the middle of verse five. Clothe yourself with humility. In your dealings with one another. For god opposes the proud and bestows favor on the humble. So, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of god that you may exalt, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries on him. For he cares for you. Be sober and vigilant. For your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him. Steadfast in faith. Knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings as you. The god of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself, Jesus himself, will restore, confirm, strengthen, and you. After you have suffered a little, a little. To him be dominion forever. Amen. So, with that, I say, may god bless you this day and every day of your life after and keep the faith. Thank you. Alright, now we're going to play a little game. So, how many of you know what charades is? Okay. So, we're going to do eighth graders versus teachers on this. Um it's going to be reversed. It's going to be one person tries to guess and six people up here trying to act it out. So, for the eighth graders, I need Elizabeth, Annalyn, Gretchen, Keegan, Cole, Jive, and Cash. And for the teachers, I need Super Dave, Miss Malakovic, Miss Brinkley, Miss Ashford, Miss Elena, and and mister Konlisk. Miss Hyde. are you Ashton and Lane, I need you to be scorekeepers. Don't pull off the seat. Alright, so you guys are going to pick from this. Um we'll rotate between the two teams. Um who wants to go first? Okay. Yes. How long do we get, Bryan? Gretchen, you gotta be loud. Use your big girl voice. We talked about this So, can I look at it? Yeah. Okay, I need to know the rules. One minute to get her to guess. Now, look at it. Wait, do we look at it first? 1 minute? Yeah. Okay. Okay, we're ready. Okay. Go. Oh, part of the Red Sea. Yay. Go. Yeah. No words. Go. Yeah. Go. Garden, Go. This is a really fun day. This is a good What? Sure. Sure. Okay, be careful. Is it the last supper? Oh, those are. No, no, no, not a city girl, right Oh, oh, oh. Of Moses there. I forgot to mention the reward is Dilly Barr's at lunch. Whoo Alright, now it's time for memory verses. Kindergarten and first grade. He's starting. Shepherd for his oil. Second grade. This is First John 4thirteen Third grade. Therefore, surrounded by out of witnesses. Let us throw off everything that hinders Let us run with perseverance. For us. He gives twelve one Fourth grade. That which was his get to become children but the word became flesh we have seen his glory, the glory grace and truth. John testified concerning him. He cried out has surpassed me beyond fullness we have praise and place of grace already given. Has ever seen god with the father has fifth grade. Dear friends, let us love one another Everyone who loves has been born of god and knows god. Whoever not love does not know because god is love. This is how god showed his love among us. He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him. This is love but that he loves us his son as an atoning sacrifice Since god so loved us, we also ought to love one another one has ever seen god but if you love is on us and his love is made complete in us. That we live in him of his spirit, and we have seen and testify that the father has sent his son to be the savior of the John 47 through fourteen 6th grade. Do not let any unwholesome outcome but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians four twenty-nine. 7th grade. Your house and your kingdom. Ready for me. Second Samuel 8th grade The angel said to the woman, do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who has crucified. He is not here. He has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew twenty-eight five through six. Are there any announcements? Cuz I don't know. Okay. Uh there's sweet treats volleyball jerseys need to be Yeah, in basketball. Announcements. We'll get to that in just a few minutes but let's give Brighton a round of applause. What an awesome chapel. Um let's go ahead and pray over him. So, staff, family, if you guys want to come up, we're going to pray over him. It's become tradition here now. Brighton, where are you going to school next year? Central High School. Centralia High School. Centralia High School? Yeah. Are you excited? Yeah. Alright. Missus Hyde, will you pray? Please Alright. Hands out. Let's pray. Father, I thank you for this day. I thank you for just allowing us to be here in chapel. Um I'm just always amazed that each of our eighth graders and what they bring. Uh lord, they are 13 and 14 years old and doing so much. Father, I just lift Bryden up to you and all that he's learned in the last, I don't know, 11 years that he's been here with us. I just ask that you would continue to be with him as he goes on to this next phase of life, high school that you would surround him with great friends and that you would Help him to let his light shine because he is a great example Father, we love you so much and we just ask that you would be with us. It's in your name we pray. Amen. I'd like to thank my parents for raising enough money for me to come here every year and learn about Jesus my teachers for helping me learn about Christ and my friends for helping me along the way. Oh yeah. Do you guys want to hear a Mickey Mouse voice? Should I connect I don't know if you guys have heard Briden do a Mickey Mouse voice but it's like he could work at Disney. Alright, listen to this. Ha ha. Hi, Natal Paul. Alright, Lane, I hear your where's Lane? Lane's praying us out. So, Chapel is done after that but we're going to stay. We're going to practice Holy Forever. Crusader Sunday is this Sunday here. Um Starts at 10 30. We will have all student-led service and then there is lunch afterwards here. So, if you guys want to come, tell your parents. We gotta come to church here at 10 30. If you have obligations at your church, I know sometimes your parents teach Sunday school or our ministers. It's hard to escape your church. We totally understand that. Alright, but we're going to practice right after Chapel so no one's leaving. Hi. Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. Thank you for all these many blessings. I thank you for putting Bryden in my life. and that his chapel went smoothly. Uh please keep us all safe today and help nothing to happen. In your name I pray, amen. You want to