Friday, October 31, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 10/31/14, "Day of Praise"

"And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them." - Genesis 3:21

I've seen some good Halloween costumes in my years.

There was the year that my sweet daughters, about six and four at the time, were dressed as Dorothy and Toto from "The Wizard of Oz." They were absolutely adorable.

There was the year that I'm sure that I saw both Jabba the Hutt and Herman Munster. Whew!

And then there was yesterday, the day before Halloween, mind you. I was sitting in my car, finishing a call in a parking lot, when this guy walked by me in a "pants-on-the-ground" costume. The strange thing was that this guy had a 3-inch Ace elastic bandage wrapped around the outside of his right, blue jean, pant leg from his shin to his thigh. I'm sure. I am absolutely sure that if it hadn't been for the Ace bandage that I would've been hearing Ray Stevens sing "The Streak." But even with the Ace bandage, the poor guy's "costume" was totally, uuuuuh, shall we say, inadequate.

Kinda like, the first man and woman who ever lived.

That first man and woman were doing just fine living "un-costumed" until they decided that they knew more than Almighty God himself, who made them, and they decided to eat the forbidden fruit, which was the fruit of wanting to be their own God. Their tragic decision exposed them. And, unable to find a Walmart or ToysRUs in those days, they put together a costume of fig leaves so as to hide themselves, which is what a costume is for, is it not?

But their fig-leaves costumes were altogether inadequate, not because the costume didn't cover their bodies, but because the costume didn't cover their shame.

Shame, mind you, is feeling bad about who you are, which is altogether distinct from embarrassment, which is feeling bad about what you've done. Embarrassment always eventually wears off because it's only on the outside, like an invisible costume. But shame? Oooooo! Shame goes deep within our soul and challenges our very self-worth, along with challenging our will to even continue on in life since shame whispers to us that we're worthless and no one would even notice if we were gone.

Shame cannot be covered with a costume.

Shame can only be truly covered in blood. That's why "the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them." (Genesis 3:21) In essence, God covered the first people with animal skins, which were the first blood sacrifices. But even those animal-blood sacrifices and coverings were inadequate and had to be repeated year after year.

That's why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us. Jesus's death was an everlasting blood sacrifice. That's why God's Word, in Romans 13:14, says, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ." All who put on the Lord Jesus Christ will truly be covered forever and have their shame removed.

Everything else is just a costume.

"And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them." - Genesis 3:21

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, October 30, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 10/30/14, "Day of Praise"

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. -- John 19:26-27

It's a simple model. Jesus didn't let anythIng get in the way of making sure that his mother was cared for, not even his work, not even his work of saving the whole world, not even his work of savIng the whole world while he was in immeasurable pain on the cross.

Jesus loved his mother and made sure that she was provided for.

Jesus, who is God the Son, is our model.

Celebrate all the great things about your mother today and everyday, not just six months from now when Mother's Day rolls around again. Pray for your mother's needs each day. If possible, call your mom and chat and tell her you love her! And let's do our very best to make sure that the needs of our mothers are taken care of, just like Jesus did with Mary.

Hi, Mom, I love 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

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Day of Praise

We, 10/29/14, "Day of Praise"

"When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 'I am about to go the way of all the earth,' he said. 'So be strong, act like a man'" - 1 Kings 2:1-2

He seemed like a giant. Maybe he was. Every time a boy on our 4-year old t-ball team did something good, he lifted us up from the ground and high into the air so that it seemed we were on the top of the world. I think his name was Coach Carter.

That's what older men do for boys and young men. They lift them up. That's what older women do for girls and young ladies.

I'm grateful that, when I was a kid, my father and mother were involved in our community so that many men lifted me up as a boy through church and scouts and sports and school.

To be sure, I'm grateful for the women who've lifted me up, but I'll speak to that another time.

For today, it's the older man speaking to boys and younger men that I focus on, specifically in today's Bible verse where David charged his son, "Be strong, and act like a man."

There are lots of awesome women in my life, but the charge "Be strong, and act like a man" has its greatest impact when it comes to me from another man, especially an older man. After all, he can really know what it means to "Be strong, and act like a man."

For years, after I first got here to Birmingham, a man named Larry Felix used to constantly say to me, "Be strong!" Every time he said it, it made me think of Coach Carter, lifting me high in the air as a 4-year old. It also made me think of St. Paul, in Ephesians 6:10, saying, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."

This world needs more strong men. And it starts with the church having more strong men, who recognize their ability to lift up another man by charging him to "Be strong; be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power!"

And in so doing to say what David said to his son, "Be strong, and act like a man."

C'mon, Men, stop sitting in the stands as a spectator. The world needs you. Get involved. Engage boys and younger men, and be a Coach Carter, who with your life and your deeds and your words, lIfts up that boy or that younger man as David said long ago, "Be strong, and act like a man."

