Day of Praise

Fr, May 31, 12th Day of Pentecost, "Day of Praise" (Thank you to Kristen Ferrier who is serving "Day of Praise" while I have some vacation time with my children.)

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15

The climax of Joshua's speech following the Israelites' victory over the Amorites is powerful. Yet again the Gospel message is communicated to a vast amount of people in just a short moment of time. Imagine how filled with the Holy Spirit Joshua must have been at this point.

I hope you have felt the same at some point in your life; the overwhelmingly sweet taste of victory in the Lord. And how does Joshua respond? How do the people of Israel respond? They ALL dedicate their families, their homes, and all that they have to the Lord. Because, you see, that is where communicating the Gospel has to begin – home. Abraham did it; Jacob did it; Joseph and Joseph did it; Boaz did it; Joab did it; Lois and Eunice did it (2 Tim. 1); and the list goes on and on and on.

We each have a responsibility to communicate the Gospel within the walls of our own homes. You can read on your own how the above listed men went about it. Wives go about it through helping their husbands as they were created to do (Gen. 2:18); they are representatives of their husbands (1 Peter 3:1); and they should encourage, love, and defend their spouses. Parents do so by bringing their children to the Lord (Mark 10:14-15) and teaching them who their true father is (Luke 2:49), for they are to go about doing his business, too. Strangers are to be welcomed and shown hospitality, love, and respect (Gen. 18, Matt. 25), and those that oppose us are to be shown the same (Matt. 5:39). (Please don't be confused about Jesus' feelings for the Pharisees and Sadducees; he would have loved nothing more than for them to accept their redemption, too.)

We also have to be direct about communicating the Gospel to our loved ones and those that we meet; we have to say aloud, in the words of Joshua, "as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!" We have to tell our spouse, our children, our neighbors, and all that we meet that God has been victorious. We have to tell them that our hearts cannot be turned from Him; for He has died that we might live; and the joy that we have because of this is uncontainable. We have to tell them that our confidence and assurance in His love and promises overflows daily. Win or lose - this relationship, this game, this job, this family member, this car, this house – Jesus Christ is our victoriously reigning King forever and ever!

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, May 30, 11th Day of Pentecost, "Day of Praise" (Thank you to Kristen Ferrier who is serving "Day of Praise" while I have some vacation time with my children.)

"…an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up! Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.' So Joseph got up and took the child and his mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt." - Matthew 2:13-14

I love to read stories in the Bible that involve radical and irrational behavior because I know that the participants in those stories have genuine faith in the Gospel and communicate it through their obedience.

I mean, who really gets up in the middle of the night and begins a journey across the desert because they were told do so in a dream? Maybe I'm the only one who hasn't had that sort of dream, but I have had a different sort of one, and God most certainly used it to send me a message in a radical way. "I can help you with that." That's what God, who was disguised as my Grandpa Klinger, told me one night, and it may have even been what God told Joseph that night regarding King Herod. And what was Joseph's response? It was the same response that Abraham had when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac; it was the same response the Israelites had when they left Egypt; it was the same response that Levi had when Jesus called him as a disciple; and it was the same response Christ had when his Father called him to the cross. It was obedience.

Now, sometimes obedience looks like a radical move across the globe to China, like two of my dear friends from college did one year ago, or to Tanzania, like the parents of one of my son James' classmates are preparing to do this summer (and with a toddler, no less!). But sometimes radical obedience is simply renewing your trust in the God who is sovereign over all things going on in your little ole life. That was what it was for me after my dream. A radically renewed trust in God's sovereignty, an experience that I can't explain except to say that I literally "felt" the Holy Spirit's presence. Weeping, gasping for breath, and broken, I sat in front of my husband who witnessed all this just like Mary witnessed Joseph. What did they witness? They witnessed the Gospel at work – alive, moving, changing the people who cling to it – and they were both encouraged.

Listen for God today and obey Him. In doing so, you'll be communicating the Gospel to those around 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, May 29, 10th Day of Pentecost, "Day of Praise" (Thank you to Kristen Ferrier who is serving "Day of Praise" while I have some vacation time with my children.)

"Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. Miriam answered them, 'Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.'" Exodus 15:20-21

Miriam communicated the Gospel through song. The act of Miriam's praise and the words she speaks are both testaments to God's saving power and the joy that she feels in light of that salvation.

Read the verse again. If anyone has a question about the good news of God, Miriam has an answer. He's worthy of exaltation and praise because He has defeated your enemies; they are, after all, His enemies too.

