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

Day of Praise

Sa, 6/29/13, "Day of Praise"

"A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction." -
Proverbs 16:23

Dear Lord God, Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this day that you've given us. Saturday is a day of rest and recreation for most of us. But some of us have some important meetings today about relationships and the way people act in those relationships and various other matters of importance. Move us by your Holy Spirit to call on you and listen for you and listen to you before we speak. And then grant us, Lord, to speak your words and wisdom and not our own, for your word alone is life and life abundant.
We ask this in Jesus's name,
Amen

"A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction." -
Proverbs 16:23

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, 6/29/13, "Day of Praise"

"A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction." -
Proverbs 16:23

Dear Lord God, Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this day that you've given us. Saturday is a day of rest and recreation for most of us. But some of us have some important meetings today about relationships and the way people act in those relationships and various other matters of importance. Move us by your Holy Spirit to call on you and listen for you and listen to you before we speak. And then grant us, Lord, to speak your words and wisdom and not our own, for your word alone is life and life abundant.
We ask this in Jesus's name,
Amen

"A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction." -
Proverbs 16:23


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, 6/28/13, "Day of Praise"

1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."

Fear: the topic has come up a lot the last couple weeks in this devotion either in the devotion itself or your replies. Fear of heights. Fear of water. Fear of strangers. Fear of getting cheated. Fear of getting cheated again. Fear of being plotted against. Fear of unfounded fears, which, for the many kids who read this with your parents, means you have fears that have no foundation or basis in fact. As my friend, Steve Wilson, replied recently, F.E.A.R. is False Evidence Appearing Real.
When I was a kid, my older brother, Ben, and I loved to scare our younger sister, Cheryl. The upstairs hallway of our house had a little right-then-left turn about halfway down. That turn was a great place to "hide" (though it was more like "lurking", which for you kids means "to lie in wait, as in ambush"). And Cheryl would come down the hall and almost get to her room and BOOM, we'd jump out from that turn, and we'd yell or growl and scare the daylights out of her.

Yep. That's what Ben and I did, though, to be fair to Ben, I think I did it far more than he did, especially when my dad pulled the Halloween mask box out of the attic. I loved wearing those masks, ya know, plastic on your whole face that was attached to a string that went behind your head. I'm sure their was a "devil" mask that worked really well, but even Pluto and Snow White worked just as well, if I remember correctly. (I mean, this was like 40+ years ago!)

But I definitely remember that the thing that made scaring Cheryl the most effective was not the mask or even the darkness, but it was the element of surprise. God bless her; Cheryl got to the point that she was afraid to walk down the hall unless she turned every light in the house on. And my dad, God love him, I'm sure I remember correctly that sometimes I'd get a whoopin' because Cheryl would leave all the lights on and drive up the power bill, and dad knew why she left the lights on. And lookin' back, I agree with him. I actually remember agreeing with him then. It was right for me "to pay" for the lights; it was my cost for seeing my little sister jump right out of her skin. Surprise!

I know this is getting too long, so here's the point: today's Bible verse, "perfect love casts out fear". In sum, there's a lot of stuff in this dark, sinful world that is lurking, just waiting to jump out from around a corner and surprise! Oftentimes the "pouncer" is wearing a mask so you're left wondering just who exactly is behind the whole evil scheme.

What's a person to do?

Take a hint from my little sister: TURN THE LIGHT ON! Translation: Call on Jesus! Jesus is the light of the world, and light scatters darkness. He's perfect love, and perfect love casts out fear. And he's the Lord! And since he's the Lord, even the little devils and Plutos and Snow Whites and all the other masked creatures must obey him.

It's as if Jesus is saying to the scary people and things in the world, "Skeeeeeedaddle, ya little devils, no lurking allowed. But when one of ya does get through, it's still too bad for you because my Daddy in Heaven gonna give you a whoopin' that you'll be tellin' your 'friends' about forever."

Indeed, "Perfect love casts out fear!"