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, October 28, 2014

Day of Praise

Tu, 10/28/14, "Day of Praise"

"Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." - James 4:14 (NASB)

Saturday night, my son, Caden, had gone with neighbors to the Auburn University football game where they met up with my oldest daughter Calley, who's a senior at Auburn. After the game, my kids and neighbors were in the car together and were t-boned by another car. Calley wrote the following blog as she reflected on the accident:

Sometimes, life happens quickly.

You look up and everything that was so familiar has suddenly changed.

My baby brother (six years younger, but 5 inches taller than me) came to a football game with me. At one point he left the student section to go get concessions and I thought to myself, "Oh my, should I let him go alone? Caden, do you have your phone?" Then I realized that at his age, let alone size, he was perfectly able to do things alone. I was likely in more danger than he of walking through the stadium unaccompanied.

It happened fast. He grew up. He's changed.

As I was being driven home after the game, we got into a wreck that totaled the car. The guy came out of nowhere and hit my side of the car very hard and very fast. Other than a slight crick in my neck and a headache in the passenger of the front seat, we were unharmed.

It happened fast. One minute we were driving, the next we were slammed off the road.

Now technically you could make a case that one event was actually faster than the other. I disagree. Because in either of these situations you could miss your opportunity.

That opportunity may look different depending on who is seizing it. For me, the opportunity is open to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He took upon himself the penalty for our infinitely missed opportunity.

You see, we had the opportunity to live forever with God. But we missed it trying to be God (instead of be WITH God). We missed it and it was forever lost.

Christ can be for you what He has been and is for me. By claiming Him as Savior and naming Him as Lord, we can gain back our opportunity and be with God forever.

I didn't share the gospel with my brother daily until he was grown up. I didn't share the gospel with my neighbors until we were standing beside a totaled car.

Praise the Lord that Jesus did not only make His opportunity, but He made my opportunities through His grace. Will you take this opportunity to make Jesus your Savior and Lord? Will you take this opportunity to share Jesus with your neighbor?

Life happens fast. Don't miss the opportunity.

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, October 27, 2014

Day of Praise

Mo, 10/27/14, "Day of Praise"

"The Lord is my light" - Psalm 27:1

When I was a teen, a pastor told me that the life of faith, in response to God's love, includes three things: 1) love God, 2) love people, and 3) love puzzles.

The puzzles part, he told me, is where a Christian always tries to listen to others and get to know them. It's what Jesus called "seeking and saving." As you listen to more and more people and get to know them, you try to fit the pieces of people's lives together with others, like a puzzle, helping people work together with their commonalities and various God-given gifts so that they can encourage each other in Christ and reach out to the surrounding community, inviting others to Christ.

It's the Biblical picture of the "Body of Christ" where different parts of the body fit together into one body, like puzzle pieces fitting together into one picture.

It's a great image. But there's one major requirement for doing puzzles--light.

I've never been able to do a puzzle in the dark, especially the puzzle of working together as the Body of Christ. And praise God that we don't have to.

In today's verse, we hear that the Lord is our light so that we don't have to put energy into our fears or anything else that would prevent us from listening to one another, working together, and bringing lives together, like puzzle pieces, in Jesus Christ.

In John 8:12, Jesus reiterates how he shines as light so we can see what we're doing. He says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Ultimately, what Jesus helps us to see is God and the people in our lives and how, in following Jesus, our lives can come together in mutual encouragement and loving service to other people around us so that they can see and serve God too.

As you go about your day today, look at the people (family, friends, and even strangers), believing that Jesus is shining as light for the world so that we can see plainly how our lives can fit together as one...

Namely, like a puzzle, which when finished, shows one picture, namely, God's light and love for us all 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

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Day of Praise

Sa, 10/25/14, "Day of Praise"

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" - Psalm 42:1-2

Apparently, they were everywhere. That's why they had hunting season. But when I was a kid, I thought that deer were only on my Pap Yost's farm in central Pennsylvania.

I don't think I ever told anybody, but I thought the deer lived just inside the woods. At the top of the big hill, that was not quite a mountain.

My Pap had a big cornfield that ran from the top of the big hill, down the hill, and then across the flat to the farm house and buildings. In my mind there was a beautiful brook that ran between the bottom of the hill and the flat.

In my mind, one of the beautiful things about the brook was that it was a place for the deer to drink. I could see the deer coming down the big hill and drInking from the brook.

But I never saw them do that. I never saw them drink from the brook because, in my mind, they were afraid. They were afraid it was hunting season.

So they thirsted. The deer panted for streams of water, but stayed away because of their fears.

In today's verse, God says that we're like the deer. God says that as the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God, so much so that we ask ourselves, "When can I go and meet with God?"

And God would know because God made the deer...and us.

God knows that fear keeps deer and us away from life-giving water. So God sent Jesus to wIpe away fear and everything else that keeps us from God.

And Jesus wiped away fear and everything else that keeps us from God so that your soul that thirsts for God would know the answer to the question in today's verse.

"When can I go and meet with God?"

Anytime you want.

Christ is risen. To be with you. And quench the fears and thirst of your soul.

Drink of him today, and be blessed.

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, October 24, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 10/24/14, "Day of Praise"

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

I am the richest man in the world. And I'd like nothing more than to share my riches with you.

