Day of Praise

Thur, 10/20/16 - "Day of Praise"

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

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

Here's an image. 

I was at a funeral once for a small child who died suddenly and inexplicably. Before the funeral, the adults were grieving in various ways: understandable wailing, sitting in silence, chain-smoking on the patio, and other ways. But as the adults grieved in these ways, there were two unrelated children, a boy age six and a girl age two, who lived an image I'll never forget.

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

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

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

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

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Wed, 10/19/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm in. What about you?

Here's the whole of the psalm.

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

Praise God!

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

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Day of Praise

Wed, 10/19/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm in. What about you?

Here's the whole of the psalm.

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

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Tues, 10/18/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

Truth be told, there's only one.

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

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

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

David knew that the Lord does.

Have mercy that is.

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

Do you?

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Tues, 10/18/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

Truth be told, there's only one.

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

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

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

David knew that the Lord does.

Have mercy that is.

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

Do you?

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Mon, 10/17/16, "Day of Praise"

Having been in Knoxville this past weekend for a not so happy football game, I wanted to pull up this old devotion that speaks of a happy time I did have in Knoxville years ago. 

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

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

Lines to nowhere.

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

Whose line are you standing in?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!

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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Mon, 10/17/16, "Day of Praise"

Having been in Knoxville this past weekend for a not so happy football game, I wanted to pull up this old devotion that speaks of a happy time I did have in Knoxville years ago. 

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

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

Lines to nowhere.

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

Whose line are you standing in?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Sat, 10/15/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Sat, 10/15/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

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

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

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

Sometimes our souls need to be restored.

Maybe your soul has lost its luster like silverware; it doesn't shine anymore; it's become tainted.

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

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

Who knows?

God knows.

Remember.

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

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

He promises.

He'll restore your soul.

Trust him so you can live today in peace.

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

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

Praise God!



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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

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

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

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

Sometimes our souls need to be restored.

Maybe your soul has lost its luster like silverware; it doesn't shine anymore; it's become tainted.

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

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

Who knows?

God knows.

Remember.

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

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

He promises.

He'll restore your soul.

Trust him so you can live today in peace.

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

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

Praise God!



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

Day of Praise

Thur, 10/13/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus is The Way (John 14:6).

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

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Thur, 10/13/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus is The Way (John 14:6).

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

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Wed, 10/12/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Humble asking and hopeful acceptance.

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

May your day be so wonderful with Jesus.

Praise God!


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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Wed, 10/12/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Humble asking and hopeful acceptance.

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

May your day be so wonderful with Jesus.

Praise God!


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

2d part Day of Praise

Hoping the picture came through, hopefully you're looking at a picture of a church like Jesus was talking about in today's Bible  verse. It's literally a church built on a humongous rock that is also literally inside the church. It's the church in the mountains where Amanda and I worshipped this past Sunday. It's called Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel. 

The literal rock, though, is just a symbol. 

When Jesus said to Peter that he would build his church on a rock, I do not understand Jesus to say that he was building his church on Peter (a name which means "rock"), nor was Jesus building his church on a material rock. 

The rock on which Jesus has built his church is the confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That's what Peter had just said to Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," (Matthew 16:16) when Jesus replied and said, "Upon this rock, I will build my church."

That kind of confessing was what happened at Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel. 

First, the place was packed! It sat 78 people in the pews and choir. There were 90 of us Sunday, so 12 of us sat in folding chairs in the aisle. Confessing Jesus as the Christ looks like people going to church. Like the preacher said, going to church is a witness, and not going to church is another kind of witness. Somebody's always watchin' the way we live, so everything we do is confessin' to 'em what we believe. 

Second, everybody sang. It took Amanda and me a verse or two to catch on because we never heard of songs like "The Royal Telephone," but everybody else from the mountain towns sang out so that we couldn't help but get swept up on the phone lines to heaven with 'em.  Confessing Jesus as the Christ looks like people singin' in church. Like the preacher said, singin' out in church is a witness, and not singin' out in church is another kind of witness. 

