Month: July 2021

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date July 18, 2021

I’m closing-in on the 15TH anniversary of the start of my salvation. I’m 5 weeks away from observing that unexpected moment when my life changed forever.

This fantastic journey is well-documented in public. I’ve been writing about it online for over 14 years – first on Myspace, then here on WordPress, then on Twitter, then on Facebook, and then back here on WordPress. I’ve been testifying about it offline (in-person) for those same 14 years. I’ve been preaching full sermons about it for almost 5 years now. The Bible says “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth – I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)

During my first 20 months as a member of my first church family I kept a running journal of my weekly events via Excel spreadsheet. It’s fun to look back on, and remember those early couple of years of my journey with Christ. I wish I had kept it going. I don’t remember why I stopped doing it 20 months in.

According to that spreadsheet – 14 years ago on this 3RD Sunday of July of 2007 – Bible Class (before service) was canceled because the leader was on vacation that Sunday. The message on that Sunday was the first of a 5-part message series titled “Hot Sauce” – “Clash On Cash: God On Money”. It was obviously a money-related message. I’ve never been a fan of Pastors teaching or preaching about money – whether it be making it, giving it, saving it, or spending it. I may be a bit biased since I’m in the “money business” in my professional career. I know that I’ll probably never preach about money or finances. It may be something to discuss in a more informal Bible Class, but not in a sermon. I’m actually trying to build the foundation of a Bible Class with my current church family right now. I think we need one to supplement the weekly sermons and enhance the overall Sunday morning experience. I’ve been praying about it a lot lately.

After the service at the movie theatre 14 years ago today we had a picnic at a nearby neighborhood park to welcome the arrival of our brand new Executive Pastor at the time. We had hot dogs ! (That’s all my notes on the spreadsheet say.)

Those were some fun times back then in July of 2007. I was part of that first church family for exactly 6 months at that time. Those first 2 years – 2007 and 2008 – in their entirety – were great and glorious years with my new brothers and sisters. It was a season of ecstasy and euphoria. My growth and momentum began to plateau shortly after (starting in 2009) with less hills and more valleys. Despite increased roles and responsibilities within the church the hills would never quite reach the peaks of those of 2007 and 2008. The valleys grew deeper. I remained with my first church family for 8 years until 2015.

I guess I don’t really need to keep an Excel spreadsheet of my weekly events along this journey since this blog acts as my public journal nowadays. It’s brutally honest. I don’t hold much back. I use this blog on Sundays and Mondays to proclaim and teach – to preach – to the world what God has done for me.

“Go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” (Luke 8:39a)

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Tags Bible, Blog, Christ, Christian, Church, God, Jesus, Minister, Ministry, Scripture, Sermon

1990s Blogging Career Home Military Music Radio Travel

My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 1991

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date July 16, 2021

Every Friday I post the Top 5 of one of my classic hit music charts based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from either 15, 25, 30, or 35 years ago this weekend (rotating each week).

It’s the 3RD Friday of the month, so I go back 30 years ago. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday July 21ST 1991:

“Unbelievable” – EMF
“Hard To Handle” – The Black Crowes
“A Couple Days Off” – Huey Lewis And The News
“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” – C + C Music Factory Ft. Freedom Williams
“Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll)” – C + C Music Factory Presents Freedom Williams & Zelma Davis

The Black Crowes scored a surprise # 2 hit on my chart with “Hard To Handle”. I say “surprise” because it received very little radio airplay here in South Florida while it was a hit on the radio in other parts of the U.S. some 8 months earlier in November and December of 1990. It received tremendous airplay in my tent at “Tent City” at Al Kharj Air Base in Saudi Arabia during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I didn’t play it. One of my tentmates played it over and over again – loudly. It became a de facto anthem of the war. I bought it on cassette single after returning home stateside, and I played it over and over again myself in my dorm room – loudly. I consider it to be one of the greatest rock songs ever made.

Next Friday on RETRO I’ll go back 35 years ago to July 1986 – when I lived on the edge of the Cotswolds of Gloucestershire England.

It’s halftime my friends. I’ll be back on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday with 3 more blog posts for this weekend. Enjoy your Saturday. Thanks for going RETRO with me !

Tags 1991, Music, Radio

Blogging Driving Food History Nature Photography Travel Weather

My Summer Vacation 2021 Road-Trip

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date July 15, 2021
1 Comment on My Summer Vacation 2021 Road-Trip

It’s Part 6 of my multi-part Thursday blog series on my recent 77-hour / (4-day / 3-night) / 472-mile road-trip spanning Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties (in that order). It was my first extended visit ever along Florida’s Treasure Coast. While there I was always within about 5 miles of the Atlantic Ocean and the adjacent Indian River.

Last Thursday we left off at one of the city beaches owned and operated by Vero Beach. The city enjoys about 4 miles of beachfront property along the immediate Atlantic Ocean coastline. Indian River County extends about 22 miles along the coastline.

On my final full day of vacation I mostly stayed within the city limits of Vero Beach, but I took a few side-trips. I visited the southern extent of another Florida State Park – Sebastian Inlet – right along State Road A1A. I visited the McLarty Treasure Museum, and it was the northern-most point of my vacation at 27.83° north latitude. The museum was very educational and informative. I watched about a 45-minute video in their theatre that tells the story of the 1715 Treasure Fleet – treasure that was headed to Spain, but didn’t make it very far off the coast of the present-day museum due to a hurricane.

