Day of Praise

We, 08/14/13, "Day of Praise"

"be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" - Ephesians 5:18b-20

You do not need to be the famous Dietrich Bonhoeffer or the other famous person whose name I heard in a sermon recently but I've already forgotten.

You only need to be you.

You only need to be you to "be filled with the Spirit" and address one another in the ways God speaks of in today's verses.
It is not minimizing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Ephesians 5:19) to say that speaking to one another in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" means speaking to one another 1) from the bottom of your heart (psalms), 2) thoughtfully (hymns), 3) about the matters that are weighing on your heart (spiritual songs), trusting that this call is in the Bible because this is how God works in our relationships to build up everyone.

Everyday, as a pastor, I experience one consistent thread in every pastoral care and counseling conversation, namely, people either don't feel connected to others or they do feel connected because their conversations are 1) from the bottom of your heart (psalms), 2) thoughtfully (hymns), 3) about the matters that are weighing on your heart (spiritual songs).

It's not about being touchy-feely. It's about honesty.

People come to mind, males and females. They're hiding. They're not being honest with others. And they're not being honest with themselves. They say they need to talk, and then they deflect the talk away from themselves and criticize other people.

And it's not healthy.

Whether you receive this devotion in the U.S.A. or overseas, you know these people. Sometimes they're in the mirror.

So let's pray for one another. For the person in front of you. Consciously thinking, "how can I make room for this person to be real with me?"

Lord, please help us to start by being real with them, trusting you, and "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18b-20)

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Tu, 08/13/13, "Day of Praise"

"My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!" - Psalm 84:2a and 4

"College football starts in seventeen days."

At least that's what the guy on the local radio station said yesterday. (Remember that I live in Alabama.)

I didn't hear him say it. But I know that he said it because I used to listen to his radio station a lot. Every year, when one college football season ends, the very next day is when that radio station starts the countdown to the next college football season. Of course, the reason that radio station does that is because there's a cultural longing for college football around here. That longing has been fed by four straight national championships between the two big football schools in this state.

It's fun.

At least it's supposed to be fun.

Until there's a stretch of losing.

Like I've gotten used to with my favorite college team, which does not reside in Alabama.

Everything in the world is fun.

Until it hits hard times. Like losing football seasons.

That's why God wants us to take our longing for college football or whatever we long for in the world. And God wants us to hold it up next to His word.

And God says, "If you'll long for my word as much as you long for that other thing, you'll find that my word is not only much more satisfying, but it will endure and feed your soul, even when the other thing hits hard times, like losing football seasons."

So, hey, enjoy your college football. I will.
But let's remember to take time for God's word each day too because that's how the most satisfying and never-failing desire comes about and grows.

"My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!" - Psalm 84:2a and 4

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Mo, 08/12/13, "Day of Praise"

"But even the hairs of your head are all numbered." - Matthew 10:30

Seriously?

So, God knows every hair on my head?

Even the two-inch-long Frankenstein hair on my right eyebrow that apparently decided to pop out sometime during morning worship yesterday?

Man alive, everybody who received Holy Communion from me during worship and everybody who greeted me after worship must've been thinking, "Man, Pastor Chris, don't you ever look in the mirror? Dude, you need to trim your eyebrows. You look like Frankenstein."

But nobody said that.

And apparently God knew about the monster hair because God promises that "even the hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:30) And even knowing how stupid I looked, he still loves me.

And God still loves you, even though a wild hair or something crazy is going to make you look stupid today.

I mean it's Monday. And y'all are always telling me how much you love Mondays because something annoying always seems to happen. To you. Or with a family member. Or with a coworker. Or at the store.

Just remember that God already knows about it. And he loves you. And he loves them. So instead of getting bent out of shape, we can do what a young couple and I talked about yesterday afternoon -- we can just smile and laugh about it and not let it steal our joy.

So, have a great Monday!

And remember, "Even the hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:30)

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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, 08/10/13, "Day of Praise"

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10

I love working in my yard. Love it. It doesn't even seem right to say that it's "working" in the yard. It feels more like playing.

It's renewing to me. While I "work", I think. And I sing. And I pray. And I look. At the flowers. The birds. The polish on the yard. The possibilities for the yard.

It's a "work" in progress.

Just like you. Just like me. Just like the family we're all a part of. God's family.

We're all a work in progress. Like a garden. God is pruning us. God is enjoying us. Nurturing us so that we can bear fruit, sweet fruit, even as God envisions the possibilities.

Yes, we are a work in progress.

But make no mistake.

We are the focal point of God's Garden Paradise.

It hardly seems like "work" to God.

It's love.

God loves working in His yard.

So do I.

I hope you do too.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Fr, 08/09/13, "Day of Praise"

"[O, God,] because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you" - Psalm 63:3

Who and what do you aspire to be?

If you're not sure, you can easily access all sorts of people who are willing to make suggestions. Just go to http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-rim&hl=en&q=for%20what%20do%20you%20aspire&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&channel=browser.

As for myself, today's Bible verse inspires me to aspire to be a beautiful person who has a good grasp on life.

I can explain very simply. At http://mobile.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/lips.html, I found two quotes that sum up my aspiration to be a beautiful person who has a good grasp on life.

The famous, British actress Audrey Hepburn said, "For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

I aspire to have beautiful eyes that look for the good in God and others. I aspire to have beautiful lips that speak praise to God and kindness to others. And I aspire to have poise, walking with the knowledge that God is always with me.

And Hugh Sidey, the famous Time-Life magazine journalist who covered the American President for almost half a century, said, "Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life."

I aspire to have such a grasp on life where joy and laughter spill prevalently from my life each day.

In sum, I aspire to be a beautiful person who has a good grasp on life.

What about you?

"[O, God,] because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you" - Psalm 63:3

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Th, 08/08/13, "Day of Praise"

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." - Ephesians 5:1

So, are there any other little brothers out there? My big brother was awesome and is awesome. But every once in a while, being a little brother was not very fun.

In my case, my big brother, Ben, was faster than me, quicker than me, braver than me, more handsome than me, cooler than me. In sum, he was better than me. And fortunately, he was nice about all that and most things.

But there was one thing my big brother couldn't stand, namely, he didn't want me going to school and wearing the same style shirt as he had on. He did not want me imitating him or being a copycat where clothes were concerned. So he'd send me back to my room to change before we went to catch our bus.

Those are great memories for my brother and me because now we're totally on the same page. We both love imitating our ultimate big brother, Jesus Christ. We both want to wear exactly what Jesus is wearing, namely the goodness and righteousness of Jesus. And through faith in Jesus, that's exactly what Jesus gives us to wear as God says in Isaiah 61:10,
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness".

And why does God do this? Why does God clothe us exactly like Jesus? Well, God does it so we'll never forget and the world will know that God loves us to look like him, as if we're God's children, for whom God provides and cares and to whom God listens and gives.

Indeed, that is exactly what we are!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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, 08/07/13, "Day of Praise"

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." - John 7:24

Round two for this verse.

So, I'm driving down the road. And I see a car full of clothes. No, really! It was full of clothes. And I could be wrong, but I didn't get the impression that this vehicle was headed to the Salvation Army to make a donation. To the contrary, the little, middle-aged lady, whose head laid on the steering wheel and under the clothes, seemed, well, blessed that the Salvation Army exists.

