Friday, January 31, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 01/31/14, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 106:43-45 - "Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. Nevertheless, [God] looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love."

Nevertheless!

Though we stumble over ourselves, God loves us. Nevertheless!

I'm sure many of you've heard the national jokes about us Southerners from Atlanta to Birmingham. We don't get much snow, so we don't know what to do with it from Atlanta International Airport to my nine year old neighbor in her driveway next door.

Ya see, she was helping her daddy move the extremely large snow drifts in front of their garage. I mean, they must've been at least three inches high.

So, she gets out daddy's big ol' garden shovel. And she carefully cuts across the top inch of the snow drift, lifts the shovel, and just as carefully pours the snow on another spot.

On the driveway.

At this rate, she should have all the snow removed at about, uh, let's say, the time it melts.

Sometimes, we children of God do things in a way that, well, let's just say we don't make much progress. Today's Bible verse starts with "Many times he delivered them;" that's because the people kept doing things in a way that, well, let's just say they didn't make much progress. God describes our doings as follows: "they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity."

But then comes the great encouragement: "Nevertheless!" "Nevertheless, [God] looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love."

Y'all, if you think you get frustrated sometimes with yourself and a lot more with others because things aren't progressing too well, just think how frustrated God is!!!

Nevertheless, God keeps being God, the God who keeps getting it done: meeting us, loving us, skooching us along, moving some snow.

Off the driveway.

Making a way for us to move on.

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

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 01/30/14, "Day of Praise"

1 Corinthians 4:5 - "Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God."

As story after Good Samaritan story continues to come out of our Southern Winter Storm, one encouragement is clear: don't be so quick to give up on God. That's what God is saying through Paul in today's verse: don't be so quick to give up on God.

Recently, a friend of mine was telling me how he had done what he usually did, namely, jumped to conclusions. But God was patient with him and showed him something else, something better, something that God alone could do.

When I was a kid, I loved watching the super hero Batman in the 30-minute episodes on weekday afternoon TV. Adam West was great at playing Batman and doing what a super hero does, namely, showing up in the nick of time to save the day.

That's what God does in Jesus Christ; God shows up in the nick of time, before it's too late, to save the day. But in order for us to see God's timing and God's saving work, it requires faith and patience and not jumping to conclusions.

Something is going to go wrong in your day today. May God grant faith and patience to us all, that we might see God's marvelous and unmatched solution!

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

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Day of Praise

We, 01/29/14, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 55:10-11 - "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

So, God sends snow with a purpose, eh?

I believe it. God accomplished a lot with a rare snow and ice storm here in central Alabama.

Let's see. There were the families and students who teamed up to get kids home from school and many teachers who spent the night at schools with stranded students. There were 100 stranded people who stayed overnight at our church, along with other churches and businesses that opened their doors to stranded travellers. There were people who together walked miles to their homes once their cars got stuck in a ditch, stuck in the middle of a road, or stuck in a tangle of cars and trucks. There were the neighbors with trucks who hauled walkers to various places and the neighbors who welcomed weary travellers home with some warm soup. There were the homes that took in stranded friends, acquaintances and total strangers to spend the night.

My son and I experienced every one of these as even now there are people sleeping in every section of our home. For us it's a Hobbit-like adventure where God has accomplished the purpose of showing us again that there's rich treasure in loving your neighbor (whether next door, down the street, friend, acquaintance, or stranger) as yourself.

Truly, God sends snow, ice, and every breath to accomplish a purpose. Yes, He does, eh?

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

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Day of Praise

Tu, 01/29/14, "Day of Praise"

Romans 6:19 - "For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification."

I mean, how hard can it be?

Well, let me tell you.

I'm a flosser, but I think, "There's got to be an easier way." So, I decide to try out this thing that somebody gave me years ago. It's just like my dad had when I was a kid. His was called a Water Pik; ya know, a thing to clean out your gums and get rid of all that stuff that causes bad breath and gum disease. The main unit has a place for "your favorite mouthwash" plus an on/off switch and a dial for various power levels. The three-foot long tube connects the main unit to the mouth sprayer, which has a button to "spray" your gums or stop the spray.

