Day of Praise

Tu, Apr 30, 31st Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." - Proverbs 16:24

As I begin to write this, I wonder if I should, write this, that is, because I can hear multiple replies coming back to me, asking me if I'm talking about a revelation in the world of sport today or about a comment that was made to me recently.

No. I'm not talking to anybody or any situation in the news or any comment in particular.

The scriptures I "pick" come from a flip pad I got in a store, so I have no idea what scripture is going to pop up.

What popped up is "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24).

And what immediately popped into my mind is that I do not like to be called "sweet."

I had a hard conversation with my son last night. I was calm and clear about my sentiments and what needed to be done. I was calm and clear. Not sweet.

I had a hard conversation with my next door neighbor today. I was calm and clear about my sentiments and what I hoped would be done. I was calm and clear. Not sweet.

I was encouraging to a sister in Christ tonight. I'm not chatty. I was calm and clear about God's sentiments toward an injustice done to her...in the name of Jesus no less. I was calm and clear and encouraging. Not sweet.

I don't take myself too seriously though, so I laugh, as I know at least four people who are going to read this and then come to me today and call me "sweet." Just to get under my skin. We'll laugh. And I'll poke some fun back at them. But that's fun, not sweet.

But as much I don't like to be called "sweet," it is just that much that I do like to speak sweet words. Gracious words. Healing words. After all, like God says, "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24).

I know from experience how sweet words, gracious words, healing words are game changers. Life changers.

Now, don't get me wrong. My flesh doesn't always like to hear these sweet, gracious, healing, and life changing words. I mean, who wants to be told they're a sinner?

I've stopped counting how many times I've talked to someone and said, "God says that what you're doing doesn't work. And as such, it's sin."

What I've stopped counting is how many times a person responds with, "I'm not a bad person."

So I have to say, "I didn't say you were bad. I said you're sinning. And you're not going to see all the awesome things that God has prepared for you unless you repent and ask God to keep sending His Holy Spirit to change your heart and your ways."

I mean, who likes to hear that?

And yet, I am so thankful for people who were in my life (God, give rest to their souls) and people who are in my life who, well...who were calm and clear and spoke to me. Words that, ironically, I didn't want to hear. Because they were hard to hear. Because they went against the grain of what the world might accept and support.

They were words that went against what, on the one hand, are actions that may seem harmless to me, but, on the other hand, are actions that God says plainly are the ruin of my soul.

And when those hard words, God's words, were spoken calmly and clearly to me, they became sweet words, gracious words, healing words. Game changers. Life changers.

So ya see, because sweet words have been spoken to me, I am, like you are, honored to have the opportunity to calmly and clearly speak sweet words to somebody else.

Just, please, please, don't call me sweet.

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." - Proverbs 16:24

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, Apr 29, 30th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" - John 11:40

God wants to do amazing things physically and spiritually before our eyes this week!

Here's a weekend testimony by one of our Day of Praise Family Member's to an amazing thing they saw last week. Here's Kathy Stepanski's testimony to God's goodness:

Today (Friday) is definitely a Thank You God Day. I couldn't wait to share this. Sorry if it's a bit long.

My coworker's grandson was born a week ago today, which was six weeks early. Baby Hunter had problems breathing, among other things. Things took a turn for the worst and his Gran asked for prayers.

Going into choir I grabbed a few [of our new, wooden Bible-verse pocket] crosses to hand out. Miss Maizie said an awesome prayer for Baby Hunter at the end of practice.

The next morning (Thursday) I had three new crosses to give to Hunter's Gran -- one for the mom, one for the dad, and one to be with Hunter. Also the next morning, Hunter was only needing 20% oxygen from the machine...awesome in itself. An answer to prayers.

Gran gasped when she saw the Bible verse on the pocket crosses. (I didn't see the verse when I picked them up at church because the lights were dim in the room.) The new verse was Proverbs 3:5 ("Trust in the Lord with all your heart").

Now the best news...drum roll please... Today, Hunter is off the oxygen machine and has eaten for the first time in his life -- a half ounce every three hours.

It gets even better.

Mom and dad didn't want anything to do with church or God BEFORE Hunter was born. But Gran encouraged them to pray, and now they pray several times a day. Their hearts are being turned in the right direction through all this.