I think about David rejoicing in 2 Samuel 6 because the Ark of the covenant had been returned to Jerusalem. (And if any of you are thinking about his nakedness let's remember yesterday's DoP and have a little grace and mercy – something the people who witnessed what happened failed to do and, therefore, missed witnessing the Gospel too.) HE WAS ELATED BY GOD'S PRESENCE! (That is what is noteworthy about that story.)

I also think of my Grandpa Klinger, the whistler, and my Grandma Volk, the hummer. I'm thankful that they whistled and hummed because of God's goodness, because of the joy felt in knowing and trusting in His promises.

I'm thankful for hymns, and choirs at churches around the world, and professional artists who have given their lives to creating (theologically accurate) music. I'm also thankful because the Gospel can be communicated in such an easy and enjoyable way.

Catch yourself humming, whistling, or singing because you have joy in Christ and in His saving power. Someone may hear you and be encouraged; they may even ask you what you're humming. That would be one of those opportunities that the Holy Spirit provides – you know, for you to share your joy and the purpose of your joy – Christ.

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, May 28, 9th Day of Pentecost, "Day of Praise" (Thank you to Kristin Ferrier who is serving "Day of Praise" while I have some vacation time with my children.)

"Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering…" - Gen 4:4

Abel communicated the Gospel to Cain (whether he listened or not) through his offering; it was the first and it was the best.

And why was Abel's offering the first and the best? Because he knew his significance (or lack thereof) in comparison to God. Without God, Abel would not have existence, or the essentials of life (shelter, clothing, food, the offering itself), or Cain for that matter.

Abel knew what the tax collector in Luke 18 knew and hopefully what all of you reading this now know – we are sinners who need God's mercy – we are of no significance without Him.

Abel also knew what the poor widow in Mark 12 knew – God is deserving of an offering that consists of all that we have; we are not to withhold anything from Him. We are to trust that whatever provision He has for us today – grace, faith, money, or time – is more abundant than any offering we are making to Him.

Abel gave the first and the best; the poor widow gave the most. In both instances an offering that was observed by others was made, in both instances an offering was used as a means to communicate the good news of God to those witnessing the act.

Now, let's not take this out of biblical context and begin giving our offerings with pomp and circumstance. Let us also not limit our offerings to monetary contributions. "What other offerings might we make?" you ask. I'll answer that with a question of my own. What has God given to you that you might offer back to Him? That question is answered in Genesis 1:26 – we have been made in God's own image and, therefore, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have access to those parts of us that reflect Him. We can love, be kind, be merciful, be gracious, and be forgiving, and those things can be made manifest through acts inside of relationships.

Maybe these things come super easy to a lot of you in all of your relationships, but I definitely have those difficult, pesky, stomach churning relationships in my life. And it is definitely a sacrificial offering of my spirit when I encounter those people. But I'm going to trust in God and His provisions for those relationships. I'm going to trust that when I sacrificially offer up kindness, meekness, vulnerability, and love, then His good news is made known to those around me.

Whatever we do daily, let's give it our first, our best, and our most, remembering that we can't outgive God, but that we can give what He has first given to us. We can bear His image – sacrificially offering of ourselves – and in doing so communicate His good news.

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, May 27, 8th Day of Pentecost, "Day of Praise" (Thank you to Kristin Ferrier who is serving "Day of Praise" while I have some vacation time with my children.)

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4

If only communicating the gospel always happened this way; how exciting would that be? High winds, earthquakes, and fire! It's really every boy's dream.

Do you suppose that more people would have a positive response to the gospel if they could experience it being communicated in such a radical way? If people could actually witness with their five senses someone receiving the Holy Spirit. Then witness that person immediately and uncontrollably begin communicating the gospel to those gathered near.

Perhaps, but all that I have is an invisible inward change of heart; the Spirit is with me without all of the bells and whistles. So how do others know that I have the Holy Spirit? How do I communicate the gospel if not through spontaneous combustion and "tongues?"

I'm sure that you're all thinking Galatians 5:22-23a right about now or maybe you're thinking of a spiritual gifts inventory. Both of those are great and we'll certainly be contemplating those lists over the next weeks (you guys are stuck with me for about 3), but have you considered accountability, listening, self-perception, or speaking in "tongues" (a language, lingo, or jargon that someone other than yourself uses daily) as a means of communicating the gospel?

I'm not suggesting anything new when I ask you to consider how the gospel is communicated in the ordinary, every day experiences of each one of us. We just have to be attuned to the opportunities that the Holy Spirit places before us. How do we know when one of these opportunities is available? Easy, we ask God to prepare us and then recognize that those opportunities occur every moment of every day with every person, but especially the one right in front of you.