So, I get it ready. I plug it in and turn it "on". The next thing you know I've got the cleanest bathroom mirror in Alabama. I turn it "off" but mouthwash is still spewing all over the counter. The thing is out of control. So I turn the setting to "low." It's still spewing uncontrollably. So I stick it in my mouth, and it chokes me because it's coming so fast. So I spit it out and unplug the thing. It's still spewing, my teeth are blue, and my bathroom looks like Sigourney Weaver and the Alien just slung blue blood at each other. The whole thing probably lasted 20 seconds.

It reminds me of today's Bible verse that tells us how quickly sin, impurity, and lawlessness get out of control and take over our lives.

But take heart! Through faith in Jesus Christ, sin is brought under control. By faith in Jesus' death, we're freed from the penalty of sin; that's justification. By faith in Jesus' resurrection and his living presence with us, we're freed from the power of sin; that's sanctification. And by faith in Jesus' return, ushering in a new heaven and earth, we'll be freed from the presence of sin; that's glorification.

So the next time something or somebody goes crazy out of control in your life. Remember and believe that Jesus is Lord over all things, even a crazy mouth and gum cleaner machine that now has a home in the garbage!

So have a happy day! And don't forget to...

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

Monday, January 27, 2014

Day of Praise

Mo, 01/27/14, "Day of Praise"

Colossians 1:17 - "And [Christ Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

So worship had just started yesterday with the Confession of Sin. I was in the narthex because it was Youth Sunday. Being in the narthex, I found it very hard to focus on God's word because of all the distractions: churning coffee, shuffling late comers, clicking candle lighters, and more.

It was like life, a world full of noises and distractions from God's word that lead to fragmentation of spirit and brokenness in life.

But then the Youth did this awesome sermon where they had eight rectangular tiles spread on the floor. The "preacher" would pick up a tile, and then a brief story testimony from a person's broken, fragmented, hurting life played through the sound system. The preacher then handed the tile representing the broken life story to another youth who placed the tile in a container. Then they repeated that with another tile and a different broken story seven times.

After the eighth story, the 2nd youth picked up the container of tiles and showed it to everyone. Together, the tiles, representing broken lives, formed a beautiful cross, the cross of Jesus Christ. In the cross of Jesus, broken lives are held together and healed, forming a beautiful picture of life together in Jesus.

It's a beautiful testimony to the truth in Colossians 1:17, "And [Christ Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Indeed, in Jesus, all things hold together.

Give him your brokenness. Listen to others' brokenness. And discover how Jesus holds together and blesses those who do.

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

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Day of Praise

Sa, 01/25/14, "Day of Praise"

Colossians 4:2 - "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

So what does it mean that God, through Paul, commands us to be "watchful" in our continual prayer? Here's a teenage boy's take on it. Very simply, my son and I were grabbing a quick bite of dinner at Subway before my evening meetings. This man and his two teenage sons came and sat in the booth next to us, and the man asked his sons to pray with him. So the man bows his head and is praying over the food, while the boys bow their body, but their eyes are open, and they're looking around, watching to see if anyone sees them eating "thankfully" during the prayer. Their eyes get that "busted" look when they see that I'm watching and smiling, and then they close their eyes and stop eating, listening to the end of their father's prayer.

I hope you're chuckling because, hey, I do understand those boys because I've seen lots of people do what those boys did. I've even seen a pastor do it, bowing his body but eating with eyes open while someone else prayed!!!

However, I don't think that "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" means "watch to see if someone's looking while you eat your food that you're thankful for while someone else is praying."

In sum, what God wants us to do is to be ever mindful that God is with us; this is being prayerful. And mindful that God is with us, we're called to watch for and give thanks for the many blessings that God is constantly sharing. It's an ongoing lifestyle and a constant posture of the heart that makes us grateful both for Subway sandwiches and also for the chance to close our eyes for a moment and tell God, "Thanks!" As always, God will help us to learn to "continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2)

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

Friday, January 24, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 01/24/14, "Day of Praise"

Luke 23:24 - "So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted."

1 Corinthians 2:2 - "For I [Paul] decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."

Pilate decided on the crowd against Jesus. Paul decided on Jesus and his cross, period. What have you decided?

I was walking out of Tony's Hot Dog Shop in Pelham (best burger in the world). I was saying "Bye" to one while another said "Hi, come back in" and another said "Hi" as they walked out the door. I didn't know the one who walked out the door, so I took off and tried to catch him.

"Nice jacket," I said to the guy as he was ten yards ahead with a jacket covered in logos of professional basketball teams. No reply from the stranger. So trying again, I said, "Which team do you pull for?" With a slight turn toward me, he replied, "Whichever one I'm betting on." And then he slid into his car and was gone.

