2016 Chapel Video

The most significant phrase of the annunciation message is simply, “with God all things are possible.” God’s presence makes all things possible. The emphasis in the message from Gabriel to Mary is not a focus on how, but rather a focus on who. As we say yes to God, all things are possible

Singing and giving have been a part of the Christmas story since the beginning. Singing and giving are the expressions that come from the heart as we wait for all things new. We are a people of hope that wait in anticipation for the fulfillment of all The Gift means to the world.

Intimacy with God will always be a challenge until we let go of our pagan view of God. We need a better image of God. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit pursues and invites us to be in rhythm and step with the community of love.

Through the lens of Daniel we see the way the world is calling to us in an attempt to change us. As Christians we are called to be set apart from the world in order to be given to it for redeeming purposes. There is a dynamic tension between being set apart and being passionately engaged in serving the needs in the world. We are needed to stand up and stand out in the world, but we have to be set apart from the world.

An Experience of the liturgy of the Eucharist.

Humanity uses attachments and addictions to assuage their hunger for God. These affections promise to give you everything and cost you nothing. But the reality is they give you nothing and cost you everything.

God has made us for Himself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.

Recipients of the Young Alumni Award recount how the springboard of their Olivet experience set the trajectory of their God ordained path and helped them to find His will for their lives. Each currently is making a tremendous impact in the marketplace of our culture with their unique abilities.

In the military, combat readiness is of eminent importance and inclusive of four major areas: technical, physical, emotional, and spiritual. On a spiritual level we are objects of spiritual warfare and must be prepared by putting on the full armor of God. When we are fully prepared we can participate in planting, watering and harvesting in the kingdom. What will our legacy of service to God reflect?

Experiencing good isn’t going to make us as happy as we think, and experiencing bad isn’t going to make us as unhappy as we think. Getting our focus off of good and bad things requires a focus on something excellent like Jesus Christ. He is bigger and better than any of us think.

Jesus is calling us to be people of love and to do the hard work of loving right here and right now. If we only have faith, we expect God to alter a reality to make our situation less difficult. If we only have hope, we anticipate the moment in the future when things will change and the world won’t be so difficult. But the greatest thing is love, because it causes us to be and do in our current reality.

Though the lesson learned in Hagar's life and Sarah's personal journey of reckoning with her reality we can be assured that we are seen by God, we must come to a point of surrender to God. For spiritual growth to happen we must ask the Lord to help us see the world through his eyes.

The temptation of passivity is a real struggle. Are we willing to let our soft, butter hands be used as agents of change, healing and hope? Are we willing to do the things that no one else wants to do?

In a look back at the history of Olivet it is evident that God has protected and sustained this institution for His purposes. Because of the dedication of the school’s founding fathers we are here today, drinking from wells we did not dig. Through successes and trials the motto has remained true – Education with a Christian Purpose.

The community of God is one of love and suffering. God suffers with us in all cases, at all times, for all people.

The kingdom of God is a community of love, and creation is actually the overflow of God’s love. Authentically sharing our faith in love is not giving what we have to someone who does not have. It is more like inviting someone to share a sunset with you and enjoying it together.

Rev. Rob Prince

The contract of salvation calls us to live, act and be people of God. As we continue to say yes to God’s ways, we grow in holiness and become the people of God.

The Israelites signs a covenant to honor the Sabbath and care for the Temple.

Our God rebuilds, strengthens, and empowers the church. We are the church and He calls all of us to fully engage and be involved in building the kingdom. His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Opposition and obstacles will always come our way in life. The best opposition strategy is simply remembering that our God will fight for us.

Opposition and obstacles will always come our way in life. The best opposition strategy is simply remembering that our God will fight for us.

160918 Revival PM at CCUA

Mathew 14 How can it be that God knows us, cares for us, pursues us and created us to commune with Him? Our response is to worship Him.

God speaks. If we do not hear Him it does not mean He is not speaking. To hear His voice we have to listen. To really listen we have to want to hear. The things we are hungry for determine who or what we are listening to, and these voices shape us. He speaks through His Word and He speaks in a still small voice. He speaks, we just need to listen.

Jesus Christ is the image of God, and man was made in the image of God. The true image of God is only realized in the crucified and risen Son of God who is the purest image bearer … the one without sin. Redemption through Jesus Christ restores us fully to what God intended for us. We bear the image of God when our lives conform to Jesus.

