Day of Praise

Mon, 10/01/18, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

The little things. The myriad of endless little things. 

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

But they also have the power to change the world. 

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

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

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

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

So...

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

And then...

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

To please the Lord. 

And change the world. 

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

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

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Sa, 09/29/18, "Day of Praise"

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

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

Truth be told, there's only one.

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

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

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

David knew that the Lord does.

Have mercy that is.

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

Do you?

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

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

Happy Saturday! The Lord is present and listening for you!

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Fri, 09/28/18, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

Chris Rice's song goes like this:

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

Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live.

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

Thur, 09/27/18, "Day of Praise"

"Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers." -- Acts 9:31

The Church
A place to be reminded
What the world will not remind you
That God loves you
And is bigger than anything that comes your way
Which makes a difference
When your chips are down. 

The Church
A place 
Full of imperfect people
Which is the same as the world
And yet different 
Because in the church
Our relationships are built on God's perfection
And not our own perfection
Which makes a difference 
When you're not perfect. 

The Church
A place to learn 
To really learn with some depth
Some roots 
To make strong 
What the world won't teach 
Namely, how to get what will never wear out or run out or blow out or fall out
And in fact, to learn 
That there's no "getting" about it
To learn that there's only receiving
What God freely gives
And gives
And gives
His gracious, never-failing provision
Which makes a difference 
When you wonder how you're going to work things out
And you're reminded
By the church
That God has already worked it out. 

The Church
A place that gathers
To remember 
What the world has long forgotten 
Because it's only remembered through a trusting relationship with Jesus 
So the church then scatters
In the power of the Holy Spirit
To tell the world
And anyone in it who will listen
About Jesus
That God 
Loves 
Imperfect people and
Gives
Never-failing provision
Which makes a difference
In a world
That has long forgotten
That there's a God
Who cares and 
Is bigger
Than anything that comes our way. 

The Church
God working through imperfect people
With a love and 
A message and
A truth
That changes 
The world and especially those 
Who believe the message and
Who work together to spread it around. 

You are always welcome
To get more involved with God's team
The Church.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/26/18, "Day of Praise"

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

What's in it for me?

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

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

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

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

Not too long ago, there was a boy at church who came up to me every week and beamed like a star in the night as he eagerly told me the Bible verse(s) he had memorized that week. If you could have seen him as he shared the verse(s), you would have known that he knows "What's in it for me?" He knows the light and life and joy that's in a heart that is filled with God's word.

And he inspired me to the same.

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

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/25/18, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

And that's what my brother does.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Mon, 09/24/18, "Day of Praise"

He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." - Acts 19:2

So I'm walking across a parking lot, and I hear someone calling out. I wasn't wearing pastor clothes, so I didn't think they were calling to me about a pastoral matter, if they were even calling to me at all. They weren't calling me by name, but I hear them call out again, so I turned to look who it might be. 

I saw this guy walking from an 18-wheeler, and he asks me if I know my way around this area. I said I did, so he asks me about an address as he pulls out a wad of paper with some scribbled directions. 

I asked him if he had a gps. He said no. I might as well have said what I thought, which was something along the lines of "Are you kidding? In this day and age?" 

But the Holy Spirit zapped me, so instead I said, "Let me buy you a biscuit, and then I'll lead you there."

That's what happened in today's Bible verse. Paul asked, "Do you have a gps?" And the people said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a gps." Then Paul almost said, "Are you kidding? In this day and age?" But the Holy Spirit zapped him, so instead he said, "Let me buy you a biscuit, and then I'll lead you there."

Well, that's not exactly what happened, but I'm sure that, to some extent, Saint Paul was surprised that they'd never heard of the Holy Spirit. But in actuality what he did was that he realized they needed what they didn't know about, so he just asked them another question, and then he took action to give them what they were missing out on. 

That's what God wants us to do. 

God wants us to recognize that we may, to some extent, be surprised by what people don't know in this day and age. Most importantly, I know for a fact that there are many Christians who don't know that we have peace with God through a simple trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself, in Luke 16:14-18, says that there are people trying to get in good with God by trusting in their own goodness. Furthermore, the Bible recounts this mistaken trust in oneself or money or power or position or association with "the right people." God says that right trust is placed in God and God Almighty alone through Jesus.