Hmmmm. "Whichever one I'm betting on." He might as well have said, "I decide to give my energy and money to the one that I need to win."

Pilate bet on the crowd and bet against Jesus. Paul bet on Jesus and the cross of Jesus Christ.

In other words, Pilate decided to give his energy and money to the crowd. Paul decided to give his energy and money to Jesus and Jesus's cross.

Pilate needed the crowd to win because Pilate wanted his own job to be saved. Paul needed Jesus to win because Paul wanted his own life to be saved.

Hey, y'all, decisions, decisions, decisions today. Ya need to go with Jesus. He's won.

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

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 01/23/14, "Day of Praise"

Philippians 4:4-7 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ 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

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Day of Praise

We, 01/22/14, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 51:10 - "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

We had basketball practice last night. Hauling three sweaty eighth and ninth grade boys home created a smell that reminded me of my glory days. (Don't laugh too hard.)

In particular, I remember my eighth grade football team from Ross N. Robinson Middle School playing our cross-town rival John Sevier in our final game in Kingsport, Tennessee.

I was the quarterback. (See, I must've been okay.)

We got crushed. (Well, maybe I wasn't that good after all.)

It was pouring down rain, and the field was a mud pit. I remember getting tackled on one play, and my nose literally got rubbed in the dirt, which meant that my face and everything else on the front of me was covered in mud. And since we got crushed, I'm quite sure that I also got placed on my backside on one, two, or ten plays.

The best part of that game for me was the shower after the game. I probably should've been hosed down. But the bottom line was that washing away all that mud made me feel like a new young man.

Kinda like God's forgiveness.

Ya know, David wrote today's verse and all of Psalm 51 after he stunk up the field of life with peeping at women he shouldn't have and then scheming to get one he shouldn't have and then doing the unspeakable as he shouldn't have and then plotting to kill her husband as he shouldn't have. Wow, talk about a spiritually, relationally, emotionally, muddy mess.

When David, in Psalm 51:10, prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me," he was saying, "God, I've stunk up the place. Everything I've touched has become a dirty mess. Please, hose me down."

And God did.

And David became a new man. Not perfect or mistake free, but clean. Refreshed. Forgiven. A new beginning.

Do you have anything in your life that needs to get cleaned up, hosed down, showered off? Give your dirt to God.

A refreshing shower from God awaits 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

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Day of Praise

Tu, 01/21/14, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 46:11 - "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

When a dear, pastoral colleague of mine was living, he always said how much he hated talking on the phone. He said the coil of the phone cord was like a parable, reminding him of a snake that wrapped around relationships and choked them to death. Need I say that he much preferred going to visit with people and being with them face to face?

And so it is with the Lord. In Psalm 46:11, God plainly speaks through the psalmist, "The Lord of hosts is with us." God prefers face to face.

For all the benefits of modern technology (and there are many), God would much rather speak to us in person, face to face. I know some people prefer Pajama Church; ya know, wake up on Sunday, and turn on Joel Osteen. But I'd dare say that an average preacher in person is better than a great one on TV. That's why God constantly tells us to "Go" and constantly says, "I am with you." It's why Jesus says, "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with you." It's why God speaks through John, saying, "How can you love God who you don't see if you don't love your brother who you do see?" It's why Jesus says, "As you did it to the least, you did it to me."

God is face to face personally with us in Jesus Christ. And God fills us with His Holy Spirit so we can personally bring God to others. So let's have a great day together in the Lord!

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

Monday, January 20, 2014

Day of Praise

Mo, 01/20/14, "Day of Praise"

Acts 14:22 - "...strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

So how long does it take to empty a 2-liter soda?

Well, apparently, if you grab a full one on your way out the door to church, get in your car, unscrew the 2-liter cap, put the full 2-liter between your legs, stop short at a red light, and send the 2-liter rocketing toward your feet, then, by my count, it takes about three seconds to empty a 2-liter soda into your shoe and onto your car floor. And for no extra charge you get a nice bang on your forehead against the steering wheel as you try to get to the 2-liter at your feet before three seconds are up and the foaming thing is empty, not to mention the joy I brought to the rather large man in the pick-up truck who apparently watched the whole thing from his passenger-side perch, looking dressed to go hunt for Bigfoot, Bambi or some other Disney critter on an early Sunday morning.

