We, 12/31/14, Last day of 2014, 7th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." - Revelation 22:20-21
Thus ends the Bible book of Revelation. Thus ends the Bible. And thus ends our year.
With God's promise.
With our eagerness for God to come to us through Jesus.
And with our prayer for God's grace to be with all people in Christ.
May God grant us the same in the year ahead.
I personally thank you all for your fellowship in Christ, your partnership in Day of Praise, and your eagerness both to know God and also to share God's Word with others.
By God's grace, see ya next year!
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Day of Praise
Tu, 12/30/14, 6th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise" -
Matthew 1:20-21 - "But as [Joseph] considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'"
I remember a time I was putting my socks on. Ya know, one foot on the floor, and one foot lifted up. Like a flamingo. That lost its balance. And fell over. It hurt. But not too much because, on the way down, I was laughing because I knew I'd tell y'all.
But no puttin'-on-your-socks fall could ever hurt as much as Joseph and Mary knowing from Day One that they were giving birth to a child who had a lot of pain coming his way so he could "save his people from their sins."
The only way a parent could endure such sorrow is by ultimately remembering that every child 1) comes from God, 2) belongs to God, 3) is meant to personally know God, and 4) finds peace in every sorrow through a relationship with God.
Hey, Gang, the sooner we help children know God personally through Jesus, (and they can know him well before Kindergarten), then the easier it is on everybody.
Furthermore, in Proverbs 6:16, we hear that "there are six things that the Lord hates." You can look them up if you like. Bottom line is that I'm pretty sure we've all done at least one of the six. And in light of that reality, let's use the 6th Day of Christmas as another day to thank God for what we hear in today's Bible verses in Matthew 1. Let's thank God for sending Jesus to "save his people from their sins." And, if we remember how God sees us all as his children who belong to him, then we all can be thankful that we're "his people" whom he saves.
So, ok, y'all have a great day! Merry Christmas Day #6! And be blessed in spreading the 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
Matthew 1:20-21 - "But as [Joseph] considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'"
I remember a time I was putting my socks on. Ya know, one foot on the floor, and one foot lifted up. Like a flamingo. That lost its balance. And fell over. It hurt. But not too much because, on the way down, I was laughing because I knew I'd tell y'all.
But no puttin'-on-your-socks fall could ever hurt as much as Joseph and Mary knowing from Day One that they were giving birth to a child who had a lot of pain coming his way so he could "save his people from their sins."
The only way a parent could endure such sorrow is by ultimately remembering that every child 1) comes from God, 2) belongs to God, 3) is meant to personally know God, and 4) finds peace in every sorrow through a relationship with God.
Hey, Gang, the sooner we help children know God personally through Jesus, (and they can know him well before Kindergarten), then the easier it is on everybody.
Furthermore, in Proverbs 6:16, we hear that "there are six things that the Lord hates." You can look them up if you like. Bottom line is that I'm pretty sure we've all done at least one of the six. And in light of that reality, let's use the 6th Day of Christmas as another day to thank God for what we hear in today's Bible verses in Matthew 1. Let's thank God for sending Jesus to "save his people from their sins." And, if we remember how God sees us all as his children who belong to him, then we all can be thankful that we're "his people" whom he saves.
So, ok, y'all have a great day! Merry Christmas Day #6! And be blessed in spreading the 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
Monday, December 29, 2014
4th Day of Christmas Day of Praise
Many of you asked for it, so I'm sending it to everybody. :-)
4th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"
"Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, 'Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.'" - Revelation 4:6-8
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four living creatures that are talked about in today's verses from Revelation and in the Bible book of Ezekiel.
The symbolism here is simple and amazing, or, shall we say, simply amazing. So, knowing there's always more we could say, let's keep it simple.
First, in the Bible, multiples of four always have to do with God's work to increase faith, especially 4, 8, 12, 24, 40, 400, and 4,000, as in 40 years of wilderness for the Israelites and Jesus feeding the 4,000.
Second, four is also the number of the earth and all humanity, as in all people from all four corners of the earth: north, south, east, and west.
And, third, four is the number of Gospel books in the Bible, as in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, where the Gospels are traditionally associated with the lion, ox, man, and eagle that are spoken of in today's Bible verses. The matching of the pairs varied amongst the now-famous early Christians: Irenaeus, Augustine, and Jerome.
If you put the last three paragraphs together, this is what you get: God wants faith in the good news of Jesus, which is known as the Gospel, to be built up in all the earth and to touch all creatures of land, sea, and air. This is prophesied by God in Isaiah 65:25 and 11:6, saying, "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." The "little child," of course, is fulfilled in Christmas, the birth of the baby Jesus.
Merry Christmas Day #4! May God build up your faith through the good news of Jesus so that you know God's powerful and peaceful presence wherever you go over all the earth.
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
Since yesterday, the 4th Day of Christmas was a Sunday, I didn't send it out, but if you'd like me to send you a Day of Praise on the 4th Day of Christmas, then just hit "reply" and request it, and I will send it to you.
Here's today's DoP.
Mo, 12/29/14, 5th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"
"A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days." - Revelation 12:1-6
Jesus was born into a violent world.
One of my brothers-in-law once told me how he was threatened by two guys with knives just outside of his young daughter's dance studio in their nice town in broad daylight. Fortunately, police got there and made the arrest.
I also once saw a nicely dressed mom who was about to throw a punch at her young adult daughter in a parking lot while the "mom's guy" just stood there watching. My momentary stop-and-stare seemed to ease the tension.
Furthermore, on the way to visit my parents and siblings one time, in the time it took me to drive from one end of a city to the other, the interstate message board said there were two more driving fatalities.
Jesus was born into a violent world.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my truest love gave to me (and you and all who will receive him), his five identifiable wounds in his hands and side and feet, not counting countless wounds on his head from a crown of thorns and on his back from unspeakably brutish, Roman torture tools.
Jesus was born into a violent world then. He wants to be born in the hearts of all of us today because we still live in a violent world today.
He is the Prince of Peace. True and lasting peace.
Have courage, dear friends, in a world filled with violence. Have courage and tell others about Jesus.
In him alone will the world find peace.
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, December 27, 2014
HELP Day of Praise in a couple of ways
Dear Day of Praise friends,
Brace yourself! I'm getting a new phone, which means that my Blackberry will go the way of all Blackberrys, namely, to the dinosaur bones pile.
In transferring my data from one phone to another over the next few days, I have saved my contacts, but I'm unable to save the groups of contacts. Therefore, I'll be manually recreating the groups from your contact info that I have.
You can help me in a few ways. First, if you don't get the devotion in the near future and you still want it, then both please know it's a mistake in my re-creation of groups and also email me and tell me so I can correct my mistake.
Second, if you want to un-subscribe, please tell me, and I won't put you back in a group. I also won't be offended. I love you all as dear friends in Christ whether you receive the devotion or not.
And finally, on a slightly different note but still a way you can help me, I need to know your interest in the first Day of Praise book that is completely done. It's titled "60 Days of Praise! Devotional". It's 200+ pages, will sell for $16.99, and every penny of my profits will go to long-term missions.
The best way to make the most money for missions is for you to buy the book directly from me because of the author's price that I get from the publisher. The second best way is to buy it from the publisher's website. The worst way to make money for missions is to buy it through Amazon because of their fees.
I have a meeting with my accountant next week to set up the accounting process to maximize the money for missions.
For those who order from me, we expect that $8.50 from each book will go to missions, if you don't need it mailed to you. Those mailed from me to you will have the additional mailing expense per book.
The timing of the first printing should be such that you can have the book(s) in hand by the end of February if not sooner.
What I need from you specifically is the number of books that you definitely want to buy through me. I'm planning on ordering 300 to begin with, which should make over $2,000 for missions to start with. But obviously, the amount raised depends on the amount sold, and I don't want to overbuy and have 200+ books sitting in my garage.
So please help me make some money for missions by making a good faith commitment and telling me how many, if any, you'd like to buy through me and we'll get the first printing started in the next two weeks!
Thank you all!
And Praise God!
Chris
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Day of Praise
Sa, 12/27/14, The 3rd Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"
"John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from
him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who
are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the
firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." -
Revelation 1:4-5
So, what are French Hens anyway? Ya know, "on the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to meeeeeee, three French Hens."
Well, I have fun learning something everyday as I try to have something to say to all of you. In this case, I learned that, although we usually think of French Hens as being a French female chicken, a hen commonly refers to any of the following female animals: chicken, other poultry, game bird, octopus, or lobster.
And if a hen can be any of those things, I wonder, then, if, by three French Hens, the songwriter meant "three female octopuses off the coast of France." Ya think? And while we're doing random trivia, there are three words for the plural of octopus; they are octopuses, octopi, and octopodes.
Anyway, in the continued spirit of randomness, many of us Christians love the thing about the "12 Days of Christmas" song being a symbol for Christian teaching, which makes the Three French Hens symbolize the Trinity or the Wise Men or the days Jonah was in the whale or the days Jesus was in the
grave or some of the other three things.