But when we discover that someone has misplaced trust (or has no real understanding of the blessings available to us from God through the Holy Spirit) instead of saying, "Are you kidding me?" God wants us to do what Paul did. God wants us to realize they need what they don't know about, and then take action to give them what they're missing out on. 

Don't assume that everyone knows about God's goodness and Jesus and mercy and grace and forgiveness and peace and the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Instead, let's meet people today as God has always met us and all people, namely, with the eagerness to make sure that people know about and claim all the blessings that God has lovingly prepared and freely offered to us, his children, who sorely need them in order for us to have the abundant life that God desires for all his children! 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 09/21/18, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"When can I go and meet with God?"

Anytime you want.

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

Drink of him today, and be blessed.

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Thur, 09/20/18, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/19/18, "Day of Praise" 

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

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

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

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

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

Hi, Mom, I love you! 

Praise God! 


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

The DNA of a Disciple Making Movement

Imagine a day when disciple making is the norm for the local church! Everyday Christians engage in relationships with people (inside and outside the church) so that they can show the love of Jesus and help people to trust and follow him. Churches are known as disciple making places, where Jesus-like people are created. And pastors are evaluated by the people they raise up and the disciple makers they have made in the Spirit's power. Jesus' message AND Jesus' methods dominate. What would it take? I would like to suggest the DNA of a movement.

1. The Gospel is our message – this Good news is focused on Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection. All who respond to salvation are also called to discipleship, no exceptions, no excuses (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Mark 8:34-38). The gospel we preach and believe dictates the kind of disciples we are and the kind of disciples we make. If we attempt to make a Christ-like disciple from a non-discipleship gospel we will fail [A non-discipleship gospel is one that does not include discipleship as a natural part of the message and expectation]. Historically, many have called this Biblical response to the Gospel the "Gospel Imperative."

2. We are Compelled to be and make disciples of Jesus. We believe Jesus Christ is supreme and worthy of all devotion, worship, and emulation – and disciple making is a natural and necessary life responses to Jesus. With laser focus, it was Jesus himself who made disciples who could make disciples… and then Jesus commanded us to do the same (Matthew 28:16-20, John 20:21).

3. Jesus is the model (for life and ministry).  Jesus showed us how to live life and how to make disciples.  We seek to emulate his method and model. As the sinless second Adam, He was man as God intended man to be.  He then told us, "do what I have done" (John 14:12) and "walk as I have walked" (I John 2:6).   Paul understood this when he said, "imitate me as I imitate Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). Discipleship demands us to "follow" the resurrected Christ, and "imitate" the priorities and patterns of the incarnate Christ.  We prefer to use the expression "Disciple Making" over "discipleship" because the former is closer to the words of the Great Commission and the latter is often mischaracterized (Matthew 28:18-20). We like the expression "Jesus model of disciple making," as a summary of what we do.

4. Love is the driving motive.  The Great Commandment precedes the Great Commission. 

And there's more. Tell me if you'd like to hear more. 

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/18/18, "Day of Praise" 

"[Solomon prayed] 'When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the Lord...then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.'" - 1 Kings 8:44-45 

When I was in college, I was blessed to have Christian fellowship on campus with a man named Bob Schindler. Bob was with the Navigators ministry on college campuses and also worked a full-time engineering job, in addition to being a great husband and father. 

Bob loved the Lord. 

Bob loved the Lord so much that trust in the Lord was a natural fruit. Bob asked his engineering company if he could work half-time because that would still provide adequate income for his family and he could devote more time to Jesus through campus ministry. His company said, "No!" 

Bob decided to trust the Lord's calling. After explaining to his company his burden to have more time for ministry as he had requested from them, he left his engineering job. It was a hardship and a battle in many ways on Bob and his family. 

It would be wrong to say, "They prayed." No, instead, they continued to pray. The emphasis is on "continued," because, in the spirit of today's Bible verse, Bob saw the life of faith as full of little wars that constantly try to destroy our faith. As should we all. 