So what's my point?

I guess I'm not exactly sure. Maybe from today's Bible verse it's an encouragement "to continue in the faith" in spite of self-inflicted or other "tribulations" that come along in life.

Or maybe I just thought you could use a laugh on a Monday. :-)

Have a great day, 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

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Day of Praise

Sa, 01/18/14, "Day of Praise"

John 1:33 - [John the Baptist said], "I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'"

Yesterday, many of you were very helpful in sending thoughts on the hindrances to listening to God.

Today, God's word tells us that John heard God speak. In the verses surrounding today's verse, God teaches us all how to listen as John did so that we too can hear God. Here's the memorable pattern God teaches us for listening:

1) REmember that God wants to speak to you and wants you to hear. Furthermore, God faithfully sends His Holy Spirit to "poke" us and remind us that God is talking.

2) REpent of the things we listed yesterday that hinder our listening when we foolishly ask God to "cut us some slack." Here's a list of hindrances that one person sent in, using the acronym "slack":
S - Self-centeredness, Shame,
L - Laziness, Lifestyle,
A - Addictions, Anger, Apathy, Arrogance,
C - Captivity, Carelessness, Conceit,
K - Kitchen-sink (everything else!).
Again, God faithfully sends His Holy Spirit to "poke" us and call us to repent so we can listen.

3) RElent, which means to finally agree to whatever's been previously resisted. In this case, we stop resisting God's word and agree to it. Again, God faithfully sends His Holy Spirit to "poke" our soul to surrender to and agree with God's word. In other words, God's Spirit stirs our heart to a living faith, and we stop resisting the Spirit and surrender to it and agree with it. In sum, we listen.

4) REmain, which means we stick with Jesus. We follow him as our Lord. We stop going our own way. We "sit" at his feet like Mary did when Jesus came to her house. After all, what good is it if Jesus sets us free from the hindrances to listening if we just use our freedom to leave him and listen to somebody else? Remain!

These four things are how God teaches us to listen and works faithfully by His Spirit so we can listen.

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

Friday, January 17, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 01/17/14, my Mom's birthday, "Day of Praise"

John 6:59-61 - "Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?' But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, 'Do you take offense at this?'"

So let's have a little fun. When Jesus talked, many responded with "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" In other words, they said, "Do I really have to listen to this? Cut me some slack, Jesus!" As a pastor, I hear a lot of that; ya know, asking for slack. As a person, a sinner, I do a lot of that; ya know, asking for slack.

Slack is not helpful when you're talking about the words of life from Jesus Christ. We need the life that Jesus is willing to give.

So here's where the fun comes in. Jesus is trying to teach us how to listen to his words of life. We're asking for slack. So let's say that "slack" is an acronym; S-L-A-C-K all stand for some word that gets in the way of our listening. For example, "K" stands for "Know-it-all". When we think we know it all, we don't listen to Jesus or anybody else.

I'm preaching on this on Sunday, so I've already come up with my "S" is for "S_____", and so on for each letter in SLACK. But what would you say? What keeps you/us from listening to Jesus? Does "S" stand for "Schedule"? And "L" for "Lack" of time?

Let's see what we all come up with. I'll compile the list and send it back out to all of you next week.

And while we're thinking about all our reasons to not listen to Jesus, let's also lay them before the Lord, asking Him to forgive us and to give us a new appetite for his word, which is always the word of life. And God will give us that appetite so we can eat!

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

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 01/16/14, "Day of Praise"

1 Peter 2:21 - "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

So why, pray tell, would anyone trust Jesus Christ so much as to follow his sacrificial and suffering example? Reason #3,524: eternal significance. Every human being, because we're made in the image of God, longs to live a life where we touch other lives in a way that makes a substantial and lasting difference.

The contrast, along with the choice, is simple: a) BASE - Be A Superior Example, or b) BANE - Be A Negative Example.

A) BASE - Be A Superior Example - Imitating the most superior example, sacrificing and suffering for others like Jesus, touches other lives in a substantial and lasting way. When one person knows they have even just one other quality person in their lives, it imparts a confidence and a foundation (a BASE) on which another quality life can be built. That's why, in addition to parents, a good school teacher or coach or scout leader or music instructor or children's minister or Big Sister/Brother or Sunday School teacher is such an important asset in a child's life. Bosses, civic leaders, Bible Study group leaders, and the like are equally important assets to another adult. And we're all called to be good neighbors.