Thank you, thank you, God.

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" - John 11:40

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Sa, Apr 27, 28th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
"'"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."'" - Numbers 6:22-26

May God bless you and yours on this day and always. Happy Saturday!

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Fr, Apr 26, 27th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." - Psalm 104:33

Some people are rejoicing and praising God this morning for one reason and one reason only. Because today is Friday.

God made us to rejoice and praise God this morning for one reason and one reason only. Because God is God.

During the 1980 Super Bowl, one ad in particular caught the hearts of the world with a question: Is his idol not even going to thank him?

Here's the ad!

The stadium is packed. Fans are screaming. A security guard has his hands full trying to control the crowd milling around him. A middle-age woman tries to sneak past the guard into the tunnel. The guard grabs her and escorts her back into the stadium. But the boy quietly sneaks behind the security guard, with a big bottle of Coke in his right hand, trailing his hero down the dimly-lit tunnel.

Mean Joe Greene, battle-scarred and broken, hobbles down the other side of the tunnel toward the locker room. His head stooped, he carries his scuffed-up helmet in his hand.

Boy: "Mr. Greene? Mr. Greene? You need any help?"  

Mean Joe: "Uh. Uh."

Visual: Mean Joe looks back at the boy dismissively, as if to say, Go away.

Boy: "I just want you to know." He stammers. "I think." Stammers. "I think. You're the best ever."

Visual: Mean Joe turns his head back over his left shoulder toward the boy.

Mean Joe: "Ya, sure."

Visual: Boy holds up his Coke and offers it to Joe. We can see that it's his one and only Coke.

Boy: "Want my Coke?" 

Visual: The boy holds up his hefty bottle as an offering once again. 

Visual: Mean Joe looks back at the boy with a scowl. He doesn't answer his question.

Visual: The boy again offers Mean Joe his Coke.

Boy: "Really, you can have it" – his voice almost pleading.

Visual: Joe sighs and shakes his head, but stoops over and reaches his arm out to accept the boy's Coke.

Mean Joe: "Okay. Okay."

Visual: A smile surfaces on Joe's face as he lifts the 20-ounce bottle of Coke to his lips, and starts guzzling.

As Joe guzzles, viewers hear a Coca-Cola jingle: 

A Coke and a smile
Makes me feel good
Makes me feel nice
That's the way it should be
I like to see
The whole world smiling at me.
Coca-Cola adds life
Have a Coke and a smile

Visual: Joe is still guzzling the boy's Coke. Camera turns to the boy, who is looking up at Joe, slack jawed, watching his Coke disappear. The boy shrugs, sighs, and waves goodbye to Mean Joe. "See ya around," the boy says, dejectedly, and turns to walk back up the tunnel.

Visual: As Joe finishes the boy's Coke, he pulls his sweaty jersey off his right shoulder.

Mean Joe: "Hey kid." He smiles and tosses the boy his jersey. "Catch."

Visual: The boy catches the jersey in both arms, like a wide receiver cradling a football, looking as if he had just caught the game-winning touchdown.

Boy: "Wow, thanks Mean Joe."

Visual: Mean Joe's smile is now as wide as the tunnel.

Coca-Cola's jingle captures the mood: "Have a Coke and a smile."

Visual: The boy turns and heads back up the tunnel toward the stadium. Mean Joe, still smiling, turns and heads back into the locker room.

Music with voiceover: "Have a Coke and a smile"

As many articles have been written on that commercial, one thing is clear in all of the articles, namely, there is something in the human heart that just doesn't feel right if we don't say or hear the magic words, "Thank you."

Huh! I wonder who made the human heart to be that way?

"I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." - Psalm 104:33

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, Apr 25, 26th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity." - Jeremiah 46:17

Have you ever missed an opportunity? What makes it worse is when you narrowly miss an opportunity. Like, by a nano-second.

The other day, I just knew I had it perfectly timed. After picking up my 14-year-old son from school and getting him home and settled in, I had to go back to church for an early evening meeting. I also needed to get to the bank for both my daughters, and I was sure that, on my way to church, I was going to make it to the bank a minute or two before they closed.