As it turned out, when the Schindlers prayed to the Lord, God heard "from heaven their prayer and their plea, and upheld their cause." (1 Kings 8:45) As it turned out, months after Bob left his engineering job because of his dedication to campus ministry, his company came back to him, recognizing his immeasurable value to their company, and they worked out a plan to bring him back to their company in a way that still freed him for campus ministry, just as Bob had asked for to begin with. 

Today's a work day. Give your employer an honest day's work. But work to the glory of the Lord so that you and yours and your company will all see the blessings of God for those who love him and trust him and pray. 

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 DNA of a Disciple Making Movement

Imagine a day when disciple making is the norm for the local church! Everyday Christians engage in relationships with people (inside and outside the church) so that they can show the love of Jesus and help people to trust and follow him. Churches are known as disciple making places, where Jesus-like people are created. And pastors are evaluated by the people they raise up and the disciple makers they have made in the Spirit's power. Jesus' message AND Jesus' methods dominate. What would it take? I would like to suggest the DNA of a movement.

1. The Gospel is our message – this Good news is focused on Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection. All who respond to salvation are also called to discipleship, no exceptions, no excuses (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Mark 8:34-38). The gospel we preach and believe dictates the kind of disciples we are and the kind of disciples we make. If we attempt to make a Christ-like disciple from a non-discipleship gospel we will fail [A non-discipleship gospel is one that does not include discipleship as a natural part of the message and expectation]. Historically, many have called this Biblical response to the Gospel the "Gospel Imperative."

2. We are Compelled to be and make disciples of Jesus. We believe Jesus Christ is supreme and worthy of all devotion, worship, and emulation – and disciple making is a natural and necessary life responses to Jesus. With laser focus, it was Jesus himself who made disciples who could make disciples… and then Jesus commanded us to do the same (Matthew 28:16-20, John 20:21).

3. Jesus is the model (for life and ministry).  Jesus showed us how to live life and how to make disciples.  We seek to emulate his method and model. As the sinless second Adam, He was man as God intended man to be.  He then told us, "do what I have done" (John 14:12) and "walk as I have walked" (I John 2:6).   Paul understood this when he said, "imitate me as I imitate Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). Discipleship demands us to "follow" the resurrected Christ, and "imitate" the priorities and patterns of the incarnate Christ.  We prefer to use the expression "Disciple Making" over "discipleship" because the former is closer to the words of the Great Commission and the latter is often mischaracterized (Matthew 28:18-20). We like the expression "Jesus model of disciple making," as a summary of what we do.

4. Love is the driving motive.  The Great Commandment precedes the Great Commission. 

And there's more. Tell me if you'd like to hear more. 

Day of Praise

Mon, 09/17/18, "Day of Praise"

[And Samuel said to the people,] "Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." - 1 Samuel 12:20b-21

Amanda and I have our anniversary quickly approaching. One of my reminders is the box her wedding ring was in. The box is in the office room next to our bedroom. 

The ring box with "Diamonds Direct" clearly printed on the top is there for all the world to see. Well, not all the world is coming into our all our rooms, but oftentimes I think how sad it would be if a burglar got in our house and made off with the ring box. I think how sad that would be because of what's actually in the box. 

Namely, nothing. 

There's nothing in the box. Oh sure, it's a nice enough box, and it says "Diamonds Direct" on the outside, but there's absolutely nothing on the inside.

The nice box is empty. 

Just like a lot of stuff that people chase in this world.

Today is a workday. What are you chasing after with your work today? In today's Bible verses, God clearly says through Samuel, "And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." (1 Samuel 12:21 (ESV))

So what should we chase after with our work? God gives that answer too in today's Bible verses, "Serve the Lord with all your heart."

Passage after passage in the Holy Bible says that if we'll just trust God at the center of all things (Genesis 2), love God above all things (Matthew 22), and seek God first before all things (Matthew 6), then we'll be given everything else that we need and more!

So, have a great day with Jesus!