2) BANE - Be A Negative Example - "Bane" literally means "death, destruction, source of harm, source of ruin." Need I say more? Uuuuuuh, no!

Follow Jesus's example. Suffer and sacrifice for others. That's what a BASE does to live an eternally significant life, which touches other lives in substantial and lasting ways.

God, in Christ, is our BASE. Pass it on.

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

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Day of Praise

We, 01/15/14, "Day of Praise"

Deuteronomy 4:31 - "For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them."

So I take my son's winter-workout, football clothes out of the dryer, and apparently I forgot to put in a fabric softener sheet. Ya know, they didn't have the fabric softener feel or smell. But that's ok. I only recently discovered the perfume and dye-free sheets, so adding them in hadn't become a habit.

And then I smelled the smell. It wasn't just the absence of a dryer sheet. It was the presence of the pre-wash smell. And then, it dawned on me: I never put the laundry detergent in the washing machine. I forgot the soap!

Now, c'mon; admit it. You know you've done it, too. But who knows? How do you remember what you forgot?

Well, praise the Lord that God never forgets! God never forgets his people, his covenant, and he certainly never forgets the soap. Ya know, the soap? It's the love of God and the blood of Jesus that washes the stink of our sin away.

So have a great day! And don't forget! God always remembers 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

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Day of Praise

Tu, 01/14/14, "Day of Praise"

1 John 3:20 - "If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything."

Uuuuuuggggly!

That's what I see when I forget to take off my reading glasses, and I look in the bathroom mirror. Am I twice as big since I'm looking through magnifying glasses? Or am I four times as big since I'm looking through glasses at somebody who's looking through glasses?

All I know is that my eyes look like I'm an iguana. And my hair looks as big as the rainbow-haired dude on TV at pro football games in the 1970's. Through those glasses, everything looks a whole lot worse than it already was.

It's a lot like looking at my own sin through the lens of unbelief. My sin looks huge. Unforgivable. Through the lens of unbelief, I look unlovable to myself and, as best as I can tell, everyone else too.

But faith changes the way I see things. And the way you see things. Through the lens of faith, my sin still looks big, and my sin still makes me ugly. And your sin looks and does the same.

But through the lens of faith, God makes it possible to see something bigger. Something greater. God makes it possible to see the "God [who] is greater than our hearts, and [God] knows everything." (1 John 3:20)

So, yes, God knows my uuuuuuugh. And God knows my ugly. And God knows my sin. And God doesn't like it a bit. Faith doesn't approve, condone, or tolerate my sin or anybody else's. Because God doesn't approve, condone, or tolerate my sin or anybody else's.

But God is greater than my uuuuuugh, my ugly, and my sin.

And he swallows it all into the death and grave of His Son, our Lord and Savior.

And I don't need glasses to see that.

I only need faith in Jesus 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

Monday, January 13, 2014

Day of Praise

Mo, 01/13/14, "Day of Praise"

Proverbs 24:17-18 - "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him."

Ouch! Leaving my house for early Sunday worship yesterday, I noticed that the whole world was walking their dog(s). I've lived in this neighborhood almost ten years, and I'd never seen so many dogs being walked. It was like it became a dog park overnight.

And then it became something else altogether. The dogs started chasing after each other, pulling their "masters" along. One woman with two really big dogs took a horrible tumble and was clearly hurt. Everyone came to help her. Even the dogs calmed down, as if to say, "Oops, we crossed a line."

Friends, somebody's going to suffer some sort of fall today, and you're going to see it. In today's verse, God says that, when the fall or stumble we witness is that of an enemy, in other words, someone we don't like so much, it's easy for us to "rejoice" in their fall or stumble. But if even dogs in my neighborhood can sense when they should calm down, then it's reasonable that God would expect the same of us towards our fellow human beings.

God knows our hurts, from our falls, to our being dragged down by circumstances out of our control, to being broken by someone who's hurt us. Give the situation to God and a kind word or helping hand to the one who's hurting.

God will help us 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

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Day of Praise

Sa, 01/11/14, "Day of Praise"

Proverbs 3:6 - "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Yesterday, I went to Tire Engineers. My car needed an alignment. Ya know, an alignment? When your car wants to keep pulling right or left at the same time that you're trying to make it go straight, then you need to get your car to a place that does alignments. In essence, an alignment "will make straight your [car's] paths," like in today's Bible verse.

