Day of Praise

Th, 07/31/14, "Day of Praise"

Exodus 15:2 - "The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."

Let me ask a silly-serious question: "Have you ever felt 'down' before?" It's a silly question because I'd dare say that almost everybody has been. I know a very few people who might honestly say they've never, ever felt down.

There are all sorts of reasons why we might feel down. But instead of listing some of those reasons, God put it on my heart last night to remind all of us what God wants all of us to do when we do feel down.

What God wants all of us to do when we feel down is to Praise Him!

I believe that the two main reasons that so many of you respond to this devotional, saying that it encourages you, are that 1) you're reading a scripture passage that starts all these devotions and 2) you're reading a "Praise God!" that ends all these devotions.

Whenever we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, God has ordained that three things happen, all of which we can see, at least in part, in today's Bible verse from Exodus 15:2.

First, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are claiming in faith that God is sovereign. In other words, we are declaring to whoever will listen that God is in charge. We are telling our circumstances and our adversaries that God is in charge of our life instead of anybody or anything else. And through faith in Jesus Christ, we know with utmost certainty that the God who's in charge of our life is for us. And if God is for us, who can be against us and prevail? No one! If God is for us, no one can be against us and prevail. That doesn't mean that somebody has to lose in every situation. It means that God has the power to work things out in a way that everybody wins! When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are claiming in faith that God is sovereign. So, "Praise God!"

Second, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are surrendering to God's promise to lift us up above our circumstances. So when we "Praise God," whatever situation is causing us to feel down, God lifts us up above it so we can see it more clearly and see it for what it is, namely, it's not in charge of our life, but instead it's under God's sovereign rule. When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are surrendering to God's promise to lift us up above our circumstances. So "Praise God!"

And finally, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are using our God-given spiritual weapon against Satan and all Satan's cronies. Satan is a deceiver. He wants to deceive us into believing things about God that are simply not true. But he woos us into believing wrong things about God because he knows that faith believes in things that can't be seen except in faith. So Satan lies to us and whispers to us that since we can't see what we want to see, then apparently God does not exist or God is not sovereign or God is not for us. To say, "Praise God!" is to say, "Satan you're a liar, and though, at the moment, I can't see what I want to see in the material realm, I know it's all there in the spiritual realm: God is, and God's sovereign, and God's for me and for all people, and my 'down' circumstances have already been defeated. God's just waiting for the right time to show me as he strengthens my faith until he does! So get behind me, Satan!" When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are using our God-given spiritual weapon against Satan and all Satan's cronies. So, "Praise God!"

As a closing note about these three things that happen when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, none of them are based on how we feel. So even if we're feeling down, if we'll just trust and obey God by praising him aloud, then all three of these truths become ours, and they not only battle against our "downness" but immediately stand in God's victory over our downness so that we're all the more eager to "Praise God!"

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, 07/30/14, "Day of Praise"

Romans 8:26 - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

I have plans for today. What about you?

To a small extent, we're all alike. We have plans and thoughts as to how our day and our life should go. So, for example, I have a 6;30 a.m. appointment, along with a 9 a.m., an 11 a.m., in addition to evening appointments and more than enough tasks that will serve as filler for whatever time I have between appointments. I have plans and thoughts as to how my day and, on a larger scale, my life should go.

But what do I know? I mean, really, come on now. Do I have a crystal ball into the future? Somebody may, and probably will, cancel or postpone or revise one of those appointments or more tasks will come my way or I'll get something done faster than I expected. Bottom line is that I have a plan for my day, just like you, so we're going to pray right now for our plan to be blessed. But God only knows how it's really going to unfold, so God's telling us in today's Bible verse to look to the Holy Spirit to guide our day and therefore our prayers for this day.

I can plan all I want, but God only knows. So, Lord, please bless this day for whatever you know that it's going to hold.

Furthermore, to an even greater extent, we're all alike. We all think we know what's good and not so good for us. So we pray for this good thing to happen and that bad thing not to happen.

But what do I know? I mean, really, come on now. Do I have a crystal ball into the future? I've had days where I dreaded one or more meetings that were scheduled for that day. And, like recently, God did some of the most amazing things through what I had dreaded. Minimally, God effected the old family truth, namely, relationships grow when people work at things together and work through things together. So, people may still not see the matter the same way, but if we keep loving each other and working at it together and working through it together, then God always deepens our relationships. It's just a God thing.

Furthermore, as some of you know, I continue to marvel at how my severely impaired teenage family member, Jack, and his parents have been the instrument of eternal salvation for many a man and woman. But nobody would've ever prayed for Jack to be born with the extreme challenges he has. So God tells us to look to the Spirit to guide our prayers because what we think is bad, and therefore pray against, may be the very thing that God chooses to work through for amazing good.

In the end, pray! Make plans for the day, and pray! Assess the good or bad of what's ahead, and pray! But remember that God's saying today that none of us mortals ultimately know the future or the actual good of what's ahead, so we really don't know "what we ought to pray for." (Romans 8:26) So whatever we may plan and assess and pray for, trust that "the Spirit himself intercedes for us" (Romans 8:26), and believe that God will bless your day and you yourself and all parties involved more than any of us could ever desire or deserve.

So ultimately, we pray believing the one thing we know for sure through faith in Jesus Christ, namely, God is good!!! All the time!!!

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 - the rest of the story

Tu, 07/29/14, "Day of Praise"

John 14:2-3 - "[Jesus said,] 'My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

I'm glad it's easier to get in God's house than it is my own.

Last night I got home after Caden, my 15 year old son, had gone to bed. As it was, I arrived home without a key, a garage door opener, or a phone charger, which is important since my phone was on the "red-your battery's-unable-to-make-calls" signal.

So the challenge was how to get in my house when my son sleeps like a big ol' bear who's in the middle of winter hibernation. I rang the doorbell three thousand times. Seriously! And he didn't wake up. I beat on the door two thousand times. Seriously! And he didn't wake up. I pulled hundreds of seed pods off my crepe myrtle tree-bushes and threw them at his bedroom window. Seriously! And he didn't wake up. I pulled hundreds of seed pods off my lilies and threw them at his bedroom window. Seriously! And he didn't wake up. I threw hundreds of pieces of sidewalk chalk at his window. Seriously! And he didn't wake up. I threw newspapers and other recyclables, some of which are now on the roof of the stoop of my porch, at his window. Seriously! And he didn't wake up.