And remember to "not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." (1 Samuel 12:20b-21 - ESV)

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 DNA of a Disciple Making Movement

Imagine a day when disciple making is the norm for the local church! Everyday Christians engage in relationships with people (inside and outside the church) so that they can show the love of Jesus and help people to trust and follow him. Churches are known as disciple making places, where Jesus-like people are created. And pastors are evaluated by the people they raise up and the disciple makers they have made in the Spirit's power. Jesus' message AND Jesus' methods dominate. What would it take? I would like to suggest the DNA of a movement.

1. The Gospel is our message – this Good news is focused on Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection. All who respond to salvation are also called to discipleship, no exceptions, no excuses (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Mark 8:34-38). The gospel we preach and believe dictates the kind of disciples we are and the kind of disciples we make. If we attempt to make a Christ-like disciple from a non-discipleship gospel we will fail [A non-discipleship gospel is one that does not include discipleship as a natural part of the message and expectation]. Historically, many have called this Biblical response to the Gospel the "Gospel Imperative."

2. We are Compelled to be and make disciples of Jesus. We believe Jesus Christ is supreme and worthy of all devotion, worship, and emulation – and disciple making is a natural and necessary life responses to Jesus. With laser focus, it was Jesus himself who made disciples who could make disciples… and then Jesus commanded us to do the same (Matthew 28:16-20, John 20:21).

3. Jesus is the model (for life and ministry).  Jesus showed us how to live life and how to make disciples.  We seek to emulate his method and model. As the sinless second Adam, He was man as God intended man to be.  He then told us, "do what I have done" (John 14:12) and "walk as I have walked" (I John 2:6).   Paul understood this when he said, "imitate me as I imitate Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). Discipleship demands us to "follow" the resurrected Christ, and "imitate" the priorities and patterns of the incarnate Christ.  We prefer to use the expression "Disciple Making" over "discipleship" because the former is closer to the words of the Great Commission and the latter is often mischaracterized (Matthew 28:18-20). We like the expression "Jesus model of disciple making," as a summary of what we do.

4. Love is the driving motive.  The Great Commandment precedes the Great Commission. 

And there's more. Tell me if you'd like to hear more. 

Day of Praise

Sat, 09/15/18, "Day of Praise"

"'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord'" - 2 Chronicles 7:21-22

Based on the testimony of God's word and general observation of life, one of the hardest things for people to learn is the place of good works in the life of grace.

After all, if grace is God giving us good things that we don't deserve, then why do we need to do any good works at all? Such is the question in Romans 6 in the Bible.

But the answer to the question of the place of good works in the life of grace is actually very simple. Our good works, or lack thereof, do not change God's heart toward us. God always loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us so that we can have a great life in him now and forever.

However, our good works, though they don't change God's heart toward us, they do impact our heart toward God. As Jesus says in John 15, our good works, works done with faith in God and love for God, are the way to stay in a relationship with God. We get into a relationship with God by his gracious initiative. We stay in the relationship with God by "good works," which, again, are deeds done with faith in God and love for God, as we hear in Romans 14. Jesus says it this way in John 15, if you stay in my love and keep my commands, you will bear much fruit, but apart from [the relationship with] me, you can do nothing [that endures positively with life].

In Hebrews 12, especially, God plainly tells us that God disciplines (that is, acts to teach) us when we don't do good works of faith and love, in order to teach us how good relationships with God and one another work...or don't work.

God is always graciously faithful to the relationship with us. Period. Even when we're not. But God graciously loves us so much that he wants us to know the unmatched joy of actively being in a relationship with him. So he graciously teaches us the place of good works.

Think about it. Please. Because one of the hardest things for us people to learn is the place of good works in the life of grace.

Dear God, please be gracious, according to your will, plainly revealed through your Son, Jesus Christ, and help us to learn and live out the place of good works in the life of grace, so that we trust you alone to create us, give us "daily bread", and save us for eternal and everlasting life. But help us to see the joy of good works, as you have ordained such works to be the way to stay in and enjoy a relationship with you through faith in you and love toward others. Amen

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Fri, 09/14/18, "Day of Praise"

"Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--the LORD detests them both." - Proverbs 17:15

If you ever want a measure of how much God loves you, just remember Proverbs 17:15. In that verse, God tells us that he detests both the setting free of a guilty person as if he were not guilty and that God also detests the sentencing to death of an innocent man as if he were guilty! 