It's no big deal to need an alignment for your car. It happens when you use your car; potholes, bumpy roads, curbs, and stuff like that knocks out the alignment. If you don't take care of it, it starts affecting other parts of your car, like the tires, and then it can ripple from there.

Tomorrow, I'm going to church. My soul needs an alignment. Ya know, an alignment? When your soul wants to keep pulling right or left at the same time that you're trying to make it go straight, then you need to get your soul to a place that does alignments. In essence, an alignment "will make straight your [soul's] paths," like in today's Bible verse.

It's no big deal to need an alignment for your soul. It happens when you use your life; potholes, bumpy roads, curbs, and stuff like that knocks out the alignment. If you don't take care of it, it starts affecting other parts of your life, like your relationships, and then it can ripple from there.

And the best thing is that God and God's Word do even better alignments for the soul than any tire place ever did for a car.
Spread the word; Worship the Lord, "and he will make straight your paths."

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

Friday, January 10, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 01/10/14, "Day of Praise"

Proverbs 4:25 - "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you."

Looking "directly forward" can be a dangerous proposition. Things and people could blindside you at any moment. Don't you need "your head on a swivel"? Shouldn't we be constantly watching out for the "other guy" so that he doesn't take advantage of us or bring ruin to us?

I have a dear friend who is a Renaissance Man; he's good at everything. One of his many talents is coaching basketball, which he also played well in high school, college, and beyond.

He made some warm-up shirts for his basketball players. The shirt has the player's number on the top. Then underneath the number it says, "Next Play." Then beneath "Next Play" it says, "Proverbs 4:25." My friend is coaching his players to play well on the next play by focusing on the next play in front of them instead of playing poorly on the next play by dwelling on the past. And he'll tell them something like this, "After learning from a mistake, put it in God's hands, and focus on the NEXT PLAY!"

That's good advice from God's Word for all of life for us all: "Next Play!"

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

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 01/09/14, "Day of Praise"

John 11:44 - "The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'"

Psalm 44:3 - "...for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them."

In the first verse, Lazarus, who represents all people who need God's help, has his hands and face wrapped. In the second verse, the Psalmist celebrates how God has helped us with God's right hand and the light of God's face.

Hands and face.

When my now teenaged son was six years old, he made a place mat that said, "I like to play ball with my dad." The picture he drew on it had two stick people: one was small with nothing but two tiny hands and a small face; the other was large with nothing but two huge hands and a huge face. It's as if God made every child to know the need for their little hands and face to be shared and played with and helped by a bigger set of hands and face.

And so it is when Jesus stretches out his hands and turns his face towards the Father, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Friends, may your day be blessed as you live assured that the hands of God are reaching out to help you and the face of God is looking on you in love. And may our hands and face know the joy of passing it on!

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

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Day of Praise

We, 01/08/14, "Day of Praise"

Galatians 6:1 - "If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

This is a hard verse about being in mission for Christ. In sum, God's saying that we have a ministry that we "should" do; we cannot do nothing. And what we do should be done in "gentleness." And on top of how we're supposed to do it there is this warning which basically is a warning against becoming full of ourselves and thinking we're better than others. It's a hard charge.

To illustrate, I was with my daughter, Cassidy, yesterday, getting lunch. A very well-dressed guy went to the soda machine three times to fill his drink; each time he over-filled his cup, turned around, watched his cup overflow onto the ground right next to our table, and looked around to see if anyone noticed his mistake. He was clearly embarrassed. (He never did notice the drink splash onto my pants and feet.)

According to today's Bible verse, what should I have done? Should I have a sense of humor and comfort the guy, saying that I do that all the time too, (which I do)? Should I be silent and smile at him? Should I look the other way as if I don't see what's happened repeatedly? Each of these responses has the potential to be right. Each has the potential to be wrong.

Ultimately, there's only one thing to do, based on today's Bible verse. Do something with faith that God will do what God promises to do, namely, God promises to work through all things together for good.

In sum, boy oh boy, do we all need God's help, or what? May God help us all!

And God surely does.

We know this in Jesus 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

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Day of Praise

Tu, 01/07/14, "Day of Praise"

Acts 15:39-40 - "Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord."

