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Enjoy this hymn of the faith today reminding us that God will work in and through us!

I began reading The Gospel by Ray Ortlund last week.  It is a short book but filled with powerful truths. Here are some quotes from the early chapters: Gospel doctrine creates a gospel culture. The doctrine of grace creates a culture of grace. When the doctrine is clear and the culture is beautiful, that church will be powerful. But there are no shortcuts to getting there. We accept that the truth of biblical doctrine is essential to authentic Christianity, but do we accept that the beauty of human relationships is equally essential? Gospel doctrine - gospel culture = hypocrisy Gospel culture - gospel doctrine = fragility Gospel doctrine + gospel culture = power God so loved the world, not because we are lovable but because he is love. By his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled every demand of God in our place. He atoned for our guilt. He satisfied the wrath of God against us. He conquered death on our behalf. He did all that as our substitute, beca...

Below you will find my notes from my meditation prior to Service Sunday this week. Meditation-10/26/14 Putting all three attributes together, we see that a disciple is a person who 1. Is following Christ (head), 2. Is being changed by Christ (heart), 3. Is committed to the mission of Christ (hands). Putman in DiscipleShift Head- 27  And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) 3  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3) 5  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set the...

Below is a quote from DiscipleShift by Jim Putman that I shared prior to Service Sunday yesterday. Geiger, Kelley, and Nation describe it well: “As believers understand their identity, they are empowered by God to flesh out their identity in everyday life. Leaders who view discipleship through the lens of identity encourage and train people to live in response to the great identity God has given. Instead of beginning with behavior, leaders remind people of who they are in Christ. They connect the commands of God to the identity he secures for his followers, presenting obedience as the overflow of understanding and living the new nature Christ has given.” I have read this quote many times and each time I respond with a resounding AMEN! Do you agree or disagree?  Are we trying to obey and live without understanding our identity? The underlined words remind me that who God is and who we are shapes what we do. 

Today, Hesston MB has left the building.  After a brief time of worship and prayer, our church is headed out into the community to love and serve people.  Below you will see our t-shirts that remind us of our desire to disciple head, heart and hands.  I look forward to hearing the stories of what God does in and through us!

The following is an excerpt from a great devotional on prayer called Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith.  Dear Jesus, I have no clue what kind of wild beasts Paul wrestled with in Ephesus, whether they were of the four- legged or two- legged variety or if they were simply demons. It makes absolutely no difference. For Paul, all of life became a journey and adventure of living out the radical implications of the gospel. Because of your resurrection, he would be resurrected; therefore death held no threat. Because of your resurrection, all “beastliness” will be ultimately eradicated; therefore, he would wrestle anything for your glory. Jesus, this moves me to pray today for friends who have taken on various “beastly” callings. Who in your life do you need to pray for today?

This is the title of the final chapter of Charis by Preston Sprinkle.  I thought my last post would be the last on this book, but there were too many more great thoughts that needed to be shared.  Here are quotes from final chapter and epilogue: Only unconditional, stubborn love toward your enemy produces ripple effects strong enough to change the world. We are enemies, loved and pursued by our Creator, who will stop at nothing to reconcile us to Himself. Such reconciliation happend on the cross. . . It was Jesus' declaration "It is finished" that made God love you. And when Jesus declared, "It is finished," He meant it. God's punishment for our sin was paid for, permanently settled, finished--100 percent. If you have responded in faith to God's free pardon through Jesus, then God will never punish you for your sin. It's finished. No more. If you screw up today or tomorrow (which you will), it's already been paid for through Jesus. "T...

Here are more promises of God from the Psalms compiled by Kenneth Boa: “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.   He is a shield for all who take refuge in him” (18:30). “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (32:8). “Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him” (32:10). “The Lord redeems his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned” (34:22). “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (37:4). “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (55:22). “The Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.   O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you” (84:11-12). “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear h...

Tonight 22 fuzion students and 5 leaders had their first service project at MCC in North Newton. They worked hard & did a great job. Here are some pictures:

Here is a song to remind you about our great God.  It is from Chris Tomlin's newest album.  Who is God? Who are you?  This song does a great job reminding us! To God be the glory!

Last week, I finished reading Charis by Preston Sprinkle.  This is a great book on grace and especially helpful because it focuses on grace in the Old Testament.  Here are some quotes from the final chapters: God has a relentless desire not just to save us, forgive us, redeem us, and deliver us from evil but to enjoy us... The incarnation is a powerful demonstration of grace, since it shows that God doesn't just care for our needs but loves us to the point of experiencing our needs. Jesus planted the first church on earth with a group of hoodlums who wouldn't be let inside the doors of most churches today. But if you do a character study, you'll see that Jesus handpicked these thugs (12 disciples), not because they were morally upright, but because they weren't. They didn't bring anything to the table. That's precisely why Jesus chose them. Because Peter's commitment to Jesus isn't sustained by Peter. Peter remains committed to Jesus...

