daddy4ms

A few weeks ago I finished reading Gospel Centered Kids Ministry by Brian Dembowczyk. He works for Lifeway and leads the team that produces Gospel Project for Kids Curriculum. Here are some quotes from the final chapters of the book: We see that Jesus met the spiritual needs (teaching and preaching), the physical needs (healing), and emotional needs (compassion) of the people.  Harvesting the fields always starts with me before they...Statistically, the ripest harvest field for the gospel falls in the demographic of kids. We need leaders who are to help kids see the gospel, love the gospel, grow in the gospel, and dedicate their lives to the gospel. Kids leaders might not be thought of as theologians by many people, but I believe we should be some of the most sound theologians in the church. Gospel transformation takes place when we spend time with Christ and let Him drive the gospel more deeply into our minds and hearts. Then, and only then, will the Holy Spirit produc...

This post originally appeared at www.1corinthians13parenting.com/blog on November 5, 2014.   As I watch the news and listen to people’s opinions about what is wrong in the world, I can become discouraged. Part of my discouragement comes when I see us dealing with symptoms rather than the root. What do I mean? An example is bullying. This is a real problem. However, will bringing awareness, making posters, role playing, wearing a specific color, or banners on Facebook bring an end to bullying? Maybe. I think we are focusing on the symptom rather than the root. How can parents help our kids get to the root? At Hesston MB where I am a pastor, we have a banner that describes the process of discipleship. This process we discovered by reading DiscipleShift by Jim Putman & Bobby William Harrington 1 . They write, “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)....

Over the last several months, I have been sharing new books that I have received.  Starting today on Fridays, I will now be sharing some of my favorite kid's books.  Enjoy!

Looking for a mid-week ministry for your 4 year old through 4th grader?  At Hesston MB, we offer Hide N Seek which includes games, Bible Memory, and a lesson.  Tonight is our meal/registration/parent meeting.  If you are considering sending your child, please plan on attending tonight as it helps us prepare supplies and classroom for our first week together on September 7th.  If your child attends Hesston public schools, a flyer went home in backpacks last week.  It is below for your convenience. I hope to see you tonight with meal for the whole family beginning at 6:30 p.m. and parent meeting starting at 7 p.m.   

Here are some quotes from books I am reading right now: If the gospel is regularly being preached in your church, you will eventually become a magnet for the messiest kinds of sinners. I remind myself and my church that a message of grace may attract people, but a culture of grace will keep them. Messy people own their stuff. Sinners repent into the safety of the gospel. when we cease praying for our churches, we cease serving them and instead think ourselves powerful enough to mange quite well without the Holy Spirit's illuminating and enabling power. But the gospel of God's grace in Jesus Christ frees us from hypocrisy. It frees us to boldly own our inadequacies, our flaws, our failures, and especially your sins. As we mature in the faith, then, He increases and we decrease. The gospel is fuel for courageous unself-consciousness. Therefore, wise parents aim their discipline at the heart. Fundamentally, Christian parents discipline heart attitudes, not behavi...

Today, I am posting over at 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting on the topic of "being a dad."  This will conclude a 3 part series on "man up".  I hope it will be a blessing and encouragement to you.  It's not what you think.  Go here

Tonight is the start of our mid-week children's ministry at Hesston MB.  Keep reading for details for what is going on tonight for your kids and for you as a parent. Hide N Seek Informational Meeting/Meal -Join us at 6:45 p.m. at Hesston MB church for a meal and parent's meeting.  Kids will get to meet their teachers and you will hear important information for the year ahead.  We have several changes this year regarding music, rewards, and devotions.  All parents should attend. fuzion is our ministry to 5th/6th graders. It meets each Wednesday from 7-8:15 p.m. at Hesston Middle School.  Tonight fuzion students will have pizza/game night. They should have received a locker note this week. There will be a parent's meeting at the Middle School beginning at 8:15 p.m. tonight as well to talk about the year. Please plan to be there.

Sometimes a pastor's family is neglected because of the demands of ministry.  I try very hard to keep my evening meetings to a minimum so I spend time with my wife and kids.  During sabbatical, I made a goal of taking each of my kids somewhere for 24 hours.  It was their choice as long as we could drive there.  Mackenzie and Megan chose instead to go to Guatemala for a week on a mission trip with me in exchange for this 24 hour trip.  Other relationships that were strengthened were with extended family.  Since we are at Hesston MB most Sundays, we miss out on different activities with our families that happen on Sundays so during Sabbatical we spent some Sundays with Bethany's parents and my parents. We also took a longer than usual vacation to Florida as part of our Sabbatical.  This was great to spend time together, have fun, and make memories.  I would have liked to have a weekend or short trip away with Bethany, but that did not work out d...