And I thought to myself, "What must it take to live like that?" And then I thought through the list of people who I've met who live in their cars. For each one, there's some mental or physical challenge that has stressed their finances so that their car or truck has become their home. Closer examination of the car reveals more than clothes. There's trash. And a smell.

It's easy to look down on these people. Very easy.

But it's harder to look down on them when you hear their voice. And learn their name. And shake their hand. Thinking you need to wash your hand as soon as possible.

And then, I'll speak for myself, then God cuts my heart and speaks to my heart, saying, "Be careful, Chris. Your car may not have as much stuff in it. But your life has just as much need. For a Savior. Who has compassion. And mercy. And kindness. Who will reach out his hands. With a blessing. With a greeting. On a cross. To help. To forgive. To encourage."

Everyone needs Jesus Christ.

And that's the only judgement that any of us need to be making.

He extended his hand to me. To help me. That I might be the way that he reaches through me to someone else.

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." - John 7:24

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Tu, 08/06/13, "Day of Praise"

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." - John 7:24

Dufus!

That's what my friend confessed they called someone in the mall food court who, from a distance, they saw was wearing a doo-rag. As the verbal judgement-by-appearance came out of their mouth, they also saw the dufus and his friend sit down in the mall food court, bow their heads, and pray to God in thanks for their food.

My friend felt busted.

So she dug into her purse and found a couple of the literally tens of thousands of wooden pocket crosses that our church in Alabama has bought from a guy who has a small business making these little inspiring, pocket crosses in New England.

My friend got up and went to these guys' table and told them sincerely how blessed she and her husband were to see them pray in public. She gave them the crosses. And, returning to her table, she noticed, as many of our folks have testified, the little crosses being examined and discussed all during the young men's meal.

And THEN they came over to her table and thanked her, saying how God brought their lives together and lovingly patting the pocket in which they placed their new little treasure of a 25 cent cross with a Bible verse printed on it - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart - Proverbs 3:5-6".

And once again God graciously teaches us all, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." (John 7:24)

(PS - If you, like many of our members, would like to order some very nice wooden pocket crosses for yourself, your family, your business, your church or whatever, simply email Dick and Brenda at ctkoffice@bellsouth.net and they'll be glad to give you the contact info.)

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Mo, 08/05/13, "Day of Praise"

'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." - Luke 12:19-21

When The Carpenters released "Rainy Days and Mondays" on April 23, 1971, I'm sure that song raced to #1 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 list because Karen Carpenter had one of the five smoothest voices of all time in my humble opinion.

However, I'm also sure that any song with the line "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down" would have to climb pretty high because we live in a society that still hasn't figured out the place and value of work; and the biggest target for work complaints is "Monday." Our fallen world thinks dreariness and work go hand in hand, so of course "Rainy days and Mondays always get us down."

But before we join the chorus of Monday complaints today, it behooves us to recognize that, in today's Bible verses, Jesus makes a clear connection between our strength of soul and our attitude toward work. And though it's true that works never save us (read Galatians in the Bible), God ordained from the beginning that a healthy work ethic is a part of our enjoying paradise. Before sin entered the world, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." (Genesis 2:15)

Indeed, God ordained that though work never saves us in relation to God, works are a way for us to thank and glorify God for giving us life and saving us, which is exactly what we see in the New Testament in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12: "To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

In fact, that would be a perfect prayer for us to pray for each other on every work day, but especially today, since it's our "favorite" workday: Monday! May God give us strength of soul and a positive attitude toward work. To God be the glory!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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, 08/03/13, "Day of Praise"

Two sisters in Christ, Judy and Geri from Illinois, sent me the following Max Lucado devotion and weblink yesterday. I thought about it all day long, so I'm passing it on to all of you. Praise God!

Max Lucado wrote:

God called David a "man after His own heart!"  One might read his story and wonder what God saw in him.  He fell as often as he stood. He stared down Goliath, yet ogled at Bathsheba.  He could lead armies but couldn't manage a family.  Raging David.  Weeping David.  Bloodthirsty.  God-hungry.  Eight wives.  One God.  A man after God's own heart?

That God saw him as such gives hope to us all.  David's life has little to offer the unstained saint.  Straight-A souls find David's story disappointing.  But we need David's story…most of us do.  Giants lurk in our neighborhoods.  Giants of rejection, failure, and revenge.  We must face them.  Yet we need not face them alone.

Focus on God.  The times David did, giants fell. The days he did not, David fell.  Lift your eyes, giant-slayer!  The God who made a miracle out of David stands ready to make one out of you!

From "Facing Your Giants"

http://maxlucado.com/audio/daily-audio/giant-slayer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=giant-slayer&utm_source=MaxLucado.com+Weekday+Emails&utm_campaign=e5b0f52531-RSS_DAILY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9b9306e0eb-e5b0f52531-223366597&mc_cid=e5b0f52531&mc_eid=c7af258f71


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

Day of Praise

Fr, 08/02/13, "Day of Praise"

"So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" - Ephesians 2:19

I am not a world traveler. So when I was in seminary and went to the Philippines with some professors and students, I felt very much out of my comfort zone.

And there was no time I felt more out of my comfort zone than when we had a layover in Seoul, Korea and when we first arrived in Manila, which is the capital city and the second largest city of the Philippines.

All we saw of Seoul was the inside of the International Airport terminal. Wee hours of the night, their time. Dark outside. Light inside. The terminal had no people. Not a seoul, er, I mean, soul. And our souls had no energy. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all white, hard, and sterile. Between exhaustion and environment, I felt totally like a "stranger and sojourner" (Ephesians 2:19). If I didn't know better, I would have thought I was in the train station scene of "Matrix Revolutions" (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NYpkrQc9PeA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNYpkrQc9PeA).

And then a few hours later, with maybe a few minutes of sleep, we arrived in Manila. And I thought I felt like a "stranger and sojourner" in Seoul. Seoul was easy compared to Manila. It was now the wee hours of the morning. Still very dark. We got off the plane and onto a "bus". I was looking out the bus window into this dark strange world. It felt like a scene from "Apocalypse Now" (http://www.fastenupyourseatbelts.com/apocalyseNow/apocalypseNowAnalysis.html). It forced me to wonder, "Should we trust the guy who's driving the bus? I don't even have a clue who even actually is driving the bus. Man-ila, er, Man, I don't have a clue even where I am!"

Have you ever felt that way in life? The world seems dark. Rest comes hard. And ya wonder, "Should I trust the guy who's driving the bus? I don't even have a clue who even actually is driving the bus." Ya feel like a stranger and sojourner in your own "world" and even at times to your own life.

(At this point, I might kindly ask you not to send me psychoanalytical responses, telling me I'm depressed. If your world is full of light and logic and inner calm and your life just totally makes sense, then today's Bible verse isn't even meant for you. But God inspired the words that are in the Bible because they meet real people where they often find themselves as we walk in faith in a fallen world. And God says, through Paul, that we often feel like strangers and sojourners.)