One of my opportunities is right now and I'm not going to squander it, as plain and ordinary and out of my control as it might be. I'm going to ask you to go and read the entire 47 verses of Acts 2 because it's written for Pentecost people and that's who we are; we have received the Holy Spirit and must now go about living that way. Seizing opportunities to speak in "tongues" just as the earliest of believers did to glorify God through sharing the Gospel.

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, May 25, "Day of Praise"

John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Is it possible to thank our moms and our dads and our true friends and all the positively influential people in our lives too much? I don't think so.

Thank you, Veterans! And thank you to all families who have a loved one who died in service to our great nation! We are grateful!

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, May 24, "Day of Praise"

"The Lord declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'" - 1 Samuel 2:30b

With truth that is rooted in today's Bible verse, the quote "Honor is better than honors" is attributed to President Abraham Lincoln.

Keeping the true meaning of Memorial Day and Memorial Day Weekend in view, let us also remember how Abraham Lincoln concluded his second inaugural address on Saturday, March 4, 1865:

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

Let's praise God for our Veterans, and let's thank a Veteran for his/her service.

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, May 24, "Day of Praise"

"The Lord declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'" - 1 Samuel 2:30b

With truth that is rooted in today's Bible verse, the quote "Honor is better than honors" is attributed to President Abraham Lincoln.

Keeping the true meaning of Memorial Day and Memorial Day Weekend in view, let us also remember how Abraham Lincoln concluded his second inaugural address on Saturday, March 4, 1865:

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

Let's praise God for our Veterans, and let's thank a Veteran for his/her service.

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

Thu, May 23, "Day of Praise"

"I have great confidence in you: I take great pride in you..." - 2 Corinthians 7:4

As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, my heart has already turned to God in thanks for all who have given their lives sacrificially in order that we might have the freedoms we enjoy in this great land. Think about the Veterans you know who were willing to pay the greatest price of their life as they served in our nation's peace-keeping forces.

Here's a couple quotes from one of our nation's greatest Veterans, General Douglas MacArthur: "By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact, but I am prouder to be a father." And "O, Lord...build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past."

Thank a Veteran today. Thank the family of a Veteran who died for us. Remember Veterans in your prayers each day. Praise and thank God for the freedoms we enjoy as we live, which are freedoms that were won for us by so many who have gone before us in death.

"I have great confidence in you: I take great pride in you..." - 2 Corinthians 7:4

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

We, May 22, "Day of Praise"

"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." - 1 Corinthians 10:24

When I was a kid, I played baseball. My dad taught me the same mental strategy for hitting the baseball that he used. Very simply, he said, "Have a goal to get one hit" which in baseball means "swing your bat to hit the ball so you can get on base." He would then say, "after you get one hit, change your goal to trying to get one more hit."

It was a simple mental strategy to break down a long game into small pieces. "Get a hit!" Or "get one hit at a time!"

That same baseball strategy, only slightly revised, would work well with today's Bible verse. God might say to us not "get a hit" but instead "be a hit."

Instead of "get one hit at a time!", it would be "be a hit, one person at a time." It's a simple mental strategy to break down a long day into small pieces because when God says, "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor" (1 Corinthians 10:24), what God is saying is, "do something nice for someone."

Putting two and two together, if you "do something nice for someone" in this dog eat dog world, you'll "be a big hit."

Can you imagine if every person took this "do something nice for someone" and "be a big hit" approach to life?

We'd all win!

Not a baseball game, but, more importantly, the bigger game called Life!

"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." - 1 Corinthians 10:24

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, May 21, "Day of Praise"

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

As opposed to what?

I bet you're thinking unbelIef. I bet you're thinking that today's verse is opposed to unbelIef.

Actually, today's verse is opposed to a quiet, silent, heady, intellectual "faith." Let me explain.

When Jesus did miracles and wonders, he did not stand there and look at things. Instead, he confessed with his mouth that he was Lord. He said, "Lazarus, come out of the tomb." He said, "Little girl, arise from the dead." He said, "Calm, be still" to the wind and the waves. He said, "Your sins are forgiven" to the paralytic. He was constantly saying, "I am Lord."

And we must too.

We have situations, and we worry about them. Or we fuss about them. Or we complain about them.

No! Instead, today's verse calls us to do like Jesus did and speak the truth that "Jesus is Lord" into a situation. Do you have a loved one who's sick? Open your mouth and declare the truth, "Jesus is Lord over this!" Do you have an exam that you're worried about? Open your mouth and declare the truth, "Jesus is Lord over this!" Do you have a matter at work or in a relationship that is burdensome? Open your mouth and declare the truth, "Jesus is Lord over this!"