Aaaaanyway, the always trustworthy internet tool, Wikipedia (smiley face, y'all), tells us this about The Twelve Days of Christmas song being a tool of Christian teaching. Wikipedia says, "A bit of modern folklore falsely claims that the song's lyrics were written as a catechism song to help young Catholics learn their faith, at a time when practicing Catholicism was criminalized in England (1558 until 1829). There is no primary evidence supporting this claim, and no evidence that the claim is historical, or
'anything but a fanciful modern day speculation.' The theory is of relatively recent origin. It was first suggested by Canadian English teacher and hymnologist Hugh D. McKellar in a short article, 'How to Decode the Twelve Days of Christmas,' published in 1979. In a later article published in the music journal The Hymn, he reiterates that the associations are his. The idea was further popularized by a Catholic priest, Fr. Hal Stockert, in an article he wrote in 1982 and posted online in 1995."
Sooooo, since there's no consensus out there as to what French Hens represent and since I'm writing this Day of Praise in a random sort of way, then I'm gonna throw in my proverbial two cents about the whole three French Hens thing.
On this third day of Christmas, I personally think the three French Hens
should have something to do with the three things that God says Jesus is in
one of today's Bible verses: "Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5).
Got it?
Jesus is:
1 - the faithful witness,
2 - the firstborn of the dead, and
3 - the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Now, I may not be the sharpest tool in the toolshed, but, if Jesus is those three things, then I figure that he's kinda in charge. After all, he's got The Truth (faithful witness), The Victory (firstborn of the dead), and The Throne (ruler of the kings of the earth). And anybody who's got The Truth, and The Victory, and The Throne must be in charge.
And that being said, we can all stop worrying about French Hens and put our
minds to rest knowing that Jesus has French Hens and everything else under
control.
As they say, "It's all good, because God is good...all the time."
Merry Christmas, Day #3!
And don't forget...
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, December 26, 2014
Day of Praise
Fr, 12/26/14, The 2nd Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"
"We write this to make our joy complete." - 1 John 1:4
Weeks of preparation, and in one day, well, what happened to "Joy to the World"? Where did it go? Where did all the joy go?
We're not talking about forgiveness of sin and salvation from the power of sin and death. We have such forgiveness and salvation because of what Jesus has done for us, which becomes ours through faith. We are not talking about forgiveness and salvation.
We are talking about joy. The Bible is talking about joy. God is talking about joy.
Where did all the joy go?
Well, it's in our hands.
And in our hearts.
And in our words.
And in our deeds.
Jesus was born to be with us.
He was born to live in us.
So if we don't let him out, if we don't share him with others, then the joy of Jesus is snuffed out within us, like a fire that has no air. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, God says that to snuff out the joy of Jesus is to "quench the Spirit."
In the New International Version of the Holy Bible, there are only seven places that talk about a "joy" that is "complete." And in every single one of them, God says that the joy we have in Jesus and God's life-giving work becomes complete only when it is a reality between two parties. It cannot stay in one and become complete. Joy in Jesus grows as it flows from one to another.
In other words, we sing "Joy to the World" because God wants us to take it to the world, to pass it along from one party to another, by
1 - celebrating God's love in worship together (Deuteronomy 16:15),
2 - listening for God together (John 3:29),
3 - telling of Jesus to others (John 15:11),
4 - asking from and praying to God for others (John 16:24),
5 - sharing the love and purpose of Jesus together (Philippians 2:2),
6 - writing of Jesus' love to others (1 John 1:4), and
7 - visiting with others and talking about Jesus (2 John 1:12).
These are the seven Biblical ways that Jesus gets "aired out" so that both the fire of his love can grow in us with others and also our joy together in him becomes complete.
It's only the second day of Christmas. Let's take seriously but also have fun taking both Jesus and His "Joy to the World."
"We write this to make our joy complete." - 1 John 1:4
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Day of Praise
Dec 25, Christmas Day, "Day of Praise"
Merry Christmas to all of you around the country and beyond!
Here's the rest of the story of the first Christmas from Luke 2:6-20...
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave
birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the
angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has
been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You
will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to
one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was
lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word
concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it
were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all
these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,
which were just as they had been told.
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
Merry Christmas to all of you around the country and beyond!
Here's the rest of the story of the first Christmas from Luke 2:6-20...
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave
birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the
angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has
been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You
will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to
one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was
lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word
concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it
were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all
these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,
which were just as they had been told.
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, December 24, 2014
Day of Praise
Wednesday, December 24, 2014, Christmas Eve, "Day of Praise"
Luke 2:1-5
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
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
Luke 2:1-5
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
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, December 23, 2014
Day of Praise
Tu, 12/23/14, "Day of Praise"
"No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." - Jeremiah 31:34
In today's verse, God foresees a day when all people will know the LORD. It is God's vision. It is what God is working towards.
A major aspect of people knowing the LORD is that people will know that God "will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." It is God's vision that relationships will truly be healed in a way that only God can heal them.
This knowing of God by all people and this knowing of God's forgiveness and healing is tied to the Word of God through Jesus in John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
In sum, the best life, eternal life, is directly tied to knowing God, to knowing the Son of God who is Jesus, and to knowing God's forgiveness of our sin through Jesus.
This is God's vision. It is God's goal. It is what God is working towards everyday by the power of the Holy Spirit because God wants everyone to have the best life, that is, eternal life.
What about us? What are we working towards everyday? Maybe the weekend is our goal. Maybe a sales record is our goal. Maybe a bigger house. Maybe a new car. Maybe having a child. Or getting the children through college.
Those things are a part of life in this world to be sure. But there is so much more. So much more.
God wants us to know Him, the LORD, the Master of the Universe, the Sovereign over all Creation, where scientists now think there are over 140 BILLION galaxies, each of which has over 100 BILLION stars. And GOD uses that creation as a footstool!!!
Big Amazing God has a goal, a vision, a desire that He works towards everyday. He wants us to know Him, His Son, His forgiveness, His healing, and the Best Life that He alone has to give.
Jeremiah, the prophet, worked everyday, in everything he did, he worked with a burden for all people to know God and God's vision. Later St. Paul and many others did the same. Jesus died for the same.
Is there room in our day for God's vision? Is there room in our day for God? If the best life is knowing God and all His benefits, what is the life that barely thinks of Him? What is the life that rarely worships Him? What is the life that cares not to serve Him by sharing His vision with all people in the things we say and do to others everyday?
God wants so much for us. God wants us to know Him and the best life, eternal life, and God works everyday to that end.
What do you want? What are you working for? Think about it. There's probably more waiting for you than what you're claiming.
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, December 22, 2014
Day of Praise
Mo, 12/22/14, "Day of Praise"
"[God] said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.' As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." -- Ezekiel 2:1-2
There is a person in our church who, every week, every Sunday, says, "I almost didn't come today, but I'm glad I did because now I feel better."
Simple question, Why? Why do they feel better? How does that work?
Simple answer, God's Word is God's way to fill us with His Spirit and raise us up. That's what is plainly said in today's Bible verses through Ezekiel.
If you don't want to feel empty and down, go to church and do other things like read your Bible and talk to others about Jesus and tell others how Jesus died for them and whatever it takes to hang out with God and His Word.
God's Word is God's way to fill us with His Spirit and raise us up.
Everyday.
"[God] said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.' As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." -- Ezekiel 2:1-2
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
"[God] said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.' As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." -- Ezekiel 2:1-2
There is a person in our church who, every week, every Sunday, says, "I almost didn't come today, but I'm glad I did because now I feel better."
Simple question, Why? Why do they feel better? How does that work?
Simple answer, God's Word is God's way to fill us with His Spirit and raise us up. That's what is plainly said in today's Bible verses through Ezekiel.
If you don't want to feel empty and down, go to church and do other things like read your Bible and talk to others about Jesus and tell others how Jesus died for them and whatever it takes to hang out with God and His Word.
God's Word is God's way to fill us with His Spirit and raise us up.
Everyday.
"[God] said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.' As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." -- Ezekiel 2:1-2
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Day of Praise
Sa, 12/20/14, "Day of Praise"
"The LORD said to Moses,..'A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son...must wait thirty-three days to be purified...If she gives birth to a daughter...sixty-six days'" -
Leviticus 12:1-5
I know that people are different, but sometimes they're tragically different. As in today's verses.
I know a pastor who used today's verses to tell his congregation that the Bible was archaic, antiquated, and anachronistic. So, he said, you don't have to take it seriously, let alone believe it. He left behind an F-5 sized path of destruction of people's faith.
But praise God that people are different, sometimes refreshingly different. As in today's verses.
I know a pastor who used today's verses to tell his congregation that the Bible was inspired by the One True Living God over 2,500 years in multiple languages on multiple continents through multiple authors about multiple topics to multiple audiences and through all that pointed to one man, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son, the Living Word of the Living God, which must be a divine pointing to one man because the odds of such are like one in an inconceivable number that is illustrated in Josh McDowell's book, "More Than a Carpenter." This pastor, as God's word says, also needed Jesus to die for his sin, but, upon his death, he left behind a legacy of numerous believers who endured difficulty with confidence in God because, though God's word may seem archaic, antiquated, and anachronistic to begin with, if you'll "wrestle with it" (the literal meaning of "Israel") and live it, so it can prove itself, then you'll see not only its relevance to today but also its life-giving power.
Kinda like Jesus of Nazareth, the One to whom all scripture miraculously points, "wrestling with" the word of the Father in Gethsemane, living it all the way to the cross, letting it prove itself, prove its relevance to today, and its life-giving power, which raised him from the dead. (Check out Lee Strobel's book, "The Case for Christ.")