So off I go from my house, and I'm about one minute gone when my cell phone rings. It was one of my kids. And they needed me to immediately do something for them back at the house, which would require me to turn around and go back to the house, do the thing they needed, and then head back to the bank on the way to church.

I quickly calculated the timing in my head.

If I turned around, I was going to miss the bank. And I didn't want to miss the bank. That would mean that I'd need to go to the bank the next day...if I could even make it then...because the next day was already jam-packed, along with the next day and the next day and the next.

I decided I wasn't going to miss the bank. My child would just need to deal with their request going unattended.

I had to get to the bank.

The Holy Spirit thought otherwise.

"Chris, are you crazy?," the Holy Spirit said. "This is your CHIIIIILD! That is the Baaaaaank!"

Ya know, all this stuff is just happening in your head in a nano-second.

I say bank. Holy Spirit says child.

The Holy Spirit won.

So I turned around. I went back to the house in the bounds of the speed limit. I did the thing for my child. I turned around again and thought that maybe I could still make the bank.

It was green lights. All green lights. Eleven green lights. God was vindicating me. I pull around the corner. I see the bank. She's at the door. April is at the door. Starting to lock the door. I pull in next to the door. And I open my door while the car's still rolling because the window doesn't work. And I say to April (as she's cracked the one door to latch the other). I say, "Can you sneak in one last customer?" After all, I know April. I know Jan. I know Kensleigh. I know Amanda and Bethany and Tiffany. Suuuuurely, they can let me in.

"No, Mr. DeGreen, we're closed," April says.

"Unh!" I thought, "I missed my opportunity to get to the bank because the next day was already jam-packed, along with the next day and the next day and the next. And I missed it by a nano-second."

"Uh, nooooooo!" said the Holy Spirit. "But you did almost miss the opportunity to serve your child. The bank will always be there. Your child will not. They grow up...in a nano-second."

Thank you, Holy Spirit.

For reminding me what I tend to forget in a crazy world and a busy life.

Moments.

Requests.

Opportunities.

To do something loving for someone that you love.

Don't miss the opportunity.

It'll be gone. In a nano-second.

"Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity." - Jeremiah 46:17

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Apr 24, 25th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." - Matthew 9:36

There will be lots of opportunity to practice having compassion for others today. Every single one of us needs it.

Let us pray for one another.

And may God, who has compassion for us all, help us all have compassion for one another.

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Apr 23, 24th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"And God spoke all these words: 'Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.'" - Exodus 20:1,8-11

Longer than usual section of verses. Shorter than usual and better than usual witness, in my book, because it's from my oldest child, Calley-Taylor DeGreen, who wrote on her blog yesterday at http://voguemind.blogspot.com/2013/04/god-is-faithful-yall.html?m=1 ---

God is faithful y'all.

Second week I've obeyed the command to honor the Sabbath. Best Sunday I've ever had. I was so excited for it Saturday night and so happy for it Sunday morning. 

Man. It was packed with goodness.

And He's opened up another study slot. 

God is faithful y'all.

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, Apr 22, 23rd Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." - Philippians 2:1-2

It may have been the sweetest, most innocent, act of love that I've ever seen.

Yesterday, our church had it's annual Dessert Auction. It's a fun fellowship event to raise money for a ministry in the community. This year we actually had an auctioneer.

The auctioneer looked over the dessert table and said something to the effect of, "Okay, it's time for us to take bids on pieing Pastor Scott. Who wants to give a pie to Pastor Scott?"

Everybody cheered, and our Associate Pastor chuckled loudly as he always does because he's just like that, having a fun-loving personality that also taught our Confirmation Class youth on Saturday how to get a noodle up their nostril and out their mouth.

So this fund-raiser was going great, and it was about to get even better because bids were now coming in to give a whipped cream pie to Pastor Scott. Ya know, somebody was gonna give it to him.

So people are waving their whatever-they're-called bidding things made of tongue-depressors glued to a big index card with "Christ the King Lutheran" printed on it, and in one dollar increments, the bids are now over $20 to "give a whipped creme pie to Pastor Scott!!!"

"$21, I have 21. Is there 22. $22. Is there $23. 23. 24. 25. $25. Do I have 26? 26? 26? Going once, twice, three times. Sold to the young man for $25. C'mon up here Pastor Scott. Conner is gonna give you a whipped creme pie."