In the suffering and cross of Jesus, we shared in both those detestable things as humanity asked for Barabbas, the insurrectionist, to go free and asked that Jesus, the innocent, be sentenced to death and crucified.

Furthermore, the name "Barabbas" means "child or son of God." And his offense of "insurrection" is a fancy way to say "sin or rising up against the ruler [God]". In other words, we, like Barabbas, are children of God who have risen up in sin against God, but we also, like Barabbas the guilty, were set free from the penalty and sentence of death, as Jesus, the innocent, took our place on the cross that we deserved.

We were on both sides of the equation of the two things that God detests.

And yet God, who doubly detests the sentencing that all humanity unjustly laid on his Son, freely sent and gave his Son to die for us so that we might live anew.

And God tells us this in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." So imagine how great is the love when one dies for someone they don't know or dies for someone who has done something they detest. 

Friends, Memorial Day is months behind us, Patriots Day is just behind us, and Veterans Day is never too far ahead for us to stop and ponder. It's a time to remember and give thanks for countless people who died or were willing to die for their friends and for strangers and even for people who have done things that they and God detest. But let's not wait until the last minute to remember and give thanks for all who have died for us and/or served us so that we might go free. No, America, let's bless God now and every day, giving thanks for those who served and gave their lives, that, in the strength of Jesus Christ crucified and raised, we would gladly do the same.

Die to self; live in 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

Day of Praise

Thur, 09/13/18, "Day of Praise"

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23

I have known people who have known today's verse for years. And depending on which ones of those people you're talking about, today's verse is either blessedly simple or tragically simple. 

It is blessedly simple for those who know the verse and do it--for those who actually guard what goes in their heart.

And today's verse is tragically simple for those who know the verse and don't do it--for those who do not guard what goes into their heart.

God's appeal to us to guard our heart is simple. But, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, how much such wisdom to "guard our heart" positively impacts your life will totally depend on whether or not you do it.

It's a simple concept. Even children can understand it by way of an all-time favorite children's song.

(VS 1) Oh, be careful little ears what you hear (repeat)
For the Father Up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little ears what you hear.

(VS 2) Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, (repeat)
For the Father up above,
is looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes what you see.

(VS 3) Oh, be careful little mouth what you say, (repeat),
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mouth what you say.

(VS 4) Oh, be careful little hands what you do (repeat),
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little hands what you do.

(VS 5) Oh, be careful little feet where you go (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little feet where you go.

(VS 6) Oh, be careful little mind what you think (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mind what you think.

(VS 7) Oh, be careful little heart what you love (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love, 
So be careful little heart what you 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

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/12/18, "Day of Praise"

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21

Don't ya just love our life in the LORD through Christ? Seriously! I love it and pray that you do too.

One of the top things I love is that Almighty and Sovereign God wants to be, and is, involved in our lives in a myriad of ways.

One of the greatest ways that God is involved with us is that God works to "guide us into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79) so that, as in today's verse from Proverbs, God says that we might have plans, but the Lord's purpose prevails.

The thing I love about this is that we don't have to worry about making a mistake because, whenever we make a decision and go with it, God will do one of two things: either affirm the decision or work to get us back on track.

God does this because "God is for us" (Romans 8:31), God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and God wants us "to have life to the full!" (John 10:10)

So, let's get busy living!

And we do that by trusting God's repeated promise (from Exodus 15:13 to John 16:13) to guide us, by the Holy Spirit, into all the blessings that God has prepared for us.

So, have a great day! Live, believing that "many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21).

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

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/11/18, "Day of Praise"

"Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." - Proverbs 10:17

Little in life is harder...

Than the giving...

And receiving...

Of rebuke, counsel, and discipline.

But little in life is more important.

This is not some obscure teaching. Instead, in the Bible, God repeatedly speaks of the love, life, and wisdom that are gained and imparted from the receiving and giving of rebuke, counsel, and discipline.

It is hard to receive rebuke, counsel, and discipline because we don't want anymore "bosses" than are required to get our paycheck.