So, for all of you who have ever felt as strange and unsettled as God's Word says many of us sometimes do, then here's the Good News: God has an invitation for you. God has a promise for you to claim.

You have a place with God. A place in God's heart. And God wants to have a place in your heart. You have your own room in God to settle in. And God wants to settle into the room that is your heart.

No more sojourning. You're home in the Lord. Even while we're still sojourning in the world. In other words, even as our place in the world is temporary, our place with God is permanent. Our place with God is home. A place to rest. And be fed. And hear the voice of One who loves us.

Our place with God through faith in Jesus Christ is a place to be renewed.

For the rest of this temporary journey.

So that now, in Christ, as we walk sometimes wearily in and through this world, we have a promise to claim from One who's always faithful to His Word. And His promise to you is this: "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19).

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Th, 08/01/13, "Day of Praise"

"And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you." - Psalm 39:7

Here are a few of the many big things that happened in 1964:

January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the 15th century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I meet in Jerusalem.

January 7 – A British firm, the Leyland Motor Corp., announces the sale of 450 buses to the Cuban government, challenging the United States blockade of Cuba.

January 8 – In his first State of the Union Address, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson declares a "War on Poverty".

January 10 – Introducing...the Beatles is released by Chicago's Vee-Jay Records to get the jump on Capitol Records' release of Meet the Beatles!, scheduled for January 20.

January 11 – United States Surgeon General Luther Leonidas Terry reports that smoking may be hazardous to one's health (the first such statement from the U.S. government).

January 12 - Routine U.S. naval patrols of the South China Sea begin.

January 16 - Hello, Dolly! opens in New York City's St. James Theatre.

January 18 – Plans to build the New York World Trade Center are announced.

January 23 - Arthur Miller's After the Fall opens on Broadway. A semi-autobiographical work, it arouses controversy over his portrayal of late ex-wife Marilyn Monroe.

September 12 - I was born. (Just kidding! :-) Well, I was born then, but it wasn't one of the many big things that happened in 1964...except to my family.

Ya know, a lot of people in this world spend a lot of time waiting for the next big thing to happen. In today's verse, God tells us that the biggest and best thing we could ever wait for is already here. "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you." (Psalm 39:7)

Don't wait! Get in now on the biggest and best thing ever! Put your heart and hope in the Lord!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

We, 07/31/13 "Day of Praise"

Daniel 2:47 - The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery."

So I'm sleeping. Saturday morning. Early morning. I mean it's barely light outside. Barely. If at all.

And I hear this rip-roarin' "khhhhhuuuu!" I mean it sounds like some scary noise out of an episode of "Lost", which was a tv show from a few years ago that's now on dvds that I'd never even heard of until "Lost" was given to my daughter for her July 18th birthday.

I think I'm dreaming.

I go back to sleep.

"Khhhhhuuuu!"

There it was again. Wow! I sure did get back to sleep and into my dream in a flash.

"Khhhhhuuuu!"

Okay, now this is getting on my nerves. So I get up and look out the window toward my next door neighbor from whom this noise is definitely coming. But there's no power blower, no pressure washer, no nothin'.

So I go back to bed.

"Khhhhhuuuu!"

Crazy! Now the Lost Monster is behind my house. I hear it clear as a, well, clear as a monster that I can hear but I can't see. Nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. It's a mystery.

"Khhhhhuuuu!"

Ok, now it's on the other side of my house. So I go look out that window, which is my bathroom window. And, no kiddin', as I look out the window, I just about fall backward into the toilet. Mystery revealed.

There's a hot air balloon hovering, barely moving, right over my driveway, right outside my window.

And some of you are goin', "Silly, Man! I knew what it was when you first gave us the 'Khhhhhuuuu' sound clue! That's no mystery!"

Hey, Gang! Ya know what? There are all sorts of things in our lives that we don't understand. Confusing situations. Mysterious noises. Stuff ya know is goin' on, but ya can't even see it, let alone put your finger on it. Things that drive ya nuts! "Khhhhhuuuu!"

But God knows.

To the Lord it's not a mystery; it's another opportunity for us to, yeah, check it out to be sure, but all the while to say, "God knows, and in that I have peace."

"Khhhhhuuuu!"

"The king answered and said to Daniel, 'Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.'" - Daniel 2:47

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Tu, 07/30/13, "Day of Praise"

Acts 15:32 - "And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words."

I was in a Ruby Tuesday restaurant, which gives me an opportunity to say "Hi!" to my friend Mark Ingram and his family, as Mark was amongst the few early leaders of Ruby Tuesday who helped make it what it is today, both here in the U.S. and also abroad.

So I'm in this Ruby Tuesday, catching up with a church member, Ilene, who for years has faithfully cared for her Korean War hero, bed-bound husband. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice this 18 year old guy, flexing his bicep as if he were performing for a Mr. Universe contest. I look over just in time to see the 17 year old girl across from him, as she's reaching over to check out his bicep and feel exactly how big it is. He smiles even bigger and nods his head like a Bobblehead doll that's saying, "Yaaaayu, I'm strong."

And he was.

But she made him stronger.

He was strong. Like Popeye. Ya know, the sailor man, who lives in a garbage can. (Is that really the way that song went?)

But she made him stronger. Like Popeye's love, Olive Oyl
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Oyl), who was a main cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar in 1919 (10 years before Popeye!) for his comic strip Thimble Theatre.

As in today's verse from Acts 15:32, the little lady in Ruby Tuesday "encouraged and strengthened the brother with many words."

Oh, yeah, the whole time Ilene and I talked, we never noticed Popeye nor Olive Oyl pick up a cell phone. Like my friend, Art Fries, is always saying, "the most important person in the world is the one right in front of you."

Oh sure, there's a few off-the-chart egotistical people in the world. But for the most part, most people are just looking for someone who will celebrate with them when they "flex their muscle." In other words, invite people to tell you something they like about themselves. After the shock wears off of them and they "flex their muscle", tell em how great they are.

And make them stronger.

We need more strong people in the world. So, let's "encourage and strengthen [one another] with many words." (Acts 15:32)

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Mo, 07/29/13, "Day of Praise"

"And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." - Acts 2:46-47

Living for God, worship, outreach, and fun can go together. It's probably one of those "you had to be there" things, but the positive spiritual buzz at our church yesterday was amazing. It usually is, but yesterday was one of the best ever.

There was the baptism of little John Everett McLean. He cried a lot, but people smiled at him nonetheless. There was answered prayer, awesome music, people laughing together after worship, a lot of people smiling, engagement rings being shown, appointments being made for fellowship. There were little kids, retirees, people moving away to California and Colorado and Namibia, and people talking about visiting California, Colorado, and Namibia. There were new people and people who asked when they could join the church. There was a sermon on prayer and a testimony about the mission trip that returned Saturday night. There was the sharing of Holy Communion around God's table.

Lots of fun.

And there was an announcement that next Sunday, after our last worship service, we're going to have a Zumba class for our monthly wellness night. Can you imagine pastors doing Zumba? Maybe you'll need to be there to see it for yourself. It should be hilarious!

Read today's verse again. They had lots of worship and outreach and joy and fun together. And they had it every single day.

