The Reality that Must Flavor Every Fiber of True Christmas Festivity

My Confession Exhortation from last Sunday (Dec 12):

Saints of God, what day is this? 

(Congregation) It is the Lord’s Day! 

Why is it the Lord’s Day? 

(Congregation) Because Christ rose from the dead on this day! 

What kind of day is it? 

(Congregation) It is a gift that is glorious and joyful! 

This is advent or Christmas season: a time which, as we will see in the kids’ play this morning, we focus on the birth of Jesus. However, we must remembering that beginnings mean very little if there is no proper ending. There needs to be a fitting finish. This day is the Lord’s Day because God always finishes what He begins. It is the Lord’s day because Jesus, the baby born in the maternity barn; the one who shared his newborn moments with cattle and goats and smelly shepherds, because Jesus lived, obeyed perfectly His father, died on the cross conquering the dragon-Satan, and rose from the dead in three days. He is King and He will never surrender His title…world without end. This reality must flavor every fiber of our Christmas festivity and manger remembrance! We know the end from the beginning because the Author has let us in on this one…baby Jesus is now King! That old Serpent, Satan, has been defanged! We the Church are a new creation by the Holy Spirit; we are a new people from the seed of the woman who were rescued by that great dragon-slayer (namely, Jesus) and the gates of hell will not prevail against us! This is glorious, this is joyful and the best is yet to come!

Do we believe this? Rather, do we live, think, sing, pray, hope, give, and talk as though this is a reality? This should remind us of our need to confess our sins and look to Christ.

God Wired Us to Party With a Vengeance

My confession exhortation from this past Sunday:

I think it’s fair to say, as far as our culture is concerned that we are now into the “Christmas season” in full force. Sadly this does not mean our nation’s attention is reverently and joyfully focused on the birth of the Christ, the King of the world. Stores are packed with consumers, and online shopping is ripe with sweet deals and free shipping. All around us we see lights and icicles; Santa and scented candles; reindeer and wise men; candy canes and silver bells; snow men and nativities; Bing Crosby and Shrek Christmas; blockbuster movie openings and constant jingle bell commercials; carols and endless cookies, Handel’s Messiah and It’s a Wonderful Life: as Johnny Matthis reminds us annually – “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”

Now I am not here to pull a Grinch or Scrooge on you (or to use biblical terms – a “Pharisee” on you) because this season IS the birthday month of King Jesus. Festiveness is in order and I don’t mean the kind that constantly grumbles about silly decorations, materialism, traditions, gluttony and family get-togethers. God wired us to party and to party with a vengeance. Decorations, traditions, get-togethers, gifts, special songs, trees, lights, feasts, partying and much, much more can and probably should fit into a proper Christmas celebration--yet the question of WHY must always be at the forefront of our minds. When we’re asked “What’s this all about?” Do we clear our voices and sheepishly say—“mmmmm. Oh yah, Jesus, I guess” as though we had a brain freeze? Or does our celebrating find its beginning, middle and end with the radical and world-changing reality of Christ becoming man for our salvation and the worlds’?

We should sing till our voices are raw, because our hearts demand the release of joy in God! We should give in loving, wise and sacrificial ways to show off the one who gave His all for us! We should feast with full vigor while reminding our kids and others that all this is blood-bought by the one who was born in a Manger! By all means, put Chevy Chase to shame in your decorations—but for a much different reason. Embrace Christmas traditions, honor your family in get-togethers, be patient and kind to those who miss the point—but by all means – DON’T MISS THE POINT. I mean JESUS. We are His disciples, and as His disciples, we have more reason than anyone to enjoy the month that remembers His birth.

He is the Great Shakespeare of Our Play

Exhortation for November 7, 2010 at Grace Church

(Sermon Today – Joy Because of a Sovereign God – Ecc 3:1-15)

Are you catching on yet? Have you put up the white flag of surrender seeking for terms of peace with the biblical reality that trips us up on a daily basis? I am talking about the truth that God is absolutely sovereign and, well…we are not. God’s sovereignty means that He is in control; absolutely in control. You thought you were the final determining factor on what you wore today…think again.  He is the Great Shakespeare of our play called life (under the sun). We are the Hamlets, Romeo and Juliets who have little…well, there I did it again…no determining factor on how the play will go. This is not to say that we don’t make choices, experience consequences for our choices, and are held responsible for them—the Great Author made it that way when he spoke us into existence (by the way, we exist right now because He keeps speaking us into existence – isn’t that a humbling and mind-twisting thought?). There is a lot of mystery here, but the Bible is very clear on this – God is sovereign. Sometimes we think we have things planned out smoothly…but a smooth road will only be a reality if God declares it and if He doesn't, potholes are the least of our problems.

