Some of you will be praising God that I do not have a summary of this week's Elementary Chapel on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, but I do have a summary of the wonderful chapel activities in this blurb!  I praise God that the 62 students and several staff members of Joshua Christian Academy were able to join us for their annual time with Des Moines Christian Elementary School students and staff!  The JCA students led the entire chapel, book-ending the recitation of Scripture by leading us in two praise and worship songs (under the very able accompaniment of JCA Teacher Rev. Brandon Spriggs)!  JCA Board President and Volunteer Extraordinaire Chris Hurley introduced the recitation of Scripture by each of the JCA grade levels, and the JCA students did an outstanding job!  I was personally very convicted by the amount of Scripture that each of the students has learned, and I would challenge our school to engage in such a rigorous memorization regimen.  I know many adult Christians who have not stored-up so much of the Word of God in their hearts and minds.  Of course, we should remember, as I told the students at the end of the chapel, that memorization of the Word alone is not enough; we must live-out God's Word in obedience to Him.  That's the hard part!  Following chapel, the JCA students headed off for learning in their respective DMC grade levels, and the JCA teachers joined some DMC teachers for some staff development discussions of interest to the JCA teachers.  What a joy to see all of the colors of the rainbow represented by the JCA and DMC students and staff on Wednesday!  God is good!  God is glorified!

On Wednesday, January 16, 2013, I walked out of CrossTrainers and remarked to my good friend Gary Lydic, "Wow!  That was SO good!"  Do you want to know what precipitated such a positive reaction to me?  Please click here to read my summary of DMC Grandfather Jim Mars' CrossTrainers message on that day - "Sent to Follow."