I know today's Monday. But if you're a Christian and believe that Christ is alive and dwelling in your heart and joining your heart to others, then don't forget the fun.

And have fun inviting some non-believers to the same.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Sa, 07/27/13, "Day of Praise"

"Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless" - Proverbs 31:8

There is a broad spectrum of people who are "unable to speak for themselves." In addition, many of you have said that this is actually a time of year when your schedule isn't so frantic.

What if all of us took this less frantic window of a weekend or a couple weeks, however long it is for you, and we all reached out to a person or two who are "unable to speak for themselves"?

I have a couple of people in mind. We all do.

God reached out to us and changed the world. God changed our world.

In the strength of Christ, let's reach out to a couple others so their world can change too.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Fr, 07/26/13, "Day of Praise"

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies" - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20

Ok, let's take a poll. Who wants to have the following in your life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Wow! Everybody, huh?

Well, here's a simple Biblical connection. If you want all the above goodies of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in your life, then it's important, even critical, to want to hear God's Word in your life, even the parts of God's Word that are not so simple or easy to hear, which are stereotypically known as prophecy. That's the connection that's made in today's verses: "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies." (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20)

Here's another little tidbit. All "prophet" literally means is "one who stands and speaks before the people." So a word of prophecy is "a word that is spoken before the people." In other words, if you want the Spirit to work all the love-joy-peace-etal goodies in your life, then you cannot despise people who are willing to stand up and speak God's word to you, like preachers, yes, but also non-pastors who are Bible study leaders and co-workers who talk about Jesus, etc.

In all humility, please believe me. Many of you ask me why I do this Day of Praise thing. It's not because I love to write. I actually hate writing. I do this because I find, as God promises, that every time that I listen to somebody who has prepared to eagerly give me God's Word like a radio preacher or my associate (Pastor Scott Hawkins) or a lay preacher (like Neal Schmidt in my church) or a guest preacher (like Walter Volz from Food for the Poor) or a Bible class leader (like Chuck or Lynn Stevens), then I feel a love-joy-peace-patience-etal that passes all understanding.

Just like God promises. God's Word and Spirit stuff are inextricably connected.

And I want that stuff. A lot! And I want other people to have it too. A lot! Especially, my kids. And people, who have become dear to me. Like all of you.

If we want good Spirit things for our loved ones, we tell them or put them in a position to hear God's Word. If we want good Spirit things for ourselves, we listen to God's Word.

How do I know? Because that's what God's good word says.

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies." - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Th, 07/25/13, "Day of Praise"

"Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good." - 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

It caused a big "stink" at my seminary. A professor wrote this article, telling how suspicion serves a healthy purpose in a fallen world. Even then, 25+ years ago, there were seminary students who were offended by the suggestion that suspicion was a positive tool in the Christian toolbox; they felt you should love, trust, tolerate, and accept everybody all the time.

Of course, then, as now, the only way you can get offended at the suggestion that "suspicion serves a healthy purpose in a fallen world" is by dismissing God's word in scripture as in today's Bible verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 and the following two verses:

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1

"[Jesus said,] Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." - Matthew 10:16

The issue, as always, as from the beginning of time, is "whose word do we trust?" God's word in Old and New Testament tells me that I need God's goodness because I don't have any of my own. Both Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 tell us there is none who does good [except God], "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good." And in Mark 10:18, Jesus reiterates those two Psalms saying, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."

Positively speaking, here's the simple encouragement from the Lord God: If you really want good things to be a part of all the things in your day today, then welcome the Lord into all the things in your day today. After all, God's word says plainly, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:16-17)

So, have a good day! God is eager to give it to you, if you'll look to him as the One who can give it!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

We, 07/24/13, "Day of Praise"

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 and 6:1-2

One of the things that I love about Summer is that my flowers are blooming in full force: Cahaba Lilies, Stella Dora, multiple colors of Canna Lilies, Day Lilies, Crepe Myrtles, Phlox, Surprise Lilies, Black-Eyed Susans, Red Hot Pokers, Star Lilies, Hostas, and more. It's amazing, and I love it. It's beautiful, and makes it worth the wait.

I've waited months to see these things bloom. So when I pull in my driveway, I go slow. I look at every flower, thrilled and amazed at the beauty. Even my kids not only endure my pulling into our driveway slowly, but they also say, "Wow! Dad, the yard looks so good!"

We've waited. Now we enjoy.

If we do this for flowers, how much more does God want us to slow down each day and enjoy our beautiful gifts from God through faith in Christ: forgiveness, freedom from sin, new life in the Spirit in the Kingdom of God!

God speaks of wanting us to slow down each day and enjoy our beautiful gifts from God through faith in Christ by putting it this way in today's verse: "we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain...Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

There were people who lived long ago who waited a lifetime, believing God's promise about a coming Messiah, waiting patiently for a lifetime, but never seeing the day, never hearing of the wondrous deeds of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, never tasting the fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit. But in Hebrews 11, we hear of the amazing lives of many who, though they didn't see the fulfillment of Jesus, they lived inspiring and courageous lives because saw what they waited for in faith. They slowed down and pictured the promise of God's Messiah in their hearts and their minds. And in so doing, they were empowered and blessed.

Hey, y'all! I know life is busy, and summer is full of activity. But slow down! Flowers are blooming that haven't bloomed in a year. Stop, and take a look. They're beautiful.

And on a much grander scale the long-awaited salvation and blessings of God are in full bloom. Slow down, and consider and give thanks for and enjoy the wonder of Jesus Christ and all the blessings of life in God's Holy Spirit. It's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful!

"We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain...Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21 and 6:1-2)

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Tu, 07/23/13, "Day of Praise"

Jeremiah 50:31 - "Behold, I am against you, O proud one, declares the Lord God of hosts, for your day has come, the time when I will punish you."

Hey, it's okay!

Everybody has a limit.

Even God has a limit.

Sometimes everybody, even God, has to say, "Enough!"

And we all are best off if we'll not just declare it to whoever needs to hear it but also sit humbly under the declaration when it comes our way.

I was at a dear friend's house last night. After we finished our business, I started to reminisce. He was very kind to me in the worst season of my life. I leaned on him. But after a month, he lovingly and courageously said, "Hey, Chris, enough."
It was a critically pivotal moment in my life. If he hadn't been strong enough to lovingly draw a clear line, I might not have ever gotten back on my feet.

My friend not only set a boundary for me; he also set a foundation for me to stand on.

Boundary setting is a loving form of discipline. Discipline is simply a way of teaching for the one who administers it and a way of learning for the one who receives it. So boundary setting is a loving way to teach people to stand on their own two feet.

Sometimes it even works to their advantage far more than they could ever dream. Recently, someone asked me for some money for car repairs; a lot of money. I explained to them that my "no" was because I felt that the mechanic was taking advantage of them. A few weeks later, out of the clear blue, somebody gave my friend a really good used car. Boundary setting worked out quite well for them, don't ya' think?

Boundary setting; discipline; done in love is a tool of life and love. God even says, "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives" (Hebrews 12:6).

Give and receive love today!

Tell somebody who needs to hear it, "Enough!"

And receive it as a courageous gift of love, if someone, whether some fellow human being or the Lord God of hosts himself, tells you the same.