This means that as you come to this place on the Lord’s Day this morning you come to approach the one who holds your life (and every second of it) in His hands. You come to Him as dependant creatures to a God who amazingly has made a covenant with you. Shakespeare never did this with Hamlet. He does not control our lives because he gets a sadistic kick out of seeing us squirm and groan…He does so because He is God. He is a God who is Love and Wisdom and He is intent on pouring out maximum (We can’t fathom His maximum) joy on His creatures. He is love and the fact that we are here this morning is a sign of His love. We are here because He made it that way. We are here and He intends to serve us…the actors in His Drama. He plans to pour out His grace and love to this piece of artwork that He is sculpting; the poem that He is writing--called the Church. How will He do this? He does this weekly by declaring to us that our sins are forgiven because of Christ; by accepting our gifts and offerings, our prayers and our praise; by feeding us with His Word through means of reading, sermon, songs and communion. This is not a morning of shallow or meaningless ritual, this is one of God’s means of shaping us into the people He intends to shape us. And in shaping us He is shaping a new humanity in the likeness of Christ the new Adam. So let us repent of our unworthy expectations and our haughty unbelief and rejoice in His forgiveness and commitment to us. 

Call to Repentance - Eight Things of We Should Repent

From last Sunday:

As one pastor blogged this week, this is the time when we hear and see a lot of scary stuff. We see it and we hear it from people in all types of mediums and of course I am talking about the campaigns of the midterm elections. It is common for Christians to react to all this hype with pessimistic dismay, fearful panic or frustrated indifference. Truly, our nation is in a mess and it is never helpful to declare peace, when there is no peace. But God’s people are always called to respond to sin and sins’ consequences with repentance and faith. So we must begin by pointing the finger at the person we see every morning in the bathroom mirror (and I am not talking about your spouse). Yes, I think we should cast our votes this Tuesday and do so with informed minds, strong conviction, humble spirits, and thankful hearts. We surely can enter this weekend with a prayerful anticipation or hope that certain results will move more inline with biblical wisdom and common sense for the good of the nation. However, any true reformation of government will only come as a result of a biblical reformation of the people of that government which will only happen through the reformation of the church…The BODY who has been given the GOOD NEWS of the new KING of the World…the church is the preservative entity that is designed by Christ to be salt and light in a dark world.

The political and governmental mess we read about in the Star Tribune or watch on Foxnews is our mess…and not because we voted for them (which we all have to some degree). It is our mess because we as the people of God have lost our saltiness and our brightness is dimmer than my kid’s nightlight. We are guilty of worshipping the same idols as the rest of our country, we relate to our spouses and kids with similar abdication or unfaithfulness as the world does, we are reckless and lazy in our finances, we are cowards in declaring the Gospel, we grumble and complain because our blessings from God are not wrapped with glittery paper (we can’t afford a 42 in TV so we had to settle for 32 inches), we act with selfish “what’s best for me” motives, and we quickly run to government, politics or something else as our Savior or security.

So what do we do? We repent. We confess our sins to a gracious God and believe the Gospel. Jesus came to save sinners. He did not come to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. Let us begin by taking responsibility for our nations woes by confessing our own guilt as a church beginning as individuals and families. Let us confess our sin of abdication of salt and light and look to the One who gives us His Spirit and restores His people to be THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD in obedience to King Jesus. He is LORD. Let us not forget this. All authority has been given HIM and he has brought us together to disciple the nations…including our own. It begins by humble confession and repentance of our own sin…and hopeful joy in the One who declared forgiveness when rose from the dead!

Here are eight things to begin with:

1. Spiritual Adultery

Definition: The giving of one’s devotion to something or someone other than God. 

2. Marital Unfaithfulness

Definition: The lack of Christ-centered fidelity to your spouse in mind, words and actions.  

3. Child Sacrifice to False Gods

Definition: The surrendering up of our children to numerous dangers through a selfish abdication of our role as spiritual shepherds and disciplers. 