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Th, 6/27/13, "Day of Praise"

"And Herod with his soldiers treated [Jesus] with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other." - Luke 23:11-12

It's a simple premise actually: we tend to become friends with people who enjoy and therefore value the same things as we do.

In today's verse, Pilate and Herod both enjoyed ridiculing Jesus, so it makes sense that the at-one-time enemies would become friends. Unfortunately, such a friendship can only self-destruct.

In contrast, God wants us to believe that if we'll value seeking and serving the Lord (instead of griping about the Lord and other people), then we'll find friendships that endure forever.

As we shared in worship yesterday, a friendship cannot just be based on going to church because there are tragically lots of people who go to church but remain their own lord of their own life, which is usually characterized by discontentment and griping, disinterest in studying God's word, and disinterest in serving others.

Enduring friendships are found with people who value trusting the everlasting God, which is characterized by a consistent joyful spirit, an eagerness to worship God, and a conviction that serving others in love is a natural fruit from the overflow of a daily, personal relationship with the only true God who pours himself and his love into us by the outpouring of his Holy Spirit.

Please. Reread today's thoughts. As I've heard both Bruce Johnston with JH Ranch and author Benny Proffitt (check out Benny's awesome book "Charting the Course" http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0976006634) rightly teach in very practical ways, if you want great relationships, it's more important to focus on becoming the right person and valuing the right things than it is finding the right person who treats you the right way.

When we value being in a loving, obedient/trusting, and joyful relationship with God through Jesus, the valuable earthly relationships will follow.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

We, 6/26/13, "Day of Praise"

"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'" - Matthew 25:37, 38, 40

A few weeks ago, it was the beginning of our vacation, and we had stopped on our way to Florida. My daughter, Calley, was walking back toward the McDonald's and me with one of the homeless bags that our church puts together. The homeless bags are gallon-sized ziploc bags with a Bible, water, crackers, and other small encouragements. I couldn't see anyone that Calley might give the bag to until I stepped beyond the garbage can. But on the other side of the garbage can was a small man with very weathered skin, who looked very much like a leprechaun.

In a few moments, all three of my kids and I were visiting with the homeless man, whose name was Carl Novack. Like another man we know, Carl had lost his wife and children in a car accident. So he wandered.

Carl was very nice and well-spoken and asked for nothing. But he was very appreciative when we gave him the homeless bag. He talked about the Lord and clearly knew Jesus personally. And Carl smiled a huge smile when we shared a number of very nice golf shirts that had been given to my son and me by Bob and Barbara Terlep and my brother, Ben DeGreen, Jr. Carl told us that he would wear the shirts in the evening which was when he enjoyed singing Country and Western to no one in particular.

The point of all this in connection with today's Bible verse is not that we were righteous, but instead that Carl Novack was like Jesus. Overall, Carl gave us much more encouragement and inspiration to hope and kindness and faith and perseverance. Carl gave us much more spiritually than we gave him materially with a homeless bag and shirts.

I would've missed him altogether. But Calley spotted him because she was looking. And all of us were blessed by one who was certainly like Jesus to us. And who knows; maybe he was.

"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'" - Matthew 25:37, 38, 40

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Tu, 6/25/13, "Day of Praise"

Acts 8:30-31 - "So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him."

We could have just thought that the Harley guy had stopped to take pictures of the beautiful, active volcano, which at 14,179 feet dominates the northern California landscape and which is covered by seven, global-warming-defying, growing glaciers and which is also known as Mount Shasta
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Sunrise_on_Mount_Shasta.jpg/220px-Sunrise_on_Mount_Shasta.jpg).

And as we walked the clearly brand-new, Mount Shasta trivia-covered, 50-yard sidewalk and neared him, we could have just thought that the Harley guy had stopped to read his Bible and, therefore, we should have just let him have his peace.

But the Holy Spirit of the living God wasn't going to just let us walk past the ZZ Top look-alike (http://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRb1s2Pja_R6E4sq-oyjvEzyex9Cn4FM8_0JMy9LxF-YPLBpkU1jr9AzQ) without us noticing that, at this beautiful, awe-inspiring vista, the motorcycle man was not just reading his Bible. He was reading the Book of Job.