Third, and finally, everybody listened to the message. There wasn't a bunch of "Amen"ING goin' on, just listenin', which was pretty awesome since the preacher talked about, what in my experience isn't a very popular topic. He said that God loves us, which everybody loves to hear, but then he said if we believe God loves us then we care about how we know God so we can live in God's image and show people that we know God so that when we start talkin' about God's love to 'em then they might actually believe that we know God instead of just knowin' the world like everybody else. (Yes, the preacher meant the sentence to be that long.) See all the confessin' goin' on in that sermon. Preacher was talkin' about confessin' God's love, confessin' we're sinners, confessin' God's lovin' forgiveness, confessin' that God actually has a way to live instead of just doin' what's right in our own eyes (like it says people did in the Bible book called "Judges"), and confessin' all this stuff about God to other people in BOTH our deeds AND our words. 

All this confessin' of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, made us feel like we'd died and gone to heaven.

Come to think of it. The church was up in the mountain clouds. But I'm sure it was all real because if you can see the picture at the top, you can see plain as day that that church was built on a rock. 

May every church and every person's life on earth be the same. 

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18 (King James Version)

Praise God!

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2d part Day of Praise

Hoping the picture came through, hopefully you're looking at a picture of a church like Jesus was talking about in today's Bible  verse. It's literally a church built on a humongous rock that is also literally inside the church. It's the church in the mountains where Amanda and I worshipped this past Sunday. It's called Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel. 

The literal rock, though, is just a symbol. 

When Jesus said to Peter that he would build his church on a rock, I do not understand Jesus to say that he was building his church on Peter (a name which means "rock"), nor was Jesus building his church on a material rock. 

The rock on which Jesus has built his church is the confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That's what Peter had just said to Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," (Matthew 16:16) when Jesus replied and said, "Upon this rock, I will build my church."

That kind of confessing was what happened at Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel. 

First, the place was packed! It sat 78 people in the pews and choir. There were 90 of us Sunday, so 12 of us sat in folding chairs in the aisle. Confessing Jesus as the Christ looks like people going to church. Like the preacher said, going to church is a witness, and not going to church is another kind of witness. Somebody's always watchin' the way we live, so everything we do is confessin' to 'em what we believe. 

Second, everybody sang. It took Amanda and me a verse or two to catch on because we never heard of songs like "The Royal Telephone," but everybody else from the mountain towns sang out so that we couldn't help but get swept up on the phone lines to heaven with 'em.  Confessing Jesus as the Christ looks like people singin' in church. Like the preacher said, singin' out in church is a witness, and not singin' out in church is another kind of witness. 

Third, and finally, everybody listened to the message. There wasn't a bunch of "Amen"ING goin' on, just listenin', which was pretty awesome since the preacher talked about, what in my experience isn't a very popular topic. He said that God loves us, which everybody loves to hear, but then he said if we believe God loves us then we care about how we know God so we can live in God's image and show people that we know God so that when we start talkin' about God's love to 'em then they might actually believe that we know God instead of just knowin' the world like everybody else. (Yes, the preacher meant the sentence to be that long.) See all the confessin' goin' on in that sermon. Preacher was talkin' about confessin' God's love, confessin' we're sinners, confessin' God's lovin' forgiveness, confessin' that God actually has a way to live instead of just doin' what's right in our own eyes (like it says people did in the Bible book called "Judges"), and confessin' all this stuff about God to other people in BOTH our deeds AND our words. 

All this confessin' of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, made us feel like we'd died and gone to heaven.

Come to think of it. The church was up in the mountain clouds. But I'm sure it was all real because if you can see the picture at the top, you can see plain as day that that church was built on a rock. 

May every church and every person's life on earth be the same. 

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18 (King James Version)

Praise God!

Day of Praise

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Day of Praise

Tues, 10/11/16, "Day of Praise"

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18 (King James Version)

Day of Praise

Mon, 10/10/16, "Day of Praise"

"The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1

So Amanda and I are away on a short anniversary trip in the Mentone, AL and Cloudland, GA area. We're staying in a cabin on a big piece of property and getting to do things with the owners. Ya know, do things. Like explore their 2,800 year old Indian site dig and hike to the ancient Indian prayer pits and go into their chicken coop and visit with the two pot-belly pigs. Ya know, do things. Anniversary kind of things. (I know; we're weird.)