So Pastor Scott comes up with his big smile and loud chuckles, saying "Ok Conner, give it to me!!!"

Pastor Scott turns and faces everyone. The Dessert Auction leader puts a big towel around Pastor Scott's chest and shoulders so the whipped creme doesn't ruin his pastor shirt...too bad. And everyone's yelling, having a great ol' time. "Give it to him, Conner!!! Give it to Pastor Scott!" And here comes Conner with the pie. Pastor Scott has his eyes closed.

And Conner gives it to him.

It was a sight that many of us will never forget. Here's this kind-hearted, always hugging, 4th grade boy, who's just standing in front of Pastor Scott with a huge smile and two hands under the whipped-creme-filled pie tin, holding it front of Pastor Scott, as if to say, "Here! I'm giving it to you. When are you gonna take it?"

Everybody's yelling, "Give it to him!!! Give it to him!!!" And Conner's smile is just growing as he inches the tin closer to Pastor Scott, waiting for Pastor Scott to take it!

He had no idea that he was supposed to smack Pastor Scott in the face with it. No idea!

Which means that this little boy had spent $25 (which I know is huuuuuge to him) simply to give a pie to his friend, Pastor Scott.

Amazing. Innocence. Fun-loving, kind-hearted, sacrificial love.

We need more of that.

Give it to us, Lord! We'll even take it, right in the face.

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." - Philippians 2:1-2

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Sa, Apr 20, 21st Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus said, 'It is I; do not be afraid!'" - John 6:20

Yes, there will always be storms in life.

And yes, Jesus will always be with you.

So do not be afraid.

Meet the day and everything within your day with courage, believing that Jesus is with you, giving you peace in the midst of the storm and guidance to find your way through it.

And encourage others to trust the same.

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Fr, Apr 19, 20th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." - 2 Corinthians 5:20

You are the story today.

Look in the mirror sometime today, and read the following script.

"____(your name)____ is our top story today. In an amazing turnaround, ____(your name)____, who used to be an enemy of Almighty God because of his/her sinful nature, is now, belIeve it or not, an ambassador of the very same God. Because of his/her faith in God's Son, Jesus, ____(your name)____ now lives and walks into every situation with the full authority, power, and benefits of the Living God. This turn of events all started when God sent his Son to restore harmony to His relationship with ____(your name)____ by trading places with ____(your name)____. God's Son took the place of ____(your name)____ on the shameful death instrument of a cross, which publicly humiliates and tortures to death anyone who is so audacious as to challenge the One who is rightfully in authority. However, even the worst death could not keep its hold on God's Son, since, in actuality, he himself had done nothing wrong. Therefore, God's Son broke free from death, rose from the grave, and now lives at God's hand of blessing. And because ____(your name)____ has fellowship with God's Son through faith in Him which also receives the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit that spills new life and new ways into ____(your name)____, ____(your name)____ shares with God's Son both in the good standing that the Son has with the Father and also in every blessing that streams from God's hand. We will continue to follow this story, as we are all interested to see the new confidence that ____(your name)____ has while meeting the challenges and enjoying the peace-filled moments of this new day."

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, Apr 18, 19th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" - Isaiah 52:7

When getting ready to speak comfort in Christ to someone, in order to cover the looooooong distance from our head to our heart you don't need the internet but you do need a "www".

1) Give your "wonder" to God, as in "I wonder how I can do this?". Answer? You can't, but God can, so give your wonder to God.

2) Give your "wounds" to God, as in don't try to look strong by hiding your wounds, but recognize that God wants to work through your past wounds to minister to someone's present wounds so they know that you can truly understand just like God can.

3) Give your "words" to God, as in trust God to speak through you, as Jesus says in Matthew 10, "do not worry about what to say or how to say it, for at that time it will not be you speaking but the spirit of your Father in heaven speaking through you."

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Apr 17, 18th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done." - Psalm 92:4

Forrest Gump had it right, "Stupid is as stupid does." What that means is that stupid people do stupid things. In fact, even people who aren't really stupid do stupid things. The bottom line is that people do stupid things.