4. Scandalous Stewardship

Definition: The irresponsible, lazy and reckless use of our talents (money, skills, time, etc) leading to a burden of indebtedness rather than fruitfulness. 

5. Shameful Ingratitude

Definition: The inexcusable forgetfulness of God’s constant blessings manifested in pride or discontent rather thank thankful faith. 

6. Gospel Cowardice

Definition: The lack of joy and confidence in Biblical Truth (in general) and the Gospel (in particular) leading to fearful, embarrassed and lazy closet-Christians.

7. Self-centered Individualism

Definition: The “what is best for me” first mindset with little or no concern for who it affects others that you are really connected to – family, church, community, nation.  

8. Idolatrous Trust

Definition: The reliance on anything other than God to be your savior.

Communion, Picnic and More

Dear Grace Church,

I have three announcements for you in regards to this weekend or month (October 10^th):

1. COMMUNION TOMORROW

Tomorrow morning at Grace Church we will celebrate communion at the end of the Lord’s Day service. We welcome every believer to join us as we remember the covenant that He has made with us through the death of Christ and celebrate the reality that He has made us His children having forgiven and accepted us by grace.

2. HARVEST PICNIC AT THE MUELLERS TOMORROW

Come share a fun afternoon of food, fun and fellowship tomorrow (October 10^th).

If you weren’t planning on coming or if bringing food is too much, just come as you are!

There will be:

•           Adult games and prizes

•           Children’s games and prizes

•           Horse rides

•           Hayrides

•           Face painting

•           Rodeo entertainment

Starts at 1 PM (or after church) 

Please bring food to share (dessert and main dish are provided)

Bring chair or blanket to sit on and clothes that can get dirty

Where?   25599 Olinda Trail Lindstrom, MN 55045

3. WOMEN’S SPA NIGHT

When? Friday, October 29th from 6:00-8:30 PM

This is a night designed for women of the church to refresh, rejuvenate, and reflect so that they might serve God and their families more fully and to have some quality quiet time with the Lord. A spa package will include relaxation and stretching, personal private prayer, and the choice of a facial massage and spin cleansing, or a hot stone relaxation back massage.

This will be a time of introspection not a time of fellowship so there will be no talking. J  

You may bring your Bible and find a quiet corner to curl up into when you are done if you choose.

A freewill offering will be taken.

There will be a signup sheet in the back starting next Sunday.

It will be, first-come-first-serve, when the sign up is full the spa will be closed.

Licking the Label of a Can of Peaches

I mentioned this analogy in my sermon last Sunday. Here is the quote from Joy at the End of the Tether (Wilson):

So the message here is twofold. God is the One who gives things, and God is the one who gives the power to enjoy things. These are two distinct gifts...just as a can of peaches and a can opener are distinct gifts. Only the first is given to the unbeliever. The believer is given both, which is simply another way of saying that he is given the capacity for enjoyment. (17)

Wilson is referring to Ecclesiastes 2:24-26:

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. 

Two Great Books on Ecclesiastes

I just started preaching through Ecclesiastes.
Here are two really good books on the subject.

Joy at the End of the Tether by Douglas Wilson
I use Wilson's outline in my introduction sermon as the structure of the book.
This book is worth reading over and over.

Ecclesiastes with New Eyes: A Table in the Mist by Jeffrey Meyers
Meyers' book is more in depth and yet very spiritually edifying (in contrast to dry commentary). Very helpful.

Come to Sunday School Tomorrow

Tomorrow we begin Sunday School for the fall.

Here are a few things to make a note of:

1. We begin at 9 AM. Try to be here on time.
2. Nursery is provided.
3. Classes start with 2 years old...that includes many families!
4. Teens and Adults will be in the Berea class.
5. Your presence is not just for your benefit but it serves and encourages others.

Watch the video:

God Over All Things Intro

Dear Grace Church,

Please take a few minutes (if you get this before Sunday) to watch this introduction to my sermon series starting tomorrow, July 25^th, at Grace Church. If you get this after the fact, please still watch it because it is the introduction for the next six weeks.

Please pray. Pray that God would open our eyes to behold wondrous things from His Word regarding Himself. May His Son be glorified and may His Spirit make us a people that are worthy of His name.