But the most fun of all has been herding the fainting goats. Ya know, you really have to be nice when you're herding those goats, or else they get scared. And faint. Really!

However, ya can't let 'em fool ya. Because if you don't watch out, those seeming meek goats will pick on each other. Like they pick on Bent from time to time. Bent's the old goat (literally) who has something like multiple sclerosis. And when Bent gets to twitchin' then the other goats pick on 'im, and he gets scared. And faints.

That's why Bent needs a shepherd. To look after him. Because he's got weaknesses. That make him vulnerable. To bully Billy goats. Like you and me. Ya know, weaknesses. That make us vulnerable. Aaaaah, you know what I'm talkin' about. I know what mine are that make me feel picked on by bully Billy goats. And you know what yours are.

But just like Bent has Steve and Harriet, well, we have Jesus. The LORD. The Good Shepherd. Like he says in John 10:1-10. He especially keeps us from getting bullied out of Heaven by the biggest bully Billy goat. Ya know the bully goat that Jesus says is always trying to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us. Well, he can try, but he might as well just go sit in the corner like my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Howell, made the big ol' bully in my class do decades ago. Because Jesus ain't gonna stand for his sheep gettin' bullied and causin' 'em to faint.

This is his farm. And we are his sheep. So, well, it's all good. All the time.

"The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1

Praise God!

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Mon, 10/10/16, "Day of Praise"

"The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1

So Amanda and I are away on a short anniversary trip in the Mentone, AL and Cloudland, GA area. We're staying in a cabin on a big piece of property and getting to do things with the owners. Ya know, do things. Like explore their 2,800 year old Indian site dig and hike to the ancient Indian prayer pits and go into their chicken coop and visit with the two pot-belly pigs. Ya know, do things. Anniversary kind of things. (I know; we're weird.)

But the most fun of all has been herding the fainting goats. Ya know, you really have to be nice when you're herding those goats, or else they get scared. And faint. Really!

However, ya can't let 'em fool ya. Because if you don't watch out, those seeming meek goats will pick on each other. Like they pick on Bent from time to time. Bent's the old goat (literally) who has something like multiple sclerosis. And when Bent gets to twitchin' then the other goats pick on 'im, and he gets scared. And faints.

That's why Bent needs a shepherd. To look after him. Because he's got weaknesses. That make him vulnerable. To bully Billy goats. Like you and me. Ya know, weaknesses. That make us vulnerable. Aaaaah, you know what I'm talkin' about. I know what mine are that make me feel picked on by bully Billy goats. And you know what yours are.

But just like Bent has Steve and Harriet, well, we have Jesus. The LORD. The Good Shepherd. Like he says in John 10:1-10. He especially keeps us from getting bullied out of Heaven by the biggest bully Billy goat. Ya know the bully goat that Jesus says is always trying to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us. Well, he can try, but he might as well just go sit in the corner like my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Howell, made the big ol' bully in my class do decades ago. Because Jesus ain't gonna stand for his sheep gettin' bullied and causin' 'em to faint.

This is his farm. And we are his sheep. So, well, it's all good. All the time.

"The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Sat, 10/08/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

As I write this, I pause.

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

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

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

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

The name of Jesus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!

(Notes: Author: Giovanni P. da Palestrina, Tune: Victory, 1st Published: 1695)

Praise God!

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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Sat, 10/08/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

As I write this, I pause.

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

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

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

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

The name of Jesus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!

(Notes: Author: Giovanni P. da Palestrina, Tune: Victory, 1st Published: 1695)

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Fri, 10/07/16, "Day of Praise"

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

Big blessings are full of little things.

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

The keys are in the touch and in the hands.

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

The keys are in the touch and in the hands.

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

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Fri, 10/07/16, "Day of Praise"

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

Big blessings are full of little things.

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

The keys are in the touch and in the hands.

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

The keys are in the touch and in the hands.

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

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

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

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

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Thur, 10/06/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

Study it.

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

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

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

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

That's radical faith.

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

Praise God!


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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Thur, 10/06/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

Study it.

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

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

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

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

That's radical faith.

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

Praise God!


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