Forrest Gump could've also said, "God is as God does." What that means is that God is great and does great things. In fact, even the things that God does that may not seem so great are actually amazingly great, if you'll stop and think about 'em. The bottom line is that God does really great things.

You may want to read what follows because people who want to be inspired read inspiring things. So, in accord with today's verse from Psalm 92:4, here's kind of a montage of scripture quotes about the things "the Lord has done" that make us glad and sing for joy.

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

The Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you.

The signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country; what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the Lord brought lasting ruin on them.

You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation.

The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things.

Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.

So that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word.

Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things!

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

"For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done." - Psalm 92:4

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Apr 16, 17th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 7:9 - Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.

Psalm 11:5 - The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.

Psalm 55:9 - Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.

Psalm 140:4 - Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.

Proverbs 21:7 - The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We ask you to be with the many people, and their families, who were killed or hurt in the Boston Marathon bombing yesterday.
And, as you've taught us, we pray for those who planned and carried out this horrible act of violence. Bring them to repentance.
Grant wisdom. Establish justice.
You are God! We trust and praise you.
In Jesus' name,
Amen

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, Apr 15, 16th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'" - John 6:29

A popular cheer is "We're number one!"

Me?

I prefer "We're number two!"

Oh sure, I enjoy it when my team wins a ballgame. Hey! We're number one!

But, of course, we're not talking about a ballgame, we're talking about the game of life. And to win at life, the cheer is, "We're number two!"

It goes like this. In today's Bible verse, the disciples have just asked Jesus what work God requires of us. See? They want to know what they're supposed to do to please the ultimate coach, who is God, before they waste their time doing something else.

And we're just like them. Deep inside, we all want to live lives that count, that matter, that have purpose and meaning, that make a difference. Deep inside, we all have the question, "What should I be doing with my life?" And it's not just a philosophical question; I hear multiple people everyday grappling with what they should do with their life, and within their life, what they should be doing with a season of life, or with an educational pursuit, or with the use of time. What should they do with this day?!?!?! And the next day? And the next?

Wouldn't it be awesome if we knew exactly what we're supposed to do to count, to matter, to have purpose and meaning, to make a difference? Wouldn't it be awesome if someone could assure us that we're getting the most out of life? And if someone knew, wouldn't it be great if they'd just tell us?

Well, someone does! God does! "So, God, will you please tell me what to do to get the most out of life? What is the work that I need to do to make a difference and make my mark in this world?"

Gang, those aren't questions from someone who's in charge. Those are questions from someone who's taking orders. They're from someone who's number two.

And when we're Number Two, it makes perfect sense for us to follow Number One, which is why Jesus says, "Follow me!"

And when we're Number Two, it makes perfect sense for us to love Number One, which is why Jesus says, "Love God with all ya got!"

And when we're Number Two, it makes perfect sense for us to believe in and to put our confidence and faith in Number One, which is why Jesus says, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29)

So please, today, whether you're a ruler or owner or supervisor or employer or trainer or coach or teacher or principal or just someone who got put in the position of "leader" because it just kinda fell your way, before you do each thing (yes, each and every thing), take a breath and say, "Lord, you're Number One! I have confidence in You! So guide me in the task or talk that's right in front of me."

And, oh, one last thing. I have a dear friend who's in charge of, let's say, a lot, a whole great big lot. They're number one in an earthly sense, to be sure! A few days ago they asked me to pray for their team because they'd lost about 23 million units of the stuff they work with. We prayed together that God would be Number One in their meeting and lead them to quickly find what they'd lost. You know where this is going; they found the 23 million units in, the proverbial, no time flat, which is the kinda stuff that happens when God's Number One.

And we're number two.

"Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in The One he has sent.'" - John 6:29

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Sa, Apr 13, 14th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

At that time Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." - Matthew 11:25,28,29

I sincerely thank you all for sharing in this little ministry of God's Word. I sincerely pray that you all have a restful weekend.

For these and all His gifts, let us...

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Fr, Apr 12, 13th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." -
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

There are some interesting quotes in history where the word "compel" is used.

