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“ For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

Hesston MB, j oin us after the worship service tomorrow for our prayer room open house. See what has been done & enjoy a piece of cake. Here are a few teaser pictures. Looking forward to all of the prayers that will be prayed & answered out of this space! # Godhears # Godanswers

For the past several years, I have chosen a word for the year.  Some of those words have been: God's power, gospel, in Christ, and abide.  As I thought about 2019, the word that I am going to focus on will be Holy Spirit.  So, this is more than just a word, it is a person.  I look forward to growing in my understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and what He does from Genesis to Revelation.  Each week I will share a few verses that are connected to the person of the Holy Spirit. For I will pour water on the thirsty land,      and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,      and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass      like willows by flowing streams. (Isaiah 44:3-4) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,      because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;      he has sent me to b...

I am excited to be attending Men's Encounter again Jan. 31-Feb. 2.  I will be going as a server to other men who are attending.  Please pray with me for all who will be in attendance.  It is looking like about 400 men will be gathering in Salina for this Men's Encounter.  I look forward to what God is going to do through this gathering of men seeking Him.

“ For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

Over the last four months, I have been reading several books.  And over the last few weeks, I finished three of those books: Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray Rejoicing in Christ by Mike Reeves You Are Free by Rebekah Lyons Here are some quotes from each: justification is the act of God's free grace...We do not justify ourselves...Justification is not any religious exercise...Justify is to declare to be righteous. justification must be one that will take care of past sin as well as provide for the future...Only a perfect righteousness can provide the basis for a complete, perfect and irreversible justification. Adoption is concerned with the fatherhood of God in relation to men. Sanctification is specifically the work of this indwelling and directing Holy Spirit...we do not sanctify ourselves. It is God who sanctifies. Specifically it is the Holy Spirit who is the agent of sanctification. Nothing is more central or basis than union and communion wi...

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:

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  Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5  to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (Galatians 2:4-5)

I started two new books recently.  They are The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson and Unchained by Noel Jesse Heikkinen.  Here are some quotes from the first chapter: We structure our spiritual lives in such a way that we can monitor and measure how we are doing and, presumably, how God feels about us at any given moment. The problem occurs when our man-made rules become more important than Jesus--when praying or reading the Bible every day becomes more important than following Jesus. Freedom is not what our culture tells us it is. Freedom is not my deciding, from the urges and longings of my sinful nature, to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, how I want to do it, with whom I want to do it. According to the Bible, that is bondage, not freedom.  The remedy for both (antinomianism and legalism) is a fuller, biblical, and profound understanding of grace and of the character of God. When we behold the glory of Christ in the gospel, it reo...

Currently, I am reading several books on various subjects.  In my Go Deeper Hour Class, I am teaching through  Jesus Outside the Lines by Scott Sauls In preparation for Easter, I am starting a devotional during Lent published by New Growth Publishing called Journey To The Cross And then my current books for "fun" are by Lee Strobel, Sinclair Ferguson and Noel Heikkinen:

Happy Independence Day from my firecrackers to yours! I'm thankful for the freedoms we have in our country and those who secured them.  Stay safe and enjoy time with friends and family.

Because Christ defeated Satan   15  I will put enmity between you and the woman,      and between your offspring and her offspring; he (Jesus) shall bruise your head,      and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) 15  He (Christ) disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.  (Colossians 2:15)  The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8) We know how the story ends. Satan is defeated . 7  And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8  and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9  And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them...

We as a people are fascinated with sex.  The church over the years has not always handled the topic very well.  In Scott Sauls book, Jesus Outside the Lines, he has some great thoughts for us to consider. Below are some quotes: Like fire, sex can be incredibly life giving, comforting, and healing when handled with care. It is among the most delightful of all human activities. It is also among the most dangerous. Like fire, when sex is taken outside its natural and created boundaries, it becomes destructive, leaving burn marks and scars. That's why God is in favor of chastity, or sexual abstinence, for those living outside the covenant of marriage. Biblically, the most interesting and attractive women and men are those whose hearts are at rest because they know that God loves them. Until we learn to see people as people instead of things, as image bearers to be loved instead of objects to be used, sexuality will only become more confused and broken.  God is fav...