This is what it means to live in the power of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit who, God himself says, works through the spoken word (Matt. 18, Romans 10, Eph. 6). Don't just have a quiet, silent "faith." Be bold! Speak the truth of Jesus' Lordship into situations. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord..., you will be saved!" (Romans 10:9)

And today's verse also says, "If you... believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) Again, this is not opposed to unbelief. It's opposed to a heady, intellectual "faith."

Don't just think that something is true. But look inside your heart. Do you have a loved one who's sick? Look inside your heart; do you believe deep inside your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead? If so, then open your mouth and declare the truth, "God, bring new life to my loved one too!"

Do you have an exam that you're worried about? Look inside your heart; do you believe deep inside your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead? If so, then open your mouth and declare the truth, "God, bring new life to my mind, and give me sharpness in this exam!"

Do you have a matter at work or in a relationship that is burdensome? Look inside your heart; do you believe deep inside your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead? If so, then open your mouth and declare the truth, "God, bring new life to this matter and this relationship!"

I saw God work his "raise-from-the-dead-Lordship" at least three major times yesterday. And that's not counting the "minor" times.

C'mon, people! Be God's People! Walk in the truth and power of God's Spirit and His Word. Don't settle for sickness and worry and brokenness. Don't settle for a quiet, silent, heady, intellectual "faith." Instead, speak truth boldly, and believe from deep inside your heart. For God's word is true and cuts deep to the heart of every matter. For Jesus is indeed Lord, and God did indeed raise him from the dead!

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!" - Romans 10:9

Praaaaaaaaaise 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, May 20, "Day of Praise"

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Today is Monday. Thank you, Jesus!

Today, there's work to be done. Thank you, Jesus!

Today, there will be challenges where we will need God's help. Thank you, Jesus!

Thank you, Jesus! Today, like everyday, will be a day where those challenges will lead me to thank God for people who inspired me to press on. With thanks to www.buzzle.com/articles/inspirational-quotes-for-difficult-times.html, some inspirational quotes follow:

"You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." - Walt Disney

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult." - Seneca

"I walk slowly, but I never walk backward." - Abraham Lincoln

"If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." - Joseph Kennedy

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." - Joseph Campbell

"Fall seven times, stand up eight." - Japanese proverb

"After all, tomorrow is another day!" - Margaret Mitchell

"I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. Its because of them I'm doing it myself." - Albert Einstein

"Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests." - Epictetus

"Energy and persistence conquers all things." - Benjamin Franklin

"Loss makes artists of us all as we weave new patterns in the fabric of our lives." - Greta W. Crosby

"Out of difficulties grow miracles." - Jean de La Bruyère

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail." - Nelson Mandela

"Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul." - Ezra Taft Benson

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." - Chinese Proverb

"He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity." - William Samuel Johnson

"The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity." - Seneca

"By the darkness, stars are revealed." - Evette Carter

"My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength." - Michael Jordan

"In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive." - Lee Iacocca

"Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit." - Bern Williams

"...But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost

"Affliction is a good man's shining time." - Edward Young

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship." - Louisa May Alcott

"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Mark Twain

"Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up." - Sylvester Stallone

"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders." - Jewish Proverb

"Only the man who is not hungry says the coconut has a hard shell." - Ethiopian Proverb

"Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it and never be satisfied." - George Washington Carver

"There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope." - Bern Williams

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it." - Helen Keller

"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places." - Ernest Hemingway

"Never, never, never, never ever give up!" - Winston Churchill

"If the wind will not serve, take to the oars." - Latin Proverb

"Everything is possible for him who believes." - Holy Bible (King James Version)

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Dr. Wayne Dyer

"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional." - Roger Crawford

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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, May 18, 49th Day of Easter, Pentecost Eve, "Day of Praise"

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4

I love the song "10,000 Reasons". Here's the youtube link to this awesome song that we regularly sing at our 5 p.m. worship service -- http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

And today's verse gives us one of the top reasons out of 10,000 why we sing to God -- "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4

Apart from Christ, the law is never ending because the law points out our sins and our shortcomings. With our sins and shortcomings in full view, we need the law to curb our sin and keep sin in check. Furthermore, the law just tells us what must be done, but it can't do anything for us. Therefore, the law creates a never-ending cycle that points out our sin but can't help us end our sin.

Christ, on the other hand, is the end of the law. This doesn't mean that we get a blank check to sin. To the contrary, the holiness and perfect love of Christ stand in stark contrast to and therefore reveal our sin and our guilt. However, Christ, unlike the law, is alive and personal, so Christ can live in us and work in us by the power of the Holy Spirit, doing for us what we can't do for ourselves, namely, cover our sin and pay for our sin and give us a clean slate and new beginnings.