So the Holy Spirit gave us an Acts 8:30-31 kind of exchange. We said, "Do you understand what you're reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited us to come and sit with him.

To make a not-too-long story short, we discovered that his Harley had broken down at the only place in this stretch of road where 1) he could safely pull his bike off the road and 2) his phone could pick up a signal so he could call a distant relative who lived a few hours away. We also discovered that he had self-admittedly lived a shameful life, and he had just been convicted by the Holy Spirit to open and read the Bible that he'd been given years ago but had toted around without cracking it open until about 30 minutes before. Then we discovered that he thought you get into heaven by hoping that you get things turned around just enough in just the nick of time so that God will consider letting you in. And then we discovered his name was K__ A_______.

And then we discovered that God was again true to his promise and worked through all that K.A. had just shared to bring our lives together at just the right moment so we could tell him that God knows his shame and ours, which is why God sent His Son, Jesus, to bear and wipe away our shame on the cross and to give us a new life through the forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the risen Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And then we prayed for K.A. to receive Christ and to live a new life in the strength and love of Jesus Christ.

And then we got back in our car and finished our drive to beautiful JH Ranch (http://m.jhranch.com/AboutUs.asp?rewrite=Y) for our father/daughter camp and more Mount Shasta height highs of sharing Jesus and seeing others, like a 14-year old previously-atheistic boy, come to saving faith in God's love through Jesus.

Please pray for K.A. and that 14-yr old boy and all the poor souls on the road of life who don't know, or who have just discovered, what to do with the poverty of shame in their souls.

And while you're at it, don't forget to give yours to Jesus too!

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Mo, Jun 24, "Day of Praise", (Today is Kristen's last one that she'd prepared for when I was on vacation. A big thank you to Kristen.)

"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left." – Luke 23:33

My daddy always told me to save the best for last and I'm pretty sure that this is just that. Without Christ's crucifixion there would be no Gospel to communicate. We would still be as nomads forever wandering in the desert; we would still be as lost sheep with no shepherd. But praise God for sacrificing Himself for us poor, wicked sinners. We therefore should respond likewise, sacrificing ourselves for our brothers and sisters and the world.

Sometimes this looks like being in a leadership role even when you know the amount of ridicule you'll receive no matter what you do. Sometimes this looks like not getting the game ball even when you just played the best game of your career. Sometimes this looks like taking on someone's nasty attitude to prevent someone else from having to deal with it. Sometimes this looks like congratulating the guy that just intercepted your pass. Sometimes this looks like squeezing in a play date with someone you're not sure about. Sometimes this looks like not taking on the leadership role so that someone else can develop their leadership skills. Sometimes this looks like listening instead of talking. And sometimes this looks like death on a cross.

Whatever it might look like, sacrifice yourself and, in doing so, live the Gospel.

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, Jun 22, "Day of Praise", (Today and Monday are the last two (for now) to have two devotional reflections with Kristen and myself.)

Pastor Chris -
Psalm 73:28 -
"But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works."

God loves it when we tell the good things he's done for us. God loves it because it's a way that God's made for us to speak life into one another. Here are two replies from Day of Praise readers this past week. Notice how both their replies encourage you, even when you probably don't even know them. That's the power of telling of God's works. So, read these, and then go tell someone what God's done for you. (Ben is my dear brother. Bob has been a dear friend for 23 years. Then Kristen's devotion follows.)