Ya see, I have a great brother. Really. He's a couple years older than me. His name is Ben, which is short, of course, for Benjamin, which, in Hebrew, literally means "son of the right hand." "Son of the right hand," scripturally speaking, means "one who pours out blessing."

And that's what my brother does.

With only one very small exception (when we were teenagers) that I can remember in 50 years, my brother, Ben, constantly "pours out blessing" on me.

The chief blessing that he has poured on me all these years is that he believes in me. No matter what anyone else says, no matter what I do, my brother believes in me.

And by believing in me, my brother helps me to see Jesus.

Because that's what Jesus does for us all; he constantly pours out blessing on us all.

And the chief blessing that Jesus pours on us is that he believes in us. No matter what anyone else says, no matter what we do, our brother, Jesus, believes in us.

Jesus, who is God the Son, believes in us so much that while we were enemies with God he poured out blessing, poured out his life, poured out his blood, every drop of it, to wipe away the sin and guilt of all people who would believe in him, who believes in us, so that we can be in unity with God and with one another, pouring out our lives with blessing for each other in the strength of our brother, Jesus the Son of God, and to the glory of God the Father.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

Praise God!


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

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 10/23/14, "Day of Praise"

"I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you." - Psalm 119:11

What's in it for me?

I'm confident that we're all familiar with that phrase. We usually, if not always, use "what's in it for me?" as a way of responding to someone who wants us to do something where they're going to come out ahead and/or there's a risk involved for us.

Throughout Psalm 119 we're called to praise and purity and pursuit of the LORD. I can hear someone, in response to all that we're called to in Psalm 119, asking God, "What's in it for me, God? What's in it for me? You want all this from me, but what's in it for me?"

Of course, God is God. And as God does with so many in the Bible who brazenly ask, "What's in it for me?", God in Psalm 119:11 is implicitly asking, "No, my child, I'm God; you're a mere mortal. I need to ask you, 'What's in it for me?'. What's in it, that is, your heart, for me? What's in your heart for me?"

And the Psalmist responds, "Your word, Lord, your word is in my heart. I have hidden your word in my heart. So if the day ever comes when a Bible is nowhere to be found, then I can draw your word from my heart. When my children have a situation, I can draw your word from my heart. When I have reason to praise you, I can draw your word from my heart. When I am discouraged because the world or another sinner (like me) has hurt my heart again, I can draw your word from my heart so that my heart may be hurting but my heart will not fail because your word, O Lord, your word is hidden in my heart."

There's a boy at church who comes up to me every week and beams like a star in the night as he eagerly tells me the Bible verse(s) he has memorized since last week. If you could see him as he shares the verse(s), you would know that he knows "What's in it for me?" He knows the light and life and joy that's in a heart that is filled with God's word.

And he inspires me to the same.

Dear Lord, help me, help us all, to spend time with you through your word, that, hiding your word in my heart, I may taste all that's in it for me and then draw your word from my heart so I can speak it to others, inspiring them to hide your word in their heart too. 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

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Day of Praise

We, 10/22/14, "Day of Praise"

"[Jesus] said to them, 'Come and you will see.'" - John 1:39

Whenever I leave a hospital room, I purt near injure myself. What happens is that I leave the room, find the stairwell door, stand next to the wall, put on my reading glasses, check my phone for various communications, go into the stairwell, start down the stairs, and realize I'm not seeing the stairs clearly because I still have my reading glasses on. My depth perception is totally distorted unless I remove my reading glasses. Only then, can I see clearly.

That's what Jesus is talking about in today's Bible verse. Something's got to happen in every matter of everyday in order for us to see clearly. Of course, it's not the removal of reading glasses that Jesus is recommending. What Jesus tells us is that we must come to him. In order for us to clearly see every matter of everyday, we must come to Jesus with each and every thing. .

Chris Rice captures this truth in an untitled song that I just call "Come to Jesus". I hope you'll take a moment to read through the lyrics and then maybe click on the link at the end to hear him sing the song, which is a simple invitation to clearly see so many matters if we'll simply come to Jesus, our Savior Lord.

Chris Rice's song goes like this:

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head for love is passing by

Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain

So sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live

And like a new born baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk sometimes we fall

So fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain

Then cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live

Oh, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside

Then dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on glory's side

And fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live

Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live

rtsp://r6---sn-jc47eu7l.googlevideo.com/ClULENy73wIaTAl9VQrivWIDPBMYJCAkFC3kskZUMOCoAUIJbXYtZ29vZ2xlSARSBXdhdGNoYMqtteCR3JusUoIBBWh0bWw1igELWmJQbElHcVdpR2cM/4C54D510597184785C4B8DF56E0CB877E6654306.995D4182574B2AD52C96D3A7BDC1CA1957416ED2/yt5/1/video.3gp

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, October 21, 2014

Day of Praise

Tu, 10/21/14 - "Day of Praise"

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." (ESV)

So, what does that look like? What does it look like to "not grieve as others do who have no hope"?