This is why Christ is the end of the law -- because he does what the law does and more. He points out our sin, and he deals with it on our behalf.

But remember today's verse, Christ does this "to everyone who believes." If you don't believe in Jesus Christ, you're on your own, and the law will never end for you. But when you surrender to the Holy Spirit, which God sends to call us to faith, then Jesus comes faithfully and dwells in you so that you might have peace with God and a new life, characterized by humility, thankfulness, and the love of Christ flowing through you.

It's a lot to think about on a Saturday, but it's a better alternative to remaining under the law!!!

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4

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, May 17, 48th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

[Jesus said,] "You are the light of the world...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:14,16

Everybody loves to shine! I mean, don't we all want our 15 minutes of fame?

In one of today's verses, Jesus says that we're the light of the world. We get to shine! I Love it! And so do you!

And yet, what I want to know is this: how did we come to be the light of the world when, in John 8:12, Jesus says that he himself is the light of the world?

Simple, Jesus, who is the light of the world, stooped down to shine his light into our darkness so that we ourselves could shine.

So, make the application. Do you ever just get fed up with the darkness in this world? Well, then stoop down and shine a little light of Jesus into that darkness, just like Jesus did for us.

And when you do? The world will indeed become a brighter place.

So have a great day. May it be filled with the light of God's presence, the light of God's glory, and an abundance of blessing for you and each one of 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

Th, May 16, 47th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." - Romans 12:9

When I was a kid, I liked the voice and singing of Johnny Mathis. His voice calmed me. The tune of his song "Chances" was particularly calming to me.

I know this Johnny Mathis memory seems kind of random, but, well, there you have it. And the connection is kind of random too, in that the simple phrase "chances are" comes up a lot in the song "Chances".

Soooooo, what's that got to do with today's Bible verse?

Well, "chances are" you're going to encounter someone today who annoys you. Call on the name of the Lord to be your strength, and "Let love be genuine (Romans 12:9)."

And "chances are" you're going to encounter something today that is not of God. It may be downright evil. God's word says to not make friends with evil. Don't become comfortable with it. God says, "Abhor what is evil (Romans 12:9)." The reason for this is that you can see more clearly how to deal wisely with evil when you haven't made friends with it. Maybe you're supposed to rebuke it or pray for it or some other counsel of God's word. But the best ministry to evil, God says, starts by abhorring evil.

And finally, "chances are" you're going to encounter something today that is of God. It's good. It may not look attractive in the eyes of the world, but it's good. God says, "Hold fast to what is good (Romans 12:9)." Perhaps, it will be as we preached on Sunday from Revelation 12:17 where we at least want to "hold fast to" the good that is faith in Jesus Christ. Indeed, come what may, keep the faith friends; keep the faith.

So, have a great day, and remember that, though the "chances are" you won't think about some Johnny Mathis song, the "chances are" you will have an opportunity to "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (Romans 12:9) And may God bless you as you do, according to his word.

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, May 15, 46th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way" - Psalm 119:103-104

Five-hour energy drink?

I prefer God's Word. It sweetens the mouth and sharpens the mind and keeps us on the paths of that which is right and true.

May God bless your day, and I pray that you can worship someplace with others. God is always eager to bless you through his word.

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, May 15, 46th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way" - Psalm 119:103-104

Five-hour energy drink?

I prefer God's Word. It sweetens the mouth and sharpens the mind and keeps us on the paths of that which is right and true.

May God bless your day, and I pray that you can worship someplace with others. God is always eager to bless you through his word.

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, May 14, 45th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"And we know that God works through all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

"Hey, Coach! How's the team gonna be this year?"

"Aaah, Chris, we ain't got no guards."

But when our high school basketball coach, Walter "Buck" Van Huss was on the job, you knew that good things were going to happen. That year in particular, the 1980-81 season, Coach Van Huss's Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett (DB) High School team went 36-1. Their only loss was by a couple points in the state semifinals to the eventual champion, Nashville Pearl, on a night when the goal seemed the size of a pea, as shot after shot from right under the goal just wouldn't go into the bucket.

Coach Van Huss had a few stars through the years like Skip Brown who was an All-American at Wake Forest and Mark Elliott who starred at Vanderbilt and Bruce Tranbarger who shone at Ole Miss and Lee Garber who played at Wake Forest. But Buck Van Huss was mostly known as a little man physically who knew how to coach kids up athletically and help them to live life large in every good and wholesome way.

Before he came to DB in 1967, he coached for 14 seasons at little Hampton High School and won a state championship in 1960 when all the high schools, no matter their size, were playing for one trophy. Books have been written as to how coach made the boys practice in Army boots so that they felt lighter on their feet in the games. When Coach Van Huss was on the job, good things were on the way, even if he had unconventional ways of bringing them about.

