Month: May 2024

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date May 26, 2024

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday May 26TH 2024, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

I got to host / entertain my little brother (age 49) for 7 days recently, and one of those days was a Sunday – last Sunday. He attended our service at my home church here in Sebring. It was the first time ever that he attended a non-Catholic service with me, and it may have been his first-ever non-Catholic service. My dream remains. I want him to see and hear me preach a sermon in-person either in Sebring or Homestead or elsewhere.

For the next several months – I’m presenting the full transcription of my recent Jude message series consisting of two sermons – “Jude & Judgment” (Verses 1-11), and “Jude & Jury” (Verses 12-25). I preached them to my Homestead Florida church family on November 26TH 2023 and December 03RD 2023 respectively. Here’s Part 8:

[CONTINUE SERMON]

Back to Jude’s letter – and Verses 8 to 11:

In the same way – these people – who claim authority from their dreams – live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael – one of the mightiest of the angels – did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you !” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals – they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them ! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain – who killed his brother. Like Balaam – they deceive people for money. And like Korah – they perish in their rebellion.

OK. Let’s talk about Michael – the mightiest of the angels – and this will wrap-up the first sermon of my Jude message series that continues next Sunday morning.

So Michael is an archangel. That’s the highest rank of angel. That’s like General in the Military. At the start of my message today I told you that Jude’s letter was second-to-last in the Bible – right before the Book of Revelation. Well – the only place in the New Testament that Michael the archangel is mentioned – is Revelation.

As the Bible says – Then there was war in Heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the devil – or Satan – the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. (Revelation 12:7-9 NLT)

Satan is defeated. God does not have to engage in the battle Himself.

So Michael the archangel is in Jude, and Revelation, and also one more place in the Bible – the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. He’s in the Scripture on Israel’s rescue from destruction. God was over Israel, and Michael was Israel’s spirit prince. He was Israel’s patron angel. He was the great prince. He stood guard over the nation of Israel.

Today – in these last days – God is over Israel – and as believers and followers of Jesus Christ our Lord + Savior – we stand with Israel.

[TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK]

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord, and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

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, Message, Minister, Ministry, Pastor, Preacher, Reverend, Scripture, Sermon, Sunday

Astronomy Blogging Driving Food Geography Travel

Arkansas

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date May 23, 2024

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about spending 8 days with my family in Wylie Texas and a day with another part of my family in the Wichita Falls Texas area. I got to experience the total solar eclipse in my family’s backyard. I’ll remember that event for the rest of my life. Maybe I’ll be around for a 2ND such event in 2045 when I’m 78.

I’m up to Day 14 now, and it’s time to head back towards the great state of Florida, but first I have another 1,432 miles to go over the next 5 days.

U.S. 82 would be my favored route eastward out of Wichita Falls and across North Texas, South Arkansas, North Mississippi, Central Alabama, and South Georgia.

My first stop on a gloomy and chilly Sunday morning was in Paris Texas. I visited the 65-foot-tall Eiffel Tower, as well as the adjacent Red River Valley Veterans Memorial.

I’ve actually been to the top of the real Eiffel Tower in Paris France. That was in April 1987 when I was living and working in England. Me and some coworker friends visited Paris during Easter Weekend that year.

Following lunch at Whataburger – I continued my trek eastward. I hit Texarkana Texas – and of course – Texarkana Arkansas – once I crossed over State Line Avenue. That ended my 10-day stay in Texas from Day 4 to 14 of my retirement road-trip. I’ll be back in Texas in November.

About 150,000 residents live within the Texarkana metro area, and both Texarkanas are cities that I’d like to explore further on a future road-trip – even a walking trip downtown right along the state line. (I didn’t stop on this trip.)

Fun Fact: I’ve been to 29 U.S. states during my lifetime, and Arkansas was the 29TH state – when I drove into the state from Louisiana via I-49 into Texarkana on a previous road-trip to Wichita Falls Texas in September 2016.

An observation that I quickly noticed was that Arkansas had a nicer and better maintained highway than Texas. Of course – I’m essentially comparing U.S. 82 in Texas with U.S. 82 in Arkansas. The Texas side (much of it concrete rather than asphalt) was a bit rough in sections, and much of it appeared to be untouched in decades. Meanwhile – it looked like the Arkansas side was recently modernized, repaved, and restriped. A lot of Texas roads don’t have striping – other than an abundance of red curbs and lines marking fire lanes. (All of the state’s road-striping money must go towards red paint rather than yellow and white paint.)