I spent 45 minutes trying to get into my own house with no success.

Fortunately, God's house is a whole lot easier to get into. There's no ringing, beating, throwing or anything but plain, simple faith required. Yep! That's what Jesus is talking about in today's Bible verses. Put your faith in Jesus, and you're in! Enjoying all the comforts, privileges, and benefits of the house of the Lord.

In the end, I remembered a friend who had a key, and fortunately they weren't yet asleep. But what if they were?

God never sleeps nor slumbers, and he's eager to let you into his house.

So put your faith in Jesus, and know that God and his family and his rest are always waiting for 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

Tu, 07/29/14, "Day of Praise"

John 14:2-3 - "[Jesus said,] 'My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

I'm glad it's easier to get in God's house than it is my own.

Last night I got home from a meeting after Caden, my 15 year old son, had gone to bed, which is quite early because of his six a.m. morning workouts with the high school football team. Additionally, since both my daughters have varying schedules with their commitment to summer mission work, I arrived home without a key, a garage door opener, or a phone charger, which is important since my phone was on the "red-your battery's-unable-to-make-calls" signal.

So the challenge was how to get in my house when my son sleeps like a big ol' bear who's in the middle of winter hibernation. I rang the doorbell three thousand times. Seriously! And he didn't wake up. I beat on the door two thousand times. Seriously! And he didn't wake up. I pulled hundreds of seed pods off my crepe myrtle tree-bushes and threw them at his bedroom window.
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, 07/28/14, "Day of Praise"

Ephesians 5:25b-27 - "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

My son was shocked.

I ironed his church clothes early yesterday morning. And he said, "So Dad, when did this start?"

I laughed.

He looked great. Well, he always looks great. He just looked greater than usual. Everything looks better without wrinkles.

Well, maybe not everything. I think wrinkles communicate maturity and personality when those wrinkles are on the skin of faces and arms.

But wrinkles on clothes are another story. Wrinkles on clothes come when clothes are piled on each other, and they weigh on each other, and something's not done about it. That's what God is talking about in today's Bible verses. Jesus loves his bride, the Church. Jesus knows what is stealing from her beauty and radiance, and wrinkles in her clothing steal from her beauty and radiance.

The clothes of the Church are what God calls the garment or the cloak of righteousness. They're also called the wedding garment.

Can you imagine a bride showing up at a wedding in a wrinkled wedding dress?

Jesus can't either, especially not his bride. So he gets her clothes ready for her to put on, getting rid of every "stain or wrinkle or any other blemish," (Ephesians 5:27). And instead he makes sure she not only looks, but actually is, "holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:27).

Jesus does this for us, who are the church, by remembering how special we are because God himself made us, by going to the cross for us where our wrinkled clothes caused by sin are emphatically pointed out, and by pouring out his blood that wipes away our sin which is the same as ironing out the wrinkles of our wedding garment.

I told my son how handsome he looked yesterday. Other people noticed and told me the same. No wrinkles in his clothes.

Jesus is telling you the same today, "You look Maaaaahvelous!"

Indeed we do! Because he made sure of it!

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, 07/26/14, "Day of Praise"

1 Corinthians 11:1 - "[St. Paul writes,] Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

Well, all the Special Needs Campers are going home here in a few hours, and we counselors will be just a couple hours behind them.

I'm going to miss the unique personality traits of each of the campers. Celia is so proud of our country. Aimee loves to hold my hand and wants Amanda and me to adopt her. Heather is a hugger. Nikki is just plain ol' Milo's-Tea-sweet. Angie has loads of manners and personality. Eric is one of the most considerate people who ever lived. Kevin called me "his Chris" from day one. Cody walks as slow as molasses in January. Kenny dresses and talks like a cowboy. Scott, well, Scott is a character who takes forever getting ready, has to touch everybody, has a small 14-year old stuffed dog "Woof!" processes beans efficiently, and constantly says, "I'm sorry." Jamie is literally in his own world except when you call him back to this one with extremely simple words.

But the thing I'm going to miss most about all of the campers is how they followed the good example of some of us counselors, often without being asked. For example, at the start of the week, when each group was called to go through the chow line, it was kind of counselors watch out for the campers, but basically everybody for himself. But then some counselors started setting their group table and taking drink orders, and by the end of the week, Jamie (see his description above) was setting up napkins and silverware for everyone at meals without ever being asked just because he'd seen the example.

Another example was from our group time at horseback riding. (Shout out to all y'all at the Red Barn for the awesome training Kathryn said y'all gave the horsey-rides staff!) One of our counselors planted themselves at a lonely stretch of the circle so they could sing a verse of a horsey song each of the three times the camper went by on a horse. When it came time for the counselors to ride, someone asked the counselor who would sing to them. When the counselor looked up, there was Scott (see his description above) setting up to sing without being asked just because he'd seen the example.

And I could go on and on about the campers picking up debris from the awesome fireworks, sharing seats and chairs, being caring to each other when someone fell, and on and on. All because of an example set by the counselors, who, of course, were only heeding God's counsel through St. Paul in today's Bible verse from 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

So I know it's Saturday, but I just wanted both to pass along a Special Camp warm fuzzy for the last time this summer and also to encourage you to remember that, whatever you do today or any day, there is someone watching so they can have an example.

But there's no pressure in having people watch you as an example because God also says, in today's verse, that we ourselves have an example in Jesus, who we can learn more about today by reading our Bibles and learn more about tomorrow by going to worship at a local church.

Through it all, may Special Campers always be an example to us of major trust in others and a child-like faith in God. And may all the rest of us eagerly follow Christ's example so that our example is worthy of being followed too. May God help us with the example we set and move us to praise him for his!

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, 07/25/14, "Day of Praise"

1 Corinthians 13 - "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Between 1) all the recent weddings, 2) the weddings on the horizon, 3) being the church, as believers in God's love through Jesus, and 4) this week of serving Special Camp, it just seemed appropriate that we'd take a lesson on love from God himself through his word. Surely, all of us can gladly learn to love like Jesus more each day from the Master himself!

So, spread the love! And Happy Friday!

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, 07/24/14, "Day of Praise"

Mark 1:10 - "Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."