Here's an image.

Yesterday, our church served the funeral of a family whose eight and a half month old son died suddenly and inexplicably. Before the funeral, the adults were grieving in various ways: understandable wailing, sitting in silence, chain-smoking on the patio, and other ways. But as the adults grieved in these ways, there were two unrelated children, a boy age six and a girl age two, who lived an image I'll never forget.

Just outside the front door of our worship sanctuary, there are two flower beds with newly planted, so not deeply rooted, pansies. The six year old boy carefully picked a pansy flower from the plant and gave it to a woman. The two year old girl saw him do that and picked a flower too, but with her flower came the whole not-so-deeply-rooted plant. Many of the adults, in their grief, fussed at the little girl. The little boy, without saying a word, watched all the fussing, looked down at the flower patch, held out his hands to the girl to ask for the flower, pinched off the flower from the plant, gave the flower to the girl, stooped down and replanted the plant, including firming the soil around it. Then he wiped off his hands, looked at an older man, and calmly asked if he could view the deceased infant one more time before the funeral began. All of that from a six year old boy, calmly gardening and enjoying God's beauty in the face of death, in stark contrast to the adult smoking, wailing, silence, and fussing.

It's an image of huge hope in the God of life even while acknowledging the huge reason to grieve.

It must be another of the many reasons why Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children.

Dear Lord, There are so many challenges and sorrows that come at us each day. Help us, today, to be your children, for that is what we are, so that we may have hope in you in the face of our grief, comfort in the midst of our sorrows, and wisdom and calm in the face of our challenges. Grant this, O LORD, for Jesus' sake. In Jesus' name we ask this. 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

Monday, October 20, 2014

Day of Praise

Mo, 10/20/14, "Day of Praise"

"LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
   Who may live on your holy mountain?" - Psalm 15:1

It's a blessing to have a friend, a true friend, that you can count on through thick and thin. A true friend is also wise because, in knowing you, they are often able to see things about you that you yourself are missing, things that you really need to see.

If such is true for a human being, that they can see things about you that you really need to see but that you yourself are missing, then how much moreso for God.

God, being omniscient (all knowing), can see things about us that are critical for us to see because, God says, some of what God sees about us is destroying our relationships with God and others.

The collective spirit of our country is rapidly going the way of moral relativism, that is, people want to see things the way they want to see them and do things the way they want to do them.

God is looking at our morally relativistic country and saying, "I'm better than a true friend. I'm seeing things that you're not seeing that you really need to see because the way you're going is killing you, and your ways are killing our relationship."

Today's verse from Psalm 15:1 asks the question, "Who can dwell with God?" The rest of the psalm basically gives a description of the "blameless." The "blameless," biblically speaking, are not those who have not sinned, for God tells us plainly that all have sinned. Instead, the blameless are sinners who receive God's word and say, "Please LORD, help me to see what you see so that I may dwell with you."

Our country needs more blameless people. We need more people who will stop asking for a free pass mor"ally", financi"ally", relation"ally", and the rest of the "-ally"s.

And we need more people who will say, "Okay, LORD! Let it start with me! I'm a sinner. My ways don't work. So with the eyes of Jesus and in the strength of Jesus Christ whose righteousness alone makes it possible for me to be in your presence, help me to see what you see that I need to see, and give me your help and strength to amend my life that it may be pleasing in your sight and that I may dwell in your sacred tent, now and forever."

I'm in. What about you?

Here's the whole of the psalm.

Psalm 15 - A psalm of David.
 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
   Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 The one whose walk is blameless,
   who does what is righteous,
   who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
   who does no wrong to a neighbor,
   and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
   but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
   and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
   who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
   will never be shaken.

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, October 18, 2014

Day of Praise

Sa, 10/18/14, "Day of Praise"

"[David prayed to God,] 'When I am in distress, I call to you,
   because you answer me.'" - Psalm 86:7

There aren't many things in life that you can count on 100%.

Truth be told, there's only one.

You can only count on the LORD God 100% of the time.

Martin Luther said that a god is anything in which you put your trust. It's best to put your trust in the LORD God, since you can only count on the LORD God 100% of the time.

Wouldn't you agree that it's foolishness to trust something or somebody you can't rely on 100%? Maybe even madness? But we do it all the time! Aaaaaah, Lord have mercy!

David knew that the Lord does.

Have mercy that is.

That's why David called to the Lord whenever he was in distress. David knew from experience, time and time again, that when he called out, "Lord," that the Lord was present and listening.

Do you?

Not just do you believe, but do you call on the Lord, saying, "Lord," as if he's present and listening?

Try it. You'll be blessed. Because he is.

Happy Saturday! The Lord is present and listening 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

Friday, October 17, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 10/17/14, "Day of Praise"

"And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny." - Mark 12:42 (RSV)

Ya know, sometimes ya just get the blahs. For whatever reason, ya just don't have that bounce in your step. And I have a hunch about that; ya know, why ya get the blahs and all.