The drive across the far-south of Arkansas (“The Natural State”) was rather pleasant and scenic. Just before El Dorado (where I spent the night) – I passed across the future I-69 corridor.

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll continue my trek into the Arkansas Delta of the Mighty Mississippi River. Let’s keep traveling together.

Tags Arkansas, Paris, Texarkana, Texas

Blogging Christian God Ministry Music Radio

My Top 10 Hits – Week 379

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date May 20, 2024

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 over 45 years. Here’s this week’s chart – for the week ending Sunday May 19TH 2024 – the 379TH week of this current era that began on Presidents’ Day Weekend of 2017:

TW	LW	WKS	SONG TITLE	ARTIST / SITE
1	1	9	Counting My Blessings [3RD week @ # 1]	Seph Schlueter
2	2	24	Lead On Good Shepherd	Patrick Mayberry
3	3	4	Unsung Hero	for King + Country
4	4	13	You’ve Already Won	Shane & Shane
5	7	4	Somebody Like Me	Caleb & John Ft. Cain
6	8	2	Beautiful Life	Pat Barrett
7	5	13	He Does	Brandon Heath
8	6	5	That’s My King	CeCe Winans
9	9	7	The Prodigal	Josiah Queen
10	–	1	Always Only Jesus	MercyMe

# 1 This Week In:
2023 – “This Is Our God” – Phil Wickham
2022 – “Egypt” – Cory Asbury
2021 – “Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight)” – TobyMac
2020 – “I Will Fear No More” – The Afters
2019 – “Alive” – Big Daddy Weave
2018 – “The Way (New Horizon)” – Pat Barrett
2017 – “Oh My Soul” – Casting Crowns

MERCYME – My # 2 artist of the past 7 years is back on my chart for the first time since last November when “To Not Worship You” ended its 21-week run. “Always Only Jesus” is now their 9TH hit since 2017. It’s the title-track of their current album that was released in October 2022 that includes “To Not Worship You” and “Then Christ Came”.

SPOTIFY – You can hear “My Top 10 Hits” anytime simply by heading over to my CountUp playlist on Spotify. All 10 hits are there from top to bottom. You can hear them in order from # 1 to # 10, or you can shuffle them. My playlist will be updated every weekend (usually before the actual chart is presented here on Mondays). You can link to it here.

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. God used loud music on the radio to reach me in August of 2006. I’ve been testifying about Him ever since.

Be blessed my friends ! May our 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.

Tags Blog, Chart, Christian, God, Jesus, KLOVE, Music, Radio, Spotify, TheJoyFM, WayFM, WGTS, Z883

Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date May 19, 2024

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday May 19TH 2024, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

Last weekend I began writing a brand-new sermon. Its tentative title is “Music & Lyrics”. It’ll be how God used music to rescue and save me, and how His lyrics – whether in a pop song on the radio or a Psalm in His Word – can change a life forever.

[CONTINUE SERMON]

In 2022 a Gallup poll was conducted. It was both shocking and unfortunately believable in these times that we’re living in today. It stated that a record low 20% of Americans believe that the Bible is the literal word of God. 20%. 2 out of every 10 Americans. That’s it. That’s down from 40% in the early-1980s. Pastor Bob refers to the early-1980s as the last great revival in the church. I think he’s right.

I’m part of the 20%. I hope that this entire church family is part of the 20%.

By religious affiliation – 30% of Protestants believe that the Bible is literally true. Only 15% of Catholics believe that the Bible is literally true.

This one stunned me. Just 40% of evangelicals or born-again Christians – that’s me – 40% believe that the Bible is literally true.

So. Let me get this straight. God lifted you out of the pit of despair – out of the mud and the mire. He rescued you. He saved you. You’re alive today because of Him. You accepted Him as your Lord + Savior. But only 40% of you actually believe that the Bible is literally true. God did all of that for you, and 60% of you don’t believe every word of God’s Word. That’s what we’re up against.

You know – not every evangelical born-again Christian is going to Heaven. Not every Protestant is going to Heaven. Not every Catholic is going to Heaven. We all await God’s judgment.

[TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK]

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

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.