Well, last night (Wednesday) was s'mores and fireworks night here at Special Camp. As I enjoyed all the campers and counselors alike leaning back and ouuuuhing and awwwwwing at one of the best fireworks displays I've ever seen, I leaned over and told Amanda how my oldest child, Calley, had ouuuuuhed and awwwed at her first fireworks when she was two years and eight months, saying, "It's just like being baptized!" That's a two year old! Remembering her baptism! From when she was two months and twenty days old!

It still makes me wonder what spiritual fireworks infants see when they're baptized. But I'd guess they probably see a lot like Jesus saw in today's Bible verse from Mark 1:10 when he was baptized, and, being in tune with the Father, "Just as [he] was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."

I wonder if the Special Campers see the same. Like infants. Like the Son of God, Jesus.

Like God wants all of us to see. Before we get into earthly adult mode. And we stop believing that God wants to show us amazing things. Like "heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on us like a dove."

But it's never too late to start seeing the things of heaven like God wants to show you. All it takes is a child-like, "I-don't-care-if-the-world-thinks-I'm-a-fool" faith in Jesus. Really!

Consider this. The Greek word that we translate "torn" in today's Bible verse from Mark 1:10 is only used in one other place in the whole Bible, Matthew 27:51, which is when Jesus dies on the cross and the curtain around the most holy place in the temple is "torn" in two, from top to bottom, from heaven to earth.

This tearing open of heaven and seeing spiritual things come to us from God is significant!

God made the first man and woman to be able to see God and the spiritual things of heaven. It wasn't until they zoned in on eating material fruit from God's "Don't-Eat-This-One-Thing-and-You've-Got-to-Trust-Me" tree that they became blind to seeing God and his heaven.

But what the first people, who after sinning were named Adam and Eve, messed up, Jesus the Son of God, the new Adam, came to fix. Magi and shepherds come to see the infant Jesus. Simeon says he's seen salvation when he sees the young Jesus at his Presentation. Mary sees Jesus when he calls her name Easter morning. Later that day, the disciples tell Thomas, "We have seen the Lord." Stephen sees heaven opened up and Jesus standing to honor him at the right hand of the Father. And Saul, who'd be renamed Paul, sees a vision of Jesus that turns him from persecutor of Christians to persecuted Christian.

All these people and many others saw God because they had a child-like faith, taking God at his word, as when Jesus said in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." How do you get to be pure in heart? By putting a radical-trusting, childlike faith in Jesus and his saving work!

In the end, Jesus was baptized, not because he had any sin to be forgiven or a confession of faith to make in himself. Jesus was baptized for the same reason he died on that cross, namely, to testify to us all that God is eager to tear heaven open and pour out his blessings on all who believe he humbly stands with us (baptism) and pours out his infinite love (cross) so that his love will be as clear to us as adults as an amazing fireworks display on a beautiful starry night at Special Camp!

Dear God, help all of us to believe as purely as infants in our arms and Special Campers in a field, receiving in awe the wonder and display of the fireworks of your love! 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, 07/23/14, "Day of Praise"

Hebrews 11:8 - "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."

Camp is a lot like life. It's important to know where you're going. And when you're serving at a Special Needs Camp, it's also important to know where others are going, especially if you're sure you're being helpful by telling them they're going the wrong way. (Did you follow that?)

Let's try it this way. If you're going to give directions to anyone, yourself included, you'd best know the destination!

Yesterday, all eighteen of us (counselors and campers in Group 5) were headed to the dining hall for lunch. I'm usually the sheep dog in the rear, not the shepherd in the front, but this time I was in front. I turned around to see a group of three guys going the wrong way and then a group of four women doing the same. I repeatedly told them they were taking a very, unnecessarily long route to the dining hall and they needed to change course. (After all, Special Campers don't have special reserves of energy to spare!) Of course, when the guys told me they were going for their meds from the nurse and the girls told me they were going to the ladies room, I was embarrassed, and apologized to them that their route made perfect sense.

It all comes down to this: the one giving directions better know the destination.

And that's the thing in today's Bible verse from Hebrews 11:8, namely, God alone is the best one to be giving directions to all of us who want our present and final destination to be the Lord and the abundant Life that He alone has to dish out, now and forever. That's why Abraham, (who by the way was an extremely wise, wealthy, business-smart, family man), "when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."

Did you get that? Abraham was more than capable of having strong family ties and running a business and getting rich, but all those personal and material treasures meant nothing to him without the only ultimate and final destination that every soul longs for, namely, fellowship now and forever with the one and only living God, who has shown us his face in and indwells us through Jesus Christ by his Holy Spirit.

Abraham could've given himself direction and been his own lord, but he knew that "Destination God" requires God's direction and Lordship. Abraham wanted a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life, not an Abraham-filled and Abraham-led life, which, by the way, God's word describes as empty (not filled) and leading only in one direction (and I'm here to tell ya, it ain't life!!!)

So, where are you going, not just today, but in life, and not just in life (little "l"), but in Life (big "L")? And who's giving you direction?

Like me with a bunch of Special Campers, let's be careful about presuming to know more than we do.

God alone can lead us where we need and, actually in our heart of hearts, want to go!

Have you surrendered your life to the Spirit-filled and Spirit-led direction of God's Word in Jesus? Today's the day to think about it. Ask God in prayer, then listen for him!!! And God will give you today, like Abraham in olden days, the direction that leads to Life!!!

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, 07/22/14, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 11:6 - "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them."

On top of the venomous snakes, Men-in-Black-sized giant bugs, and the good Lord alone knows what else, rumor has it that we have a skunk. To be more accurate, a skunk family. Living under the main water fountain that, for some reason, has a giant hole to the underground right next to it. I've been inclined to think it's an urban legend of this one twenty-something, summer-long male counselor. But the legend of the skunk is so in my head that I can't bring myself to reach into the hole that goes under the water fountain to get the ping pong ball that's in sight and clearly in reach for fear that the supposedly domesticated skunk or one of his teenage rebel sons is actually a flesh-eating stink pot set on revenge for the people who built a church camp on his great-great-grandfather skunk's property! And I don't feel so bad about it because there's another counselor here who's as big as at-one-time pro football sack leader, Reggie White, who I played with in college, and this huge almost Reggie White look-alike hasn't been in a rush to get the ping pong ball either!

Oh, I don't know, maybe it's not skunk fear at all. Maybe it's my animal lover side maturing and just wanting to leave the stinkin' thing, I mean, poor little skunky pooh alone in peace with his cute little Peppy La Pew family.