Coach was a great guy, and I remember him taking time to chat when he was in season and I was in football or baseball off-season workouts. We talked about the race riots that shut down the high school in the late '60's in his first years at DB and about his efforts to use basketball as a way of bringing unity to a school and community and nation that were torn apart by the color of people's skin.

When Coach died on Saturday, July 2, 1990 during open heart surgery, we all were shocked. But the little big man was celebrated in newspapers around the country from The Chicago Tribune to The Orlando Sentinel, as they recognized his record of 1,021-313 which, at the time, was only six victories shy of setting a national record for most victories by a high school basketball coach.

But the greatest gift of Coach Van Huss to all of us who knew him for the 71 years God gave him was not his military service in WWII or being named coach of the year twelve times or receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the National Basketball Foundation or serving on the City Council of neighboring Elizabethton where he resided or receiving the Distinguished Community Service Award from the "Kingsport Times-News" or even those 1,021 wins.

Coach's greatest gift to us was that if you knew he was on the job, then good things were going to happen, which was a big reminder, from a little man, that the same holds true for God: since God is always on the job, then we can always look for good things to happen.

"And we know that God works through all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

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, May 13, 44th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies." - Romans 8:33

I enjoy the morning and Mondays, but...

Not everyone is a morning person. For example, I know someone who has a sign in their bathroom that says, "There must be a better way to start the day than getting up in the morning."

Not everyone is a Monday person. Someone must have a sign that says, "There must be a better way to start the week than Monday."

As a pastor, I have a hunch that mornings and Mondays are hard for some because of what we all experience, namely, the voice inside our own head that says, "I gotta do this. I gotta do that." And after about 12 repetitions of "I gotta do this. I gotta do that" then we start to ask, "How can do all that?"

It's like one big self-accusation, "I'm never gonna make it through this day. And I'm never gonna make it through this week."

But if we'll listen, then we'll hear another voice. God speaks to us each day, saying, "I am with you. I will bless you. I will guide you in each meeting and give you wisdom, insight, and discernment. You're not alone in all that you have to do. Give it to me, and I will lead the way."

For myself, I enjoy the morning and Mondays because, even though I hear the first voice ("you gotta do this and that"), by God's grace, I hear the second voice more, so I trust and thank God for leading the way.

And I encourage you to do the same as God is eager to walk with you and guide your day.

"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies." - Romans 8:33

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

Sa, May 11, 42nd Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

Dear Friends, may we trust Jesus at his word and find rest for our weary soul and flesh.

Dear Lord, please grant us renewal and rest in Christ on this Saturday. 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

Fr, May 10, 41st Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2

Generally, I don't drink coffee.

But since we grabbed a Bible verse from He-Brews, I guess I should at least mention coffee. (Haha, get it? He-Brews coffee!) Pulpit humor!

Anyway, generally, I don't drink coffee. But oddly enough, I almost always drink coffee at two places: 1) hospitals and 2) get-your-tires-rotated places.

That's significant because at 5:30 this morning, I'll be with my 20-year-old daughter, Calley, at the hospital for her foot/ankle surgery that will hopefully end years of chronic pain for her. So, I guess I'll be drinking some coffee today. More importantly, of course, I ask your prayers for Calley.

But what about the get-your-tires-rotated places? Well, there was this time when I was at a get-your-tires-rotated place drinking coffee. It was just me and one other guy. We were just talkin' about nothin', like a Seinfeld episode. Finally, my car was ready, so I got up to leave. As I did, I introduced myself. The guy's eyes got wide because he recognized my name as his step-son's new 2nd grade basketball coach. He told me that he and his wife were going to pull "little M" off the team because he was new to sports and he was too tender. I basically told this total stranger that he was crazy because "little M" had awesome feet and was going to be a star. "Little M?," he said. So they left him on the team. And 6+ years later, "Little M" is indeed a star.

Are you followin' me? Bible verse from Hebrews about strangers that reminded me about brewing and drinking coffee and a life-changing story with a total stranger.

Which leads me back to the hospital.

I bet that Calley and me are gonna' meet some strangers at the hospital today. Ya think? And I bet while I'm drinkin' coffee (remember Calley can't have anything after midnight!), we're gonna' meet at least one stranger who wants to quit something or make their kid quit something or maybe even quit on life.

But we're gonna be angels ("angel" literally means messenger) and we're gonna' encourage 'em not to quit, just like with "Little M", because we're gonna tell 'em that God has given them a gift. Ya know, a life, and talents, and a plan. So they too can become a star. On God's team.