My younger daughter, Cassidy, was telling me how she was driving to another house very early one morning to let the dog out to run and eat breakfast. Shortly after she left our house, she pulled up to a stop sign with a pedestrian crossing for the students in the nearby Middle School, and her headlights shone on the most adorable sight. In line and in order, from biggest to smallest, were five armadillos, crossing the street in the darkness right down the middle of the ped crossing.

It's a simple concept that's clear from a line of armadillos and in today's Bible verse. Yes, it's important that we mature and become the wonderful individual that God made us to be, but God made us to work together and stick together. Two or more working together has been God's plan in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 and all through God's Word in scripture. Through companionship and teamwork, God works eternal blessings in and through our lives.

May God bless you to seek, find, invest in, and share the blessings of relationships just has God in Christ keeps doing with 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

Monday, January 6, 2014

Day of Praise

Mo, 01/06/14, The Epiphany of Our Lord, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 2:10-11 - "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."

I sincerely love y'all enough to get a little preachy today.

Today is January 6, which is Epiphany, which celebrates the Magi booking a camel in Babylon for unlimited miles, which they'd need as they traveled as long as two years to see and worship Jesus.

The Magi went a long way to see and worship Jesus because they knew he'd come a long way for us. In the words of an ancient Creed, "for us and our salvation, he came down from heaven." That's a long way for the Magi and a longer way for Jesus.

How far would you go to see the one who's gone farther to see you? One family in our church drives 160 miles round-trip to worship.

Hey, y'all, there's a lot of us reading this devotion today, we're all flesh and blood. Mornings are hard for almost everyone. But Jesus's cross was harder. Much harder. He went all the way for us. It's worth it for us to go a ways for him. Ya know, to say, "Thank you."

So how about in 2014, starting today, we all find a church and get there, no matter how far away it might be, and worship God and God's Savior Son, Jesus.

(P.S. - A quick, sincere apology; I accidentally erased a request from one of your friends who asked to be added to the email list. I have no idea who it was. Sorry! Please tell them to email me again.)

Thank you all for almost 2 1/2 years together. By God's grace, we've journeyed a long way together in Christ. And by God's grace 2014's going to be a great year 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

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Day of Praise

Sa, 01/04/14, 11th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

1 Corinthians 10:13 - "God is faithful."

Usually I visit the sick at a hospital. Yesterday, I watched a young doctor run past me and tumble down a stair well where I thought I saw a sign, "Please, no running." And then I saw a huge pickup truck scrape the pickup truck in the space next to it when both parking spaces were clearly marked, "Compact vehicles only."

So what do we say to a world full of people, including ourselves, who ignore the signs and hurt themselves and others? We say, "God is faithful."

This Eleventh Day of Christmas remembers the eleven faithful apostles but mostly the unfailing faithfulness of God through Jesus Christ. So let's faithfully read and honor the signs around us and encourage others to do the same. But in the end, the greatest sign, which gives us peace, has three simple words, "God is faithful!"

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

Friday, January 3, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 01/03/14, 10th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

Genesis 18:32 - "Then [Abraham] said, 'Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.' [The LORD] answered, 'For the sake of ten I will not destroy [Sodom].'"

Do you ever wonder?

I wonder why some pleas seem to be heard by God more than other pleas. On this Tenth Day of Christmas, we hear Abraham pleading for Sodom to be spared if there are ten people who heed and trust the Lord. Abraham pleads. God listens. But ten cannot be found. So Sodom is destroyed.

Yesterday, I was almost brought to tears when I received the news from my car mechanic that the noise I heard in the right front of my car was not the engine or the suspension but it was a wobbling, loose tire. In sum, my kids and I drove 800 miles from Alabama to Tennessee and back to Alabama with a tire that had only been finger-tightened, by the place that only does my tires, right before we went on our two-day family visit. We were a horrible accident waiting to happen. Why didn't it happen? I wonder.

And this isn't even mentioning that, at the very beginning of our trip, when we left Alabama in the early morning, we were right next to a tractor trailer that blew a rear tire which threw debris that scraped the very back of our car. And as we barely were past the truck, the truck swerved with a hard turn, out of control, exactly where we'd just been. It was a horrible accident that almost happened. Why didn't it? I wonder.

I wonder about the divine order that sometimes seems so disorderly and random. Why did my dear friend get hit in his face through his windshield by a piece of metal that broke off from a tractor trailer going south on the interstate when he was going north with his wife a few years ago? Why did his disaster happen, and ours didn't happen twice, especially when we're all pleading with God for travel mercies and protection?