I mean, you did hear that I saved a turtle that was plodding along a major thoroughfare on Saturday, didn't you? Yep, I sure did, Suzanne Brown and all the rest of you who think I don't like all animals just because I'm allergic to cats and got bitten by mean ol' Freckles the dog up the street when I was a kid! Yep, that turtle was trying to cross Hwy 150, looking for his son, Nemo or Yurtle or some other Disney Seuss turtle name. So my son and I did a U-e and went back and rescued that ol' guy who, at that point, had somehow concluded that his shell was stronger than two Michelin tires that should have turned him into an instant bowl of turtle goop, I mean, soup or some other scavengerish delicacy. My three times bigger and stronger than me teenage son did point out, though, that I probably didn't do the poor guy's family any favors because I put him on the opposite side of the road, so a family reunion for the Urtle family might as well have the Berlin Wall imposed between them. Oh, well!

In the end, this whole thing today is actually about today's Bible verse, where, in sum, God's saying, through Isaiah the prophet, that God's redemptive work touches all creatures, great and small, not just humans, but a bunch o' critters living in some better than Disney-Seuss kind of peace together as noted in Isaiah 11:6, "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them."

And to sum the sum, God's saying that, if it's living and breathing, God cares about it -- people, skunks, turtles, and all. And I'm quite sure that God's care for all living things is true, though the first day of this beautiful camp and awesome new friends and our group name, TreeHugger5, may already be taking a toll on my ability to think rationally.

But hey, life with Jesus and especially his grace do have a little irrationality about 'em, so spread the love people, rescue the turtles, and don't bother the skunks. God is good to all creation! So, in the strength of Christ, let's us be too!

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Mo, 07/21/14, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 17:20 - Jesus replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Ya know how things can be so quiet in your life, and then, all of a sudden, all sorts of things start to happen? It's kind of how seeds are. If you planted 'em, you know they're down there in the dirt, but it can take a while before you see anything happen. And then, all of a sudden, well, as Jesus puts it in today's Bible verse, mountains start moving and nothing seems impossible. All from a little, mustard-seed-sized faith.

I myself am in the midst of a few days here where teeny mustard-seeds-to-move-mountains faith is easy to see.

It started Friday with my daughter Cassidy's 19th birthday. She'd been working hard all summer to plant seeds of faith in a whole community-center full of underprivileged kids, seemingly to no avail. And then, all of a sudden, when she showed up to serve on Friday, the whole place greeted her with birthday love and rejoicing that had the imprint of her mustard seeds all over it. Awesome power's unleashed when faith in Jesus perseveres and keeps serving with knowledge and love. It can change a whole community!

And then yesterday (Sunday) afternoon I arrived here at Camp Sumatanga to serve with Amanda at my first special-needs adult camp. Many years ago, Amanda's grandparents, Joe and Virginia Green, had mustard-seed-sized faith and worked with a team to start Camp Sumatanga. Now, as a mountainously effective ministry, the Camp has an auditorium that bears the Green name, celebrating her grandparents who believed that mountains can indeed move with a little faith, just as Jesus promised.

And a couple days from now, my daughter, Calley, will begin another year serving The Oaks Retreat at Auburn University. Counselors for the retreat walk beside incoming freshmen to encourage and equip them with the fullness of the Gospel as they start the transition into college. Counselors lead a group of freshmen in a small group for the weekend retreat, showing freshmen what it looks like to be rooted in the Lord and bearing fruit during their time in Auburn. Counselors follow up with the students through the Fall semester encouraging them to stick with and glorify Jesus Christ. The counselors believe that their seeds will produce Oaks-sized faith in students who, in the years to come, will reach for the heavens and impact businesses, governments, and communities with Jesus Christ.

Three mustard-seeds-to-mountain-moving ministries that have burst into my view in a few days.

Today's Monday. I believe that God's going to do awesome things here at camp this week in the hearts of all these special needs adults. And let's all believe that our seed-planting labors today will have a mountain-sized impact tomorrow. All that's required is some good ol' hard work, and a little mustard-seed-sized faith in the promises 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

Sa, 07/19/14, "Day of Praise"

Ezra 3:11 - "With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: 'He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.' And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid."

Happy Saturday! May God grant you joy, rest, and renewal!

And plan now to worship and praise him in the house of the Lord tomorrow!

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

Fri, 07/18/14, "Day of Praise"

Revelation 7:11-12 - "And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.'"

An oft run tv ad asks, "What's in your wallet?" The better question for us today is "What's on your list?"

We have lists for a lot of things. I myself have a daily "things to do" list. I have a running "grocery list." I have a "packing list" for the Special Camp for intellectually disabled adults that Amanda and I are serving this coming Monday to Saturday. I have a very short "bucket list" of things I want to do before I die. I have a "10 things I want my kids to know about God" list. I had/have a "Dear God, 28 things I want her to be" list, which Amanda fit perfectly with every single one. I have a prayer list. I have a thanks be to God list. I have lists, it seems, for everything that is truly important to me.

But God, in the Bible verses today, asks us if we really have the most important lists. Yes, I do have God on the names of some of my lists, but God's asking if I have any lists of things that help me myself and therefore you yourself to know and remember God. After all, if Jesus teaches us, in John 17:3, that abundant, full, and eternal life is tied to knowing God and his Son, Jesus Christ, whom he sent, then I better stop and think if I can make any lists about any particular things about God, ya know, like names for God in the Bible, attributes of God in the Bible, and today's Bible verses list of things that should be ascribed to God. Some guy, named Meredith, made a huge book of "Bible lists" that even helps us to know the many Bible lists about God and Jesus that help us to have eternal life by knowing God more intimately.

Today's verses from Revelation 7:11-12 have the angels standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, falling on their faces before the throne and worshiping God with a list, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." If you're counting, that's a list of seven things that belong to God, which we're to acknowledge as belonging to God. We're either supposed to publicly give these to God from our heart (blessing, glory, thanksgiving, and honor), or we're supposed to acknowledge them as coming from God alone if we have them (wisdom, power, and might).

So, if you're a list-maker, and we all are, whether we write them down or not, then the next time you make a list, may that list be a reminder for us that God wants us to have the most important lists. God wants us to have lists of things we know about God, for it is knowing God and Jesus more intimately each day that we have the abundant, eternal life that God eagerly desires for the list of all of us, who are his children.

