daddy4ms

Tonight at the dinner table, we talked about thankfulness.  I decided it would be fun to see how many times we could go around the table and share what we are thankful for.  The only rule was that we could not repeat what someone else had said.  It was a great opportunity to show the many things we have to be thankful for.  So, what are you thankful for today? Have a great Thanksgiving!

Last night was our Family Night when we fill Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  This is one of our best attended Family Nights.  We had about 120 people last night.  We had a great meal-thanks Rachel & Richelle & others who helped in the kitchen! After the meal, we sang a couple of songs from Seeds Family Worship.  We did my newest favorite, "More Than Conquerors" and then did "Light of the World" which involved some glow sticks.  Then each family read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and I briefly talked about generosity and how we are to give to others.  At this point, the kids are getting anxious.  We watched a brief video from Samaritan's Purse describing what Operation Christmas Child is and where the boxes go and then it was GO time.  Each family enjoyed making cards for their child, filling it with toys, candy, art supplies, and hygiene items, and then praying for each box.  We finished 77 boxes thanks to the generosity of many people....

Yesterday was a great Saturday!  It started out by sleeping late.  For those who know me, this is a highlight. I love my sleep.  Then it was a lazy morning with the whole family at home.  It seems like this has not happened in several weeks.  Then Mitchell, Molly and I headed to the Turkey Shoot at the Middle School.  We had a good time and we each made a few free throws.  Bethany had to cover lunches at Faith and Life so Mackenzie and Megan went with her. After the turkey shoot, we headed to Panda Kitchen for lunch.  It was tasty!  Then it was time for Mitchell to go to a basketball clinic at the high school.  So, Molly and I headed to the Wellness Center to swim.  We had fun playing some games and swimming around.  Towards the end, Molly decided she enjoyed the acoustics at the indoor pool and began making up songs.  Another lady in the pool commented on her singing and the "joy" she brought her as she sang. We then ...

I finished Mark Holmen's new book, Impress Faith on Your Kids on Thursday.  In the book, Holmen walks through Deuteronomy 6 and its implications for parents.  This is a good book to put into the hands of new parents as they seek how to pass on faith to their children.  Holmen does a great job of looking to specific verses from Deuteronomy 6 and making them practical in our day to day lives.  At the end of each chapter, Holmen writes a letter to a friend summarizing the content of the chapter.  At first, I thought this was redundant, but then I understood Holmen's heart for the friend to whom these letters were written. He explains how these letters were specifically written to someone who probably would never pick up his book. Holmen also includes questions for small group discussion at the end of each chapter. The specific chapters focus on different aspects of parenting.  He starts with the goal of parenting which by the way is not good kids, smart kids...

Currently, I am serving on a committee at church called the Discipleship Ministries Committee.  It has replaced the Christian Education committee.  We have been discussing for a few months what we should focus on and what are responsibilities are.  One of the committee members sent us an email with a link to an article.  This article linked to a specific website called Gospel Centered Discipleship.  I went to the site and downloaded two free e-books.  I started reading one of those e-books on Thursday.  It is called Grow: Reproducing through Organic Discipleship by Winfield Bevins.  I have not finished the e-book, but was challenged by several through provoking quotes.  Here are a few quotes from the introduction and first two chapters: "In a similar way, a church's discipleship strategy must be structured enough to maintain order, but organic enough to change with the ongoing needs of the church as it grows or it will hinder its growth."...

Today has been a busy day!  I started my normal Thursday routine by heading to the Perk for coffee and reading.  I was blessed by the encouragement of a couple who stopped by for coffee on their way to a meeting.  You know who you are!  I  finished Holmen's book, Impress Faith On Your Kids and will write a review later this week.  I also started an e-book I received from Gospel Centered Discipleship.  You can visit the site here . I will share a few thought provoking quotes from this e-book later too.  I also was able to spend some time today serving pulled pork at Kropf Lumber's Customer Appreciation Day.  It was a fun change of routine and kept me busy.  I enjoyed conversation with Jena as we served hundreds of sandwiches.  It was good to see many unfamiliar faces as I don't spend a lot of time at Kropf, not because it is not a nice store, but because I am handy-man challenged.  If something breaks at my house, I am not mu...

Occasionally, when flipping through channels, we as a family like to watch Don't Forget the Lyrics.  If you have never seen the show, contestants have to fill in missing lyrics once the music stops.  It brings to mind the argument about lyrics.  Just last week, Mitchell was asking if he could listen to other stations than 99.1 and 90.7.  We had the discussion about being discerning about music choices because words can get stuck in our heads.  I don't buy the "I just like the beat argument".  Lyrics stay with us. Here is an example.  Yesterday, after a busy morning at church, I had gone downstairs to watch some TV and maybe take a nap.  The nap won.  I turned off the TV and was drifting off to sleep.  Then I heard Molly playing with dolls in the corner.  She was singing, "Our God will not be moved.  Our God will never be shaken."  Great lyrics to be singing!  But here is the point.  We had just sang this song a...

So, Halloween has come and gone which also means that many churches have completed their Trunk or Treats, Harvest Festivals, or Judgment House.  These are all ways that the church has attempted to minister to people around Halloween.  For those who are unfamiliar with Judgement House,  here is a link to the organization that provides resources. I have to say that I am biased against Judgement House because of an experience in another state.  However, I have to ask myself if this is the best way to share the gospel.  I know many people accept Christ, but do they fully understand what it means to follow Christ?  Has the fear of hell forced a decision?  The reason I am asking is because of cautions from pastors like Matt Chandler, David Platt and Kyle Idleman who wonder if we are getting people to simply say a prayer without understanding what it means to follow Christ?  So, what are your thoughts?  Are you in favor or against churches host...

Last night, I had the opportunity to hear Francis Chan speak at Central Christian Church in Wichita.  He was speaking on behalf of World Impact.  For those who are unfamiliar, World Impact serves the urban poor in several cities throughout the United States.  Check them out here .  It was a great night of worship and the Word.  Chan, as always, spoke some powerful and challenging words.  Here are a few notes that I took.  He shared about how he is serving in San Francisco in the Tenderloin.  Hey, GracePoint Youth, remember when we served there in 2001.  He has a prayer team of 20 individuals who start by praying for apartment buildings.  After prayer, Chan and others from his team start knocking on doors.  They ask two questions: What do you need? How can we pray?  I wonder how those two questions could impact lives where you and I live. He challenged the church and its leaders to seriously consider how we interpret Scriptu...

Happy Anniversary to me!  No, it's not my wedding anniversary, but instead my work anniversary.  I began my ministry at Hesston MB on November 1, 2008.  So, today marks my anniversary.  I have enjoyed my 3 years in ministry at Hesston and have grown a lot as well.  I cannot wait to see how God is going to use me and the church in the future.  As I reflect on 3 years of ministry, here are a few exciting things that God is doing (or has done) at Hesston MB: Excitement & learning related to our CHRIST acrostic in Sunday School and small groups New ministries: CHICKS, movie ministry, D6 Dads, single parent ministries such as oil change & parents day out Five newcomer lunches over the last year New individuals and families plugging into ministries Development of a prayer team and monthly prayer meeting Discussions occurring in Discipleship Ministries Committee Ideas percolating regarding strengthening marriages and how to minister to those in c...