Ben DeGreen, Jr. -
Interesting to think about some of those Biblical heroes mentioned in Hebrews, many of them not only internalized fear, but also showed it outwardly, sometimes one on one with God and other times with an additional audience. For example, after striking down an Egyptian, Moses ran for the wilderness and was a forgotten man for 40 years. God wanted him to go back to Egypt, not only to lead His people out of bondage, but also for him to face his fear of what he left behind and most importantly to trust in Him, the Great I AM. When confronted by God in the burning bush, he didn't want to go, saying, "Lord, choose someone else, someone who can speak more eloquently." God gave Moses a couple of security blankets: his brother, Aaron, and a staff. Even with Moses' past failure and doubt, God still loved Moses and had a deeper relationship with him than any man that ever walked the face of the earth, other than Jesus Christ. Consider God's great love for Moses, even after death, by remembering how Christ was transfigured on the Mount of Olives with two men: Moses was one of those two, the other Elijah. And there is a great story about him, about doubt and fear as well, but that will wait until another time.

The point to all of that is, even after we are crippled by fear and unbelief, God can still use us as he did Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Peter, and countless others. We just need to dust ourselves off and move forward.

Bob Kasper, Jr. -
Zip lines over water for a man who fears
heights and doesn't swim. Certainly illustrates how far we are willing to go
for our daughters/children/grand children.

I have a tablet and store a number of pictures on it, there is an app that
plays these pictures in the background. There are pictures of all 4, I can
be in a foul mood, angry, depressed, fearful, and a picture of one of them
will rotate on to the screen, and my heart is instantly changed, the reaction sometimes so strong as to be physical. Sometimes I have been lost in my concerns for the world, and one or the other of them at different times will climb into my lap, physically grab my face and turn it to look at them and what they are doing. And my heart is lifted. It is as if God is saying, "hey dummy look over here this is what is important this is where your focus should be."

Joseph is a very sensitive young man and very close to me, even when I am
trying hard not to let them see when I am struggling with something. He will
quietly come over, put a hand on me, look into my eyes, and ask, "Grandpa, are
you OK? Is there anything I can do for you?" He is 9! Melts my heart, reminds
me where my heart and mind should be. Such a precious blessing and special
gift. "And a child shall lead them..." indeed!

Kristen -
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind." – Isaiah 65:17

Pain, sorrow, grief, torment, sin; physical limitations and spiritual limitations are all cast aside when God, through Christ Jesus, intervenes in our world and brings us into a new and better one. Restoration to our original state, before sin, before guilt, and before death, no longer cast out, but brought in.

When people ask us "what's so great about your God?", we tell them that He has power to do what no other can, namely, to create and to recreate, to renew and to restore, to do the unthinkable and the unbelievable – and yet we believe. Longing for what no other can give to us, a new life in which the old life is forgotten, pray for that day and proclaim your hope in it to those that you know and meet.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Fr, Jun 21, "Day of Praise", (This week has two devotional reflections and rotates who's placed first between Kristen and myself.)

Kristen -
"So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend my lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Shepherd My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Tend My sheep.'" – John 21:15-23

Communicate the Gospel by caring for those whom God has entrusted to you. Your spouses, your children, and your neighbors (i.e. everyone you come into contact with).

The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) comes to mind when I read this passage. Especially verses 29-30a, "For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

You see, a major part of proving our love for God is caring for His sheep and His creation. A heavy, burdensome, wearisome task we have sometimes, I know, but I do love My Lord and I want Him to know it. Besides isn't He really the One doing all the good work in and through us? Isn't He really the One who has already taken responsibility for all of our mistakes? Isn't He really the One who will see His own words accomplished?

If we truly believe the things we read and speak of from His word then we must intentionally be shepherding one another and the world. We must be protection from wolves and providers of food and shelter. We must go out and search for the lost, and we must rejoice when they return home. We must be shepherds worthy of the sheep that have been entrusted to us, all the while knowing that almighty God is the shepherd of us all. Praise God!

Pastor Chris -
Matthew 14:30 -
"But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me.'"

Like her older sister, Calley, last year, my daughter, Cassidy, was quite the pacesetter at camp last week. She wasn't necessarily the best at everything, but she was often the first.

Like the 757, which is a 50-feet high telephone pole, topped by a 14-inch square board, which you're supposed to stand up on so you can jump out 7 feet to a trapeze bar that is 7 feet higher than the top of the pole. Cassidy was the first in our group to scamper up 50 feet, jump out 7, and grab a hold of the 7 feet higher (or 57 feet high) trapeze bar.