A relationship with God is not about what you do for Him, it is about who you are to Him. Our human condition results in carrying burdens of expectations, outcomes and egos. The burden of Christ is simply obedience. When we walk in obedience, the fruit of the Spirit will naturally be produced in our lives.

Phil shares candidly his personal story of success that turned to failure. He was driven by his dream to make an impact and that became an idol. God stripped away everything to turn his heart back to waiting, listening and desiring intimacy with his creator. The lessons he learned through his personal journey include: 1) God loves you – not because of what you do, but because of who you are; 2) When doing something God had called you to, don’t worry about the outcome just follow faithfully; 3) Be wary of your dreams, as they can distract from or usurp your relationship with God.

In our human condition we tend to chase after things that are not good for us. Our appetites – the things we crave – have been hijacked. We tend to crave what is not good for us, and don’t desire what is good for us. This obviously has a negative impact in many ways - especially spiritually. God can recalibrate our appetite so we hunger for the right things, and only then will we be we truly satisfied.

God fashioned us with a set of desires (physical, psychological, emotional and social) each designed as avenues of joy, pleasure, and purpose for temporary satisfaction. Jesus teaches that the Holy Spirit is the source of satisfaction for our spiritual hunger and thirst. He provides more that forgiveness of sins. When we thirst for righteousness, we will be filled with the Spirit who guides, strengthens, and causes us to grow spiritually. Having water and staying alive go hand in hand – both physically and spiritually.

Chaplain Holcomb reviewed the themes and highlights of the entire year’s chapel services. The major take away was that we are to offer twigs of hope to the hopeless, and pink spoons served to symbolize that regardless of what we face, God is with us, He will have the last word, and there is more to come than our present reality.

Stories become mirrors in which we can see truths about ourselves. On our spiritual journey, we start from a place of “no” because of our sinful nature, but if we allow Him, God’s grace will cause our “no” to become a “yes.” We must move beyond profession to practice, and beyond promise to performance. As believers we are called to live Christ-like not just act Christ-like … it is about a change of heart.

Scripture is clear that God’s plan is for us to serve and protect the earth, which was created and is sustained by our creator God. He continues to make all things new, and as promised will bring the Holy City down in a joining of heaven and earth in a perfect garden dwelling place.

Chapel was hosted by the senior class of 2016 under the leadership of class president, Joe Mantarian. Four seniors were selected to share their Olivet story. They encouraged students to say yes to God’s plan, to not under estimate what can happen when you say yes to God’s plan, and to not be bound by fear because when God calls you He will provide everything you need to accomplish His plan. The collective wisdom and spiritual insight these four seniors shared was very telling that Olivet’s mission is on target.

If we are casual about our faith we will become casualties. In the spiritual realm we are in a fight that requires the full armor of God. The armor along with faith, which is built through hearing the word, are the tools we need to finish the race well.

An annual celebration of mission trips sponsored by the Office of Spiritual Development. Reports from the partnership experiences validates each trip’s effectiveness in the lives of those that go and those that are ministered to abroad.

Our concern for others, when shaped by the resurrection, desires unity and calls us to action. Life together shaped by love requires us to pay attention, live fully in the way of Jesus, be strong and have courage, make sacrifices for each other, and realize that God is with us. Life Together is about the Kingdom being expressed in ways that bring honor to God.

An eloquent testimony from a man who achieved stellar success in the political arena but was driven by pride and resume virtues. The pride drove him to an integrity compromise, but he found grace and forgiveness in the fall. The Lord has restored his life which is now motivated by humility, and he has been given the forum to be a voice for Biblical principles in the political and educational sectors.

A celebration including highlights from this past summer and spring break mission trips. The impact of stepping out in faith to serve humbly has an eternal ripple effect.

The story of Noah and the flood includes a beautiful symbol of hope – the olive branch with a green leaf brought by the dove. This was God’s way of letting Him know that he was not forgotten or abandoned. God brings us twigs of hope when we are going through difficult times, and we can deliver twigs of hope as we do life together.

The answer to the simple question “ Who is this for” is simply “for the glory of God!” Decisions and actions should not be about our personal agendas either individually or collectively, but should be determined based on what we are called to do for Him and His Church. Our life together helps to form the definition and reflection of God to the world.

There’s nothing you can do about your past, but there’s a whole lot you can do about your future. The question today is, “Are you becoming the one … the one you want … would want?