From there I traveled southward back through Vero Beach to the McKee Botanical Garden. It’s been open as an 18-acre Indian River County attraction for the past 20 years, but for 40 years from the early-1930s to the mid-1970s it was a much larger (80-acre) roadside attraction right alongside U.S. 1. Known as McKee Jungle Gardens back then – it was very popular during the 1950s and 1960s (pre-I-95) – boasting 100,000+ visitors annually. My favorite part of the botanical garden was actually the part where the main entrance / footprint of the original park was maintained and honored. Admission to the botanical garden is $15 for adults, and slightly less for seniors, teens, children, and military.

My next destination was the 14TH Avenue district of downtown Vero Beach for a number of stops along a walking tour. First-up was the Indian River Citrus Museum at the Heritage Center. It’s a very small museum, but it’s packed with fascinating citrus memorabilia. I walked over to the Indian River County Historical Society which houses a museum in the old railway station building. They were closed (“indefinitely”), but I got some good photos of the exterior. I would have loved to talk with someone inside the building (as I’ve done in other small towns nearby), but maybe I can do that on a future visit to the area. I enjoyed a nice late-Lunch / early Dinner (#LuDinner) at Italian Kitchen (across the street from the citrus museum). I had their “Combo Special”. It was a lot of good food !

I probably would’ve spent a little bit more time walking the streets of downtown Vero Beach (working-off my big meal), but it was really hot on that day (Friday June 04TH), the area wasn’t as pedestrian-friendly as I envisioned it to be, and I didn’t feel as safe as I wanted to be. I kind of stuck out walking around solo as perhaps the only tourist in the area. Even a cop drove by slower than normal looking over towards me to see if I was up to no good. I got back in my car, and I headed back to my hotel room. I did go out a few hours later in the afternoon to Sweet Kiss Ice Cream for some banana gelato.

Day 3 of my road-trip is now complete. I drove 40.1 miles on this day. That brings the total thus far to 291.6 miles.

Next Thursday I’ll conclude this road-trip recap with Part 7 and my birthday drive home from Vero Beach to Homestead. I’ll also reveal the destinations of my next Florida road-trip that I’ll take in a few months.

Tags Florida, Travel, Vero Beach

Blogging Christian God Ministry Music Radio

My Top 10 Hits – Week 230

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date July 12, 2021

Every Monday I post my all-new Top 10 Christian hit music chart based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from the previous week. It’s the continuation of a weekly hobby that goes back 40+ years. Here’s this week’s chart:

COUNTUP MINISTRIES	FOR THE WEEK ENDING SUNDAY JULY 11TH 2021	WEEK 230

TW	LW	WKS	SONG TITLE	ARTIST / SITE
1	3	7	Be Alright [1ST week @ # 1]	Evan Craft X Danny Gokey X Redimi2
2	1	10	Yes He Can	Cain
3	2	25	Fires	Jordan St. Cyr
4	4	6	Until Grace	Tauren Wells Ft. Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts
5	5	7	When We Fall Apart	Ryan Stevenson Ft. Vince Gill & Amy Grant
6	7	14	Gospel Song	Rhett Walker
7	8	5	Rattle !	Elevation Worship
8	6	18	Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight)	TobyMac
9	10	2	Sunday Morning Feeling	Apollo LTD Ft. Ryan Stevenson
10	–	1	My Jesus	Anne Wilson

# 1 This Week In:
2020 – “Keep Me In The Moment” – Jeremy Camp
2019 – “Prize Worth Fighting For” – Jamie Kimmett
2018 – “Do It Again” – Elevation Worship
2017 – “The Comeback” – Danny Gokey

SURPRISE at # 1, as debut artist Evan Craft rises to the top of my chart, and he returns Danny Gokey to the top spot for the first time since his debut hit “The Comeback” (which was # 1 on my chart exactly 4 years ago). “Be Alright” is my 486TH # 1 smash overall since 1985, 62ND # 1 smash of this current era since 2017, and 7TH # 1 smash of 2021. Thank You Evan for this catchy track that I can’t get out of my mind – because – ♫ He’s got the whole world in His hands – He’s got the whole world in His hands – He’s got the whole wide world in His hands. ♫

CHART BUSTING just outside of my Top 10 this week is the next big hit from my # 1 artist overall since 2017 – Matthew West. His first 5 hits have a spent a combined 109 weeks on my chart – more than any other artist. “What If” will be his 6TH big hit. It should still be on my chart 15 weeks from now when I’m singing it – with him – in front of him – LIVE in concert.

This blog is # 45 worldwide on the Top 60 Christian Music Blogs and Websites in 2021 chart. Thank You for including us Feedspot !

This concludes another weekend of blog posts. I’ll do it again this upcoming weekend – with 5 new entries on Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday, and a special presentation on Tuesday July 20TH. I don’t blog on Saturdays. That’s my day of rest.

Your likes, follows, and comments are always appreciated. Thank You for being part of my online ministry to share God’s Good News and win souls for Christ through His music. I’m also on Twitter and Flickr.

Be blessed my friends ! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.