"To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." - Thomas Jefferson

"A strong, successful man is not the victim of his environment. He creates favorable conditions. His own inherent force and energy compel things to turn out as he desires." - Orison Swett Marden

"No iron chain, or outward force of any kind, can ever compel the soul of a person to believe or to disbelieve." - Thomas Carlyle

"Americans chose a free enterprise system designed to provide a quality of opportunity, not compel a quality of results. And that is why this is the only place in the world where you can open up a business in the spare bedroom of your home." - Marco Rubio

"To advise is not to compel." - Anton Chekhov

"It would do the world good if every man would compel himself occasionally to be absolutely alone. Most of the world's progress has come out of such loneliness." - Bruce Barton

But of all the quotes where the word "compel" is used, this one is still my favorite, "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, Apr 11, 12th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

These are a few short verses with a shorter encouragement in honor of all of you who only respond when this thing is short. Here ya go.

When you have a personal faith in Christ, your confidence and competence exponentially increase!

And because of that, come what may, it's gonna be a great day. Or as my friend Kris Dunn says and so might say, "Hey! Make it a great day!"

And because of Jesus, I'm confident that it will be a great day indeed.

"Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Apr 10, 11th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." - Proverbs 11:24

From time to time, we encourage meditating on a verse of God's Word. Meditating on God's Word is to repeat it over and over, again and again in your heart and mind throughout a day, and then watch the LORD show you again and again how he's always true to his word.

The meditation phrase for today that's connected to today's Bible verse is this, "You cannot outgive God."

Say it over and over:
"You cannot outgive God."
"You cannot outgive God."
"You cannot outgive God."
"You cannot outgive God."

I've seen this truth repeatedly for the last 34 of my 48 years of life. It's not only about getting money back when you give money as much as it's about receiving God's non-stop provision of "dumb luck" and "coincidence" and "a way out of temptation" and "a vindication of hope and faith in God."

However, when we give our resources (time, money, energy) generously, what we receive in return is not entirely divorced from money either; check out www.stateoftheplate.info to see the objective statistics for the financial realities for those who generously tithe (which means to freely give at least a "tenth"). These stats are another angle on that secular British Columbia, Canada study that scientifically showed that generous people are just flat out happier in life.

So how about if we add the slightest bit to our meditation. Say it over and over:
"You cannot outgive God. So give!"
"You cannot outgive God. So give!"
"You cannot outgive God. So give!"
"You cannot outgive God. So give!"

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." - Proverbs 11:24

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Apr 9, 10th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children—" - Psalm 103:17

When I was a kid, I feared all my teachers. Ms. Deakins, Ms. Scott, Ms. Peterson, and Ms. Howell and others, all had the power to send me to the principal's office! And every single one of them had reason to do so. :-)

But only one of them had the power and the reason to send me to the principal's office, but didn't.

She dealt with me directly. She dealt with me eye to eye. She dealt with me clearly. She dealt with me, making sure I knew what should've happened to me because of what I did, but instead what was going to happen because of what she chose to do. It would have been much easier for her just to send me to the principal's office, but she chose to deal with me sacrificially, that is, she gave to me out of her own time and energy to deal with my mistake and show me a different way to live, namely, a way of love.

Remember, I feared this teacher too. But she was the only one of them that had the power and the reason to send me to the principal's office, but didn't.

This one teacher was like the LORD, who I also rightly fear because the LORD has the power and the reason to send me to the principal's office (that is, to hell, which is the office of the Destroyer), but doesn't.

Instead, the LORD deals with me directly, eye to eye, clearly, making sure I know what should happen to me because of what I did, but instead what is going to happen because of what the LORD chooses to do. It would be much easier for the LORD just to send me to the principal's office, but the LORD chooses to deal with me sacrificially, that is, the LORD gives to me out of the LORD's own time and energy to deal with my mistakes and show me a different way to live, namely, a way of love, that is, The Way of The Cross.

I had faith in that teacher. I have Faith in the LORD.

To this day, my life is different because of that teacher. And my Life is different because of the LORD.

She inspired me to live differently, a different way. The LORD inspired me to live differently, a different Way, in the Spirit of the LORD, in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, I feared this teacher too. I feared the LORD.

But she was the only one that had the power and the reason to send me to the principal's office, but didn't. Instead, she dealt with me out of her own flesh.