By His grace,

Pastor Daniel

Invite for the 2010 Parenting Seminar

Strong When Weak Sermon Setup

Grace Church Missions Trip to Peru

Withhold Not Correction Sermon Setup

Mothers Armed for Battle - Sermon Setup

I love and am thankful for my mom, mother-in-law, and the mother of my children. I love the mothers of Grace Church and recognize they have a massive task and calling in life. May they be encouraged and armed for battle in the strength of the Lord.

Bring Them Up - Sermon Setup for May 2

Here is a short word on my sermon for this Sunday. Parents, please take your calling seriously.

Don't Provoke Your Children - Sermon Setup Apr 25

Here is the sermon setup for this Sunday, April 25 -- "Fathers, don't provoke your children to anger." (Eph 6:4)

Sermoner Setup for Tony Cooper at Grace Church

Sorry I got this to you late. I was having technical problems. Tony Cooper, an elder of Grace Church will be preaching this Sunday. Come to learn and feast on the Word of God.

- Daniel

Taking a Spiritual Audit of Your Money - Sermon Setup

I hope you are excited to think about your money because I am. I have been praying and studying on this subject for the past two weeks. Here is the sermon setup for this Sunday, April 11th.

Please be in prayer -- He has great things in store, because His Word is powerful and He loves His church!

Church Grumblings: I'm Not Being Fed

Yesterday I read Jonathan Acuff's book of satire called Stuff Christians Like. You can download it for free this month at Christian Audio. I was listening to it while running yesterday and a few times I almost fell over from laughing so hard. I must have been quite a site - a very happy runner, indeed.

SCL is a book that makes fun of things we say and do as Christians that are well - quite foolish, sometimes hypocritical, and normally "just what we do." He is writing satire so you need to understand that he is using humor to make a point. I thought you would be challenged to read this one on church grumblers (not gamblers) - he says that their favorite line is "I am just not getting fed."

COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT BEING “FED” AT CHURCH

If you want to become a professional church grumbler, not just some amateur occasionally throwing rocks at the worship service, minister, or other attributes of the church, there’s one key phrase you need to know:

“I’m not being fed.”

This simple complaint—the teaching is lacking, the sermons are thin, the worship music is not uplifting enough, or a million other things that people find inadequate—is the official complaint of church grumblers the world over. If we could figure out a way to monetize it, we could permanently end world poverty. Forget cold fusion; if we could generate energy every time someone says this phrase, we’d be able to break our dependence on foreign oil in about four minutes.

It’s such a perfect thing to say because it deflects any attention away from me, while at the same time creating false humility and making me seem spiritually mature and advanced. “It’s not you, it’s me. I just want to learn. I’m admitting that I am incomplete. I’m hungry for deep, real spiritual teaching. I’m humbly confessing that I’m not getting enough out of church. Please help me get the rich faith-building experiences that i so desperately need.”

Just be careful who you say this to. Pastors are starting to get wily. When people tell my friend, “I’m not being fed,” he replies, “I’m perfectly happy to spoon feed my one-year-old. But if I’m still spoon-feeding him when he’s five, we’ve got a problem. Here’s a fork. Feed yourself.”

What If Easter Bunnies are Real? Sermon Setup for Easter

Here is my Video Sermon Setup for this Easter Sunday, April 4th.

If you would, please read 1 Corinthians 15 in preparation for the Lord's Day.

For more information about Grace Church see www.gracewyoming.com

Weep No More - Sermon Setup - March 28

Here is a sermon setup video for this Sunday, Palm Sunday, March 28.

I hope it is helpful.

Easter Week Setup Video

Some thoughts on Easter week, Easter, preparation and evangelism.

Don't Trifle, Hold the Rope...Sermon Setup Video

Here is my first "Sermon Setup" video for my sermon tomorrow. Like I said, I plan to normally send this out on Fridays at the latest.

Grace Unmeasured Video Blog Introduction

I have been thinking about this for a while and with Molly and the kids gone, I though this was a good time to start...This is fun for me and I hope for you as well...although fun is not the goal... To Him be the glory!

Defensive People are Proud

Jeffy Jensen passed this my way. It is worth watching/listening to:

6 Questions When Your Child Needs Discipline

From Bruce Ray's Withhold Not Correction:

1. What did you do?
2. What does God say about this? (teach them the Word)
3. Was what you did right or wrong according to the Scriptures?
4. What happens when you disobey?
5. What must I do as a parent under God's authority?
6. What ought you to do in the future?