It is hard to give rebuke, counsel, and discipline because we don't want conflict as much as we want "friends," that is, people who like us.

But, praise God, there is more to life than paychecks and people liking us.

In today's verse, God calls us to value two things: 1) "the way to life" as greater than a paycheck and 2) not "leading others astray" as greater than people liking us.

As with all these Days of Praise, there is so much more we could say, but the bottom line is this: God's word plainly and repeatedly tells us that no man or woman is wise about the truly good life in and of themselves.

God himself made us this way, that is, God made us to need one another for the giving and receiving of God's word.

So today, as you interact with others, listen humbly and intently for God's rebuke, counsel, and discipline. And when it's your turn to speak, do so boldly, with confidence in the Lord and love for the person.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 09/10/18, "Day of Praise"

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." - Proverbs 3:9-10

So add today's verses to the list. Genesis 14, Malachi 3, Matthew 23, Hebrews 7, and today's verses from Proverbs 3:9-10. Through all of these, God speaks plainly of Biblical tithing, which is the promise of God to bless those who bring the "firstfruits" of our labor, the first 10%, to the LORD so as to honor, exalt, and share him with the world.

My own simple testimony is this: since I was a junior in High School, when God moved me to read the Bible from cover to cover for the first time, I have seen that tithing "works." 

I know that giving 10% of income, as a starting point for giving to God's work, seems like a lot, but I've found that God is always true to his promise. In sum, you can't outgive God!

And ya know, there's so much more that I could say with conviction about this tithing thing, about giving the first 10% of your income to the work of the LORD, but it's on my heart just to stop today. And here's why.

You're either going to believe what is God's promise, not mine, or you're not going to believe the promise.

And upon, hopefully, believing, you're either going to act on the promise and (continue to) bring the tithe or not.

It's your choice.

Christ's saving work has both set you free (John 8:33) from being a slave to thinking like the world thinks, and Christ's saving work has also set you free to choose and to be a servant of thinking and acting like God counsels and models.

I'm not trying to make anybody feel guilty. That's not what Day of Praise is all about.

I'm just trying to tell you that God wants you to taste (Psalm 34) some blessings that only God has to offer.

So in a simple prayer, I pray you'll (continue to) give tithing a try, giving 10% both to God and also to the spread of his word.

You won't regret it.

It is God who promises you won't.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." - Proverbs 3:9-10

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

Sat, 09/08/18, "Day of Praise"

"Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness." -
Proverbs 25:4-5

When I was a kid in the 70's, I remember listening to and talking to my father about cars. Specifically, I remember wondering why so many Japanese-made cars, like Hondas, rusted so badly. As I understand it, the reason they rusted so badly is that they were made of lesser-quality metals.

Too many impurities.

Too many impurities create a product that can't withstand the weather and time. At least nowhere near as long as higher quality materials.

God made us all to love to praise the Lord. God made us to love to bring glory to his name. This is our true self.

But in today's Bible verses, God says that it's really hard to praise the Lord and bring glory to his name if our lives are filled with too many impurities, too much dross, too much "wickedness," which God tells us in Romans 14 is anything we do apart from faith in God and his word.

To be sure "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but God calls us to be who God made us to be and to care whether or not God can build, not Japanese-made cars out of us, but his kingdom!

Yes, we fall short, and God is gracious! But do we want, in our heart of hearts, to be high quality "material" with which God can build his kingdom? Or are we apathetic to the whole endeavor?

In Mark 9:24, we hear a father cry out, "I believe, Lord; help my unbelief." In a similar fashion, God would have us cry out, "I want to be a great servant of your kingdom, Lord; please help me where I fall short!"

Dear God, please, help us! Refine us and purify us by your grace and teaching and discipline to be fine material for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus and the advancement of your kingdom in the hearts of all people. Amen.

Praise God!



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

Day of Praise

Fri, 09/07/18, "Day of Praise"

"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." - Proverbs 27:11

I was 16. I had just gotten back from Black Mountain, North Carolina and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes National Conference. It had been a mountaintop experience on a mountaintop. I was spiritually higher than ever before.

And I was probably too zealous.

