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Showing posts from January, 2018

Gospel Playlist

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This is a regular feature now that replaced "Playing on the Radio." 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:  Same Power by Jeremy Camp

You Are Righteous

“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)

Tweets and more tweets

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 is a God who weeps over things gone wrong in his world. He is a tender God who takes no pleasure in sorrow, suffering, or death. He is a God who comes alongside and assures us that he is here and that we are never alone. @scottsauls What is repentance? Repentance is returning to God as the center. If repentance is coming to God as the center, praise is lifting up God as the center. (Jack Miller in Saving Grace) Union with Christ is irreducibly mysterious. Since it's enchanted, we can't contain it, control it, or explain it, And this is fantastically hard for a solution-focused, technique-oriented, productivity-minded people like ourselves to accept. @WilbourneWisdom True spiritual fruit comes from getting swept up in intimate, loving encounte...

What does it mean to be "in Christ"?

For 2017, I chose the phrase "in Christ" to focus on.  I am about to wrap up this look at union with Christ, but I have a few more weeks to go to finish in 2018. Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 16  having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:16-17) 10  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12  By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in ...

Names of God: Abba

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. Abba   Abba means father or daddy . 15  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15) What it reminds me?  God is our Father.  He is good and loves to give good gifts.  We are not slaves, but instead adopted into His family.  He wants to be in relationship with us.  We can trust Him. Abba knows what is best.

New Book Friday

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Christmas has come and gone.  So, every year after Christmas I share new books that I received as gifts.  I love to read and appreciate the gift of books.  So, here is today's New Book Friday:

Verse of the Week

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. “Yet even now,” declares the Lord ,      “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13       and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God,      for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;      and he relents over disaster. 21  “Fear not, O land;      be glad and rejoice,      for the Lord has done great things! 22  Fear not, you beasts of the field,      for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit;      the fig tree and vine give their full yield. 23  “Be glad,...

Gospel Playlist

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This is a regular feature now that replaced "Playing on the Radio." 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:  Revelation Song by Kari Jobe

You Are Redeemed

“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)

Tweets and more tweets

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’s story tells us who we are and who God is, and it tells us of the new identity, “the children of God”, that he gives everyone who believes in him. @PaulTripp Similarly, what great occasion he gives us to contemplate his mercy when he often pursues miserable sinners with unwearied kindness, until he shatters their wickedness by imparting benefits and by recalling them to him with more than fatherly kindness! (John Calvin) New Year's is the annual festival of we're -Not Good Enough -Not Skinny Enough -Not Nice Enough -Not Smart Enough It is the unholy day of the Little Law that always accuses us. Today, and every day, hear this: Christ is our Enough In him we are 100% pleasing to God. @birdchadlouis  God's resolution for His children ... ...

Sermon Notes-A Better Way

Here are my notes from my message today at Hesston MB based on 1 Timothy 3:14-16:   Introduction : I went on the internet and typed in books titled “A Bettter Way” and the search came up with more than 21,000 titles on topics from discipleship, worship, prayer, business, marriage, parenting, health, personal finance, education, dying, communication, cooking, life, government, being human, dating, friendship, travel, medical, think, discipline, making decisions and even preaching.   As humans, we are a fix it culture.   We are always looking for a better way no matter what we are doing.   When I was growing up, my dad was always looking for a better way to get somewhere on a trip.   Where most people would take the interstate or larger highways,   my dad was always looking for a better way (which meant quickest way with least amount of traffic).   I have to say I take after him a little because even when I put something in maps on my phone, I still...

What does it mean to be "in Christ"?

For 2017, I chose the phrase "in Christ" to focus on.  I am about to wrap up this look at union with Christ, but I have a few more weeks to go to finish in 2018. Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 13  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14  For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:13-14)

New Book Friday

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Christmas has come and gone.  So, every year after Christmas I share new books that I received as gifts.  I love to read and appreciate the gift of books.  So, here is today's New Book Friday:

Names of God: Logos

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. Logos   Logos means word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) What it reminds me?  Jesus was present at creation.  Jesus is God.  Jesus has unity with the Father and Holy Spirit.  The Bible teaches us about who God is.  We need to be careful to not let our belief in the Bible replace the Trinity.  As J.D. Greear has said, many "believe (functionally speaking) in "Father, Son, and Holy Bible." We do not worship the Bible, but instead God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit....

Verse of the Week

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. 19  And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20  I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord . 21  “And in that day I will answer, declares the Lord ,      I will answer the heavens,      and they shall answer the earth, 22  and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil,      and they shall answer Jezreel, 23       and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy,      and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’;      and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’” (Hosea 2:19...

Gospel Playlist

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This is a regular feature now that replaced "Playing on the Radio." 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:  Reckless Love by Cory Asbury

You Are Reconciled

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Tweets and more tweets

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. The Bible was never intended to be a systematic theology text, a compendium of helpful hints for everyday living or comforting maxims to carry you through your day. The core content of your Bible is one single story, a grand redemptive story. @PaulTripp Want to be #reconciled to God? Listen to John Murray’s words on how: Believe that the message (of reconciliation) is one of fact and enter into the joy and blessing of what God has wrought. Receive the reconciliation. #done #itisfinished  When I am obsessed with being better instead of being consumed with God’s love and grace, I become prideful if I can pull it off and self-centered if I can’t. @DrSteveWBrown I hope ur ready to hear the gospel preached. But remember we no less need the grace of t...