Below is a portion of a prayer from Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith. But that’s not at all what I’m feeling today. I see your beauty in the gospel, and I do not doubt your love for me one bit. Right now I’m just feeling scattered, splintered, discombobulated, pulled in a myriad of directions with a big school of little piranha nibbling away at my soul. I’m not feeling tempted to do something crazy; I’m just feeling a little crazed. I so long for the day when “all things in heaven and on earth” will be brought together in you— that is, “summed up,” integrated, reunited. No more discombobulation, just combobulation! In light of that day, please meet me in this day. Center and settle me, Jesus. Help me to take my thoughts captive; help me to reel in my fluctuating emotions; help me to still the clatter and remove some of the clutter from my spirit. You are my head and I am in your heart, and that is enough. I love being loved by you, Lord Jesus. I love you only because you fi...

  Today at Hesston MB, we celebrate what Jesus did for us through his life, death and resurrection as we present butterfly or Transformer balloons to children who have made the decision to follow Jesus.  I am excited for these 6 kids as this is the most important decision they will ever make.    Why butterflies & Transformers?  Because of 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." We discuss the change that happened when they decided to follow Christ.  At the end of the presentation, we celebrate as a congregation what Jesus has done on our behalf.  

Be encouraged by the Word of God this morning.  Here are some promises of God from the Psalms compiled by Kenneth Boa: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.   But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.   He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.   Whatever he does prospers” (1:1-3). “Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (2:12). “Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him” (4:3). “For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (5:12). “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.   Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you” (9:9-10). “The Lord ...

Here is another song by the title, "It Is Finished" by Matt Papa.  Enjoy what Christ accomplished on your behalf.

This week, someone from Hesston MB asked a great question.  The question was, how would you define "going deeper"? It was such a good question that I decided to answer it on the blog. For those who do not know, "Go Deeper" has been our focus at Hesston MB over the last few years.  We believe this happens as "disciples make disciples." Below you will see a poster that shows that through God's Word you can go deeper by reading it, memorizing it, meditating on it, and sharing it. This obviously is focused on the Bible.  So, I began thinking more about how I would define "go deeper" and decided to focus on two words in Scripture: grow and depth. Below you will find the verses that I chose that related to the topic of "going deeper": For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power t...

Tonight, I am completing my first "Quenching the Father Thirst" class with 3 dads in Newton.  We have been meeting together for 6 weeks talking about what it means to be a dad and learning skills to help us in this role.  Below you will see the presentation of certificates at our meeting.  We will start another class in January so let me know if you are interested or know someone interested in the class. 

This is a excerpt from Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith. Indeed, more clearly than we see the enemies of beauty, let us see the wonders of your cross. More than we desire to see burning coals heaped on their heads, let us see you, Jesus. The only way we can even imagine overcoming evil with good is by remembering you’ve already secured the utter annihilation of all evil and darkness.  But we confess, Jesus, we’re clueless about feeding hungry, thirsty enemies. Take our hand and show us the way. No one does this better than you.  And Jesus, where we’re just too sensitive, too easily offended, too quick to keep a record of wrongs done to us, too slow to overlook what can and what should be overlooked, have mercy on us, but also be at work within us. Free us to do the right thing, the gospel thing. As far as we are able, as far as it depends on us, show us how to make peace, guard peace, nurture peace with everyone. All of this is simply impossible apart from you, Jesus. ...

Today at Hesston MB, we commissioned our entire congregation as "disciples making disciples" in their homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. Part of that commissioning included a responsive reading. I have shared it below. Leader: At Hesston MB, we seek to be disciples making disciples. This is accomplished as we are Centered on Scripture, Holy Spirit Empowered, Reaching   the World, Intimate Worshipers, Serving Others, in Transparent Relationships. Response: This purpose and goals live out Matthew 22:37 & 39, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” Leader: Today, we commission the HMBC family to be disciplemakers in their home, workplace, school, or neighborhood. Response: We gladly accept this commission because we know that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. Leader: We are sending you out from this church building into the streets...

What a great hymn reminding us of our great God. Enjoy!

Here are some promises of God from the book of Nehemiah: “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel” (1:5-6). “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name” (1:8-9). “The God of heaven will give us success.   We his servants will start rebuilding” (2:20). “Don’t be afraid of them.   Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (4:14). “This day is sacred...

Let me first state that I am not an expert on this topic.  The counseling community has been doing this for years.  However, when it comes to those in the church, we seem to forget this as we deal with situations and our own sin. What am I talking about?  Fixing symptoms rather than the roots. Three Scriptures that I want to share are: 10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV) 3  For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5  We destroy...