I think the reason people get the blahs and lose that bounce in their step is because of the little things. Aaaaaall those little things that have to get done each and every day. Ya gotta, get it on up. Make the bed. Get yourself together, which includes a bundle of little things. Get a bite to eat. Rush out the door. Deal with traffic. And all that's just to get to the start of the million little things at work that you've got going on. And that's a short list if you have kids or aging parents to serve and get going too!

The little things. The myriad of endless little things.

They have the power to knock the wind out of your sails, take the bounce out of your step, and fill your spirit with the blahs.

But they also have the power to change the world.

Yep, it was a little thing, so little that nobody in the world noticed, except for Jesus. Nobody noticed except the Son of the Living God. But so impressed was Jesus by that itsy bitsy little thing that he used it to teach us a majorly big lesson.

About trusting God. About true faith. About finding peace and security in God instead of possessions. About sharing with the poor. About seeing yourself as rich because of God's love instead of less than rich because you still don't have enough stuff.

Jesus taught a big ol giant lesson about all that and more from a little thing. A thing so little that it was worth a penny to the world, a penny that today we don't even stoop down to pick up because it's so worthless.

But to Jesus, well, to Jesus that little worthless penny was worth a big ol praise from God. A pat on the back from THE MASTER of the GREAT BIG GIANT UNIVERSE!!!

So...

The next time you're feeling a little blahsy and the bounce is missin from your step, stop! Just stop and take account of the source. It's probably those little things. A million little things that ya gotta do to get through your day.

And then...

You can take a moment and look again. And see those million little things differently. Like an old widow long ago. Who seized a little thing as an opportunity.

To please the Lord.

And change the world.

It's all in how you choose to see it.

"And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny." - Mark 12:42

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, October 16, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 10/16/14, "Day of Praise"

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5 (NIV)

Have you ever felt small and insignificant?

After days of bad storms, Amanda and I finally got to take our night tour into Dismals Canyon. The whole park is so isolated that it's literally so dark at night that you can't see your hand in front of your face. So add the effect of the canyon depths to the camp darkness, and we couldn't even begin to describe how dark it is.

But shining through the darkness are these little, tiny, invisible-to-the-naked-eye-even-in-the-light creatures called DISMALITES. Our sweeter-than-sweet-tea but tall-as-the-canyon's-Champion-Tree guide, Kevin, and the Dismals Canyon website describe Dismalites this way: "Past twilight the canyon lights up with tiny bioluminescent creatures we call Dismalites. These 'glowworms' require a select habitat to survive and are unique to only a few places on Earth. They are 'close cousins' of the rare glowworms found in Australia and New Zealand."

If I understood correctly, Dismalites are basically the larvae of a rare species of gnat. Again, in sum, they are tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny.

But as tiny as they all may be, as small and insignificant as they all may seem, the light of just one itsy bitsy Dismalite cannot be overcome by the darkness.

Looking at a Dismalite is like looking at a little star, far, far away in a vast, dark, and never-ending universe except the Dismalite is shining through a darkness that's as close as your nose and as close as your hand that you can't see but use to keep from running into the rock in the deep dark canyon.

And no matter how deep the canyon. No matter how isolated the park. No matter how late at night. The darkness cannot overcome the light of a little, tiny, invisible-to-the-naked-eye-even-in-the-light Dismalite.

And that's the way it is with each and every one of our lives.

Ya see friends, when we believe in Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter how small and insignificant we may feel. It doesn't even matter how small and insignificant we actually are. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we have the light of the world dwelling in us and shining through us. And when darkness comes to the lives of our family and friends and neighbors and coworkers, the world has nothing to say because the world is cloaked in darkness. But we who believe have a calm and a peace and a word that brings light to the deepest darkness, calm to the roughest storm, and peace to the neediest soul.

Yes, we are all small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But because of Jesus Christ, we, like a Dismalite, have the power to shine our best when things get toughest for those we're given to love.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5 (NIV)

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, October 14, 2014

Day of Praise

Tu, 10/14/14, "Day of Praise"

"[Jesus said,] 'You are the salt of the earth.'" - Matthew 5:13a

So Amanda and I were driving from Dismals Canyon, where we're staying, to Natural Bridge Park about 30 minutes away. All of this is in the proverbial "middle of nowhere." So when we both noted that we were hungry and wanted to get a bite to eat, there wasn't a whole lot to choose from. Translation, nothing to choose from.

Except "D's Cafe."

So we stopped. Got out of the car. Stepped to the other side of the dog at the door. And went in.

We stopped again.

Empty food warmers. Almost empty food warmers. Along with patrons and employees that time, hygienists, dentists, barbers, and English teachers forgot.

The Holy Spirit whispered, "Come on in."

So we did.

Everything tasted like my Gram Yost's. (That's my mom's late mom, Helen, for whom my sister Cheryl's daughter is named.) To say "Everything tasted like my Gram Yost's" is to say it was all salty. The country fried steak, the gravy, the mashed taters, the green beans, and, especially, the pinto beans, which must've bathed in salt for a week. Even the chocolate pudding and cake had a hint of salt. It's all done that way for the preservin'. Ya know, saltin' it to make sure the food stays good. Until the food warmer's empty, or almost empty. It's the country way.