And the LORD had the Power and Reason of my sin to send me to Hell, but didn't. Instead, the LORD took on my own sin in His own body, the body of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

I tell my kids about that teacher from time to time.

I tell my kids about the LORD everyday, so they can learn and celebrate that the LORD deals with them just the same.

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children—" - Psalm 103:17

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, Apr 8, 9th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." - Proverbs 16:8

I know there's a lot of parents who read this Day of Praise devotion with your kids. I also know there's a bunch of you that chat about it within your family. Some on Facebook. Some of you in your workplace.

How about I toss the ball to y'all today? You all tell the stories.

Here's the topic from today's verse: "Integrity at any price."

Maybe you've got a negative story like a number of you who've shared with me how you cheated on a test by looking at a classmate's paper, and you both got it wrong. So you decided that you could just as well get it wrong by yourself without the guilty conscience at least and maybe the principal's office on top of it.

Integrity at any price.

Maybe you've got a positive story like one of you told me when you were at the bank to withdraw a few hundred cash for a vacation. The teller counted out the money. Their counting was right, but their matching was wrong as they gave you a hundred too much. Then you stood there looking back and forth at the money and the teller, not wanting to say anything, because their supervisor was also standing there and you didn't want them to get in trouble. The teller still didn't get it, so you had to speak. They were so impressed with your integrity that they wound up coming to your church.

Integrity at any price.

What's your story?

Let's hear it.

"Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." - Proverbs 16:8

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Sa, Apr 6, 7th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." - 1 John 3:1

I wouldn't have believed it unless I'd seen it. It happened in the non-scholarship football player dressing room at the University of Tennessee. I was in there because I was one of those guys, also known as walk-ons.

One of the walk-ons was just a very nice guy. He worked hard on the practice field and encouraged others by writing Bible verses on his taped wrists. He'd read and mark up Bibles, then give them to other guys who needed encouragement in God's strength, and then he'd start reading and marking up another Bible for the next guy who might need it.

He knew the great privilege that it is to be called a child of God. (1 John 3:1)

And then there was the other guy, who was a part of "the world [that] does not know [a child of God because] it did not know [God]." (1 John 3:1)

The first guy was being himself, and after practice, knowing how mentally and physically hard it was to be a walk-on, he went up to a new walk-on and encouraged him. The other guy had seen enough of this "child of God" stuff and flew out of his locker space and got in the face of the Christian guy and ranted about the Christian guy thinking he was so important because he offered his assistance to everyone.

I don't know for sure what was going on in the heart or mind of the Christian guy because, as modeled by other godly people in the Bible, this is what he said, "_______________." Yes, you read that right; the guy was silent.

But based on his unchanged behavior for all the rest of the years that I observed him, I'm pretty sure that the following is what was going on in the heart and mind of the Christian guy, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1)."

Praise God for those who courageously and lovingly live the faith in the strength of Christ. And let's pray to God for those who don't know him. For God shows us in the cross and resurrection of Jesus that he wants all people to know that they're God's own.

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Fr, Apr 5, 6th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold." - Psalm 119:72

I was born in the year of the last silver quarter, which was 1964. Those quarters from 1932-1964 are supposedly each worth at least $4.67 because of the silver content. I even have a few that I collected when I was younger.

But those silver quarters can never be worth as much as a stone. But it's probably not the stone that you're thinking of like diamonds and rubies and the like.

It's interesting. When God inspires the use of the words (gold, silver, stone, and precious) in Holy Scripture, there's an interesting pattern to observe that culminates in the following from 1 Peter 2:4, "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him."

In other words, Jesus is the most precious of all the precious stones to God. But he is also the most precious stone that was rejected by sinners as it's written in Psalm 118:22 and quoted frequently by Jesus in the New Testament, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."

But the Holy Spirit guides us and gives us eyes to see that the stone, who is Jesus, is most valuable because He is the cornerstone, the foundation, on which to build your life. In contrast, you can play games and buy things and look good with silver and gold, but you can't build an Abundant Life on silver and gold. (And let's not kid ourselves that we can buy the most precious stone with silver or gold, for that's what Judas thought, and we know how his life tragically crumbled.)