I had never really talked about Jesus to other people. So, like a teenage boy calling a girl on the phone for the first few times, sharing Jesus the first few times was filled with awkwardness and butterflies.

My football teammates were less than impressed.

In fact some, were downright mean.

I was crushed.

I went to our head football coach, Fred Walton, not because he was the head football coach, but because I knew his heart. It was strong and, at the same time, gentle.

Somehow in my spirit I knew that, in the words of today's verse, Coach Walton could "bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." (Proverbs 27:11)

He and I sat together, just the two of us, at the top of our very large gym. It was like we returned to the mountaintop, which both lifts up your heart and also from which you can gain perspective.

Coach Walton gave me strength and renewed my joy. I came to realize that, of course, it wasn't him, but it was the Holy Spirit of the Living God working through him and through the faith that God had worked in him.

I would need every ounce of it because a couple months later, I broke my ankle at the start of the 2nd game of my senior year. Once again, some of my teammates ridiculed me, my abilities, my previous football awards, and my faith.

I was depressed.

But Coach Walton, physics professor Wally Owens, and Coach John Brooks were all men of God's Spirit in Christ, who daily encouraged me and were God's instruments for restoring some semblance of joy.

I am forever grateful.

And I want to thank God for them by doing for others what they did for me.

Indeed, for all of us who will believe that Christ is truly alive and wants to work powerfully in us and through us by His Spirit, we can be world-changers and heart-restorers for others in the name of the LORD.

"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." - Proverbs 27:11

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

Thur, 09/06/18, "Day of Praise"

"But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin." - Micah 3:8

Notice, in today's verse, that Micah is inspired by God to:

1) celebrate who he is and what he has in the LORD, as he says, "I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might" and

2) recognize, (because of who he is and what he has in the LORD), what he must do for the LORD, as he says his work is "to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin."

In sum, 1) Micah has an identity in the LORD and 2) he has a job to do for the LORD.

These two principles, that Micah knows, stand in contrast to "the prophets who lead [God's] people astray" (Micah 3:5). "As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim 'peace' if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them."

Notice the "principles" of these horrible prophets! 
1) They have peace with people who feed/serve them.
2) They are at war with people who do not feed/serve them.

Micah listens to God and makes the connection between being and doing. The bad prophets do not. Micah wants to serve because of who he is. The bad prophets want to be served. (Cf. Jesus' words in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45)

And who has a book of the Bible named after them? Micah or the bad prophets? Micah!

And so it is with every book of the Bible. If they're named after a person, it's a person who made the connection between being and doing. They were all sinners, to be sure, for whom Jesus died, but they listened to God and made the connection.

There's no book of the Bible named, "The dude who expected everybody to serve him."

I will never forget the church secretary who quit after two weeks on the job, saying, "I thought this would be church work, but this is work!"

I don't remember her name.

No one else will ever have a book of the Bible named after them. But, being made in the image of God, we all long to leave our mark in the world. We long to have our name carved into the Tree of Life. We long to be remembered, as Abraham Lincoln said, as someone who did something for God.

For this to happen, like Micah, we are called to celebrate our identity and gifts in the LORD and then to do something with God's gifts and in God's strength for the LORD.

In so doing, we thank God for his goodness, we encourage others to do the same, and we sleep well at night, knowing our little ol' life made a difference in a great big world.

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

Wed, 09/05/18, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus said, 'I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But cheer up; I have overcome the world!'" -- John 16:33

Another workday is before us. They call it work because, well, it's work. We spend time. We spend energy. On things that need doing. Some of which are troubling. Others, well, they'll become trouble if we don't get 'em done.

It's a workday!

But there's good news in the face of any trouble and/or work that's before us! Jesus says, "Cheer up; I have overcome the world!"

Hey, y'all! When Jesus says he's overcome the world, he means the WORLD!!! He means that if it's in the world, then he's overcome it, which means that work is overcome and trouble is overcome and any combination of the above is overcome!!!

Jesus's declaration of truth and victory makes me want to sing! Maybe you know the song, "Look up and cheer up, that's the only way" with the Lyrics & tune by Harry Dixon Loes © Singspiration, 1953.