It's God's way.

Because as salty as the food was, it was nothin' compared to the people. Ya know, the patrons and employees that time, hygienists, dentists, barbers, and English teachers forgot. Country people.

God's people.

People who made sure the hospitality and the care and the interested questions and the "ya' got enough of this, that, or the other?" stayed good. And that my wife got escorted to the clean restroom instead of "the guys' dirty ol' restroom." Until the food warmer's empty, or almost empty. Ya know, until the last people had eaten before closing.

It's the country way.

It's God's way.

Ya know, to be salt. And make sure the goodness and the love is spread around til the end.

"[Jesus said,] 'You are the salt of the earth.'" - Matthew 5:13a

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, October 13, 2014

Day of Praise

Mo, 10/13/14, "Day of Praise"

"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." - Psalm 23:6

Today's verse is a sImple encouragement.

Every shepherd has sheep dogs, right? I love the image that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has two sheep dogs, named "Goodness" and "Mercy". They bring up the rear and make sure that none of the flock stray. The Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the Master of his "sheep dogs" Goodness and Mercy. So "surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." - Psalm 23:6

What a blessed life we share in Jesus.

Have a great day.

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

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Day of Praise

Sa, 10/11/14, "Day of Praise"

"He restores my soul." - Psalm 23:3

Sometimes the luster needs to be restored to the silverware. Sometimes a friendship hits a bump in the road and needs to be restored. Sometimes a picture is misplaced and needs to be restored to its proper place.

Sometimes our souls need to be restored.
Maybe your soul has lost its luster like silverware; it doesn't shine anymore; it's become tainted.

Maybe your soul is broken; a relationship with God or spouse or child or parent or friend or coworker has hit a snag; you're hurting and struggling with the strain.

Maybe your soul has fallen; your self-esteem has taken a hit; you've lost your place at a job or with some people who mean a lot to you.

Who knows?

God knows.

Remember.

The LORD is your shepherd. He knows what you need and when you need it.

He knows when your soul needs to be restored. He knows if it's lost its luster. He knows if it's broken. He knows if it's fallen out of place.

He promises.

He'll restore your soul.

Trust him so you can live today in peace.

And not only peace, he'll also restore your joy!

After all, "He restores my soul!" (Psalm 23:3)

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, October 10, 2014

Day of Praise

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

Knowing that many of you don't read Saturday's devotion until Monday, I'll share with y'all today that Amanda and I are getting married tomorrow, Sat. Oct. 11 in Chattanooga, TN at 12:30 p.m. local time in a small, family ceremony.

For those who don't know, Amanda's last name is Green, so she's becoming Amanda Green DeGreen. You can chuckle because we laughed about the possibility of her name becoming Green DeGreen on the first day we met when we sensed that God had brought our lives together for a very special relationship. We humbly ask for your prayers.

Now, on to the devotion!

"As [David] went, he said: 'O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you--O Absalom, my son, my son!'" - 2 Samuel 18:33

When I was a senior in high school in east Tennessee (Kingsport), the World's Fair was in east Tennessee (Knoxville). One of the fun things at the World's Fair for groups of high school and college students was to make lines.

Lines to nowhere.

All ya did was stand in the middle of a plaza and form a line of 8-20 students or so as if you were in line for some World's Fair exhibit or show. The next thing ya know, there's a couple hundred people from all around the world who had joined the line because they wanted to see the "exhibit" or "show" too. Then the students would just walk away into the crowd, leaving the unwitting crowd to wait in a line for nothing, no exhibit, no show, nothing.

Whose line are you standing in?

According to his flesh, the incarnate Messiah, Jesus, came from the line of David. Of course, David needed a Savior for his sin too, but David is said to have had a "heart for God," which means that he did things as in today's verse, where he weeps over the death of his son, Absalom, the very son, who tried very hard to kill his father, David.

That the Messiah would come from the line of David means that the Messiah would display a perfect "heart for God" and a perfect love for people, even those who would kill him.

To stand in David's line means that we too have a heart for our enemies. For God desires not the death of sinners. God wants not the death of his enemies.

Instead God wants us sinners to be sorry for our sin, then repent, and then believe that God reconciles us to himself when we put our faith in His Son, who we crucified and killed on a cross.

May God lead us so that we do not become the butt of a World's Fair joke and join a line that's going nowhere.

Instead may we be part of a line like David's, that was perfected in Jesus the Christ, where the line is full of "hearts for God," full of loving prayers for enemies, and full of The Way to eternal and everlasting 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

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 10/09/14, "Day of Praise"

"In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom." - 2 Samuel 14:25

All I have to say about today's verse is "So what?" So what if Absalom was handsome?

He was a troublemaker. He made trouble for his peers. He made trouble for women. He made trouble for the authorities. He made trouble for the people. He made trouble for God.