And you know where this is goin'. You're gonna' meet somebody today who wants to quit. And you're gonna' encourage 'em not to quit, just like with "Little M", because you're gonna tell 'em that God has given them a gift. Ya know, a life, and talents, and a plan. So they too can become a star. On God's team.

And while you're at it, maybe y'all could grab a cup of coffee.

And chat about He-brews!

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, May 9, 40th Day of Easter, Ascension Day, "Day of Praise"

"Light in a messenger's eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." - Proverbs 15:30

My kids have learned.

If they say something to me and I don't respond for a few seconds, then it means that I'm trying to think of a silly response to whatever they've just told me.

I do this because we love to laugh and chuckle and just plain have fun together. We "belly laugh" about something almost everyday.

It's amazing how laughter and joy and good news can just stir and touch our inmost being. Our hearts, our bellies, our guts, and our bones are all potential destinations for our gladness.

Isn't it great? Ya know, when our day has more smiles and laughter than seriousness and stuff that is heavy? Isn't it great?

God says so in today's verse, "Light in a messenger's eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." (Proverbs 15:30)

So, in the name of Jesus, let's have some fun today. Spread some light and joy and good stuff that lifts people's souls and touches them deep down to their bones. Be a little silly. Sing a little song. And share the uplifting love of Jesus.

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 Survey

We, May 8, 39th Day of Easter, Ascension Eve, "Day of Praise"

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31

Hey friends,
There's a lot of people in this world who don't know Jesus. And therefore they don't know the truth of today's verse that Almighty God is for them. It's important to reach these people and introduce them to Jesus.
Many of you have been passing along this Day of Praise devotion to your family and friends and coworkers. Your sharing is a praise to God and a blessing to many.
What I'm wondering is this: if we made some one minute Day of Praise Videos to post online, 1) would you watch them, 2) would you pass them to others, 3) do you think others would receive them and watch, and 4) do you have any favorite Day of Praise devotions that you remember and that you think would be a good script for video?
Nowadays, online videos are so easy to make that it seems wasteful to not try to reach more people that way.
No matter how you receive Day of Praise, please respond to me directly at pastor2553@tmo.blackberry.net.
Thank you for being a part of the Body of Christ, for being a part of the Day of Praise family, and for helping us reach more people for Jesus Christ.
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31
Thank you,
Pastor Chris




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, May 7, 38th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" - Romans 5:1

I just couldn't do it. I could not swim the length of the pool at the Moose Lodge.

So I had to take Beginners Swim Lessons at least three times, and I think it was more.

Looking back, I'm just grateful that my mom didn't do to me what I saw other moms do to their kids when their kids didn't advance to Intermediate Swim Lessons. I saw moms who picked up their kids and threw them in the deep end of the pool and, while the kid was in mid-air, the mom yelled, "Swim!"

My mom just said, "Well, let's try again."

So we did. We took Beginner's Swim Lessons again. And again. And again.

And I wasn't going to move on until I passed. Passing Beginners was something that I had to do. No one could do it for me.

Good thing it's not that way with having peace with God. Jesus can do it for me. Actually, Jesus must do it for me. Unlike Beginners Swim Lessons, which I can eventually get the hang of, there is no way that I myself can ever accomplish having peace with God.

That's why, in the Nicene Creed which is a summary of the Christian faith from the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., we confess "for us and for our salvation [Jesus] came down from heaven." Jesus came and he took on mortal flesh in the womb of Mary to do for us what we couldn't do for ourselves, namely, pay the penalty of our sin, no matter how many times we tried.

But, upon paying our penalty for sin on the cross, God makes a way for Jesus' accomplishment to become ours. God sends the Holy Spirit to work faith in us, so that, believing in Jesus and his death for us, we receive both Jesus himself to live in us and also his saving work that gets credited to our spiritual account.

Our debt for sin is paid in full because Jesus paid it in full. And since there's no more debt with God, we can have peace with God.

This is a really great thing.

After all, we're not talking about swimming lessons.

We're talking about God and his goodness toward us through Jesus.

Forever.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" - Romans 5:1

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, May 6, 37th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - I Corinthians 13:7

God is love (1 John 4:8). So, based on today's verse, God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Through Jesus, we know God (John 14), so Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

And Jesus says, "whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:12-14)

So God, through faith in Christ, has provided for us to always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere, if we will believe and ask for such in Jesus' name.

Dear Lord, it's Monday. The world needs a lot of love, especially love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. You promised that if we asked, you'd give us a lot of it so we could taste it from you and pass it around to others. We're asking. Please. May we enjoy it and spread it around to your glory so that all people taste and live in your love. In Jesus' name we ask this. Amen

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - I Corinthians 13:7

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, Ma 4, 35th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." - Psalm 40:2

Have you ever had a sinking feeling?

