daddy4ms

Introduction: As I titled this sermon, I immediately thought about a show that Mitchell used to watch as a kid.  So, we are going to watch the Bob the Builder Theme Song . It’s amazing to me how children’s TV theme songs can teach us something about the church.  Did you hear some of the lines-Can we build it?  Can we fix it?  It lists all of the characters and how they work together with their different abilities. Pursuit (vs. 1) (intentional flow from love to gifts to prophecy) ·          What does it mean to pursue something?  What comes to mind when you think of the word pursuit? A high speed chase by the police, a career, a dream, a person. o    Dictionary-to chase, to strive to gain or accomplish, follow, carry further or advance, engaged in vocation or hobby; Greek Word-carry out or participate in an activity; press forward; strive to ·          Pursue Love (a...

Happy Valentine's Day!  As many celebrate love today, I want to share about the greatest love ever told and experienced.  This love comes from God who created all things and who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins and sent the Holy Spirit to empower and equip us for this life. 9  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.           (1 John 4:9-11)  

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. 28  And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)

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:  My Redeemer's Love by Sovereign Grace Music

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

This past week, I have reading three specific books.  Core Christianity by Michael Horton, Life With A Capital L by Matt Heart, and Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick.  Here are quotes from recent chapters: The logic of karma or the law is broken because the God of justice is also the merciful God of grace. The gift has been given. Therefore we are free to give. And what we give is our thanks to God and our good works to our neighbor. The good news draws us out into the world, looking up to Christ in faith and out to our neighbor in love and good works. We are called to a discipleship that grows out of living on the Vine--in union with Christ and together with the communion of saints. At the core of the Christian faith are objective, historical realities that secure our faith. And with our salvation fully secured, we are able to look up in faith toward God and out to our neighbor in love. Plumbing theology is simply a matter of receiving from God and then...

Here is a new song by Casting Crowns.  Be reminded that God's arms are open wide no matter what you have done.  He has never left you.  Come Home!

As I have continued to read Gospel Powered Parenting by William Farley, I have struggled.  Chapter 3 was difficult.  I would probably not recommend this book to parents because of this chapter.  Chapters 4-5 seemed to help a little, but something is missing.  I am going to finish the book, but won't recommend it to others.  His understanding of fear, holiness, and grace are much different from mine and more importantly my understanding of the Bible.  With that said, I believe fear, holiness, and grace are biblical.  However, I would see a different definition in Scripture than Farley. These chapters heap condemnation on parents if they don't measure up.  But then he says something that makes me question my strong feelings.  This book has confused me more than any other book I have read because of how it mixes law and gospel.  Most books I disagree with are heavy on law and moralism only.  This one blends law and gospel which makes...

I have been listening to this song for months because my family loves Josh Wilson.  They have only recently started playing it on the radio. Here is a great reminder for us about what grace does in our lives. We used to hide from the light We made friends with the night We were headed the wrong way on a one way track Going nowhere fast We got used to the dark We thought this is who we are And we figured that we were just too far gone But we were wrong ‘Cause love came running like a river And we got washed in the water Then He said you're forgiven Your sins are gone That was then, this is now You're bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about That was lost, this is found And it's time to say goodbye to the old you now So go ahead, put the past in the past Box it up like an old photograph You don't have to go back ‘Cause that was then and this is now We've been remade by grace We've all got new names And nothing we do could ever change ...

I am continuing Counsel from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick. I enjoyed several chapters on the topic of God's love for us and how it impacts us.  She asks, do you believe God loves you?  Do you?  And then challenges others who think they make "Varsity Christian Squad."  You know those who have no doubt that God loves them because they are so good.  Is that you?  Either extreme misses out on the good news of the gospel for us. Here are some quotes on God's love and our response: Love is the key to every sin problem in our lives both vertically, between ourselves and the Lord, and horizontally, between ourselves and others. What will ignite a white-hot passion in our hearts? Only trusting in God's love for us. Only the gospel annihilates self-condemnation. Only love stimulates love...our love for God and our others is responsive in nature. God places all our transgressions upon his Son, he pours out our punishment upon him, he transfers his pe...

This past week, I started a new book by Elyse Fitzpatrick titled, Counsel from the Cross which she has written with Dennis Johnson.  I loved Elyse's book, Found in Him and have already enjoyed the first few chapters.  Here are a few quotes from the opening chapters: Our need of Christ does not cease with our believing...It is always on His "blood and righteousness" alone that we can rest.(Warfield) When we lose the centrality of the cross, Christianity morphs into a religion of self-improvement and becomes about us, about our accomplishments, and about getting our act together. We become become who ask WWJD (What would Jesus do?) without ever considering the gospel or WDJD (What did Jesus do?). We need to hear the gospel again because if we have forgotten his work on our behalf, it will skew the way we think of God, the way we think of ourselves, and the way we think of others. God's disposition toward us is entirely different because we are beloved. As...