Oh, by the way, today's verses are health laws to be sure, but they are reminders to moms and families when a child is born that the first 33 days for a boy and 66 days for a girl are critical for bonding with mom.
Don't make scripture hard. Read it. Believe it. And (drum roll) you'll see how wonderfully true and relevant and powerful and life-giving it is.
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, December 19, 2014
Day of Praise
Fr, 12/19/14, "Day of Praise"
"'they could save only themselves by their righteousness,' declares the Sovereign LORD." - Ezekiel 14:14
Today is a simple, straightforward teaching, calling each person to surrender to the work of God's Holy Spirit in your heart.
For the Holy Spirit of the Living God wills to work a faith in you that believes that God loves you and makes the way for you to have peace both with God and also with all people who believe.
Such belief, such faith, that yields to God's work in us and trusts God's work for us, is one of the most critical teachings of the Judeo-Christian heritage.
Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-10) Faith is not our own work.
Faith does not save us. Faith instead receives the God who, through Christ Jesus, saves us.
God saves. God works faith in us that God saves. God calls us to surrender to God's work and believe that God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, namely, makes us right with God. This is called the "right"eousness of faith.
Here are some Bible passages to consider on this critical teaching. Meditate on one of them, and let God's word bless you today and forever.
Romans 1:17
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 3:21
[ Righteousness Through Faith ] But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
Romans 3:22
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
Romans 3:25
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-
Romans 3:26
he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 4:5
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:9
Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness.
Romans 4:11
And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
Romans 4:13
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Romans 9:30
[Israel's Unbelief ] What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
Romans 10:6
But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)
Galatians 5:5
For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.
Philippians 3:9
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
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, December 18, 2014
Day of Praise
Th, 12/18/14, "Day of Praise"
"The word of the LORD came to [Ezekiel]: 'Therefore say: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again."'" - Ezekiel 11:14,17
Have you ever done something where the next thing you said was, "Oops, I'm dead"?
I was about seven and, on this particular day, bored. So I went to the garage, got a wiffle ball and bat, and went to the front yard.
My older brother, Ben, for whatever reason being unavailable, was not there to throw me the ball. So I threw the ball to myself, which obviously means I tossed it straight up. When the ball came down I swung, and it went right back where it came from, that is, straight up...and, well, back.
Ya see, if ya don't know, wiffle balls can spin like crazy and curve in all sorts of directions...like straight towards your parents' large bedroom window.
And when wiffle balls start spinning, they can continue to spin like there's no tomorrow, even when they meet an object...like your parents' large bedroom window.
A wiffle ball!?!? It shattered that window like the old "is it live or is it Memorex?" glass.
Oops, I'm dead.
Remember, there is no older brother around, so there's no older brother to blame. No sirree; it's all on me.
I was so traumatized at my impending death, (I mean it was a window, that to a seven year old seemed like it would surely cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars to repair) that I don't even remember how my parents found out. I don't know maybe it was unusually cold in their bedroom that night and they followed the icicles.
But, however they found out, something tells me that they knew who (me) and what (wiffle ball) before I stopped cryin' and wonderin' how much longer I had to live.
All I know is I paid nothing for the window. No money. No spankin'. Not even a line-up and questioning of all four kids.
My parents paid the whole price. And gave me back my life again. (Not that they themselves ever took it away.)
I think I do remember them asking me to find a spot in our nice-sized yard that was a little farther from the windows whenever I had an inkling to play wiffle ball by myself, but otherwise, they never took an ounce of life or even pride away from me.
It's kind of like God to His children in today's Bible verse. We get bored. Do something stupid. Break something (like a relationship). Say, "Oops, I'm dead."
And God pays the whole price, as the Son of God loses his life on the cross and gives us our life back again through the forgiveness of sins.
Hopefully, we remember God asking us to play differently the next time, but otherwise, God really doesn't want to take an ounce of life or even pride away from us.
Huh, interesting...the things we can learn about God from a wiffle ball and a big dose of loving parents, family, or friends.
Something's gonna break today. Spread the love, people. Spread the 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
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Day of Praise
We, 12/17/14, "Day of Praise"
"Only the poorest people of the land were left." - 2 Kings 24:14
The happiest person in my high school class of just over 400 students was the poorest one of them all.
Furthermore, she had no network of friends that any of us could tell. She had no outward beauty. She had no athletic skills. She was definitely not a leading student. She wasn't musical or artistic. I trust you'd assume that her clothes were clothes of the poor--clean, but worn out.
I'm ashamed to say that I really don't know exactly what she believed, but I do know she always went to church.
And I do know that I heard God's voice in my ear and I felt God's hand touch my heart when, everyday, she would walk towards me, smile at me (with her buck teeth and all), and say, "Hi, Chris!"
The day we graduated, she came to me with her greasy hair, plain face, and what looked as always like a bed sheet dress, and she thanked me for being her best friend.
I felt like the richest young man in the world...
...because the happiest person in my high school class of just over 400 students considered me to be her best friend.
I'm pretty sure that all I ever did to earn that honor was smile at her, greet her, and call her by name.
As I recall it, such honoring was modeled by my mom and dad. Though mom lives six hours away and my dad died in March, I'm guessing my mom still speaks to everyone, especially the poor.
I remember mom taking me to a nursing home to visit people. I remember visiting a shack in the mountains that was filled with "pets" and their food and their waste; it was disgusting; and yet my mom kept her eyes on the people and talked to them, and in so doing encouraged me to do the same.
God does special things through the poor.
Maybe it's because the poor have nothing special except God.
In today's Bible reading, the foreign king, Nebuchadnezzar, took Jehoiachin, the king of "God's people", and all the leading citizens and all the treasure to Babylon so that "Only the poorest people of the land were left." (2 Kings 24:14)
Maybe it's because the poor have nothing special except God that God chose to start creation with poor people, to start a nation with poor people, to save the world from sin with a poor man, to tell the world of its salvation through a man who became poor, and to tell all who would listen, "Blessed are not just the poor in spirit" (Gospel of Matthew) but also "Blessed are the poor" (Gospel of Luke).
The happiest person in my high school class of just over 400 students was the poorest one of them all.
Think about 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
We, 12/17/14, "Day of Praise"
"Only the poorest people of the land were left." - 2 Kings 24:14
The happiest person in my high school class of just over 400 students was the poorest one of them all.
Furthermore, she had no network of friends that any of us could tell. She had no outward beauty. She had no athletic skills. She was definitely not a leading student. She wasn't musical or artistic. I trust you'd assume that her clothes were clothes of the poor--clean, but worn out.
I'm ashamed to say that I really don't know exactly what she believed, but I do know she always went to church.
And I do know that I heard God's voice in my ear and I felt God's hand touch my heart when, everyday, she would walk towards me, smile at me (with her buck teeth and all), and say, "Hi, Chris!"
The day we graduated, she came to me with her greasy hair, plain face, and what looked as always like a bed sheet dress, and she thanked me for being her best friend.
I felt like the richest young man in the world...
...because the happiest person in my high school class of just over 400 students considered me to be her best friend.
I'm pretty sure that all I ever did to earn that honor was smile at her, greet her, and call her by name.
As I recall it, such honoring was modeled by my mom and dad. Though mom lives six hours away and my dad died in March, I'm guessing my mom still speaks to everyone, especially the poor.
I remember mom taking me to a nursing home to visit people. I remember visiting a shack in the mountains that was filled with "pets" and their food and their waste; it was disgusting; and yet my mom kept her eyes on the people and talked to them, and in so doing encouraged me to do the same.
God does special things through the poor.
Maybe it's because the poor have nothing special except God.
In today's Bible reading, the foreign king, Nebuchadnezzar, took Jehoiachin, the king of "God's people", and all the leading citizens and all the treasure to Babylon so that "Only the poorest people of the land were left." (2 Kings 24:14)
Maybe it's because the poor have nothing special except God that God chose to start creation with poor people, to start a nation with poor people, to save the world from sin with a poor man, to tell the world of its salvation through a man who became poor, and to tell all who would listen, "Blessed are not just the poor in spirit" (Gospel of Matthew) but also "Blessed are the poor" (Gospel of Luke).
The happiest person in my high school class of just over 400 students was the poorest one of them all.
Think about 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
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Day of Praise
Tu, 12/16/14, "Day of Praise"
"I warned you when you felt secure,
but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth;
you have not obeyed me." - Jeremiah 22:21
There is a young boy, not my son, whose father is not around. Even when the father was physically present, his heart and mind were elsewhere.
This boy, whose physical father has been distant at best, comes to our 5pm Sunday worship. He likes to sit next to me in worship. And whatever I do in worship, he does.
If I stand in worship to sing, he stands. If I lean forward to listen more intently, he leans. If I bow my head in prayer, he bows.
Though children do indeed sometimes act like children because after all they are children, God made children to want to learn of God from parents and parent-like adults. God made children to want to learn from their parents how to worship and pray and live in the Lord.
In today's Bible verse, God makes a direct connection between what Jehoiakim does now (i.e. not listen) and what he did as a "youth".
God makes this direct connection with the training of youth and their practices as adults.
What will they know of God? It depends on what they were trained as youth.
Will they value worship? It depends on what priorities they were trained with as youth.
Will they have a daily relationship with the everlasting God or be like the guy who once told me that he might think of God once every two or three weeks? It depends on what a child is trained to set his/her heart on daily when they're young.