Jeremiah 50:31 - "Behold, I am against you, O proud one, declares the Lord God of hosts, for your day has come, the time when I will punish you."

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Mo, 07/22/13, "Day of Praise"

[Jesus said,] "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33

It's Monday. And in today's verse, God has some simple encouragement for us all: If we'll keep our ears, eyes, and heart on the Lord, then the Lord will see to it that everything else in our day falls into place.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Sa, 07/20/13, "Day of Praise"

1 Peter 3:18-20 - "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water."

Yesterday, a member of our Day of Praise family asked the following. And I thought that some others might be wondering too. They asked,

Pastor Chris, I wanted to ask for your input about something in the Apostles' Creed. Some versions say, "he descended into hell" (the old green hymnal, LBW). Others say "he descended to the dead" (the new red hymnal, ELW).
I had a conversation with someone in our church and they said it is correct to say Jesus descended to the dead, meaning He went to a purgatory type place to be with the "people who were waiting for Him." I've always believed when you died you went to heaven, not a waiting place. I guess I've always taken this literally when we would say Jesus descended into hell, and He actually went to hell to experience it like all the others who were there. Maybe you can explain this to me a little better.

I responded by saying -- There are a number of connected matters. But I'd say the most simple and important one to point to is Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." In this verse, we see why Jesus died for us. He died for our sin. He died to take on the penalty of our sin, which belonged to us. In dying for us, he descended to the dead, which is to say to the place of the dead, which is, because of sin, in essence, hell. So both forms of the creed are correct, rooting one in the explicit and literal language of scripture (dead, Romans 6:23) and rooting the other in the meaning of death, which is conflict and rebellion and strife with God, otherwise known as hell.

A parallel example is in the Lord's prayer where what we ask forgiveness for is variously translated sins, trespasses, or debts. Just as with the creed where dead and hell are describing different aspects of the same reality, namely, the consequence of sin, so too do sins, trespasses, and debts describe different aspects of the same reality, namely, the rebellious posture of the heart (sins), the actual offense (trespassing on God's turf by wanting to be God), and the consequence of the rebellious offense (debts that are immeasurable and therefore unpayable).

The bottom line is that Jesus takes on himself the death and its consequences that we brought about by turning from God. He paid for and conquered our death, our hell, our sins, our trespasses, and our debts so that we would be set free to live anew in God with one another. Our new life of trust in and obedience to God is a small way to live thankfully to God and inviting others to the same.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Fri, 07/19/13, "Day of Praise"

By my search, here's all the Biblical accounts of "love your neighbor as yourself" with a brief encouragement at the end.

Leviticus 19:18 - "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."
Matthew 19:19 - "Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Matthew 22:39 - "And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Mark 12:31 - "The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Luke 10:27 - "And he answered, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.'"
Romans 13:9 - "For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Galatians 5:14 - "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
James 2:8 - "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well."

So, love your neighbor as yourself. In Luke 10:25-37, there's this guy, who says to Jesus "So, who is my neighbor?" Jesus responds by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, which begins with a traveller getting stripped, beaten, robbed and left half dead. At the end of the story, Jesus then asks the guy this question, "[Who]...proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" The answer, "The One who showed him mercy."

Friends, Jesus is the One who has shown mercy to us who have been beaten down by all the things that befall us in life. Jesus is our Good Samaritan. Jesus is the neighbor who has shown us mercy. So if we're supposed to "love your neighbor as yourself." What we're supposed to do is love Jesus as we would ourself. We're supposed to love Jesus as if he is our very life......because He is!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Th, 07/18/13, "Day of Praise"

Hebrews 12:1 - [Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith] - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..."

Happy 18th on the 18th (today) to my daughter, Cassidy!

Whatever your personal interest in sports may be, you've gotta have just a little room in your heart for the inspiring testimonies of perseverance and courage from some of the folks that were recognized last night by ESPN tv with their ESPY awards.

Adrian Peterson battling back from injury to compete at the highest level of football.

Robin Roberts battling cancer to work at the highest level of television.

Jack Hoffman, a 7 year old, battling cancer and the "adoption" of Jack and his family by the University of Nebraska football team.

Dick and Rick Hoyt, the father and his son with severe cerebral palsy, who have run over 30 Boston marathons and 1,000 races, as father (who'd never run in anything until his young son asked him) pushes his son in a wheelchair or pulls him in a boat as part of a triathlon or does whatever's necessary for father and son to compete together as a part of living, truly fully living life together.

Truly, "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, [so] let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." (Hebrews 12:1)

Whatever your field, whatever your arena, be inspired by these and other amazing people in your life.

And pass it on! In the strength of Jesus Christ, be an inspiration to someone else.

Get out there and compete today. Do your job with zeal and gusto and courage and perseverance!

And may God be praised!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

We, 07/17/13, "Day of Praise"

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" - John 4:7

After a while, it gets to be kind of funny.

This was last night.

We're in our church sanctuary, doing our adult group Bible study at Vacation Bible School. We're studying the questions of Jesus in the Gospel of John. We had just started the second night's class with Jesus's question in John 4, which is "Will you give me a drink?". No sooner had we been confronted with Jesus's question, when in walks Chad.

Maybe Chad was the guy who came and left on Sunday morning. I don't know. But what I do know is that Chad definitely looked and smelled different from the rest of us.

As he walked in, I offered him a cup of cold water in the form of a welcome, which he took to mean that our class was willing to drop everything and get him what he needed. By God's grace, we offered him what he most needed because it's what we all need most, namely, time with God through his Word. Through the years, when this offer's made, most people leave. And I have to go chase them and explain.

Chad stayed.

He sat in the pew. For two hours. With exhausted eyes, that became more energized as he listened to other people talk about their own soul's thirst and how it is ironically satisfied when we work out our faith in love and give Jesus a drink of water by serving those in need.

I thought Chad was both being fed by God's Word and also wondering, "Let's see if these people help me."

So after two hours, we wrap up. Nobody has left. So I turn to Chad and thank him for staying. He vulnerably spews out his story and his lesser needs. I tell him what we have and are glad to share.

I ask Randy if he'll walk back to the kitchen with Chad while I linger for others who may want to talk. Everyone starts handing Randy money. Most everyone walks back to the kitchen with Randy and Chad. Randy asks Chad for his keys to go fill his truck with gas. Debbie goes to get pull up diapers for one of Chad's kids with autism. Jen sits and visits with Chad. Cathy gets him some groceries from our kitchen. And, well, you get the point.

It was all genuine. Sincere. Loving. Giving. People together. Time in God's word. Time to listen to needs. People. Serving Jesus. By serving each other.

A cup of cold water.

For everyone.

Just like God planned.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Tu, 07/16/13, "Day of Praise"

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools." - Psalm 84:5-6

Very simply, in today's verse, the Valley of Baca was a route that many had to take on the way to worship the Lord in Zion, which is the city of God. The Valley of Baca was filled with many dangers: thorns, pitfalls, wild animals, and poisonous snakes. But the promise of God in the verse is that God will turn the very path of danger into a place of refreshment, a path filled with springs and pools for those who seek intimate fellowship with the Lord.