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, 07/17/14, "Day of Praise"

2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

I didn't get to see much because of Wednesday church, but the past year's athletic awards, called the ESPYs, were given out on TV last night on ESPN.

A man named Stuart Scott, an ESPN news anchor man, won the Perseverance Award for continuing his seven year battle against a rare cancer. I loved his quote, "To fight is to win." To me, such a statement could have come right out of a Holy Spirit Inspired Book of Quotations that also includes today's Bible verse from 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Scott went on to say, "Death is not a loss to cancer. We all must die. How you battle when you're alive is how you win."

In the end, I don't know what Scott's faith is. But I do know that he not only inspired many, with his words noted above, but he spoke truth when he talked about crying with his mom, the greatest thing he could be was a father to his two daughters, and the gift of his many fans, friends, and coworkers who encouraged him to keep fighting.

As Christians, we're called by God to publicly acknowledge that all these assets that Scott named are gifts from God. And as Christians, we're called by God to lean on and then support all these people-assets that Scott named so there's mutual encouragement amongst all these personal assets that we believe are gifts from God. But in order to do that, we ourselves, as believers, must acknowledge that there's a battle to be fought, whether one has cancer or not, and a victory to be gained in the way we fight the challenges of each day, which rightly is both with confidence in the love and strength of God through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and also with thankfulness and mutual encouragement for all our spouses, children, parents, and friends, especially fellow believers, that God has graciously given us to share our battles.

May God be praised through the way we fight our battles together as a team, today and always. Indeed!

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, 07/16/14, "Day of Praise"

Mark 10:13-14 - "And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.'"

I've always believed that one of the things that bothered the disciples about children being brought to Jesus was that the children introduced an air that was less serious than the disciples had come to be with Jesus. On the one hand, the disciples were listening to Jesus and taking him seriously when he talked about loving your enemy, sacrificing money and sleep, watching vigilantly, and praying without ceasing. And into the midst of these serious teachings comes these innocent, dependent, playful, giggly kids which obviously bothered the disciples. But Jesus said, "Bring 'em on! To such belongs the kingdom of heaven!"

So wouldn't it stand to reason that Jesus was open to a good clean joke from time to time. I think Jesus might get a kick out of this one: "Did ya hear about the guy who lost the whole left side of his body? It's okay; he's alright now." Or what about this one? "If life's dealing you melons, then you probably have dyslexia." Or how about this one? "What do you call cheese that isn't yours? Nacho cheese."

When I was in college, my campus pastor, Missouri Synod Lutheran Pastor Bill Couch, who was as serious as any human being that ever lived, always used to say to me, "DeGreen, you take yourself way too seriously." And then he'd encourage me and all of us to lighten up, to laugh at ourselves and recognize how God graciously provides for our limitations and foibles. Additionally, my very first secretary at my church was Connie Cunningham. Connie went to her grave with breast cancer, poking fun at herself and anyone else who would lighten up, saying that laughter is the best weapon for battling cancer and all that ails you.

To be sure, the great Dale Carnegie said that the safest humor is poking fun at yourself, in essence, "throwing yourself under the bus," as the phrase goes nowadays. But as a couple of my older sisters in Christ are eager to remind me by regularly poking fun at me, if you can't take a little ribbing from others then you probably need to lighten up.

Bottom line is that God's Word and giggles are good for everybody. That's why I believe that when Jesus was dishing up God's Word, he was thrilled when parents started dishing up their children, with their short attention spans, total dependence, playfulness, giggles, and all.

So consider doing as my children and other significant adults in my life and I do each day. Make a commitment to laughing and having some giggles together in the Lord. There's a good chance such laughter will help us to celebrate the invitation of Jesus to come as we are and to revel in his grace.

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, 07/15/14, "Day of Praise"

1 Corinthians 6:7 - "To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?"

I accidentally stepped on a tomato yesterday. At first, I was really bummed about it. It was the largest of four sweet-smelling, homegrown tomatoes that I'd been given by one of the dear women at church who does all sorts of wonderful things from visiting lonely people everyday to making desserts for our Wednesday fellowship meal to growing these terrific tomatoes. I had the tomatoes in the car so I could share them with others, so I was bummed when I saw that I'd unknowingly crushed the biggest one in the bag.

But then I saw all the seeds that were spilling out of the big, juicy fruit (remember, tomatoes are fruit), and I was immediately reminded of two things. One was today's Bible verse where the question is asked, "Why does it matter if you get stepped on like a tomato?" Well, that's not what it literally says, but getting stepped on like a tomato is the gist of the actual question in the verse, "Why not rather be defrauded?" Being defrauded is to lose money or property or rights because someone deceived you and/or took the stuff illegally. Either way, to be defrauded is to lose; to be defrauded is to be stepped on like a tomato. But what God's saying, through Paul in today's verse, is that, as Christians, we don't mind suffering wrong, being defrauded, and being stepped on because, as Christians, we know that we are always victorious in the Lord and God always works through all things for good. For example, a crushed tomato is just the beginning of a bunch more homegrown tomatoes when all those seeds are simply put into the ground! Yuuuuuuummy! This is how Christians are to walk victoriously and joyfully in every situation!

And in this vein, the other thing I was reminded of when I saw all the seeds that were spilling out of the big, juicy fruit was the fun-to-sing song, "I AM A SEED," by the David Crowder Band that we often sing in our contemporary music worship. Here are the lyrics to "I AM A SEED:"

"Oh I've been pushed down into the ground
Oh how I've been trampled down
So many feet on top of me
I can't help but sink, sink, sink

Oh I've been pushed down into the ground
Oh how I have been trampled down
Lord I put my trust in thee
You won't turn your back on me

Oh I am a seed
Oh I am a seed
I've been pushed down into the ground
But i will rise up a tree

Oh I can see it won't be long
Till I break free from what I was
Your river of grace flows endlessly
You won't turn your back on me

Oh I am a seed
Oh I am a seed
I've been pushed down into the ground
But i will rise up a tree

I've been burned up in so many fires
From these ashes I will rise
Lord your power has rescued me
For you I'll always sing

Oh I am a seed
Oh I am a seed
I've been pushed down into the ground
But I will rise up a tree

Oh I am a seed
Oh I am a seed
Won't stay long here in this earth
When you rain your love on me
Lord, rain your love on me."