I'll say it again, though children do indeed sometimes act like children because after all they are children, God made children to want to learn of God from parents and parent-like adults. God made children to want to learn from their parents how to worship and pray and live in the Lord.
Look at your child, if you have one. Today's Tuesday, what you teach them about the presence of God today is at least as important as also going to worship with them this Sunday.
If you do not have your own child or maybe they're grown, be like Jim who has been Leonard's Big Brother for years. Leonard was born very different from Jim. But when you're around Leonard, it feels like you're around Jim. Leonard is learning about a daily relationship with God from Jim. It shows.
God makes a direct connection with the training of youth and their practices as adults.
This is why God speaks to youth in Ecclesiastes 12:1, saying, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'"
This is why God speaks to adults in Proverbs 22:6, saying, "Train up a child in (or as one translation has it "Start children off on") the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
Dear God, you have made the connections clear between what we teach and train the children in our world to value and to practice and what they will do as adults. You are present every single day, offering life, worship, forgiveness, guidance, and conversation with you. Help us as adults to joyfully learn to walk with you daily and to boldly invite the children in our homes and communities to do the same. 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, December 15, 2014
Day of Praise
Mo, 12/15/14, "Day of Praise"
"Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: 'He will have no one to sit on the throne of David...because they have not listened.'" - Jeremiah 36:30-31
Listening is critical in every relationship, but listening is most critical in our relationship with God.
It works like this.
To listen is for one party to receive a word or words from another party. So to listen is to receive a word.
In the beginning of the Gospel of John, chapter 1, if we listen, God tells us that His Word is His Son. Jesus is the Living Word of God.
So, to listen to God, to receive God's Word, is to receive Jesus Christ.
Listening to God and therefore receiving Christ is critical because through Christ alone can we have a right relationship with God. Through Christ alone can we have peace with God. This is true because Christ alone took on human flesh and had no sin. NONE! So Christ's death on the cross was not for his sin, but his death was for our sin.
So when we listen to God, we are listening to God's Word. When we listen to God's Word, we are listening to Christ. When we listen to Christ, we are receiving Christ into our being. When we receive Christ, we are receiving all of Christ, including his work. When we receive Christ's work, it includes his saving work on the cross, where he pays the penalty for our sin because he himself had no sin to pay for.
In sum, to listen to God is to receive and be filled with God's Word, who is Jesus Christ. You are filled with both the person of Jesus and also the saving work of Jesus. God fills us with Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. A Spirit-filled life is a life filled with Jesus.
This also explains why you feel empty when you don't listen to God's word by not worshiping God and not spending time with God in the reading and study of His word and not living with God by not living according to His word.
It all fits together.
And this is very simply why, in today's verse, God says what God says. When you listen to God, you receive His Son, Jesus Christ, and all his benefits. When you don't listen to God...well, you don't receive His Son, Jesus Christ, so it's impossible to receive his benefits, like forgiveness, peace, courage, wisdom, and everlasting life. God's trying to give his word and its benefits to everyone, but tragically, not everyone is receiving them because not everyone is listening.
This is why some people are so passionate about telling God's Word to others. In sum, lives are at stake. And because lives are at stake, some people are so passionate about telling God's Word to others that they're willing to lose a lot, maybe even everything, for telling it.
Please, please, please...receive God by listening to God's Word; worship God; live in God. And encourage others to do the same.
We will be blessed in listening, so may God be praised for speaking His Word of 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
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Day of Praise
Sa, 12/13/14, "Day of Praise"
"'I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD." - Jeremiah 9:24
Happy Saturday! For many of you, today is a day for "exercise." A day for getting active with a jog around the neighborhood or getting things done around the house.
God likes to "exercise" and get active too. Actually, in today's verse, God says he "delights" in exercise.
And it's a good thing.
Because, according to God in all the other verses in today's Bible reading, God has lots of chances to exercise. Lots of chances to exercise "kindness, justice and righteousness on earth."
Just yesterday, God exercised kindness on a man who is grieving, a young dad in a horrific car accident, a woman with speculative cancer surgery, a woman in the hospital, and a woman with heart tests. God exercised justice on a local situation that had gotten out of hand. And God exercised righteousness, well, in more souls than there is room here to list.
That's a lot of exercising in one day...and that's just through the lens of one man in one place. How much more throughout your life and all the world? Day after day, season after season, year after year.
But God is up to it.
Actually, no, we must say more because God says more.
God delights in all that exercise.
Because God delights in you.
So, today, as you jog around the neighborhood or get things done around the house...
Remember, the LORD is with you. He is your help and strength. And he loves every minute of it.
I pray you will 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
"'I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD." - Jeremiah 9:24
Happy Saturday! For many of you, today is a day for "exercise." A day for getting active with a jog around the neighborhood or getting things done around the house.
God likes to "exercise" and get active too. Actually, in today's verse, God says he "delights" in exercise.
And it's a good thing.
Because, according to God in all the other verses in today's Bible reading, God has lots of chances to exercise. Lots of chances to exercise "kindness, justice and righteousness on earth."
Just yesterday, God exercised kindness on a man who is grieving, a young dad in a horrific car accident, a woman with speculative cancer surgery, a woman in the hospital, and a woman with heart tests. God exercised justice on a local situation that had gotten out of hand. And God exercised righteousness, well, in more souls than there is room here to list.
That's a lot of exercising in one day...and that's just through the lens of one man in one place. How much more throughout your life and all the world? Day after day, season after season, year after year.
But God is up to it.
Actually, no, we must say more because God says more.
God delights in all that exercise.
Because God delights in you.
So, today, as you jog around the neighborhood or get things done around the house...
Remember, the LORD is with you. He is your help and strength. And he loves every minute of it.
I pray you will 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
Friday, December 12, 2014
Day of Praise
Fr, 12/12/14, "Day of Praise"
"Josiah however would not turn away from [Neco king of Egypt]...[Josiah was] badly wounded...and he died." - 2 Chronicles 35:20-25
Josiah's kingship, leadership, courage, resolve, and premature death are about much more than a timid resignation to each person's life having only a certain number of days (Psalm 90) and having boundaries of time set in "pleasant places" (Psalm 16).
Josiah was a human being with a mission. He had what every person, being made in the image of God, longs for. He had a reason to live for which he was willing and unafraid to die.
His mission was to know the LORD and to walk in his mighty power. Not recklessly. But purposefully. To be in a relationship with God that was at the top of his list and at the center of everything else on the list.
Josiah determined to live, possibly, even probably, fewer days in the LORD and the LORD's mighty power, instead of more days in his own strength where he had no need for the LORD's strength and therefore no need for the LORD.
This is the life for which all of us are made and to which all of us are called, that is, in a relationship with God where God's at the top of our list and at the center of everything else on our list, where we're determined to live, possibly, even probably, fewer days in the LORD and the LORD's mighty power, instead of more days in our own strength where we have no need for the LORD's strength and therefore no need for the LORD.
For who or what are you living? The house payment? Retirement? Get the kids through college? Those will never satisfy. Josiah learned that at a very, very, very young age. That's why he lived for the longing of his heart, the longing of every man's heart, the longing of every human being's heart.
Josiah lived and died for God! And in so doing, blessed us all by calling us all to live for more than the world is and more than the world could ever offer.
And we will live well, doing the same.
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
"Josiah however would not turn away from [Neco king of Egypt]...[Josiah was] badly wounded...and he died." - 2 Chronicles 35:20-25
Josiah's kingship, leadership, courage, resolve, and premature death are about much more than a timid resignation to each person's life having only a certain number of days (Psalm 90) and having boundaries of time set in "pleasant places" (Psalm 16).
Josiah was a human being with a mission. He had what every person, being made in the image of God, longs for. He had a reason to live for which he was willing and unafraid to die.
His mission was to know the LORD and to walk in his mighty power. Not recklessly. But purposefully. To be in a relationship with God that was at the top of his list and at the center of everything else on the list.
Josiah determined to live, possibly, even probably, fewer days in the LORD and the LORD's mighty power, instead of more days in his own strength where he had no need for the LORD's strength and therefore no need for the LORD.
This is the life for which all of us are made and to which all of us are called, that is, in a relationship with God where God's at the top of our list and at the center of everything else on our list, where we're determined to live, possibly, even probably, fewer days in the LORD and the LORD's mighty power, instead of more days in our own strength where we have no need for the LORD's strength and therefore no need for the LORD.
For who or what are you living? The house payment? Retirement? Get the kids through college? Those will never satisfy. Josiah learned that at a very, very, very young age. That's why he lived for the longing of his heart, the longing of every man's heart, the longing of every human being's heart.
Josiah lived and died for God! And in so doing, blessed us all by calling us all to live for more than the world is and more than the world could ever offer.
And we will live well, doing the same.
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Day of Praise
Th, 12/11/14, "Day of Praise"
"Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor." - Jeremiah 5:27-28
The Bible prophet Jeremiah preached for years and didn't have a single convert. Almost 3,000 years later, has anything changed?
Three times in chapter 31 alone, Jeremiah speaks of new things that God promises to do in people's lives. So why didn't everyone come running and listen to all the prophet was sent to say?
Well, that's just it. People don't want to hear "all that a prophet was sent to say."
Jesus died for our sin. Part of our sin is believing that "I'm doing the best I can, and that should be enough."