See One Book Per Week

One Book Per Week 9: Book 3 - "Withhold Not Correction"

Check out my website/blog - "One Book Per Week"

It has been fun to discipline myself to read in this way.

Most recently I am reading this book on parenting (I give it 5 stars):

Week 9: Book 3 - "Withhold Not Correction" by Bruce A. Ray (One Book Per Week)

21 Questions to Ask About Your Church

21 Questions I’ve Been Asking (Myself) Lately
Several of you will find these questions familiar, but their familiarity does not minimize the piercing factor for this pastor. I wanted to put them out there in case others might find them helpful.

1. If our church would cease to exist in our city, would it be noticed and missed?

2. If all the pastors were tragically killed in a car accident, would the church’s ministry cease or fall apart?

3. If the only possible means of connecting with unbelievers were through the missionary living of our church members, how much would we grow? (I ask this because the early church did not have signs, websites, ads, marketing, etc.)

4. What are the subcultures within the church? Do they attract or detract from the centrality of the gospel and mission of the church?

5. Is our church known more for what we are not/against than what we are/for?

6. What are we allowing to be our measuring stick of church health? (attendance vs. discipleship; seating capacity vs. sending capacity; gospel growth, training on mission, etc.)

7. Are the priorities of our church in line with the priorities of Christ’s kingdom?

8. If our members had 60 seconds to explain to an unbeliever what our church is like, what would you want them to say? How many do you think are saying that?

9. If the invisible kingdom of God became visible in our city, what would that look like?

10. In what ways have we acted or planned in unbelief instead of faith?

11. As a pastor, is my time spent more in fixing people’s problems or helping people progress in faith through training/equipping them for ministry?

12. Are the people we are reaching more religious or pagan?

13. What can we learn about our evangelism practices by the kind of people are being reached with the gospel?

14. What will it take to reach those in our city who are far from God and have no access to the gospel?

15. What percentage of our growth is conversion growth (vs. transfer growth)?

16. How many people know and are discharging their spiritual gifts in active service and building up of the body of Christ?

17. How many people do I know (and more importantly know me) on a first name basis in my community and city who do not attend our church?

18. Am I using people to get ministry done, or am I using ministry to get people “done”?

19. Is the vision we are casting forth honoring both God’s heart for the lost (builder) and God’s passion for a pure church (perfecter)?

20. If money and space were not an issue, what is one thing we ought to dream for God to do in our midst where it is impossible for anyone to get the credit except for the omnipotent hand of God?

21. If being a church planting church is comprised of disciple-making disciples, then how are we doing?

Got any other questions that you could add? Please pass them along!

Join us at 10 AM Sunday Mornings for Prayer

Dear Grace Church and people from the Wyoming-Forest Lake, MN community:

Every Sunday morning at 10 (immediately following the Sunday school time) we spend time in prayer in the sanctuary. We pray for the morning service, for the sermon in particular, the coming week and the special prayer requests of people in the congregation.

Please join us. This is a helpful way of preparing your hearts for the corporate worship of God's people (the service starts at 10:30).

Don't pass over the gracious and amazing invitation that God has given to us in prayer. Last night I was talking this over with my oldest son, Paul, and he said it this way (in answer to the question - why do we pray before the service?) - "because God does the work and He told us to ask." Amen! Do we really ask? Do we really believe that He will do the work? Do we really know Who we are talking about when we doubt?

God does the heavy lifting and He instructs us to ask, seek and knock and it will be answered, found and opened to us.

Imagine what God intends to do in your heart, in the heart of your family, in the hearts of the people of Grace Church, and in the hearts of our community when we give ourselves to corporate (and private) prayer.

Here is a helpful prayer and meditation to ponder that helped my heart and spirit this morning. Please pray this for yourself and others this morning as you come to the Worship of God in the Word.

Psalm 119

25 My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!

Alone With God and Helped By You

Dear Grace Church and Friends,

Thank you for praying fore Molly, the kids and me over the past few days. From Tuesday morning until today I spent time alone in Northwestern Wisconsin (near Hayward) at a beautiful cabin (think luxurious log-home/resort) for the purpose of prayer, Bible study, reading and communion with God. On Sunday I asked you to pray for me, confident that He would bless me more if you were praying. I am quite assured that many of you did, indeed, pray for me. I thought it would be encouraging to you if I shared some of the fruit of my time.