Or like the Alpine Tower, which has all sorts of poles and ropes, but is 10 feet higher than the 757. Cassidy was the first in our group to climb that 60-feet high craziness.

So, many people at camp, even ones we hadn't even met but who were watching all this, these people start to call Cassidy "Fearless."

And I said to her, "Cassidy, I'm so proud of you." She said, "Why?" I said, "Because you're so courageous with all this stuff." And then she said, "Dad, I'm afraid, but I just want to try these things and grow in the Lord."

Friends, there were all sorts of famously faithful people in the Bible who, just like Cassidy, were afraid, but they did stuff because they wanted to grow in the Lord: Gideon, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, David, the New Testament Joseph and Mary, Peter, the women at Jesus' empty tomb. Along with many other faithful ones, they all experienced fear, but they kept going because they wanted to grow in the Lord, who leads us through things with a love and wisdom that are greater than our fears.

So, as challenging things are set before you today, don't kick yourself and call yourself "weak" or "chicken" if you happen to be afraid. Instead, put your eyes on Jesus because he promises to lead you through whatever might come your way.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Th, Jun 20, "Day of Praise", (The balance of this week has two devotional reflections and rotates who's placed first between Kristen and myself.)

Pastor Chris -
Micah 4:9 - "Why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you?"

They were 30 feet high, walking on quarter-inch cable, crossing over and under ropes, except when they were jumping from "cloud" to "cloud" which were boards nailed together in three feet by three feet or smaller islands across the cables. It's a big island if it's only you hopping one to another. It's a small island when you have to get all six people in your group on the island before you can start to go to the next one.

I was 30 feet below on the ground, taking pictures. But no snapshot could capture what frequently happened as the 5th and 6th people tried to get on the next cloud.

Yelling! Lots of yelling! With most of the group crying out to no one in particular. As sweet Bronwyn Estep said in the debriefing, "As if yelling was actually going to keep us all from falling off of the cloud."

That's what God's saying through Micah in today's Bible verse, "Why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you?" (Micah 4:9). In essence, God's saying, "Yelling is not going to make anything any better. But if you'll remember the king in you, he can certainly save the day!"

Yep, Jesus Christ, the King of kings wants to live in you by the power of the Holy Spirit so that the next time you feel like you're falling off your cloud, well, there's no need to yell. Just appeal to and trust in the King. He'll make sure that you, and all your loved ones, stay on board together! Praise God!

Now here's Kristen -
"Then the Lord said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.'" – Jeremiah 14:14

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

Either way, what does this have to do with us communicating the Gospel? Well, for one thing it means that receiving and then effectively communicating the true Gospel has become more difficult because there are people out there communicating a false Gospel or, at the very least, false assurance.

What is this false Gospel? What is this false assurance? Think Romans 6 – "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase?" But instead of our churches, our households, our community events being filled with Paul's hardy "By no means!" many have come to be filled with tolerance to open sin. And unfortunately this tolerance has recently been finding its origins at the top of the church organization food chain. Some "leaders" have loose morals at best. One pastor stole from his members. Some churches sell distraction in a cup labeled "Starbucks", and there are deacons who pat people on the back after a wild night of drinking. Now please understand that these are all hypothetical situations to whatever degree, but we had better be examining what direction our leaders are leading us in and what direction we're leading others in.

We need others to be and we ourselves need to be a Nathan (speaking truth boldly), not a combo like Ananias and Sapphira (who teamed in Acts 5 to hide the truth). Look at the difference in the two accounts – life for Nathan – death for Ananias and Sapphira. It's pretty simple.

We are so fortunate at Christ the King to have two wonderful Pastors who build our church upon a solid Biblical foundation. They preach what they live – Biblical truth – which does not tolerate sin. May we be found communicating the Gospel by testing all things against the word of God which is living and active and endures forever.

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