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, 07/14/14. "Day of Praise"

Judges 17:6 - "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

Joshua 24:15 - "[And Joshua said to all the people,] 'And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'"

Last night, our church started the coolest Vacation Bible School I've ever seen. It was like we were actually in Bible times. One thing the teenage boys talked about on the way home was the Bible times market place. They said, "It was great! We could do whatever we wanted!" As you'd imagine in this case, their choices for doing whatever they wanted were quite innocent: decorate a spinning dreidel, make a fragrance sachet, make aluminum foil money, weave baskets, make a flavored bread cake, eat Bible food like olives and figs, and more, more, more. Little kids to adults loved it! Everyone did whatever they wanted!

It was similar to today's first Bible verse from Judges 17:6, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Basically, everyone did whatever they wanted! The problem was that all their choices for doing whatever they wanted were not quite so innocent. So, people were a mess; people's relationships were a mess; the world was a mess.

Much like nowadays in our country.

From something as huge as our national debt to the prevalence of the breakup of families to the small but destructive lack of manners by people in general, they're all caused by "Everyone [doing] what [is] right in his own eyes." So, people are a mess; people's relationships are a mess; the world is a mess.

But there were other witnesses in Bible days too, people like Joshua, in today's second Bible verse, who realized that they "could do whatever they wanted!" but who also realized that doing whatever they wanted would only make a mess of everything. So Joshua chose the only thing that cleans up messes and makes life better for everyone, saying, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

So, what'll it be today gang? More of a mess, or a better world at the end of the day?

Lord, please, please, please, for everyone's sake, help us to learn more of your ways and to use our freedom not to do whatever we want but instead to choose your ways that make things better!

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, 07/12/14, "Day of Praise"

Hebrews 10:25 - "Let us not give up worshiping together."

May God bless us all with a restful Saturday and an eagerness to gather with other believers tomorrow so we can worship him and sing praises to his name!

And remember to claim the joy of inviting someone new to worship. It's a blessing to all when you invite and an unmatched joy when they accept your invitation and come!

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, 07/11/14, "Day of Praise!"

Job 5:16 - "So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth."

Did you know the Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones (who was also the voice of Darth Vader in "Star Wars") movie, "Field of Dreams" is based on the book titled, "Shoeless Joe"? The movie was originally named "Shoeless Joe" also until the audiences that previewed it said that "Shoeless Joe" made the movie sound like it was a story about a homeless guy that no one would want to see. So in order to draw more people, they changed the movie title to the much more hopeful "Field of Dreams."

This shows us again that, no matter how bad things get for people, in our heart of hearts, we all long for a word of hope. We're all looking for someone or something to fill that hole in our soul with something that actually satisfies it. And today's Bible verse reminds us that the God of hope, who showed us himself in Jesus and dwells in us by the Holy Spirit, and the hope that God alone gives are the only one and the only thing that can rightly fill the hole in the soul of every person.

We don't usually think about the book of Job (pronounced with a long "o" as in "hope") as the place to run to in the Bible when we're looking for hope. But actually, in addition to today's hopeful verse from Job 5:16, "So the poor have hope," there are some other actually quite famous verses of hope in Job. In Job 1:21, we hear, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." And in Job 19:25, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth."

The point is that the Bible is a book of hope from the true God of hope that ministers to every human being's need for a word of hope. So let's not only read and thank God for the Bible and the hope that he alone gives us, which is fulfilled and perfected in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but today let's also be who the God of hope made us in his image to be, namely, the people of hope who not only are more eager to hear about a "Field of Dreams" moreso than "Shoeless Joe," but who also have a word of hope that makes dreams come true for Shoeless Joe and all the people we know and will meet.

I hope you have a great day, and I know that, when your heart's set on Jesus, the fulfillment of all true hope, you will!!! And remember to pass hope 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

Day of Praise

Th, 07/10/14, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 98:6 - "With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!"

Iiiiiiiit's wonderful how the smallest thing can lead to a joyful celebration.

Like the other day, when I was taking my daughter to the doctor in downtown, Birmingham.

We were just sitting at a traffic light, when, all of a sudden, the tiniest, little, dot-sized spider runs up the face of my steering wheel. I felt really bad about it, but he startled me to such a degree that, when I reached down to try and pet him, I not only made him nice and flat, like peanut butter, but I also celebrated him by accidentally honking the car horn. The next thing we know there are all these other cars celebrating with us. Like in today's Bible verse from Psalm 98:6, all the cars were using the "sound of the horn [to] make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!" In fact, there were so many cars making "a joyful noise before the King, the Lord" that I thought for sure that we were in church!

And to think that all that joy and celebration started because of a sweet little spider.

So, today, let's do some celebrating! Like the little spider, we can celebrate the smallest things. Did ya wake up this morning? Celebrate! Do ya have someone to say "Hi!" to this morning instead of being all alone? Celebrate! Do ya have clothes to choose from in a closet in a secure dwelling? Celebrate! Do ya have an orange or any other delectable fruit in your fridge to eat for breakfast? Celebrate! Do ya have transportation and a place to go and do a meaningful job as a volunteer or for pay? Celebrate! Do ya know the love of Jesus? Celebrate! Is there some person in your life where, if you would swing by their work station or their home or their hospital and just be friends together, then they'd be grateful? Celebrate!

Friends, life is short! Just ask my little spider friend! So let's seize every opportunity, no matter how small, to "make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!" And remember there's always the possibility, that, even if you're just sitting at a traffic light and with a honk of your horn you celebrate the light turning green, there's a good chance that others will join in the celebration too! Yaaaaaay!!!

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, 07/09/14, "Day of Praise"

Ephesians 5:22 - "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord."

As much as you probably think it is, based on today's Bible verse, today's devotion is not about marriage, wives, or submission. It's about the little phrase "your own" in today's verse, which means it's about quirks and idiosyncrasies. Please let me explain.

Have you ever watched someone eat chips and salsa at a restaurant? It can really be quite hilarious. One time, on my way to and from the restroom, I observed this one person who already had their mouth wide open as they dipped their chip into the salsa. Then, having used the chip more like a scoop, they moved the chip up and down three times with the same rhythm that they moved their head and wide open mouth, which didn't seem to help much, since they got some salsa in their mouth but most of it down their shirt. They repeated the exact sequence as I returned from the restroom. Fortunately, they laughed at their own self even as I tried respectfully not to. After all, I have my own quirks and idiosyncrasies.