But in today's verses, Jeremiah is God's instrument to say that our "evil deeds have no limit" because it includes the things we don't do, like "they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor."
Nobody wants to hear this because we're all pushing back and saying, "Hey! I'm doing the best I can!"
But there are two things that we really need to take away from these verses.
First, we need the reminder that we can never do enough to be pleasing in God's sight. Martin Luther asked, "When have I done enough?" The only answer that he found in the Bible and that also gave peace to his soul was this--"Only Jesus, like us in every way, except he had no sin, can do enough. And what Jesus has done gets credited to us when we put our faith in him."
God calls this the righteousness of faith. It's peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
The other thing that we really need to take away from today's verses is that, having peace with God through faith in Jesus, we are called to stop and not push back long enough to ask, "Is there something more I could be doing to 'seek justice, promote the case of the fatherless, defend the just cause of the poor'?"
Do we even care?
Care. That would be a good start, knowing that's what God, through Jesus, has done for us.
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Day of Praise
We, 12/10/14, "Day of Praise"
"In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the Lord, "people will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made." - Jeremiah 3:16
Let's play the association game. Ya know. I say a word, and you respond with a word that comes to mind. Ready? Santa _______. Barack _________. Harrison _______. Ark of the ______________.
I assume you all responded in unison with "Claus, Obama, Ford, Covenant." I also assume if I'd said, "Indiana ______" then you would've said, "Jones." Congratulations!
Or maybe not.
As it pertains to Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones, and the Ark of the Covenant, our culture gives folklore hero status to movies that celebrate the search for famous Biblical artifacts such as the Ark of the Covenant.
On the other hand, God says, "Let it go!" Or in the words of today's Bible verse, God says, "people will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made." (Jeremiah 3:16)
The reason is simple.
As much as we love to touch and see amazing relics of Biblical proportion, you can't have a relationship with the Ark of the Covenant, the wood of Noah's Ark, or even the wood of the cross of Jesus Christ. The list of course could go on and on with water from the Jordan River and even the Bible itself. You can't have a relationship with any of these things.
But you can have, indeed your heart yearns to have a relationship with the God who revealed himself through the Ark of the Covenant, the wood of Noah's Ark, the wood of the cross of Jesus Christ, the water of the Jordan, and the ink and paper of the Bible.
Call on the name of the Lord, and find peace and calm and power and courage and direction in life and salvation from sin.
In contrast, call on the Ark or the wood or the water, and hear..., well, you might as well be calling out, "Bueller..., Bueller..., Bueller..." because Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller) has not only taken a day off but is permanently on leave from call.
So, when you have that biopsy today or that surgery tomorrow or that meeting this morning, as much as we are grateful for people that touch us and things that comfort us, please remember that it's the God of the people and the God of the things in whom we find what our hearts desire.
Call on the Lord. Call on His Holy Name. He loves you and is with you without fail.
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, December 9, 2014
Day of Praise
Tu, 12/09/14, "Day of Praise"
"While he was still young, [Josiah] began to seek the God of his father David." - 2 Chronicles 34:3
King Josiah was in love. So he pursued the love of his life. He pursued God.
John Eldredge, in his best-selling book, "Wild at Heart," says that part of pursuing the love of your life includes showing the love of your life that they're the only love of your life. So you need to send the other competitors for your heart packing.
So that's what young King Josiah did. Since God was the love of his life, Josiah sent the other competitors for his heart packing.
God's Word in the Bible describes Josiah's casting out of the competition in this way. "[Josiah] began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols... The altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars...and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols... He burned the bones of the priests on their altars... He tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 34:3-7
So, what are the competitors for your heart? They're probably not "high places, Asherah poles and idols, altars of the Baals, incense altars, and Asherah poles and idols." But whatever the competitors for your heart may be, do the following:
Send them packing.
"Why?," you ask, "And what do you mean?"
In Matthew 22:37-39, we hear Jesus say: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself."
Note, in quoting the Hebrew Bible, Jesus does say "As your first love, God is to be loved "with all your heart," that is your whole heart.
So send the competitors packing. For it is only by completely loving God, who first loved us, that we find that God then gives back to us enough love and wisdom to rightly love the people in our lives and enough wisdom to rightly oversee the things in our lives.
The way it shakes down is this: 1) pursue the love of your life, God, with all you've got and 2) keep everybody and everything else in perspective!
So, "While he was still young, [Josiah] began to seek the God of his father David." - 2 Chronicles 34:3
God will surely provide, as we seek to do the same.
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Monday, December 8, 2014
Day of Praise
Mo, 12/08/14, "Day of Praise"
"Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near." - Zephaniah 1:7
A friend of mine, the late Orville Scribner, always said that a talk was incomplete without some humor. So, here's to you, Orville! How about a humorous question?
Have you ever done something that you wish you hadn't?
Ha! That's hilarious!
Well, then, specifically, have you ever said something that you wish you hadn't?
Yeaaaa, funny guy!
Ok, have you ever laughed at something and you suddenly wished you hadn't?
Uuuuusually, that's not funny. Oops.
My brother and I sure weren't laughing, if I remember it correctly, when our granddad said he wanted to teach us to Pow-Wow, i.e. faith heal.
And we laughed. Oops.
He swore then to never teach us, and, true to his word, he never did.
We should've stayed silent, but because we didn't, we missed out on a blessing.
That's why we'd do well to heed God's word in today's verse, ""Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near." (Zephaniah 1:7)
When God calls us to be silent, it's not quite that he wants to teach us to faith heal, but it is because he wants to heal us in faith and pour out countless blessings.
Namely, when God calls us to be silent, a study of scripture shows us that the silent get a divine promise, a divine touch, a divine cleansing, a divine healing, a divine rebuilding of our lives, a divine shield.
On the other hand, when God calls us to be silent, a study of scripture shows us that those who speak, maybe even laugh, when they should be listening get, well, trouble.
And lots of it!
God might still pour out the blessing, but when you're busy talking or laughing, when you were asked to be silent, it's pretty hard to hear what the master has to say.
Maybe that's why our Pap wouldn't teach us to Pow-Wow. Yep, it's pretty hard to hear what the master has to say, when you're making all that racket, chatter, and laughing.
Sooooooo, "Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near." - Zephaniah 1:7
Blessings and power await!
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, December 6, 2014
Day of Praise
Sa, 12/06/14, "Day of Praise"
"'Manasseh's prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness...all these are written in the records of the seers." - 2 Chronicles 33:19
Yikes!
What a way to start a weekend. Knowing that all your sins and unfaithfulness are written in the records of the seers.
Even worse, God, being omniscient, obviously also knows all of Manasseh's sins and unfaithfulness.
And yours and mine too.
Yikes!
Here's hope.
"I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of [Jesus'] name." - 1 John 2:12
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
"'Manasseh's prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness...all these are written in the records of the seers." - 2 Chronicles 33:19
Yikes!
What a way to start a weekend. Knowing that all your sins and unfaithfulness are written in the records of the seers.
Even worse, God, being omniscient, obviously also knows all of Manasseh's sins and unfaithfulness.
And yours and mine too.
Yikes!
Here's hope.
"I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of [Jesus'] name." - 1 John 2:12
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
Friday, December 5, 2014
Day of Praise
Fr, 12/05/14, "Day of Praise"
"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'" - Isaiah 65:1
I know it's Friday, but you're going to have to think with me.
Have you ever found something that you weren't looking for?
For example, you're walking through a parking lot to go into a grocery store and you see a quarter on the ground. You're weren't looking for a quarter; you were looking to get groceries. But you "found" the quarter that was there all the time because you value money.
On the other hand, let's say you're walking through a parking lot to go into a grocery store and you see a piece of chewed gum on the ground. Actually, there are pieces of chewed gum all over the ground. But you're not looking for chewed gum, AND you don't value chewed gum. So even though chewed gum is everywhere on the ground in the parking lot, because you don't value it, you never "find" it.
One quarter in a huge grocery store parking lot that you "find" because you value money. Many pieces of chewed gum in a huge grocery store parking lot that you don't "find" because you don't value chewed gum.
I remember when a member of our church went to a doctor for a "scope" to remove some stones from a body part. The doctor made a big mistake and perforated an internal organ that made a huge problem requiring immediate surgery. However, because these people are always looking for God to work through all things together for good, as God promises, they had peace even after the doctor's big mistake. They weren't looking for the mistake, but they value God. So they were looking for God to work through the mistake.
They "found" what they valued, as the surgery became God's means to not only remove as many stones as there were chewed pieces of gum in a parking lot. But since the doctor had to do surgery because of the perforation, he was also able to do some other helpful things because of the surgery that he could not have done without the surgery.
The family rejoiced.
In sum, the family wasn't looking for "trouble" (the perforation), but because they value God and God's promise, they "found" and received a blessing of God through the trouble. They also had peace throughout the trouble.
What do you value?
If you value money, you'll find a quarter in a grocery store parking lot from time to time, even when you're not looking for it. If you value chewed gum, you'll find lots of chewed gum in a grocery store parking lot, even when you're not looking for it. If you value God and his promises, you'll find God working through all sorts of trouble, even though you weren't looking for the trouble.
Value God and his promises, you'll find him everywhere.
Think about it.