"Look up and cheer up, that's the only way.
Look up and cheer up, bright will be your day.
Just keep your eyes on Jesus, don't mind what people say.
Just look up and cheer up, that's the only way!"

Indeed, eyes on Jesus! And cheery and bright will be your day!

Try it! Really! Heartfelt eyes on Jesus, and you'll see!

"Jesus said, 'I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But cheer up; I have overcome the world!'" -- John 16:33

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/04/18, "Day of Praise"

"[King of Assyria,] nothing can heal you; your wound is fatal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?" - Nahum 3:19

So, I was at a ChikFilA drive thru. I have a coupon for a kid's meal and ask if I can use it. They say what they always say, "No problem!" So I look at the menu and order grilled (instead of fried) chicken nuggets with a fruit cup (instead of waffle fries), a cone (instead of a toy), and diet lemonade (instead of soda). They say what they always say, "No problem!" 

So, I get my food, and I'm driving away and look in my bag. I have fried (instead of grilled) chicken nuggets with waffle fries (instead of a fruit cup), a toy (in addition to a cone), and, I think, my diet lemonade (but who knows cause it tasted mighty sweet). So, at least half my order was wrong, but I chuckled and said to God what ChikFilA always says to everyone else, "No problem!"

Friends, it's a work day. Things are going to go wrong today (like they do everyday). In reply to what goes wrong, we have some choices. We can get all bent out of shape about the problem. Or we can recognize, as in today's Bible verse from Nahum 3:19, that all sources of evil are doomed to defeat by the Sovereign God through Jesus Christ, so being victorious over the problem, we can say to the problem, "No problem!"

But we can also do more. Let's keep envisioning and praying for a world where all people know that every problem to God is "No problem" at all so that people can't help but worship and praise him!!!

Happy work 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

Day of Praise

Mon, 09/03/18, "Day of Praise"

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." — Hebrews 4:14

When I was a kid, not quite a teen, I went to my first Boy Scout Summer Camp at Camp Davy Crockett. At one of the late night, all-camp bonfires, a group of older boys appeared out of the darkness, dressed as Native Americans. They made their way through the crowd, identified some of the middle-aged boys, literally picked them up off their seat, firmly pounded each boy's chest, and said, "You, go join your chief!" I remember the deep thud I heard when they firmly and rhythmically pounded each boy's chest. It was so loud that I thought the older boys were going to put a hole in the chest of the initiates. As it turned out, and as I myself experienced as both initiate and initiator in coming years, the "Tapping Ceremony" of the Order of the Arrow wasn't hurting anyone, instead it used the firm pounding as a way of calling new initiates to a deeper strength and wisdom and resolve as each boy was beginning an extended initiation, inviting them to grow deeper and stronger as a young man. Firmness communicated strength!

Such is the invitation in today's Bible verse from Hebrews 4:14, "let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." God is inviting us, even calling us, to become more firm, to grow deeper and stronger as people of faith in Jesus Christ. Firmness is strength!

Friends, all sorts of matters will arise today. Yes, as Christians, we are called to be kind. But we are also called to be firm. We are called to believe firmly and speak firmly and act firmly, all the while standing on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. I know that firmness from others moves me to hear more clearly and think more deeply and act more confidently about the things that are said to me. 

"Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess" in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 4:14) and bless one another by calling each other, and even new "initiates" to the faith, to the same firmness in Christ Jesus. For in so doing, we all will be blessed with a deeper strength and wisdom from the Holy Spirit, along with a strength and resolve in Christ!

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Sat, 09/01/18, "Day of Praise"

"Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." - Isaiah 64:8

"I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.' So they began this good work." - Nehemiah 2:18

"Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to." - Deuteronomy 15:10

As we enjoy this Labor Day weekend, let us remember 1) that we ourselves are the loving work of God's hand (Isaiah 64:8), 2) that God blesses our labor when we tell others about God's gracious hand on us (Nehemiah 2:18), and 3) that God blesses our labor when we give generously and without a grudging heart (Deuteronomy 15:10).

Indeed, may God be praised as we remember and do these things, according to his word, this weekend and always!

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