An idiosyncrasy (id·i·o·syn·cra·sy) is a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual. It can also be called a quirk, which is a peculiar behavioral habit.

Here's a couple of mine. First, when I'm working a puzzle, I find it necessary to tap twice on any piece that I fit into its place. Somehow it seems that I'm telling the piece to stay in place, or I'm saying, "Ha! I got ya, ya little puzzle piece!" Or another quirk and idiosyncrasy of mine is when I close a lady's car door, I always tap the car window twice as if I'm telling my Amanda or Calley or Cassidy or mother, "Now, you stay in there!," as if they're a little puzzle piece that I finally got into its place! It's just my quirk, my idiosyncrasy, my peculiar behavioral habit.

In today's Bible verse from Ephesians 5:22, "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord," the phrase "your own" is from the Greek word "idios," which is the root of our word "idiosyncrasy" and (chuckle! chuckle!) "idiot."

See God is not telling every woman who is a wife to submit to every man who is a husband. God is telling every wife to submit to their own husband, their own private husband, their own personal husband, the unique and quirky and husband belonging to them with all his peculiar idiosyncrasies.

More broadly speaking, God is telling us that, as we get to know someone, we'll get to know their quirky ways of doing things. Maybe they need their clothes folded a particular way or hung on particular hangers. Or maybe they drive with a foot on the dashboard. Or maybe they chew their gum in a way that irritates the stew out of you. They're not Biblically moral matters; they're quirks and idiosyncrasies. They're things that make people unique and therefore fun in getting to know and love them...quirks and all!

So let's declare today "Love 'your own' friends and family day!" In essence, it's "Identify, celebrate, smile at, laugh at, and love the people in your life for all their quirks and idiosyncrasies day!" It could be lots of fun!!! And maybe you could reply to me with some quirks for us all to share and laugh at! What do you think?

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, 07/08/14, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 7:24 - Jesus said, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

There's a good number of folks at our church who are right now doing either the Daniel Plan or the Daniel Fast. Keeping it simple, the Daniel Plan eats no soda, caffeine, sugar, bread, red meat, or fried foods. The Daniel Fast, additionally, eats no meat at all. Out of all this, some people are eating a lot of bananas.

I myself, as do many, like bananas. Bananas are a simple enough food to gain energy. The thing is, you have to do something with a banana in order for it to be useful. You have to peel it, dig deeper, if you will. In essence, you need to put a little work into it. That's not unreasonable for God, the creator of bananas, to ask. And when you put a little work into it and eat it, there's a whole lot more benefit from a banana to your life than when you just kind of look at it!

God has a similar deal with his word. I myself, as do many, like God's word. God's word is a simple enough food to gain energy. The thing is, you have to do something with God's word in order for it to be useful. You have to peel it, dig deeper, if you will. In essence, you need to put a little work into it. That's not unreasonable for God, the author of his word, to ask. And when you put a little work into it and eat it, there's a whole lot more benefit from God's word to your life than when you just kind of look at it!

Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 7:24, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." You can't just listen to God's word if you want the greatest benefit from it. Jesus says that you need to put a little work into it.

You need to live God's word to gain the greatest benefit.

In the last year, I've seen people in their 60's, 70's, and 80's gain more benefit from God's word than they ever dreamed by living it in one or more of these ways: memorizing it, writing it down (which is journaling), applying it (which is simply doing it), and telling others about it. The more of these that people do, the greater the benefit of God's word.

And the consistent message from all these seniors to anyone who will listen is simple, "Don't wait! Read and live God's word, as much as possible, while you're young."

Ultimately, God's plan is simple, namely, believe God's word, and live this word that you believe. It makes your life as strong as a rock.

And as simple as peeling a banana!

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

Romans 1:12 - "that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine."

I pray you had a great 4th of July holiday and weekend. I sure did, and I had a great time remembering some other 4th of July weekends too.

One in particular that stood out for me was when I was eight. My family had gone to Florida for the first time. And one of the many things we took in was the July 4th auto race called The Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway. I remember we paid for a spot on the track's infield so we didn't have the greatest view. In fact, of the two and a half miles of the track, we were only able to see about forty yards of the track. Ironically, in that small section of track, we got to see what, according to studies, everyone goes to see, namely, a wreck! But basically, if it weren't for the team of announcers on the radio, it would've been impossible for us to have a clue about the big picture of the race.

And so it is with life.

Even the most gifted overseers are really only able to see a segment of what's going on in life. Even they usually rely on some kind of advisory board to think together and consider the big picture.

For most of us, we can see a small section (maybe forty yards) of the "track of life", but there's so much more going on in the two-and-a-half-mile reality. It's very easy, though, to start thinking that the part we see is all that there is. And when our section becomes boring or accident-riddled, it's very easy to get discouraged and start to think that all of life is that way. This is why, in today's verse from Romans 1:12, God wants us to "be mutually encouraged by each other's faith". It is only through fellowship and conversation that we're able to see the bigger picture and be encouraged when things aren't going our way.

So amidst all that you have to do today, remember that there's more going on in life than your section of the track. Make time for people. Listen to each other. Together, consider others who are confined because they can't drive or they're hospitalized or imprisoned. Reach out to one another. Speak a word of encouragement to one another, telling of the great things that God is doing in various places and calling for faith in God's presence even when one segment looks boring or accident-riddled.

None of us can see the big picture by ourselves. That's why God gives us to each other, "that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" (Romans 1:12).

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

Day of Praise

Sa, 07/05/14, "Day of Praise"

1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

In a terrific book on relationships, "Each for the Other" by Bryan Chapell, the awesome love letter of one of the Civil War's first casualties, Sullivan Ballou, is recounted. You can see the full letter and surrounding story at http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/war/ballou_letter.html. But in the following section of the letter, we can see how Ballou entered the Battle of Bull Run with total conviction about and full acceptance of the possibility that his life would be lost in the struggle for a cause that was critical for humanity, greater than him, and a worthy recipient of his life. Ballou wrote to his "very dear Sarah:"

"I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt . . ."

Ballou's letter and eventual death a week later at the first Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, remind us of a few things:

1) We are all indebted beyond measure to the vision, conviction, courage, and, yes, love for truth and humanity that ultimately characterizes our great nation's greater Veterans.