"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'" - Isaiah 65:1
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, December 4, 2014
Day of Praise
Th, 12/04/14, "Day of Praise"
"All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace." - Isaiah 54:13
I really, really love my three children. That's why I'm so glad that God loves them far more.
As much as I love my children, I've made mistakes. I need God to love my children and teach them and serve them because as much as I love my children, I've made mistakes.
Like when my oldest, Calley-Taylor, was about four. She was wearing a wet swimsuit after "swimming" in the little plastic pool on our back porch. She asked if I'd push her on the swing in our backyard. "Sure!" I said sincerely.
So sweet daughter with wet bathing suit gets on slippery backyard swing. I push gently to get her started. Then a little firmer push to get higher. Then exuberantly I push so my daughter can feel the wind.
Oops! Wet bathing suit, slippery backyard swing, and daddy's exuberant push add up to sweet four year old daughter sliding off the swing, flipping upside down, little feet straight up, and sweet head with her cute face skipping across the backyard for 30 feet like the smoothest stone skipping across a lake.
I thought I'd killed her. Fortunately, she was (and is) a tough little cookie and bounced right up.
Just like she did when I broke her collarbone. That's a story for another day.
All I know is that I love my kids so much that it literally makes me cry right now to think how much I hate to hurt them in any way, shape, or form.
But as much as I love my now two teenagers and 21-year old, God loves them more.
What a blessing! That God loves my children and yours far more than we ever could.
Let's tell them.
Everyday.
Let's tell our children everyday how great God's love is for them.
That would truly be loving them as much as we possibly could.
"All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace." - Isaiah 54:13
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
"All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace." - Isaiah 54:13
I really, really love my three children. That's why I'm so glad that God loves them far more.
As much as I love my children, I've made mistakes. I need God to love my children and teach them and serve them because as much as I love my children, I've made mistakes.
Like when my oldest, Calley-Taylor, was about four. She was wearing a wet swimsuit after "swimming" in the little plastic pool on our back porch. She asked if I'd push her on the swing in our backyard. "Sure!" I said sincerely.
So sweet daughter with wet bathing suit gets on slippery backyard swing. I push gently to get her started. Then a little firmer push to get higher. Then exuberantly I push so my daughter can feel the wind.
Oops! Wet bathing suit, slippery backyard swing, and daddy's exuberant push add up to sweet four year old daughter sliding off the swing, flipping upside down, little feet straight up, and sweet head with her cute face skipping across the backyard for 30 feet like the smoothest stone skipping across a lake.
I thought I'd killed her. Fortunately, she was (and is) a tough little cookie and bounced right up.
Just like she did when I broke her collarbone. That's a story for another day.
All I know is that I love my kids so much that it literally makes me cry right now to think how much I hate to hurt them in any way, shape, or form.
But as much as I love my now two teenagers and 21-year old, God loves them more.
What a blessing! That God loves my children and yours far more than we ever could.
Let's tell them.
Everyday.
Let's tell our children everyday how great God's love is for them.
That would truly be loving them as much as we possibly could.
"All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace." - Isaiah 54:13
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, December 3, 2014
Day of Praise
We, 12/03/14, "Day of Praise"
"The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins." - Isaiah 51:3
"The Lord...will look with compassion on all her ruins."
What does that mean? What does it mean that the "The Lord will look with compassion on all her ruins."
We want to run straight to the encouragement that God will have compassion on anyone whose life is totally or partially or even a wee bit in ruins. And that's great because God certainly wants to rebuild us all personally, along with the relationships and matters in our lives.
However, God's word teaches us that it doesn't do a whole lot of good for God to rebuild our lives if, like a two year old, we simply just tear it down again. What's the old saying? Only a fool keeps doing the same thing and expects a different result!
So what does God want us to hear about ruins in our lives, in addition to his compassion?
In Proverbs 24, there are a number of "building, ruins, rebuilding" sayings, such as "Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house."
Translation - Keep your priorities straight.
If we continue to ignore God and His Word by giving more time and importance to other things, then we will continue to knock down whatever God builds or rebuilds.
The priority of God's word makes it possible to see how things came to ruin to begin with and how God will compassionately lead the rebuilding.
"The Lord will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins." - Isaiah 51:3
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
"The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins." - Isaiah 51:3
"The Lord...will look with compassion on all her ruins."
What does that mean? What does it mean that the "The Lord will look with compassion on all her ruins."
We want to run straight to the encouragement that God will have compassion on anyone whose life is totally or partially or even a wee bit in ruins. And that's great because God certainly wants to rebuild us all personally, along with the relationships and matters in our lives.
However, God's word teaches us that it doesn't do a whole lot of good for God to rebuild our lives if, like a two year old, we simply just tear it down again. What's the old saying? Only a fool keeps doing the same thing and expects a different result!
So what does God want us to hear about ruins in our lives, in addition to his compassion?
In Proverbs 24, there are a number of "building, ruins, rebuilding" sayings, such as "Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house."
Translation - Keep your priorities straight.
If we continue to ignore God and His Word by giving more time and importance to other things, then we will continue to knock down whatever God builds or rebuilds.
The priority of God's word makes it possible to see how things came to ruin to begin with and how God will compassionately lead the rebuilding.
"The Lord will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins." - Isaiah 51:3
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
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Day of Praise
Tu, 12/02/14, "Day of Praise"
"The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary." - Isaiah 50:4
Let's change the world today. It won't be hard.
Step 1 - Find a weary person. It's a weekday. It's a broken, fallen world. Finding a weary person on a weekday in a broken, fallen world shouldn't be hard.
Step 2 - Tell the weary person some good news. In Proverbs 25:25, God says, "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." Telling the good news shouldn't be hard. Finding some good news though in a broken, fallen world might be hard.
Step 3 - If you have trouble finding some good news for the weary person, tell 'em you haven't lost hope. Grab a post-it note and Jot down God's word in Isaiah 40:31, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Let's change the world today, one person at a time. It won't be hard because there are lots of weary people.
God has taught us "the word that sustains the weary" (Isaiah 50:4). It's the good news that those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.
God bless you all!
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
"The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary." - Isaiah 50:4
Let's change the world today. It won't be hard.
Step 1 - Find a weary person. It's a weekday. It's a broken, fallen world. Finding a weary person on a weekday in a broken, fallen world shouldn't be hard.
Step 2 - Tell the weary person some good news. In Proverbs 25:25, God says, "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." Telling the good news shouldn't be hard. Finding some good news though in a broken, fallen world might be hard.
Step 3 - If you have trouble finding some good news for the weary person, tell 'em you haven't lost hope. Grab a post-it note and Jot down God's word in Isaiah 40:31, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Let's change the world today, one person at a time. It won't be hard because there are lots of weary people.
God has taught us "the word that sustains the weary" (Isaiah 50:4). It's the good news that those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.
God bless you all!
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Monday, December 1, 2014
Day of Praise
Mo, 12/01/14, "Day of Praise"
"This is what the Lord says,...'Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.'" - Isaiah 44:6,21
How important is remembering?
In today's verse, God calls his people to remember, and God promises not to forget.
How important is remembering?
I've been in Birmingham for 24 years. Briarwood Presbyterian was founded many years before that by Frank Barker. When people recount to me why Briarwood grew to the mega-church it is, one thing is always mentioned, namely, Frank and his wife remembered. They remembered people and things about people. They cared by remembering.
How important is remembering?
The root of the Hebrew word for remembering is the same root as the Hebrew word for visiting. Visit someone with a phone call or note or stopping by their house...especially if they live alone...and you'll see how important remembering is.
How important is remembering?
Jesus says that we actually receive him personally when we drink the cup and eat the bread "in remembrance" of him.
How important is remembering?
A guy crucified next to Jesus finds peace merely by asking Jesus to remember him when Jesus came to his everlasting kingdom.
How important is remembering?
Look up, and believe God when he promises never to forget you. See how good that feels.
"This is what the Lord says,...'Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.'" - Isaiah 44:6,21
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
"This is what the Lord says,...'Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.'" - Isaiah 44:6,21
How important is remembering?
In today's verse, God calls his people to remember, and God promises not to forget.
How important is remembering?
I've been in Birmingham for 24 years. Briarwood Presbyterian was founded many years before that by Frank Barker. When people recount to me why Briarwood grew to the mega-church it is, one thing is always mentioned, namely, Frank and his wife remembered. They remembered people and things about people. They cared by remembering.
How important is remembering?
The root of the Hebrew word for remembering is the same root as the Hebrew word for visiting. Visit someone with a phone call or note or stopping by their house...especially if they live alone...and you'll see how important remembering is.
How important is remembering?
Jesus says that we actually receive him personally when we drink the cup and eat the bread "in remembrance" of him.
How important is remembering?
A guy crucified next to Jesus finds peace merely by asking Jesus to remember him when Jesus came to his everlasting kingdom.
How important is remembering?
Look up, and believe God when he promises never to forget you. See how good that feels.
"This is what the Lord says,...'Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.'" - Isaiah 44:6,21
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
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Day of Praise
Sa, 11/29/14, "Day of Praise"
"Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,' declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 41:14
High school biology. Dissecting a shark was really cool. Methodically cutting up a body in order to study its internal parts was the neatest thing.
Well, it was cool, when there were some internal parts to study. A shark had a lot of parts to dissect. An earthworm, on the other hand, well, there isn't much to it.