So, Heavenly Father, help us to value Jesus as the most precious stone, more valuable than silver or gold, that we may receive him as your Son, your Living Word, your will for our lives, your law that directs and guides our lives by your Holy SpIrit, who would be our treasure unto eternal and everlasting life. Please, Father, grant us a deeper faith that would understand this truth of your Word. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold." - Psalm 119:72

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, Apr 4, 5th Day of Easter. "Day of Praise"

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord." - Proverbs 16:20

It's been a long time since we've kept one this simple, so let's make today the day.

Jesus does not send out Know-it-alls to make Know-it-alls. He sends out disciples to make disciples. In other words, Jesus wants us to be constantly learning from him, even as we're inviting and encouraging others to be constantly learning from Jesus too.

So let's all "prosper" in the way that God intends, with our constant reception of the richness and riches of God's Word because we are constantly learning from God through Jesus.

When I was a kid, people would mimic a TV show, saying, "live long and prosper." However, God simply teaches us a slight variation, "learn lots and prosper." Indeed, that's what God calls us to do, namely, learn lots each day from the Lord and true prosperity will come our way.

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord." - Proverbs 16:20

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Apr 3, 4th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." - Romans 12:14-15

Two mini encouragements:

1) I'm running into people right and left who are saying, "It works!" When you "bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (Romans 12:14), it actually works!

That's why God commands it! It works a) by setting free the one who's been hurt from negative "heart poisons" of bitterness and the like and b) by also kindling the positive spirit treasures of joy and praise.

Try it!

2) I'm sure I've done it a gazillion times too, so please don't feel sorry for me.

But I can remember when we lived in the Fox Meadows neighborhood in Memphis, TN. I was three and four years old. I can remember multiple times that we went tadpole hunting in the local Crick, (which, in case you don't know, is Northern and Southern couuuuntry for "Creek"). We'd get us a bunch o' them thar tad frogs. Not all o' em lived long. It made me sad. It made the next door jealous neighbor girl glad. And that made me more sad. (I really don't remember getting mad.) But I do remember gladness when we got our new fence at the same house; now, the neighbor girl was not happy. She rejoiced with those who mourned; and she mourned with those who rejoiced." which, of course, is the exact opposite of Romans 12:15.

So, "rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." - Romans 12:15

It works too!

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Apr 2, 3rd Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
'I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.'" - Isaiah 48:17

I have a dear, dear friend from seminary days. His name is Tim Harding. Tim and his wife Melanie are still dear friends. They live in Florida now. But they lived in the Philadelphia area (Levittown, PA) when I was a youth worker in seminary, and they were the youth leaders.

Tim is a Renaissance Man. He knows how to do everything from computers to welding to building houses to listening well to making beautiful iron works from scratch and more.

Tim also knows how to look out for your best interests, as a model of God's word in today's verse.

For example, when his kids were little, if they crossed the street without looking and he saw it, then he would give them a strong hand on the backside. He had a saying that went something like this, "A strong hand on the backside is better than getting run over by two tons of Detroit steel."

That's the way God is -- always looking out for our best interests, even when it hurts.

We are Easter people who have seen that God in Christ is for us, even unto death on a cross. So God obviously has our best interests in mind. And he conquered death and the grave, rising from the dead to dwell in us and to guide us, with our best interests in mind.

So whatever you've got going on, trust the Lord. God in Christ is for you!

"This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
'I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.'" - Isaiah 48:17

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, April 1, 2nd Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." - 1 Peter 3:15

Ever since my oldest, who is now 20, was little, my children have received messages from "The Easter Guy" during the 50 days of the season of Easter. There is only one reason why the Easter Guy visits, namely, to help my children "give an answer to everyone who asks [them] to give the reason for the hope that [they] have" (1 Peter 3:15).

The Easter Guy reinforces that Easter is not just a day. It is a season, just like Christmas. There are the 12 days of Christmas from December 25 - January 5. And there are the 50 days of Easter from Easter Sunday to The Day of Pentecost.

The Easter Guy may leave a note and/or a treat. But what the Easter Guy always does is explicitly remind the children of two things: 1) Jesus is alive! and 2) You are Loved!

Jesus Is, and You Are!

So have a great day, believing that both are true!

Because they are!

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." - 1 Peter 3:15

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson