daddy4ms

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have chosen the word, gospel, to think about and meditate on in 2016.  Gospel in the Greek literally means, "good news."  My best definition of gospel is the "life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ." I hope to have a deeper understanding of the word and definition at the end of 2016. Check out previous posts on this topic. 16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” (Romans 10:16)   28  As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. (Romans 11:28)

Tonight fuzion, our 5th/6th grade ministry at Hesston MB had a service project to collect food for the Hesston Resource Center. Here are a few pictures:

I am continuing to read through The Pastor's Justification by Jared C. Wilson.  It has been a very helpful book and there is much in the book that applies to more than just pastors.  Here are some quotes from chapters on being confident and watchful: But we forget now that Jesus is for losers and for losers only. This is good news for you... So the law cannot empower obedience to itself. It stands over us, accusing. Only the gospel empowers its own implications. God uses sinners so that he will get the glory and so that he will get the glory in vivid, repeating imagery of turning ashes to beauty.  There is someone (Satan) who wants you and your church dead.  Very few things discourage a pastor more than anonymous criticism...The pastor should give no harbor to "about" talk that avoids "to" talk. We divide when we place our preferences above community with people who differ from us. We divide when we are more interested in what we want than...

“ Now you are the body of Christ and in dividually members of it.   (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Today is my daughter, Mackenzie's 14th birthday. She is beautiful inside and out. We are thankful for how God has cared for her from the beginning even when she was born 5 weeks early.  Happy 14th Mackenzie! I enjoyed celebrating with you last night & will celebrate a little more tonight.

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. This is a new feature on the blog on the names of God.  Why?  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 Shammah 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.  Shammah means is there. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.” (Ezekiel 48:35) What it reminds me?  No matter whether you are facing good times or bad times, joy or suffering, we have a God who is there.  He walks with us always.  He is not distant, but He is near.  What a comfort to remember God is...

Happy Easter! Today we celebrate that Christ has risen from the dead.  There are many songs I love to sing around Easter.  Here is one that has combined a hymn with a contemporary addition.  Hallelujah, Jesus is alive! Christ the Lord is ris'n today, alleluia Sons of men and angels say, alleluia Raise your joys and triumphs high, alleluia Sing ye heavens and earth reply, alleluia Lives again our glorious King, alleluia Where O death is now thy sting, alleluia Dying once He all doth save, alleluia Where thy victory Oh grave, alleluia He is not dead, He is alive We have this hope, in Jesus Christ Love's redeeming work is done, alleluia Fought the fight the battle won, alleluia Death in vain forbids Him rise, alleluia Christ has opened paradise, alleluia Soar we now where Christ has led, alleluia Following our exalted Head, alleluia Made like Him, like Him we rise, alleluia Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, alleluia