So let's cut right to the chase with the application. The Valley of Baca represents life in a fallen world. Life is filled with all sorts of things that will hurt you (dangers), with people and situations that will scratch you (thorns), cause you to stumble (pitfalls), threaten to eat you alive (wild animals), and lie in wait to bite you (poisonous snakes). Because of these dangers, many people never go this route. The problem in not taking this route is that this route is the path for seeking intimate fellowship with the Lord, namely, worshiping him, listening for him, praying to him, studying his word, and serving people.

And so it is. The studies show that on any given Sunday alone, at least 68% of people who call themselves Christian will not be seeking the Lord. It's not just about being in church; it's about doing anything, something to seek the Lord: worshiping him, listening for him, praying to him, studying his word, serving people.

68%! And that's just Christians! And that's just on Sundays! In other words, there's a whole lot of time in any given week when very few people are seeking
intimate fellowship with the Lord. And at this point, I'm not even going to reinforce the bazillion reasons that people give for not seeking intimate fellowship with the Lord. In sum, the collective reason is that it's just too hard to put more energy into seeking God when the day and the week have already been filled with people and situations that have hurt you (dangers), scratched you (thorns), caused you to stumble (pitfalls), threatened to eat you alive (wild animals), and lied in wait to bite you (poisonous snakes).

But I'm here to tell you that what God is saying in today's verse is that if you will believe God's promise and make time to seek the Lord, God will not only bring you refreshment, but (look at the Psalm!) God will transform your difficulties into pools of refreshment just like he transformed the cross of Jesus Christ into the way of salvation for all who would believe.

He is the Lord!

He is able to do it!

He has promised to do it!

Trust him! Seek him, no matter how hard your day or tough your week, and he will refresh you and transform your difficulties!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Mo, 07/15/13, "Day of Praise"

John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Happy Birthday to my dad and my brother, Ben DeGreen, Sr. and Ben DeGreen, Jr. Pretty wild, isn't it? Father and oldest son born on the same day.

Birthdays are awesome. They're a celebration of being alive. A celebration of being born.

In today's Bible verse, Jesus notes how critical it is to be born. Or we should say, Jesus notes how critical it is that, once you're born, you need to be born again.

Deep within every human being there is a longing for that celebration. For that birthday. For that celebration that is the joy of being born again.

So what is it? Being born again, that is. The short version is that you come to a point in life, like Nicodemus in today's Bible verse, where you realize that being alive isn't enough. There's got to be more to what, by itself, is a weary existence.

The "more" is a spiritual birth. As St. Augustine spoke of the "more" hundreds and hundreds of years ago, he said there was no rest for a human heart until that hunger for "more" than a weary existence was filled. And that hunger, that hole, could only be filled by Jesus, whose name literally means "one who saves".

A member of our church told me yesterday that a guy who looked different from all of us came in time for our 10:45 worship. Said he hadn't been in a church. Said he was hungry. For spiritual food. For more. For more than a weary existence.

I didn't see him. He didn't stay.

So whether we didn't feed him with hospitality or he decided he didn't like what he saw on the table, the bottom line is that guy's still hungry. For more.

I'm gonna look for him today. Would you help to look for him please? He shouldn't be hard to spot. He'll look different from you. He'll look like someone who wants more out of life. Tell him that you found more in Jesus. Then encourage him to invite Jesus to fill the hole in his heart.

If he does, then wish him a Happy Birthday.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Sa, 07/13/13, "Day of Praise"

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7

Yesterday was an encouragement to think about humility.

Today is an encouragement to think about rest.

How restful would it be if you had nothing to carry? Nothing mentally. Nothing emotionally. Nothing spiritually. (We'll stop there, though you could realistically, in Christ, consider how God wants to carry our other loads also, like physical and financial. But that's a different message.)

So, again, how restful would it be if you had nothing to carry?

Martin Luther, who lived from 1483-1546, had a suggestion for lightening up your daily load. Luther said that the longer his "To Do" list was for a day, the longer he prayed at the start of a day. At first thought, it seems that he was making his day harder by cutting into his work time with prayer that got nothing done on his "To Do" list.

But, in essence, this is how he understood today's Bible verse. Make a "To Do" list at the start of the day or the night before. Then take your "To Do" list, and pray over it, letting God "exalt you, [by] casting all your anxieties on him."

What's first on your list? Cast it, hurl it onto the Lord. There now, it's off your list and on God's list. Your load is already lighter.

What's second on your list? Cast it, hurl it onto the Lord. There now, another thing is off your list and on God's list. Your load is even lighter.

Do this with each thing on your list, "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Do you see that, like Martin Luther said, the longer your "To Do" list is for a day, the longer you'll be praying at the start of a day? But it's not a waste of time; to the contrary, it actually makes you more efficient.

The effect is this. As you then start your day, you can look at each person or meeting or task and say, "She's in God's hands. I already gave her to God in prayer. So, I'm just being God's helper. God's already got her taken care of."

You have nothing to carry! Nothing mentally. Nothing emotionally. Nothing spiritually.

Now that's rest!

So, let's start today...with prayer!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Fr, 07/12/13, "Day of Praise"

2 Chronicles 34:27 - "and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 44:10 - "They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers."

I know it's kind of philosophical, but God clearly says it's critical. So here's something to think about from the two Bible verses above on the Biblical topic of humility and humbling yourself.

The very thing that one person won't humbly confess in order to keep their position with society could be the exact thing that another person will humbly confess in order to keep their position with God.

Similarly, the very thing that one person won't humbly confess in order to keep their position with society could be the exact thing that another person will humbly confess in order to testify to the great things that God has done in their life so that they can invite another broken sinner into the position that God wants to give them through faith in Jesus Christ.

In sum, what God consistently asks us in the Bible when God calls us to humble ourselves is this: who are you most trying to have a relationship with, and why do you so badly want a relationship with them?

The humble person cares more about their position with God than anything else in the world.

Jesus humbled himself so that, through faith in him, we could have an exalted position with God. Therefore, let us be found humbling ourselves so that God, and others that God loves, can be exalted too!

Think about it.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at  http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Th, 07/11/13, "Day of Praise"

"The Lord is my Shepherd..." - Psalm 23:1

My Dad, Ben DeGreen, Sr., is having a heart procedure today. Please pray for him. God's Word doesn't need my help or commentary today or any day to minister to my dad or to you or to anyone. So, here's God's Word that God put on my heart to encourage my parents and all of you, who have something in front of you today that is creating a little anxiety or fear or concern in your heart. "Read it" as a prayer for your day and for others. Read it prayerfully. Savor every single one of God's words. Do not guzzle it. In essence, as a wise man once told me, "Pray the Scriptures."

Psalm 23 -
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy[e] shall
follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Amen.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

We, 07/10/13, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 7:14-15 - "Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made."

It was the funniest thing. Well, it wasn't funny at first.

I had grabbed a dustpan with a long, tall handle out of our church fellowship hall closet. We'd had a wonderful time last Friday evening with the kids at our Asperger's/Autism Support Group meeting. The littlest kids, two year old twins Aiden and Knox, had eaten cupcakes like two year olds are prone to do. There was more on the floor than in their mouth. So after everyone had left, a few of us were cleaning up. I had grabbed a broom and the dustpan with a long, tall handle.