Please dear friends, don't lose heart if you're not as handsome or beautiful as you'd like to be. God's looking at something else in you anyway.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, we read, "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

If you REALLY want to be attractive, work on being attractive to God, which means work on being attractive on the inside of your being.

That's what counts to God. So, that's what counts.

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, October 8, 2014

Day of Praise

We, 10/08/14, "Day of Praise"

"But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him." - 2 Samuel 14:14

It doesn't matter who said it. They are wise words indeed, "God...devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him." - 2 Samuel 14:14

As it was, the wise woman from Tekoa said those words. But she was instructed by wise Joab to say those words. And we would be wise to have such words on the tips of our tongues too.

For such wisdom is a major blessing of the Living God.

Because of sin, we were estranged from God, banished from God's kingdom and
presence.

But God devised a way so that we banished people do not remain banished from God.

Jesus is The Way (John 14:6).

As Absalom was estranged because of his sin, an enemy of King David, but worse, we were estranged because of sin, an enemy of the King, our God.

But the good news is that God devised a way for us enemies of God through the cross and resurrection of Jesus; we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son (Romans 5:10).

And then he sent us, in the strength of the risen Christ, to do the same (2
Corinthians 5:18).

Is someone "banished" from your life? Kept at arms length because they hurt
you? Humble yourself, and ask God for wisdom to be reconciled. It will probably take time and patience, but, through Jesus, God has devised The Way.

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, October 7, 2014

Day of Praise

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

"His attendants asked him, 'Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!'" - 2 Samuel 12:21

How do you meet the day? And how do you meet the things within it?

In today's verse, King David is asked a question that helps us to think about the ways we meet the things that come our way. In sum, it's a puzzle to his servants why David fasts while his child is alive and eats when his child dies.

David's response is a model for us in how to faithfully meet our day. In sum, David is humble in his asking while things are still unfolding and hopeful in God when things have come to conclusion.

The application for us is simply this. Ask God humbly for the way we'd like things to go with the day in general and also with specific things within it. God wants to know your hopes.

Then when specific things are done through the day, like a test or a meeting or a talk, give it to God with hope and trust, and believe that it's in God's hands.

Humble asking and hopeful acceptance.

It's the formula for a wonderful day, regardless the size of the matters.

May your day be so wonderful with 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

Monday, October 6, 2014

Day of Praise

Mo, 10/06/14, "Day of Praise"

"Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted." - 2 Samuel 21:15

Have you ever been exhausted? Just tired to the bone exhausted?

Knowing most of you really well, I know that's a silly question. The question then becomes, "Will it ever end? Will those periods, and for some of you, will the life of exhaustion ever end?"

In today's verse, God's word says that the source of the exhaustion was a battle...another battle.

As I write this, I pause.

I see so many of you. Most of you. Actually, it's taking a while because there's a lot of you, but I see all of you that I know. With each of you, I can remember a time or times that you were exhausted...from battling...again.

The battles that I remember for each of you are different, though some are similar. I remember feeling the burden with you. In many cases, I didn't know what to say.

Ultimately, in every case, we have only one thing to say to one another that really encourages us to persevere...to keep going...to put one foot in front of the other while we have breath...to believe that there is joy awaiting if we will fight the good fight of faith.

One thing encourages us in the face of exhaustion born from another of life's battles.

The name of Jesus.

For in him is Easter. In him is victory over all that exhausts us. Over sin, death, the devil, and the grave.

As the old Easter hymn calls us to sing and believe from the depth of our being::

"The strife is o'er, the battle done.
Now is the victor's triumph won;
Now be the song of praise begun.
Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst, But Christ their legions has dispersed.
Let shouts of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!

The three sad days have quickly sped,
He rises glorious from the dead.
All glory to our risen head!
Alleluia!

He broke the age bound chains of hell;
The bars from heaven's high portals fell.
Let hymns of praise his triumph tell.
Alleluia!

Lord, by the stripes which wounded you
From death's sting free your servants too That we may live and sing to you.
Alleluia!"

Praise God!

(Notes: Hymn #143 from Lutheran Worship, Author: Giovanni P. da Palestrina, Tune: Victory, 1st Published: 1695)

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, October 4, 2014

Day of Praise

Sa, 10/04/14, "Day of Praise"

"Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family." - 1 Chronicles 16:43

Big blessings are full of little things.

In today's verse, David returned home to bless his family. How can we do the same? That is, how can we return home to bless our families? And how do you do it if nobody's there?

The keys are in the touch and in the hands.

In Mark 10:16, we read, "And [Jesus] took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them." In Luke 24:50, we read, "When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them."

The keys are in the touch and in the hands.

Jesus, the Son of God, came into this world and touched us with his hands in appropriate ways. In so doIng, he blessed us. He also lifted up his hands and asked blessings on us. He also stretched out his hands and received the nails of judgment for our sin so that we might believe and be blessed.

Christianity is not just a religion. It's a lifestyle. God raised Jesus Christ to touch us daily with blessing by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God gave all of us hands so that we would use them to bless, genuinely being for everyone, acknowledging their existence with a spirit of kindness, and maybe even touching them on the hand or shoulder if it can be done appropriately. Decades ago, some people helped me realize how important it is to others, when we enter a room, especially in our home, that we walk around and touch as many as possible with a word or handshake or hug.