Ya know, in your gut?

Or like everything is slipping away?

Or like everything is coming down around you?

When you feel that way, God promises to give us a firm place to stand.

As the old hymn from scripture goes, "Christ is made the sure foundation."

Friends, when you have that sinking feeling, believe! And stand on Jesus Christ! He will be your rock!

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." - Psalm 40:2

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, May 3, 34th Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." - Isaiah 1:18

So, what's your favorite color?

I love color, so I love all the colors of the rainbow spectrum. But I love black most of all.

The reason I love black is not only because it represents the wisdom of God in Holy Scripture but also because I'm a stainmastermaker. (I just made up that word.)

Recently, my son showed that he takes after me as a stainmastermaker. We both have this ability to get pen ink all over our clothes, especially our pockets, of course.

Black does a great job of hiding ink stains. So it works out great that I'm a pastor and that my son's school colors include black so that we both have a lot of black clothes that hide our ink stains.

Black hides stains really well. Except to God's eyes.

God sees every stain. Especially the stain of sin. Sin, which is a rebellion of the heart against God, kills relationships. Sin makes relationships bleed. To death.

Sin creates a scarlet stain on our relationships. And since we all sin, according to God's word, then you'd have to say that we're all stainmastermakers.

Good thing that God is a master stainmastermaker cleaner. Through the stain remover of Jesus's blood, God takes the scarlet blood of the Son of God and wipes our sin, restoring relationships to life.

There is no other stain remover for sin.

None.

So, if your relationships are hurting. Bleeding. Dying. Somehow, some way, it's because of sin, the relationship stainer, the relationship killer. So take it to God. For God has spoken on what he will do with such stains through Christ.

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." - Isaiah 1:18

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, May 2, 33rd Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." - Acts 4:20

There is a scale.

All of us fall on it somewhere.

On the far left is bondage. Bondage is the place on the scale where, for whatever reason, maybe fear of rejection or shyness or unbelief, but for whatever reason, we do not tell others about Jesus.

In the middle is obedience. Obedience is the place on the scale where, for whatever reason, maybe fear of God or your saying "I've got to try this" or the challenge of a fellow believer, but for whatever reason, we try to tell others about Jesus, but it still feels awkward.

On the far right is freedom. Freedom is the place on the scale where there is no fear but instead there is a joyful eagerness to share Jesus with anyone and anything that moves. It's the place where the apostles found themselves in today's verse: "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:20) It's the place where God made us to be at the beginning of creation, eagerly speaking of the God that we know intimately in a moment by moment relationship. It's the place we strayed from because of sin. It's the place where Jesus came to lead us back to through his death and resurrection and his dwelling in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you're not at this place on the scale, the place of freedom, God doesn't want you to feel guilty about not being there.

God simply wants you to trust him and ask him to lead you there.

And through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, God will.

So let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to be free. I want to know the freedom and joy of talking about Jesus with others. I want to be able to tell others that Jesus is "God with us", that Jesus died for our sins, that Jesus wants to live in us as our wisdom and strength. I want to be able to talk about Jesus with others just as comfortably as I talk about the weather and just as eagerly as I tell them about my team or my new clothes or car or pay raise. Father, nothing in my life is more important than Jesus. Help me to tell others so that they can know him too. In Jesus' name I pray. 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

We, May 1, 32nd Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

Ok, I admit it. I'm about to do The Daddy Thing.

But, amongst our Day of Praise Family, we can find at least a few other men who totally understand "The Daddy Thing."

Art Bossler, in the Poconos, does The Daddy Thing (TDT) for his kids and grandkids everyday.

Charles Davis, who works for FOX Sports around the country, does TDT by supporting his daughter even though she goes to a rival university from the days that Charles and I were in college.

Kris Dunn does TDT here in Birmingham by coaching multiple teams for his two boys in basketball and baseball seasons.

Scott Elliott does TDT here in Birmingham as he just started a new job with odd hours so he can keep loving his wife and his little girl.

So before I make a closing comment, I want to do "The Daddy Thing" by asking you to view my son and his friends on their basketball trick shot video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXMqT4wQc9A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Yep, The Daddy Thing is a tradition that my Dad did for us four kids and many other dads have passed along.

Of course, we don't just do TDT for our own kids. Last night, I did TDT as my kids and I had pizza with three additional kids just to celebrate KId-dom.

And in the end, we do The Daddy Thing because it maximizes the possibility that kids will do The Kid Thing as in our verse today!

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

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