In the end, in the midst of all of our wondering about the divine order, I have to rest, you have to rest, and we all have to rest, that the most important plea has been heard. When Jesus used biblical-number-ten-power to stoop down, take on mortal flesh, and die for us on a cross, he was using his divine privilege to re-establish the most important divine order, that is, the restoration of order between God and people through the forgiveness of sins.

In other words, maybe there is a randomness to things that happen in the world with trucks and blown tires and loose tires and metal brake pieces, but there is a greater order so that when something random happens, we have peace because God. Yes, that's what I mean; we have peace because God. That's the miracle of Christmas: God! God with us. God for us. God before us. God behind us. God above us. God beneath us. God within us. Loving us. Holding us. Holding us up. Giving us a peace that is every bit as real but greater than the random thing that just hit us or our loved one.

Abraham pleaded for Sodom. That was good. Jesus Christ pleaded for us all. That was, and always will be, the best. Trust God, and you'll see.

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

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 01/02/14, 9th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

Luke 1:41-42 - "And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!'"

Sing with me! On the Ninth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A sense of humor.

Some dear friends gave me a new sweater for Christmas. I opened it up for our church's New Year's Eve prayer gathering. It felt really comfortable, so I put it back on yesterday morning. Looking in the mirror, I started laughing at my silly-looking self because I had this big long "M", "M", "M" sticker running straight down the left side of my chest to my waist.

Now I know why everyone was smiling so big as I spoke at the beginning of the New Year's Eve prayer time. I looked like a nut! Mmmm, and I thought they were liking what they heard. :-)

Well, maybe they were. Maybe they were liking what they heard because maybe they were focused on God's Word instead of the silly, imperfect person in front of them so that they saw the silly, imperfect person through the lens of God's Word. Ya see, the lens of God's Word is the key for all of us looking at people differently on the Ninth Day of Christmas and bearing the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

In today's Bible verse, Elizabeth celebrated the fruit in Mary's womb, which was the soon to be born baby Jesus, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. It's a reminder that God is eager for the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in us so that we can see each other with the same love, smile, and, (dare I say it?) humor as God views us.

So have a great day. And check your heart for Holy Spirit fruit (and your shirt for stickers).

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

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Day of Praise

We, 01/01/14, 8th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

Luke 2:10-11 - "And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"

Happy New Year on this 8th Day of Christmas!

I must admit, when my kids would calmly say, "Daddy, I have something to tell you," I used to cringe. Was this going to be good news or bad news? I had no idea.
It's the same reality for the shepherds in today's verse. We often think the shepherds were afraid because they saw angels, which is a possibility since angels are huge and appear seemingly out of nowhere. But heaven, the unseen realm, is not nowhere, and angels were seen regularly in a day and age when people were not distracted by all the stuff that potentially distracts us today.

So why did the angel say, "Fear not," to the shepherds? The angel said, "Fear not," because the shepherds knew that the angel had news because that's what angels do; they bring news. And the shepherds didn't know if it was good news or bad news, so they cringed.

But the angel said, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news." Yaaaaaay! Good news!

But this is no ordinary good news. The angel gave them the good news that changes all news. The good news of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, seals the deal. The shepherds, and all people who come after them, get to see what has always been true, namely, come what may, God, through Jesus, is Lord over it and Savior within it.

This is why, in the movie, "Facing the Giants," the characters can say to God, "Come what may, I will praise you!" If I find out I can't have kids, I will praise you, Lord. If I find out the powers that be are running me off, I will praise you. If I find out something else in my home just broke, I will praise you. Whatever the news, I will praise you, Lord, because you are Lord over it and Savior within it. And you, Lord, have given me to know this beyond the shadow of a doubt by the good news that you are with us through Jesus Christ.

So now, by God's grace, when my kids say, "Daddy, I have something to tell you," I don't need to cringe, wondering if it's good news or bad. Instead, I can take a deep breath of the Holy Spirit from Jesus Christ and say, "Yes, Sweet Calley, I'm listening, and come what may, we will praise the Lord!"

And in the same way, there is one and only one way that we can say, "Happy New Year!" And that's because, in Jesus Christ, we have the good news that changes all news. Come what may, God, through Jesus, is Lord over it and Savior within it. So therefore, it is going to be a very good and happy new year, indeed!

Happy New Year!

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