Why then does God call his people a "worm" in today's verse? God says, "Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob."
Is God insulting his own people? Is God insulting them, saying, "There's not much to you, you worm!" No!
God's not insulting his people. Instead, God's saying he understands how others insult his people, as in Psalm 22:6, "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people."
So in today's verse, in Isaiah 41:14, when God says, "'Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you," God is saying the following:
1) Other people may insult you, but I, the Lord, will build you up.
2) Other people may think there's not much to you, but I, the Lord, made you, and I think the world of you.
3) Other people may bully you, but I, the Lord, will fight for you.
4) Other people may think you're standing alone, but I, the Lord, am on your side.
5) Other people may call you a worm, but I, the Lord, call you my people.
So today, as the world comes at you and calls you a worm and tries to beat you down, be not afraid; be not discouraged.
The truth that God will stand with you and hold you up, even as the world tries to beat you down, is summed in Romans 8:31, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Have a great day, Friends, and trust that the LORD, the Living God, is for you and fighting by your side.
'Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,' declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 41:14
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, November 28, 2014
Day of Praise
Fr, 11/28/14, "Day of Praise"
"'Who is my equal?' says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." - Isaiah 40:25-26
I don't remember having seen such a wondrous sight. Surely I would've remembered. Because I'm sure we'll never forget.
God brought "out the starry host one by one and...not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40:26)
The night before my daughter, Calley-Taylor, and I went white-water rafting at JH Ranch a few years ago, the leaders guided our group to an even more remote place in the Northern California mountains to sleep in an open field without a tent.
I have never seen so many stars in my life.
I grew up in East Tennessee. I was an Eagle Boy Scout. We camped a lot in remote places. I don't remember seeing that many stars.
I suppose I could blame it on the ambient light, ya know, light from the surrounding area or environment getting in the way of the stars. But I don't think ambient light is the total reason I didn't see so many stars.
I don't think I really ever looked up.
As I think back, I think I was so caught up in the people and the things we were doing that I never "lifted up my eyes and looked to the heavens." (Isaiah 40:26)
Bummer.
Because when my daughter and I did look up and saw all those stars a few years ago, we saw that God is right. Imagine that.
Looking at all those stars made us wonder "Who created all these?" He must have "great power and mighty strength." (Isaiah 40:26)
Probably enough power and strength to help me with whatever I've got goin' on down here.
Probably.
If I'll give him a chance...to help me, that is.
Hey, when you start to get a little overwhelmed or frazzled today, just go outside.
Day or night.
Look up.
It'll take about 30 seconds for perspective to kick in.
The One who made and guides all that you can see up there and beyond, He probably has enough power and strength to help ya with whatever you've got goin' on down here.
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, November 27, 2014
Day of Praise
Th, 11/27/14, "Day of Praise"
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures
forever. - Psalm 106:1
Happy Thanksgiving!
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
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures
forever. - Psalm 106:1
Happy Thanksgiving!
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, November 26, 2014
Day of Praise
We, 11/26/14, "Day of Praise"
"The Lord had said...'I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them...' But the people did not listen." - 2 Kings 21:7-9
Today's Bible reading gives us absolutely no good news to work with. Manasseh is a
horrible king. The people turn from God. God is not pleased. And the prophets are God's mouthpiece to tell the bad news to the people.
However, all is not lost. Someone once gave me a book for a high school graduation gift, which said, "Everyone is useful, even if only as a bad example."
And there's our "in" for today's devotion; the people, in today's Bible reading, were a bad example. Specifically, "the people did not listen." (2 Kings 21:9)
Listen!
In her book, "Reach for the Summit," retired Tennessee women's basketball coach, Pat Summitt, barely gets started before she's talking about the value of listening in successful teamwork. Listen!
Our premarital and marriage counseling tools at church make clear the value
of listening in successful relationships. Listen!
And God, of course, is very clear on the matter in the Bible. From Moses to
Matthew, God speaks through all the Bible authors to emphasize the value of
listening, especially listening to God. In Proverbs 4:10, God plainly says to all who will listen, "Listen...accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many."
May God bless you with peace and goodness as you listen for him and to him
today!
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
"The Lord had said...'I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them...' But the people did not listen." - 2 Kings 21:7-9
Today's Bible reading gives us absolutely no good news to work with. Manasseh is a
horrible king. The people turn from God. God is not pleased. And the prophets are God's mouthpiece to tell the bad news to the people.
However, all is not lost. Someone once gave me a book for a high school graduation gift, which said, "Everyone is useful, even if only as a bad example."
And there's our "in" for today's devotion; the people, in today's Bible reading, were a bad example. Specifically, "the people did not listen." (2 Kings 21:9)
Listen!
In her book, "Reach for the Summit," retired Tennessee women's basketball coach, Pat Summitt, barely gets started before she's talking about the value of listening in successful teamwork. Listen!
Our premarital and marriage counseling tools at church make clear the value
of listening in successful relationships. Listen!
And God, of course, is very clear on the matter in the Bible. From Moses to
Matthew, God speaks through all the Bible authors to emphasize the value of
listening, especially listening to God. In Proverbs 4:10, God plainly says to all who will listen, "Listen...accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many."
May God bless you with peace and goodness as you listen for him and to him
today!
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, November 25, 2014
Day of Praise
Tu, 11/25/14, "Day of Praise"
"The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing" - Isaiah 19:3
You would look at me as if I were crazy.
Imagine we're playing a friendly game of Jeopardy. Ready?
Answer: Foiled, Futile, Frustrated, Nothing, Shattered, Thwarted.
Question: What do most people want out of life?
You would look at me as if I were crazy.
But what is a life? Isn't it made up of years? And aren't those years made of months? And months made of weeks?
So, uh, what are you planning for this week? And more importantly, with whom are you planning this week? By yourself? With your family? With a team of coworkers?
In today's Bible verse, the southern kingdom of Israel, called Judah, is in the process of making plans for the week. And longer.
Judah's leaders are trying to maximize the possibility of a good life. So they make plans. After all, isn't the old saying, "No one plans to fail; they just fail to plan"?
The problem is not in their planning. Judah's problem is their partner in planning. Judah's partner in planning is the Egyptians.
And God has something to say about that, as in today's verse: "The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing" (Isaiah 19:3).
In fact, through the whole of scripture, here are the words God uses to describe plans that leave God out of the planning: Foiled, Futile, Frustrated, Nothing, Shattered, Thwarted.
Sounds to me like our little game of Jeopardy from earlier.
But this is not a game. It's life. And the question remains: What do most people want out of life? Or how about, what do you want out of life?
The outcome depends on who you include in the planning.
There's certainly nothing wrong with including others in your planning. Just be sure to ask the LORD to be the lead. After all, "the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations" (Psalm 33:11).
Therefore, with intentional head-bowed prayer, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans" (Proverbs 16:3).
So, if a life is made of years, months, and weeks, then planning for a good life starts this week...with the LORD.
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Monday, November 24, 2014
Day of Praise
Mo, 11/24/14, "Day of Praise"
"For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us." - Isaiah 33:22
There are few greater joys than being known and still being loved. In this vein, we often think about being known as the reason for not being loved. But what about being loved while not being known?
It is easy for us to love God because, through Jesus, we know that God has saved us and "will save us" (Isaiah 33:22). But do we love God without really knowing God? Yes, God saves us, and praise God for that! But today's verse makes clear that God is also judge, lawgiver, and king.
Do we know and love God as judge, lawgiver, and king? In my experience, people don't want to hear about God as judge, lawgiver, and king. But how can you really love God if you don't know God?
In brief, that God is Judge is to be an authority who is able to estimate worth or quality. God estimates that you are of such great worth that God sends his Son, Jesus, to die for you! So let's love God as Judge.
That God is Lawgiver is to be one who gives a code of laws to a people so that they're not constantly hurting each other. God is very clear in the Bible as to how we can have good relationships and not constantly hurt each other. So let's love God as Lawgiver.
That God is King is to be a ruler of an independent state, especially one who has the position by right. There's no doubt that God has the right to be King. But obedience to God the King, where obedience equals "trust in action", is a major part of being "a citizen" in God's "independent state." As we hear in Galatians 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." So let's love God as King.
Judge, Lawgiver, King. God calls us in today's verse to know that the Lord God "is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king" in addition to being the one "who will save us".
We certainly love God for saving us. Let's read our Bibles on Monday through Saturdays and be in church on Sunday so we can grow in our love for God as Judge, Lawgiver, and King too.
After all, as we said at the start, there are few greater joys than being known and still being loved. So just as God clearly knows us and still totally loves us, let's get to know more about God so we can grow in our love for God too!
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Day of Praise
Sa, 11/22/14, "Day of Praise"
"[The LORD says,] '...I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.'" - Isaiah 29:14
God is awesome!
I'm thinking about "wonder". It means "beyond understanding". So, of course, "the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."
As I keep reflecting on today's verse, my mind turns to various matters where my intelligence has vanished. Where I'm at my proverbial "wit's end," the "end of my mental resources."
And then I'm astounded! The God of "wonder" shows up. The God "beyond understanding" speaks to me.
In an instant, just like that! God speaks.
Like through my dear friend, Henry.
Henry sends out an encouraging text most mornings. Many times it arrives from Henry while I'm sitting here at my wit's end.