I am posting today at 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting today on great resources for Advent or Christmas.  Stop over there to see my suggestions.

  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.  

Check back later tonight for pictures from our first Family Night at Hesston MB.  Our Family Night consists of a meal provided by the church, fun & learning as families, and free t-shirts.  Our theme for tonight is "Shining Lights" If you live in the Hesston area, join us at Hesston MB Church (610 W. Randall) from 6:30-8:00 p.m.  This is for parents and grandparents of children 4 years old through 4th grade.  Siblings and other family members are welcome to attend as well.

Today, I am posting over at http://www.1corinthians13parenting.com/blog/ My post is about passing on faith to our kids based on Ephesians 6:4.  Stop by the site and read it or one of the many other great posts by members of the 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting Team.

Tonight, we begin our Wednesday Night Ministries with Registration Night & Parent Meetings.  For parents of 4 year olds through 4th grade, we offer Hide N Seek.  This meeting begins at 6:45 p.m. and includes a meal and the opportunity to sign up your kids and learn more about what Hide N Seek is.  We will be finished by 7:45 p.m. For parents of 5th/6th graders, we offer fuzion.  This Parent's Meeting will be in the room where fuzion meets at Hesston Middle School beginning at 8:00 p.m.  Please join us for these meetings as it helps get the year off to a great start!

As many of you know, Molly (my youngest daughter) chose to follow Jesus last night.  We are so excited that all of our children are followers of Jesus.  Because we were not good about writing things down with the previous kids, I wanted to write something to remember the actual date of Molly's decision. It all began on Friday of last week on the way to Wichita.  Mitchell, Megan, and I were headed to Winter Jam at Intrust Bank Arena.  As we were pulling up to Intrust, Molly said, "I want to ask Jesus into my heart." Bethany and I were caught offguard and the traffic was pushing us forward.  We decided we would talk with Molly later. I have been praying for all my kids to Love God & Love Others.  I also pray for them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  I have been praying for Molly from a young age that she would make a decision to follow Jesus.  So, throughout the weekend, I continued to pray that if this was the Holy Spirit s...

Here are the books I am currently reading: The Gospel of Yes by Mike Glenn Greater by Steven Furtick Prayer Coach by James Nicodem The Legacy Path by Brian Haynes

Fred Luter, President of Southern Baptist Convention & Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church from New Orleans, LA. His topic was "Reaching Men & the Non-Traditional Family" "Our families are in trouble including those in the church."  Our families and marriages are under attack by the Enemy. This began in Genesis 3. The cycle of divorce was alive and well in the Luter family (great grandfather, grandfather, parents). Only by the grace of God that I am what I am today!" "I am confident our kids can never be what they have never seen." Luter prayed, help me break the stronghold of divorce in my family.  "If you save the man, the man will save the family. It all starts with the man." Our nation won't get right until God's people get right! "It's OK to be hen-pecked if you have a good head."  48% of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is men. Once at church, as pastor I need to equip them from t...

Mike Glen is pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN. They talk about the ministry in homes rather than family.  We are not doing something new, but instead doing something old.  "You were signed by God." "The Law of Unintended Consequences" City-wide, young adult worship experience-we called it Kairos. Here's what we found out . . . A lot of confusion among young adult Moralistic therapeutic deism (Better person, Feel better, God is somewhere no one knows his address Syncretistic worldview (a little Jesus, Buddhism, Homer Simpson, etc. & mix together) We had discovered the "emerging adult"-the time between adolescence and full adulthood Extending education Changing job market Most "marketed to" generation in history (what do you want from me?) Cynical about institutions (lack of trust in church)  "As the church, we don't start at ground zero, but instead at a negative number." First genera...

I finished reading The Family Blessing by Rolf Garborg this past week.  In it, he encourages parents and grandparents to bless their children and grandchildren.  However, he ends the book by showing the importance of blessing others in our lives outside our families.  He uses Jesus as the example as He blessed the little children.  So, here is my blessing for you today:   " May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)