Here are some evidences of grace that I wrote in my journal:

1 - Sweet fellowship with God - true communion through prayer, reading and meditation on God's Word, truths and works...

2 - I was given good health and alertness - not sleepy during me time

3 - I benefited from a great setting - beautiful, comfortable, great to reading chairs, quiet

4 - My family at home did very well; they were willing to send me off and pray for me ( and were people serving them by asking if they can make a meal for them)

5 - The knowledge of friends and church praying for me was a great encouragement to me

6 - A diligence from God was given to me to spend my time wisely in reading, praying and journaling

7 - The prayers and pursuit of a vision and "holy ambition" as a pastor was a great help in focusing my time and energy and proved fruitful (if you want to know more what I mean by this - see this Sermon "A Holy Ambition" - I have been praying that God would speak to me and give me a particular burden that would drive me)

8 - The use of my Kindle was a great blessing and help to me in the accessibility of books and comfort to read longer in comfort

9 - The confirmation from God regarding a holy ambition - more to come...

10 - The knowledge that the cabin that I stayed at was being provided to me by dear friends who are part of the congregation and who love and pray for me (thank you Joe and Suzanne Tromberg)

11 - The help of sporadic breaks to provide variety to my time - Fox News, whirlpool (yes, it was luxury), a good cold run in the country (I love running in sub zero conditions)

12 - Freedom and protection from temptations of the flesh and other distractions that would draw me away from my purpose.

13 - Good sleep in a very comfortable bed...

Yes, it sounds like I was really suffering for Christ while I was up there, right!

I profess to God and to you my gratitude for these things with a sure knowledge that I don't deserve this form of grace and mercy but I rejoice that He (and you) have extended it to me.

For those who are interested, here are some things I read while I was away. I am so thankful for the time and ability to read and pray.

The Holy Scriptures:

• 1 Peter
• Romans 8
• Psalm 145 (spent a lot of time on this passage)
• Psalm 23 and 46
• Deuteronomy 4-6
• John 6, 12
• Isaiah 55
• Psalm 115
• Also - my read through the Bible plan.

Books Other than the Bible:

• Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan - Great book that reminded me of the brevity of this life and the pilgrimage that we are on until we die or He returns. This books reminded me of the spiritual warfare that we face as Christians and our need to fight the Enemy with the spiritual weapons that He provides for us.
• Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan - Here the puritan John Bunyan gives the account of his salvation and his internal wrestlings with his own guilt, sin, and freedom that he found only at the foot of the cross through the Gospel. He also gives the account of his calling to be a preacher, his imprisonment for preaching without being licensed by the State Church in England (think 1660s) and his 12 year imprisonment because he insisted on obeying God rather than man in fulfilling his calling as a preacher of the Gospel. In prison he wrote books that have impacted generations of Christians.
• The Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham - After being impacted by his sermon that we listened to at the parenting seminar last fall I wanted to read his book on the same subject - The Centrality of the Home in the evangelism and discipleship of the children. This was a very impactful book for me to read as I consider our calling as a church and families to raise our kids in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
• Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton - I didn’t read this book in its entirety, but it provided a great break in my reading. Chesterton reflects on what is wrong with the thinkers of today. He has a tremendous chapter about the ethics of Elfland in which he talks about the importance of the "fairy tales" in their shaping of his imagination as it relates to the REAL world that God has "magically" made and continues to sustain.
• Helping Children to Understand the Gospel by Sally Michael and others - This book is printed by Children's Desiring God and is a book that every parent should read, be familiar with and use in their home. I was moved to pray for my kids and the kids of Grace church as well as their parents.
• The Seven Laws of Teaching by John Milton Gregory (1886) - I had this book recommended to me by Douglas Wilson and I am more than halfway done. This book is a very helpful read for every parent (no matter what stage they are in), Church teacher, pastor, elder, or anyone else who has a desire to pass on knowledge to someone else in an effective way - I hope that includes you. As a preacher it has been very insightful. I hope it helps .

Ok, if you are actually still reading, I will close with another thank you.

Together with you in the Greatest Cause,

Pastor Daniel Patz