One time, Henry said, "Hey Pastor Chris, don't know Y I'm up reading this but...I'm reading Luke 5:1-11...Now in the Henry Translation (which is me), Peter says "Master, I have a Bachelors, Masters and a Doctorate degree in fishing. I been out here since 6:00p.m and it's now 6:00a.m. Now I've washed all of these nets." Now Pastor Chris here's where it gets interesting...verse 5, Peter says "nevertheless at Your word"...I challenge U to highlight those 4 words in your bible and meditate on them...Just think when we've done all we know to do with our resources, education, finances, etc. and we don't get the results we desire...If we just said "Lord! "Nevertheless at Your word." I'll do what U want me to do...Have a good night brother...I love U!!"
I will, Henry. I will.
And so will everyone else who just read this and is at their wit's end with something. Because, Henry, you reminded us all that when we've done all we know to do with our resources, education, finances, etc. and we don't get the results we desire. Just say, "Lord!" And give it to the God of wonder.
He's got it under control.
Thanks, Henry!
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
"[The LORD says,] '...I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.'" - Isaiah 29:14
God is awesome!
I'm thinking about "wonder". It means "beyond understanding". So, of course, "the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."
As I keep reflecting on today's verse, my mind turns to various matters where my intelligence has vanished. Where I'm at my proverbial "wit's end," the "end of my mental resources."
And then I'm astounded! The God of "wonder" shows up. The God "beyond understanding" speaks to me.
In an instant, just like that! God speaks.
Like through my dear friend, Henry.
Henry sends out an encouraging text most mornings. Many times it arrives from Henry while I'm sitting here at my wit's end.
One time, Henry said, "Hey Pastor Chris, don't know Y I'm up reading this but...I'm reading Luke 5:1-11...Now in the Henry Translation (which is me), Peter says "Master, I have a Bachelors, Masters and a Doctorate degree in fishing. I been out here since 6:00p.m and it's now 6:00a.m. Now I've washed all of these nets." Now Pastor Chris here's where it gets interesting...verse 5, Peter says "nevertheless at Your word"...I challenge U to highlight those 4 words in your bible and meditate on them...Just think when we've done all we know to do with our resources, education, finances, etc. and we don't get the results we desire...If we just said "Lord! "Nevertheless at Your word." I'll do what U want me to do...Have a good night brother...I love U!!"
I will, Henry. I will.
And so will everyone else who just read this and is at their wit's end with something. Because, Henry, you reminded us all that when we've done all we know to do with our resources, education, finances, etc. and we don't get the results we desire. Just say, "Lord!" And give it to the God of wonder.
He's got it under control.
Thanks, Henry!
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, November 21, 2014
Day of Praise
Fr, 11/21/14, "Day of Praise"
"Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook." - 2 Kings 18:5-7
In the box-office smash, Finding Nemo, the fish named Dory constantly encourages herself and Marlin, the father of the abducted fish, Nemo. Her uplifting, though monotonous, refrain is "Just keep swimming; just keep swimming."
It's as if she believes that something good, or at least better, is just one flip-flap swim-stroke away.
For those of you who read The Bible with us, a slight adaptation of Dory's refrain is sometimes useful, just as it is today, namely, "Just keep reading; just keep reading." Today's Bible verses are a good example. After four pages of gloomy prophecy from Isaiah and despicable living by Ahaz, the "just keep reading" philosophy pays off as the last half-page of Bible reading includes today's section of verses about Hezekiah.
Isn't it amazing how a positive and uplifting final word has the power to totally change the tone of all the ill that preceded it?
This is why I love God's word so much.
Do you love God's word? Do you chase after God's word with purpose? What would that purpose be?
I love God's word and chase after it because it encourages me to persevere, which means to persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles.
It doesn't matter if there's four or four-hundred pages of gloomy prophecy and despicable living. I know that if I "just keep swimming: just keep reading; just keep persevering," then the sure-to-come positive and uplifting final word has the power to totally change the tone of all the ill that preceded it.
We know this because Jesus pushed through and then bore a whole bunch of, uh, bad stuff, but his righteous life and glorious resurrection had the power to totally change the tone of all the ill that preceded it.
God's final word is always a word of life.
Today's a real day. Probably gonna be some gloomy and despicable stuff to deal with.
Just keep swimmin'. Persevere.
Keep your chin up. Stay positive, like Hezekiah in days of old. Good things are just one flip-flap swim-stroke away.
God has promised and sealed it in the cross and resurrection of 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
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Day of Praise
Th, 11/20/14, "Day of Praise"
"Give praise to the Lord, call on his name" - Isaiah 12:4
I love you! And thank you!
A friend of mine says that there are no sweeter words to the ears of a parent than "I love you!" And "thank you!"
How much more then are they sweet to the Lord, our God? God is both our "Father," as Jesus teaches us to pray in Matthew 6:9, and also like a "Mother" as Jesus says in Matthew 23:37 that he has longed to gather us "children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings."
Today's verse, "Give praise to the Lord, call on his name" (Isaiah 12:4), is God's call to us to worship the Lord with others at a local church. When we worship with others we are called to remember that God loves to hear us say what every parent loves to hear. "I love you!" And "thank you!"
One week from today is Thanksgiving Day. Ironically, many regular worshipers choose not to worship on the Sundays that bracket Thanksgiving Day. However, here's an encouragement for you to go against that trend and worship as much as you can during Thanksgiving week, even if you're out of town. Worship him, and tell God "I love you!" and "thank you!" You might even get some interesting ideas for your home church or even a picture of everlasting heaven.
That's what happened a couple years ago for us. We got an idea and a picture, when my youngest daughter, Cassidy, my son, Caden, and I worshiped with our friends, Matt and Lori Spahn and their three awesome kids at Faith Lutheran Church in Seguin, Texas, just east of San Antonio.
When the last worship song ended, no one left. They all sat back down in the pews. At first, we thought we'd unwittingly wound up in a congregational meeting! Oh, no!!!
But we then saw the ushers move to the front and invite the first pew to stand up and go down the middle aisle to the Pastor, then refreshments, and then the exits. Then the ushers invited the second pew from the front to stand up and so on.
In case, some of you don't know it, unless you were my family growing up, which always sat on the second pew, then Lutherans, in general, tend to fill the back pews first and then the second to last pew and so on from back to front.
In the back, you can't hear God's Word as well, though it's better than not being in church at all. But, even though you can't hear God's Word as well in the back, when worship ends, you get to be the first one out to greet the Pastor, eat the donuts, and get on out the door.
Not at Faith Lutheran in Seguin, Texas! Those who sit in the front and hear God's Word the best, they get to leave first for fellowship, food, and the like. Those who sit in the back are ushered out last. Talk about a cure for sitting in the back of the church!
It's kind of a picture of heaven. Don't ya think? Those who hear the word of God are those who get the two most wonderful joys: 1) a renewed faith in Christ that comes from hearing God's word (see Romans 10:17) and 2) an intentional opportunity to tell God the two things that every parent, earthly and heavenly, loves to hear "I love you!" and "thank you!"
Wherever you are, may your worship of God in a local church be blessed this weekend and always.
"Give praise to the Lord, call on his name" - Isaiah 12:4
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Day of Praise
We, 11/19/14, "Day of Praise"
"[Ahaz, King of Judah,] burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites." - 2 Chronicles 28:3
My children laugh at me. Sometimes I'll stare at something in disbelief as if my stare is going to change the reality. Kinda like a McDonald's that doesn't have a caramel sundae on the menu, of which there are many such McDonald's in Birmingham, AL.
Only worse. Much worse.
I read the words in today's Daily Bible verses "[Ahaz] sacrificed his children in the fire," and I almost need to read it twice.
Or stare at it in disbelief as if my stare is going to change the reality.
But, it happens. Earthly parents do unspeakable things to their children everyday. And I'm not just talking about Saddam Hussein who, for these and countless other unspeakable deeds, was himself executed on December 30, 2006.
Just yesterday, I was with a family who still tastes the sorrow of things their mother did years ago. Moreover, we all know way too many children who have seen their mother or father's backside, walking away from them, as the abandoning parent chose some other lifestyle or relationship over their own children. I'm not talking about making a loving decision to put your infant child up for adoption. I'm talking about abandonment.
I read an article the other day that said that the abandonment of children has become more prevalent than the abuse of children as the primary social problem in many regions of the world. Sadly, that's probably very old news.
Maybe if we all stare at it in disbelief long enough our collective stare will change the reality.
It won't.
Man, oh man, this is depressing.
It's a good thing that life in a broken, fallen, sinful world doesn't have the final word. It's a good thing that neither Ahaz, King of Judah, nor any other painful, relational reality has the final word.
God does.
The Lord of Life, the King of all Creation, the Master of the Universe, who stared death and the devil in the eye and raised Jesus from the dead as a foretaste that, for all who believe, the one true God has the final word. And the final word of the Lord of Life is a word of Life.
Like the final word that the Lord of Life spoke through Isaiah to those touched by unspeakable sorrow. "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15)
Did you hear that "God will not forget you!" Though the world and even close relatives may have abandoned or forgotten you, "God will not forget you!"
And you can stare at God's words all day long, but it isn't going to change the reality.
You are loved, cherished, and remembered by the one, true, almighty and merciful God, who is with you and serves you everyday, through, His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So God be with you, and have a great day!
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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