I'd sweep the cupcake mess into the pan and start to walk away. As I started to walk, I'd look back at the floor and there were still a ton of cupcake crumbs in the exact spot that I'd just swept.

I'm sure I did this six or seven times, going back to sweep up the same crumbs, when, duuuuuuh, it dawned on me to look more closely at the dustpan that was almost an identical color to the floor.

The dustpan had huge holes in it where it was badly broken, so of course it wasn't holding the cupcake crumbs!

I know it sounds stupid that I hadn't noticed it sooner, but I'd never experienced a dustpan with holes of any size. (And yes, for those who are wondering, I've used a dustpan many times before!!!)

But the point of all this is kind of like this. God's word says that every human is a sinner. Therefore, we all have hearts that are broken, just like the dustpan. There are big ol' holes of brokenness in our hearts: brokenness from past hurts, from low self-esteem, from disappointments, from betrayals, from low self-confidence. And those heart-holes are a problem because our hearts, amongst other things, were made by God to be a tool, kind of like a dustpan, to help clean up messes in our relationships. But because of the holes, the messes never get cleaned up, stuff keeps "falling through the cracks," no matter how hard or how many times we try to sweep them up.

And the only way that things are ever going to change is if Jesus fixes the holes in our heart, which means we must daily present our hearts to Jesus, like a little child presenting a broken toy to a parent. And it's amazing then, when the holes in our heart are truly getting fixed by Jesus, how messes seem to suddenly or at least steadily and consistently start to disappear.

Dear Lord Jesus, I'm sure there are some messes before me today. So here's my heart, holes and all. I trust you to bring healing and repair to the holes and brokenness in me so that I can be your tool for helping to clean up some other things today. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Tu, 07/09/13, "Day of Praise"

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." - 1 Peter 1:3-5

Hmmmm. "Faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:5)

Do you believe in God's time and in God's timing?

I went to a hospital yesterday. When I got to the room of the person that I'd come to see, she kindly said that it was not a good time and asked be to come back at another time. In essence, it wasn't a good time for them, but God's timing was still in play.

No sooner had she said it wasn't a good time and, hmmm, my daughter called at that very moment and asked "if it was a good time?" Well, now, all of a sudden, it was the perfect time.

And no sooner had my daughter finished sharing with me and, hmmm, I come to an intersection of two halls where there's about twelve feet to "bump into somebody". And what do you know? The very person that I was going to call when I got to my car was miraculously right there in that intersection and asked "if it was a good time?" Well, now, all of a sudden, it was the perfect time.

And no sooner had my friend finished sharing with me and, hmmm, I leave the hospital building and come to an intersection of two sidewalks where there's about twelve feet to "bump into somebody". And what do you know? Right there in that intersection is someone I kind of know from our community but we recognize each other and she asks "if it was a good time?" Well, now, all of a sudden, it was the perfect time. And she tells me about her parents being in the hospital there and her teenage daughter's health concern. We talk. We pray.

I go to my car and make a call to someone about helping me help another person who's down on their luck and ready to "throw in the towel," if you know what I mean.

Well, I'm still in the hospital garage when I finish the call, and no sooner have I hung up and I get an email from our church secretary saying the person I'd bumped into twenty minutes before had looked up our number and called our church and said they didn't have a church home and asked if I had time to go back in the hospital and visit her parents, who were in two separate rooms. Well, all of a sudden it was the perfect time.

So, I've gone back in, and I'm first visiting with her dad, and right before I ask to pray, the other daughter comes in, so we all pray together, and they're both so amazed at the timing because of what this second daughter then shares has just transpired. I smile and say something about God's perfect timing.

So then I walk down the hall to visit with the mom of the two women, and, as you'd guess, she's amazed because she'd almost given up because she'd been in there for almost two weeks and no one had visited her except her two daughters and she says something about perfect timing, and I smile, and we pray, and she smiles like she's the happiest person in the world.

And as I'm leaving her room, I have this sense that I should go down this third floor hall to check on the woman that I came to see at this hospital to begin with. And I'm sure you've now guessed that when I got to her room and called out her name to ask if now was a good time, she said, "Oh, it's the perfect time! Come on in!"

So I ask you as I did at the beginning, "Do you believe in God's time and in God's timing for your life?" I pray so, because God's timing is perfect.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Mo, 07/08/13, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 28:5 - "But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.'"

I'm at a point in life where it's true in both directions. My parents are thrilled to see me, even when it's for a very short time. And I, as a parent, am thrilled to see my kids, even when it's for a very short time.

As a pastor who "works" on weekends, I just don't have many chances to get away and see my parents. And their health makes it hard for them to drive six hours to come see me. But my parents are thrilled to see me, even if it's just for half a day.

With my kids, my oldest, Calley, is in college, and my second, Cassidy, is heading that way in a few weeks. I totally adore my kids, so it's hard that I don't get to see Calley very much. And it will soon be the same with Cassidy. But each time I see Calley, no matter how short the visit, it's so wonderful and fulfilling. It is absolutely thrilling for me to catch a glimpse of my kids.

So, if it's that great for my parents with me and for me with my kids, just think how satisfying and thrilling it is to have a little time with God and catch a glimpse of God's presence.

Tragically, I know some people who've stopped looking for and praying to God because they say that they rarely if ever see him.

On the other hand, many of us look for God constantly, like the women in today's Bible verse, because just catching a glimpse of God's presence is so satisfying. That's what C.S. Lewis is talking about in "The Chronicles of Narnia", when the children catch a glimpse of Aslan (who represents the Son of God, Jesus). Just a glimpse of Aslan/Jesus is so exhilarating and satisfying, so the children start to look for him all the time.

Today is Monday, a lot comes at us and claims our time and attention. But let's remember and seek and enjoy that which is truly most gratifying to see, namely, the people in our lives, especially our loved ones, and most of all, the One who perfectly loves us, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Look for them! And you will see!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Sa, 07/06/13, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus answered, 'It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.'" - John 9:3

God permitted a man to be born blind so that the work of God could be displayed in him.

Jesus made the same blind man to see so that the work of God could be displayed in him.

God wants all of us to see so that the work of God can be displayed in us.

I was watching some new kids play on our trampoline in our backyard. They clearly saw the peril in jumping foolhardy, recklessly bold, or rash on an elevated trampoline where some other kids had torn down the safety net. But the safety limitations were not going to set the pace of fun for these new kids, none of which was older than ten.

They were looking for the possibilities. And since they looked for the possibilities, then they clearly saw them. And for the next ten or fifteen minutes, they formed a line and took turns swinging on a ragged part of the trampoline net, using it to swing like Tarzan and Jane from the outermost, metal spring part of the trampoline toward the safest, innermost center.

We need more kids like that. My, oh my, we need more people like that...

...People who stop dwelling on what we can't do and start looking for both the possibilities that God has made available to us and also the possibilities that God would have us see so that the work of God can be displayed in us.

Happy Saturday!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Fr, 07/05/13, "Day of Praise"

"When I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10

Many of you asked yesterday if I have any other book recommendations. Before I give you my answer, please consider sending me your book recommendation (pastor2553@tmo.blackberry.net).