2) Ballou and our Veterans are both a reality but also a parable who point us to the ultimate Veteran of a Foreign War, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who had Divine vision, conviction, courage, and, yes, love for truth and humanity that led him to go to war against guilt, sin, fear, death, and the Evil One and his cronies, in order to defeat these enemies and set us free from the spiritual chains they held us with.

3) We are blessed to have these earthly and divine testimonies and examples that God surely gives us all in order to inspire us ourselves to live with such vision, conviction, courage, and, yes, love for truth and humanity that lead us to go to war each day against the ills of our daily lives with the ultimate weapon that is faith in, and therefore access to the power of, Jesus Christ!

Think about it! And do it!

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

May God grant us victory in all our variously-sized battles for truth and life!

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, 07/04/14, "Day of Praise"

Galatians 5:1 - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

A few thoughts.

Thank you, Jesus, for setting us free from the power of sin and death!

Happy Birthday, America!

Thank a Veteran today! And everyday!

I wrote an article for AL.com that was printed last Sunday, June 29 in The Birmingham News. Entitled "Who is really in prison? God can set us free," the article calls for all churches to pray for and work together to minister to those who are not free because they're in prison.

In reply to the AL.com article, George Wells, with FTH Music Company in Huntsville, AL, shared the attached song with me, which is a song God lead George to write years ago. Realizing that people in prisons are still God's people, George wanted a message that would hopefully bring peace to the imprisoned. Hope you like it.

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, 07/03/14, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 25:6 - "On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines."

Yesterday, a friend of mine and her daughter went blueberry picking in the morning, and, by the afternoon, they were distributing their abundance to me and to many. I ate my whole pint-sized container in about five minutes. Deeeeelicious!

The whole yummy experience reminded me of my childhood, specifically when my siblings and I were at our grandparents' homes in north-central Pennsylvania during strawberry season. Gram Yost had, what she called, a truck patch, which was filled with the most delicious strawberries you ever ate in your life. And Gram would just let us go sit in the truck patch and eat "strawbabies" until our little hearts were content. It was heaven!

Well, at least it was a picture of heaven.

In today's verse from Isaiah 25:6, God is telling us, as he does consistently in scripture, that heaven will be a feast of abundance. The "Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines." And in order that we might enjoy the feast, God goes on to say that he'll remove death, tears, and disgrace.

Wow! Sign me up! I wanna be there!!!

But there's a catch, the same catch as always with God and his word. You must believe! You must believe that God is preparing this for you and for all people. In the face of whatever poverty, lack, difficulty, or hardship that you currently have going on, God calls you to believe that better times are on the horizon. And when you believe that a feast is just ahead, you actually begin to taste it in your heart right now.

That's the power of well-placed faith. When you put your faith in any person or power or comfort of this world, just count on being disappointed down the road. But when you put your faith in God coming through down the road, when you truly believe that God's going to come through on his promises, then you immediately start to taste the fruit in the present.

Like a bucket full of blueberries from a friend.

Like a truck patch full of strawberries from your Gram.

Like a heaven full of "rich food for all peoples".

God is bigger in providing than your problems are in taking away.

"Taste and see, the Lord is good; blessed is the one who trusts him." (Psalm 34:8)

The feast is ready right now for those who believe! Please come!

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, 07/02/14, "Day of Praise"

2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness"

It's baseball season, so each morning I might look online to see how the Atlanta Braves did in their game the night before. The easiest place for me to check is ajc.com, which is the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper website. The thing is that their website's lead story is always a tragic death. It's an opportunity to pray for someone, but it's always quite depressing too. It's a reminder that the world, by its very nature, in its fallenness and brokenness and sinfulness will always lean toward putting stuff on us that saps our life and strength.

But thank you Jesus that there's another place to go online or however you can get there that pours life and strength back into us. Yes, any way that you can access Holy Scripture is a great way to renew your life and strength. As God says in today's verse in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable." Indeed, all scripture adds to our life, in contrast to so much in the world that subtracts.

So, as your day unfolds and you feel your strength and energy needing a boost, try opening a Bible or going to scripture online. And then read the Bible. As one deep radio voice says each day on the air, "Read the Bible; it's good for the soul."

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

1 Corinthians 8:1 - "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that 'all of us possess knowledge.' This 'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up."

Though my parents and all the preceding generations of their family grew up with very humble means, they all valued my sisters, brother, and me acquiring as much education as possible. Summer reading clubs, good grades, and going to college were non-negotiable expectations for us kids, even though, to the best of my knowledge, only my late father went to college from our preceding generations. And my father always used to tell us how very fortunate he was to win a scholarship, or he himself would've never gone to college either.

But as much as I thank God for the educational pursuits that my parents both provided and also supported me in pursuing, I am constantly reminded of God's word in 1 Corinthians 8:1, where we hear that "'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up." I'll speak for myself in saying that it's very easy for us all to forget, especially when I'm sitting in my office surrounded by walls of floor to ceiling books, that as important as knowledge and book-learning are, there is nothing more important than the simple gospel message of Jesus.

The gospel, which means the good news, ultimately is best offered and explained in child-like language and simplicity. Simple Bible verses like "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son" from John 3:16, simple songs like "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so," and simple encouragements to others like "this must be hard, but God promises to love you and be with you" are all irreplaceable. No one can possibly understand why God loves them and how God loves them if they don't first understand that God loves them through His Son, Jesus Christ.

So many Christians never experience the unmatched joy of seeing someone else come to a life-changing trust in God's love because they're afraid they don't have enough knowledge of the Bible to say the right thing to someone.

But, Friends, I've yet to find a person, who was drowning in fear, anxiety, loneliness, isolation, grief, debt, or uncertainty, who was just dying to hear how much I know and how smart I am or you are. But, with rare exception, everyone I've ever called, hugged, listened to, spoken to on the street, worked with, visited in the place they were confined to, played ball with, talked to as they scanned my groceries, or simply passed for a moment as we walked somewhere in public, refused to smile when they heard me say, "Have a good day! Jesus loves you!" in those or other simple words.

To be sure, it's important that we want to know God more personally each day, and the way to learn of him is listening to and studying his word. But ultimately, any fear that you might have about not knowing enough to tell others about Jesus is overcome by God's simple reminder in today's Bible verse, namely, that God's way to truly build up somebody is not by impressing them with knowledge but by lovingly telling them that God loves them and that we know this in Jesus Christ!

Change the world today! Tell each person, starting in your home, that they're loved by God with an everlasting love!

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