This past week, I have been discussing with several people via Twitter justification and sanctification. I have always understood justification as something that Jesus did for me. Sanctification, on the other hand, seemed to be about what I do. One of the verses that was shared was from Galatians 3.  Here is that Scripture: 2  Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3  Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by [ a ] the flesh? 4  Did you suffer [ b ] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5  Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6  just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Galatians 3:2-6 ESV) We know we are saved by grace through faith not through the law.  The Law clearly exposes our need for a Savior. And t...

I am sitting in Ft. Lauderdale airport waiting to depart.  I wanted to jot down a few thoughts and reflections for Liberate 2015. I was thankful to have 7 others from Hesston MB join me this year.  I look forward to discussions with them moving forward. Here are a few take-aways or reflections: This is a repeat from last year.  I am loved, accepted, righteous, and approved by God therefore I don't need to seek approval, acceptance, and love from others, but because of God's love, approval, acceptance I am free to love others freely. I walk away from this conference refreshed, relaxed and renewed that I don't need "to do" anything.  Yet because of the good news of grace, I want to preach/teach grace to others and love others. Elyse Fitzpatrick talked about Satan's lies.  I need to remember what God's Word says about me not the lies of flesh, world or Satan.  Here is a quote from her message: "When Satan accuses you, look up! We conquer...

Two main types of teaching for kids: Be the most amazing you you've ever been and ever hope to be. (mention of God is optional) Be the best Christian. That's the only way God will love you. (only way God will love you) "Christ is all" is what parents need to hear. You can trust him with your success and failure.  It's more than just what you do.  We don't live under covenant of works but under covenant of grace. Isaiah 61:1-3 & Matthew 19:13--Kid's & Family Ministry Manifesto Bring them to Christ. What would freedom look like for families? Freedom to admit sin without fear of judgment Freedom to admit doubt without fear of shame Freedom from trying to measure up to the perfect family Freedom to enjoy each other Freedom from trying to be the hero (parents & children) Freedom for children Freedom to be a child Freedom to hear that their teachers struggle with sin Freedom from having to earn love and acceptance Freedo...

Yesterday we celebrated our freedom in the United States.  Today, I wanted to share a great verse about the freedom we enjoy in Christ.  The image is from Logos Bible Software.

Wishing you a great Independence Day from my sparklers to yours!

This is the title of Chapter 9 in Tchividjian's book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything.   He shares some important truths for us to understand here as well as for the future.  I hope this post is an encouragement of what is yours now. "That's because the gospel isn't the first step in a stairway of truths but more like the hub in a wheel of truth." "The daily reality of the gospel is the reason we can enjoy and revel in the fact that "all the promises of God find their Yes in him"-in Christ. (2 Corin. 1:20)" "It's all there for us--in his promises! Everything we need for life and godliness is there." "The gospel liberatingly declares that in Christ "we already are." If you're a Christian, here's the good news: who you really are has nothing to do with you--how much you can accomplish, who you can become, your behavior (good or bad), your strengths, your weaknesses, your sordid past, your family background, your...

As 4 th of July approaches, we begin to think about the freedoms we have as a country. We live in a great country. We truly are blessed in so many ways. I know my kids enjoy shooting fireworks off at grandma's house. Unfortunately, Bethany and I are cheap and don't buy them fireworks. Maybe when they get older. We will worship at Hesston MB on Sunday and then head to Yates Center for the afternoon and evening for fireworks and most of the day on Monday. Both Bethany and I have to be back for Monday night meetings. Even better than our freedom as a country is our freedom in Christ. Think about these verses: 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom ." Romans 8:1-2 says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Have a safe and fun 4 th of July! Re...