My answer: Yes, I have another. "The Indwelling Life of Christ: All of Him in All of Me" by Major W. Ian Thomas (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1590525248). Our Associate, Pastor Scott, found it, and we've used it in our church in a number of settings. Right now, I'm with an open study group that's using it Wednesday night, 5:45 - 6:30 p.m. in our sanctuary. Join us!

Here's an excerpt from Major Thomas's book that's related to today's Bible verse:

"The resurrected Christ now lives, to continue His Life in you.

"If you are not prepared to do as you are told, no matter how weak or foolish it will make you look, then whatever you believe about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is still academic. You have not yet entered into the good of it.

"When it comes to the point of obedience to God's clear instructions, the Life of Jesus Christ within you makes human circumstances irrelevant; for to share His Life now as He once shared His Father's Life on earth is to know, as Jesus did, that Someone else is taking care of the consequences.

"I do not mean by this that God's purposes are always irrational in the light of human circumstance, not that there is any particular virtue in being eccentric or foolhardy. What I am urging is simply that you become delightfully detached from the pressure of circumstance, so that it ceases to be the criterion in the decisions you make. You do as you are told, whether God's instructions appear to be compatible with the immediate situation or not, and you leave God to vindicate Himself and to justify the course of action upon which you have embarked at His command.

"You will not need to know what He plans to do with you...you simply need to know Him."

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, 07/04/13, "Day of Praise"

"And you, O generation, behold the word of the Lord.
Have I been a wilderness to Israel,
    or a land of thick darkness?
Why then do my people say, 'We are free,
    we will come no more to you'?" - Jeremiah 2:31

Happy 4th of July!

It's supposed to be a celebration of freedom. If we're honest though, most would acknowledge that the celebration is strained. Trusted spiritual leaders in our country, like Timothy Keller, tell us that seventy percent of our citizenry has no idea how we got our freedom and/or has no idea what to properly do with freedom.

So what's new?

About 500 years ago, Martin Luther said, "We have proven ourselves to be pigs, abusing the fine art of human freedom."

About 2,600 years ago, God spoke these words through Jeremiah in today's verse, "Why then do my people say, 'We are free, we will come no more to you [Lord God]'?" (Jeremiah 2:31)

And shortly after being created, the first man and woman broke the only rule that God gave them: "You are free; just don't eat from that one tree."

Our nation needs a collective freedom reboot.

If you want to be a part of the solution, then carefully read and think about and tell others about Timothy Keller's "The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism" (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1594483493/ref=redir_mdp_mobile).

God has blessed The United States of America.

Please Lord God, help us use our blessing of freedom to glorify and praise your name! Amen.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

We, 07/03/13, "Day of Praise"

Genesis 28:12 - "And [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!"

What are you dreaming? Jacob, in today's Bible verse, dreamed of heaven coming to earth and of earth being brought into heaven. As the July 4th holiday is near, people have been telling me all sorts of things they're dreaming about for their time off. (I know I'm not dreaming this up! :-) )

Here's what my daughter, Calley, dreamed and recently posted on her blog (www.voguemind.blogspot.com). It sounds like a dream straight out of the Bible book of Acts, chapters 2, 4, and 6.

Yesterday, Calley noted the following:

"Once I dreamed of having a community in which I employed workers to work on my farm, and we all lived in the love of the Lord. We have a God-fearing, scripture-centered congregation. We are fully sustainable. We've got teachers for the kids. Everyone just does whatever they are skilled and gifted at doing. Bakers, gardeners, seamstresses, doctors, quilters, writers, cooks, pastors, musicians, barbers, mechanics, prophets, encouragers, mercies, rulers, singers, managers, inventors, everything you can be good at. We give to one another as each has need.

And we grew oranges and cucumbers.

That was a cool dream."

Thank you, Calley! Oh that all of us would dream (and live) Bible dreams, where people just live out the Biblical dream of helping each other. That would be like heaven come to earth!

"And [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!" - Genesis 28:12

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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

Day of Praise

Tu, 07/02/13, "Day of Praise"

"We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves." - Romans 15:1

She was 50-65 feet high and scared to death. We'd all been encouraging Julie to try the Screamin' Eagle, which is a large pendulum swing, challenge-by-choice at JH Ranch.

Julie's husband was an airline pilot and had served a long time flying in our nation's peace-keeping forces. So the Screamin' Eagle was not much of a challenge for him. In fact, being a large man and going in pairs, Julie's husband and the guy he swung with went so high on their first swing forward that many of us joked that they almost did a full loop. And that would've been just fine for Julie's husband and the guy he swung with as both guys just smiled and never made a peep, let alone scream, on the Screamin' Eagle.

But Julie was a totally different story. She peeped. A lot! While she was standing in line. When she got out of line. When she got back into the line. At the back of the line.

Even though she was in a husband-wife group, most everybody in the parent-child groups knew about Julie's fear. And we all, adults and youth alike, were pulling for her. It was like this quiet, no-pressure, united, "come on, Julie, you can do this."

So when, after a long-long-long-time of waiting, we were all quietly hopeful that she wouldn't change her mind when Julie got strapped in with another wife as her buddy and when the motorized hoist started to raise them up, higher and higher and higher. The release was on Julie's side, so she was going to have to pull it.

She wasn't pulling it.

So finally another husband, named Wayne, said "3, 2, 1" while some of us were thinking, "Wayne, what are you doing?". Later, Julie would say, "If that guy hadn't done the countdown, we'd still be up there, waiting for me to pull."

Watching Julie and her buddy swing back and forth was exhilarating for all of us. We'd helped her conquer her fear, accompanied by a whole lot of appropriate screaming because, after all, it was the Screamin' Eagle that she was flying on.

But, as much as we all felt we'd contributed, most of all, we were sincerely most happy for her.

That's what God's Word encourages us with today, "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves" (Romans 15:1). We help one another not to please ourselves.

And that's what Jesus did for us, as we confess in the ancient creeds: "For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven." He died for our sin, was raised to live for our justification (Romans 4:25), and will dwell in the hearts of all who will surrender to the Holy Spirit and personally receive him (John 1). And in all these things, he is most happy for us.

Friends, every person we encounter today is walking in faith, so every person has spiritual needs or even fears, like Julie on the Screamin' Eagle.

So, let's encourage one another but "not to please ourselves," but instead let's be most happy for the one that we're privileged to encourage.

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)

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

Day of Praise

Mo, 07/01/13, "Day of Praise"

"Make yourself an ark of gopher wood." - Genesis 6:14

Last night, my kids and I watched "Evan Almighty" with Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman. We all laughed. I cried some too.

"God" (Morgan Freeman) says something like this, "The Flood is a love story. It's about people believing in each other and sticking together through hard times."

Evan Baxter's (Steve Carell) family finds that when they do that, when they believe in each other and stick together through tough times, then they actually change the world in large and small ways, in ways that matter and last, one person at a time.

God, through His Son Jesus, has changed our world by believing in us and sticking together with us through tough times. In the strength of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, let's pass it on to others.

Happy Monday!

Praise God!

(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)


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