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For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 8  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Yahweh Rohi Yahweh is the Hebrew Name for God. It is "I AM". It is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament.  It was such a holy name that the Jews would not even say it.  Rohi means shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1) What it reminds me?  God guides, protects, and watches over us.

Colossians 3:23 2300 verses in the Bible about money and possessions 16 of 38 parables told by Jesus were about money/possessions Mark 4:18-20 Worries of this life Deceitfulness of wealth Desires for other things Key Questions for the church: What are you doing to help lead your church to overcome the grip of materialism? How equipped are you to present the different between fund raising and biblical stewardship? What is your church offering people to help them overcome the power of money to deceive? Theology Basics  (ask for self first, then for the church) God is the creator and owner of all things. God gives the ability to produce wealth. Money is a major competitor to God. Money is a test.

Sometimes in language things can get lost in translation Two Thoughts from Genesis 17:1-2 be blameless -Hebrew word, tamim means complete, whole, entire, sound, healthful, innocent,         having integrity Not just about morality, but also who he was becoming Genesis 6:9 Similar word in Greek-teleios-Matthew 5:48 Discipleship is the process of becoming whole (tamim) Discipleship has to be about every area of life. Trailhead example: vocation-"our call to bear the image of God faithfully by living with God for the world" walk before me faithfully -Hebrew word, halak means walk, panim means face Genesis 3, Genesis 6:9 Connected Similar word in NT-Abide-John 15:4;Dwell-Revelation 21:3  Discipleship is intimate, ongoing connection to God. Discipleship has to be about every moment of life.  Trailhead example: Notebook that fits in pocket. Inside 2 Questions: "What is God saying and how are you responding?" "What is God doin

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  Because you believe God has first loved you, your love for him will flow more and more naturally. @jdgreear Grace is not fair, but it is definitely good news! @JL_Martin We are fools if we appeal to God for justice rather than grace (Craig Blomberg) What then does it mean to abide in Christ? It is reliance on Him for His life and His power. @BridgesWisdom #Hesston Mark your calendars for Oct. 7th at 6 p.m. Hesston MB is excited to be hosting @elysefitz sharing about #grace #gospel #identity    

We are watched. One word to describe America--"Swagger" Colossians 3:23 1 Samuel 17:24-26 Working for humans... 1. Great wealth 2. Royal bloodline 3. PEC/501 c3 Status It's always harder to battle King Saul than Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:45-47 Working for the Lord... 1.whole world will know that there is a God in Israel To the glory of God alone John 15:8 John 17:4 Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Let His glory be the aim of all our action and words.

1 Timothy 3:2-3 Top 10 1. Save (even when you are not making much) 2. Don't live on any "extra" money (prayer, intentional) 3. Avoid debt 4. Maximize reimbursable expense accounts 5. Give generously 6. Teach your children well 7. Live within your means (scarcity & abundance) 8. Teach biblical, joyful stewardship regularly 9. Handle compensation conversations wisely 10. Be wise in handling church money

Over the last several months, I have been sharing new books that I have received.  Over the next few weeks, I will now be sharing some of my favorite kid's books.  Enjoy!

3 John 2 What is the soul? Our inmost being. The life center of humans Our soul was created for union with God.  Soul aching is not necessarily a sign of unhealth. It's a battleground of our life. We need to tend to the soul. 1 Peter 2:25 What does tending to the soul look like?  We need to be connected in real time with Jesus (abide) Jesus intercedes for us. Word of God is essential.  I wanted to encounter the author of the Word not just the words of Scripture. The Shepherd will lead us to what we need for the day. Our souls need cleansing Forgive Make amends for our mistakes Hidden Tormentors  Our identity is so important We need deep spiritual friendships Our soul flourishes with gratitude 

Healing Begins by Changing Our Focus The Church is not our enemy.   The Church is our wife/husband. 1 Peter 4:8-Love covers a multitude of sins Love listens -James 1:19 Listening keeps the wounds/hurts from getting deeper Love learns -Genesis 50:20 Love Lets Go -1 Corinthians 13:5 Look Back and Forgive Look Up and Trust-2 Corinthians 1:3-4                          Look Around and Rejoice