May God bless the work of your hands today. May God bless those that you touch in Jesus' name.

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, October 3, 2014

Day of Praise

Fr, 10/03/14, "Day of Praise"

My daughters are coming home today, Friday, from college for the weekend. It reminded me of a very special Good Friday reflection that my daughter, Calley, wrote a couple years ago for her blog www.voguemind.blogspot.com on Good Friday, April 6, 2012.

Enjoy. Be blessed. And praise God! Calley wrote:

The PASSION

If only I could capture in words what has been done here. But our language is so ineffective at communicating the Glory of the CROSS. That's because it's made by man.

This is so crazy to me. Think about this. I will NEVER EVER EVER IN A BILLION MILLION YEARS begin to fathom the tiniest inkling of Jesus Christ's great love for me or the significance of HIS DEATH as it pertains to my real life, the LIFE WITH MY GOD. It's just impossible. Ok, so Jesus knew that. He knew I was incapable of grasping my own need to be sanctified. That I didn't even know I wasn't living. That all my futile attempts to make atonement were just that, futile. He knew all this.

AND HE WENT AND DIED ON THE CROSS ANYWAY. Not anyway, actually more like BECAUSE.

I don't mean to be yelling this. I am emphasizing those words. So it's not an angry raising of the voice. How could it be? It's an "I'm in absolute awe and I want everyone else to be" emphasizing voice.

It gets crazier. Further beyond belief.

Now that He bought me, HE asks one thing that I give to HIM in return, since I owe HIM all now. He asks for my broken and contrite heart. He asks for me.

I don't know if any of y'all feel this way, but I don't feel in any way shape or form worthy to give myself to a KING. Or my baggage. My pain. My confusion, shame, sorrow, chaos, anger, etc. ad nauseum. Why is that fair? Why does HE give himself and then take on my BAD?

My mind is just not comprehending.

I have never felt a more beautiful gracing moment. What can compare? That question can't even be asked.

What is keeping me from running down the concourse, calling all my friends, and knocking on every neighbor's door? The same thing that put my SAVIOR ON THE CROSS in the first place.

I beseech you brothers and sisters. Stop and realize that we have been bought. The price has been paid. You, I AM REDEEMED. And I continue to be made new. Even more often than every day. Because God's gift goes beyond the constraints of earthly timing. It's more than every instant. Life is here. It is here.

Woah.

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, October 2, 2014

Day of Praise

Th, 10/02/14, "Day of Praise"

"Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
   for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
   until the disaster has passed." -
Psalm 57:1

I hope you enjoy Bible study. it's important.

Take today's Bible verse and one key phrase within it: "I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings."

Not everybody does..."take refuge in the shadow of God's wings" that is.

Study it.

Study the words "shadow" and "shade" in the Bible. It's like studying "darkness."

God's word in the Bible says that there are two responses when "shadows" or "shade" or "darkness" come someone's way.

The unbeliever says, "See, you can't see God, therefore there is no God."

The believer says, "God has me covered; that's why there's a shadow." As in Psalm 17:8, "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." The believer, in essence, receives "shadows" and "darkness" as a privileged place, a place where they're the "apple of God's eye," which means "the desire of God's eye" and the love of God's heart.

That's radical faith.

We all taste "darkness" and "shadows" and "shade" in this world. Dear God, please give us some of that radical faith to go with it so that we, like David and ultimately like Jesus on the cross, might find "refuge in the shadow of your wings." 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

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Day of Praise

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

"So Saul asked God, 'Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel's hand?' But God did not answer him that day." - 1 Samuel 14:37

Have you ever asked God a question, and God did not answer?

You're not alone.

Job didn't get an answer from God. In Job 30:20, he says, "I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me."

The Psalmist didn't get an answer from God. In Psalm 22:2, he says, "My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest."

But, even when God seems silent, there is a promise for us to hold.

Through Zechariah the prophet, in Zechariah 10:6, God has promised us this, "I will strengthen...and save...I will restore...because I have compassion...I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them."

God's promise to answer is given to those who trust the LORD. Jesus puts it this way in John 8:47, "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says."

And those who belong to God are those who believe what Jesus said earlier in John 8:33-34. He says that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. In other words, we must be redeemed, bought back, from the power of sin. Jesus also says there that it's only through faith in his redeeming work that we're set free from sin so we can know the truth of God.

So then recognizing your need, believing in Jesus, and believing in his redeeming work for you on the cross, you are given a promise to hold while you wait for God to answer your prayer. In 2 Kings 20:5, "This is what the LORD...says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you."

So, where does that leave us? Try this on for size. The original question we asked today was this, "Have you ever asked God a question, and God did not answer?"

And what God's word teaches us is this: For those who trust in the LORD, though we may still be waiting for a specific answer, there's a definite promise for us to hold, "I am the LORD and I will answer. I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you."

Let us be found believing!

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