I am slowly reading through The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification by Walter Marshall. It is slow because it is so deep theologically.  Here are some quotes to ponder regarding your sanctification for today: the word of God and the gospel never require you to change your heart from sin to holiness before you are allowed to receive Christ and his salvation by faith. Jesus loved you in your most disgusting, sinful corruption, and he died for you. When you have faith, you renounce all dependence upon anything you can do to gain Christ or to make yourself acceptable to him. You cannot love God before you understand his love for you. You must perceive his love if you are going to love him. Your soul must come to take pleasure in God and Christ by faith, or else it will just go after fleshly and worldly pleasures. The more you strive against your lusts without faith, the more your lusts will be stirred up--even though you might be able to work hard enough to restrain yourse...

I am thoroughly enjoying Everyday Grace by Jessica Thompson.  It is a great book on relationships that focuses on the gospel rather than "how to fix" things.  Here are some quotes from her chapter on marriage: And yet, the truth is that I am aware of God's unmatched love for me, of his good and plentiful gifts, and yet every day I run after other loves. Wrath is what you and I deserve...In fact he did have legitimate wrath that needed to be poured out on somebody. Praise him for sending his only Son to bear that wrath on our behalf so that we might forever know his love. Women are not sanctified by what their husbands do or don't do... Men and women are sanctified by believing the gospel. We are made holy by what Jesus did for us, by how he has loved his church.  We are made lovely by his love. Marriage is not one-size-fits-all. Each marriage is unique as each person sins uniquely and has unique strengths. Unrealistic expectations kill grace. The c...

Because God is love How priceless is your unfailing love , O God ! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 36:7)  Whoever does not love does not know God , because God is love . (1 John 4:8)   38  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [ a ] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) I am loved But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 7:8)  The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)  For God so loved the world that he gave his on...

I used this song as part of a sermon about a month ago.  It is a great reminder of the lists we create for ourselves and others.  I love what God does with our lists.  Enjoy this song by Matthew West. Write 'em down one by one Every single mistake that you've ever made Every single wrong turn you wish you didn't take Keeping count, you can't let go In for life behind bars, but you're holding the key 'Cause the list tells your heart that you'll never be free But love keeps no record of wrong, no, no Love keeps no record of wrong, no, no Love keeps no record of wrong, no, no Listen to me, love keeps no record of wrong, no So let it go Let it go Love tears the list in million little pieces Cast your sins as far as the East is from the West Say goodbye to the list Love tells your heart it's time to start beating History will not be repeating anymore Yesterday is closing door Love keeps no record of wrong, no, no Let it watch over you...

We are continuing our series on songs on the radio that remind us of the gospel. These songs are full of grace and point us to a God who is good and loving.  Today's song is by Big Daddy Weave and is called My Story. Lyrics are below. If I told you my story You would hear Hope that wouldn't let go And if I told you my story You would hear Love that never gave up And if I told you my story You would hear Life, but it wasn't mine If I should speak then let it be Of the grace that is greater than all my sin Of when justice was served and where mercy wins Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him If I told you my story You would hear victory over the enemy And if I told you my story You would hear freedom that was won for me And if I told you my story You would hear Life overcome the grave If I should speak then let it be Of the grace that is greater than all my sin Of when justice was served and where mercy...

I am currently reading Everyday Grace by Jessica Thompson.  She is also the author of Give Them Grace and a family devotion called Exploring Grace Together. She has so many good things to say in Chapter 3 that my book is full of green highlighter.  Here are a few quotes to think about: We have too high a view of our ability to do things right if we just have the right instructions...we also have too low a view of God and his love for us. In our laser-like attention to the doing, we forget what has been done. We can get so caught up in the doing that we forget about the people we are supposed to love. Here is another reason I think most relationship books are off: They focus on the doing. As you taste (Psalm 34:8) this multifaceted relationship with God, it will transform all of your other relationships. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to relationships. The whole Bible is written in such a way that in most verses we see the done before we see...

Here's another new feature on the blog.  I am amazed at how God is working in our world.  The message of grace is everywhere you turn.  It started as more and more churches/pastors preaching grace to more and more people talking about grace to more and more songs on the radio.  I decided to share songs that are gospel drenched (point to Jesus and what He has DONE).  Enjoy this first installment with a new song from Plumb. Songs is called "Exhale" and lyrics are below.   It's okay to not be okay This is a safe place This is a safe place Don't be afraid Don't be ashamed There's still hope here There's still hope here No matter what you've done or who you are Everyone is welcome His arms Just let go let His love wrap around you And hold you close Get lost in the surrender Breathe it in until your heart breaks Then exhale Exhale Spirit come tear down the walls That only You can That only You can Reconcile this heart to Yo...

Who would have known that 17 years later we would have 4 kids? Who could have known that you would be a manager at a Christian bookstore and we would be living in Hesston, Kansas?  Who could have predicted that you would be spending two weeks on vacation in Orlando at Disney World and the beach? (For those that do not know, Bethany does not enjoy traveling, amusement parks, beaches, dressed up characters, and crowds.) I am amazed at how we have grown together as a couple through the good and the bad.  As I love to tell people it was love a first sight for me.  However, that love is nothing compared to the love that I have for you now.  You are an amazing woman, wife, mother, and manager.  You are kind, funny, intelligent, caring, selfless, and beautiful. I know we won't get to celebrate today because of work and kid's activities, but you made me the happiest guy in the world 17 years ago when you said, "I DO!" Here is a picture from then and now.  Bea...

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)