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word.   But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

This is a new feature replacing "Playing on the Radio", but will be similar because it will include music.  I will be sharing songs from my "Gospel Playlist" on my phone. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is:  Greater by MercyMe

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 4  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— 6  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Yahweh Rapha Yahweh is the Hebrew Name for God. It is "I AM". It is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament.  It was such a holy name that the Jews would not even say it.  Rapha means healer. Our God heals physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. for I am the Lord , your healer (Exodus 15:26) What it reminds me?  God heals.  I do not believe healing (or other gifts such as miracles, speaking in tongues, etc.) ended with the coming of Christ or completion of the Bible.  God still heals today.

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  God intends every moment of ministry to inspire awe of himself in his people. @PaulTripp Even though you might not feel it, "it is finished" is still true today. Rest assured that "in Christ" God is good with you. @Ryan_haskins Christians often think of Jesus as a heavy burden: rules, requirements, laws. Jesus' yoke is easy because he fulfills those things for us. @NickLannon The God of inconceivable glory who has sent me never sends me to do his work without going with me. @PaulTripp  

Over the last several months, I have been sharing new books that I have received.  Over the next few weeks, I will now be sharing some of my favorite kid's books.  Enjoy!

Today is Molly's 10th Birthday! If you see her around, wish her a "Happy Birthday". I can't believe that she is in double digits now.  It just seems like yesterday that she was born.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures of her:

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. 6  Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7  Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-10)

This is a new feature replacing "Playing on the Radio", but will be similar because it will include music.  I will be sharing songs from my "Gospel Playlist" on my phone. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is:  Great Is Thy Faithfulness by Jordan Smith

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 15  For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16  I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19  and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20  that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21  far above al

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Yahweh Nissi Yahweh is the Hebrew Name for God. It is "I AM". It is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament.  It was such a holy name that the Jews would not even say it.  Nissi means banner. It was used after an Israelite victory.  15  And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner,           (Exodus 17:15) What it reminds me?  No matter what I or you may be facing today. We have a God who is victorious.

Over the last several months, I have been sharing new books that I have received.  Over the next few weeks, I will now be sharing some of my favorite kid's books.  Enjoy!

Today is Bethany's birthday.  If you are in Newton, stop by Faith and Life Bookstore and wish her a "Happy Birthday" I love celebrating with her whether it be over a meal together, dessert, or just hanging out.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures of her:

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  Mother's Day: pastor preaches on mom's awesomeness. Father's Day: pastor tells dad to get his act together. Two sides of a non-gospel coin. @jaredcwilson After 18 years of pastoral ministry, I have never met a person who fell in love w/Jesus bc a Christian scolded them about ethics. @scottsauls We must become convinced that Love has to be a person to us before it can become a verb. @scottsauls The central message of Christianity isn't "do" but "done." The good news announces to us not "get to work" but "it is finished @jaredcwilson The Spirit who empowers our conversion will empower our discipleship.  @jaredcwilson Jesus didn't die for some better version of us; those people don't even exist

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. 4  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

This is a new feature replacing "Playing on the Radio", but will be similar because it will include music.  I will be sharing songs from my "Gospel Playlist" on my phone. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is:  Grace Wins by Matthew West

Matthew 20:1-15 Introduction : Parents, grandparents, teachers, how many of you have heard the following phrase more than once? “That’s not fair.”      “It’s Not Fair” Children’s Book-The book I just read was full of examples of childlike unfairness.   We can see the book’s silliness (sharing, hair (curly or straight), parenting, teams, legs, eggs, eyes, rings, wings, books that end too soon). Yet, we as adults also engage in similar silliness.   Think about how you react when a co-worker gets a promotion that you worked hard for and deserved.   Think about the classmate who jumps from job to job and is always involved in some form of recreation and you work hard and don’t have the time and/or money to do the things they do. Or even what about our reaction when someone who has done “bad things” chooses to follow Christ at the end of their life?   Do we too grumble, “it’s not fair”? In this parable (earthly story with a heavenly meaning), what does Jesus want us to underst