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Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

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.

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 7:

[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]

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.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Astronomy Blogging Driving Food Geography History Travel

North Texas

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about my Thursday afternoon in downtown Marshall Texas where I visited the historic Starr Family Home, the Harrison County Historical Museum, and finally – Pazzeria By Pietro’s. After that – I checked-in to my hotel for the night. It was very difficult to find, as it was hidden deep from the main thoroughfare (U.S. 59) behind a lot of road construction in an awkward location alongside I-20 eastbound near the dead end of a frontage road.

But I eventually found it, and it would be my 4TH and final night in a row in a hotel room.

The next morning – I arrived at my destination – my family’s house in Wylie Texas. After 5 days I had driven 1,216 miles northwestward across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. I would not drive again for the next 7 days. My brother or sister-in-law did all of the driving to and from errands, stores, and restaurants. We also went to church on Sunday morning. (I wrote about that on a previous #SundayScripture.)

This is #TravelThursday – not #FamilyBusinessThursday, so everything that we did together for 8 days will stay private; however, I will write about one thing, and that’s the total solar eclipse on Monday April 08TH 2024.

Most people never experience one, as they are so rare at any given location. It was my first (and perhaps last) experience of total darkness during the daytime. It lasted for not quite 4 minutes. I wasn’t planning to look at the sun and the moon together, but my brother and sister-in-law each had special glasses to view the eclipse, so I used one of them to check it out for myself during the minutes leading-up to the big event. Once the moon completely covered the sun – we experienced darkness. It wasn’t like “Midnight darkness”, as it was more like perhaps “an hour after sunset darkness”, and then it was like “an hour before sunrise darkness”. It was like nautical twilight (the scientific term for it). My family lives right behind an elementary school, and I think all of the kids were outside experiencing it, and they were cheering loudly as darkness descended. It was quite eerie to see a few of the planets (especially bright Venus) and the stars out during this darkness. We had our family dog out, and he had no reaction to it. I think the birds flying around were confused. I may have heard some crickets chirping. No roosters though.

And then it appeared as if a bright flashlight were shining down on us from the reemergence of a tiny slither of the sun, and then it slowly got back to normal “two-in-the-afternoon daylight” after that. We had mostly cloudy skies during the event, but there was enough break in the clouds to see the sun and the moon in-between the clouds (with special glasses), and even behind the clouds (carefully – without glasses). What a spectacular event it was. I’m glad that I can now tell everyone that I’ve experienced this once-in-a-lifetime event (for me anyway). If I’m still around on August 12TH 2045 – then maybe I’ll get to see a 2ND total solar eclipse.

I spent Days 5 to 12 of my retirement road-trip with my family in Wylie Texas, and then early on Day 13 – I hit the road again to the Wichita Falls Texas area (about 155 miles away) to visit family there. My Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin have lived there since the late-1960s.

There are a few things that I like about Texas. (Food comes to mind.) But my favorite thing about Texas are my family and their pets. As long as family lives in Texas – I’ll keep visiting Texas. But I wouldn’t want to live in Texas. I just love Florida !

Next #TravelThursday – It’s off to Paris. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Blogging Christian God Ministry Music Radio

My Top 10 Hits – Week 378

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 12TH 2024 – the 378TH week of this current era that began on Presidents’ Day Weekend of 2017:

TW LW WKS SONG TITLE ARTIST / SITE
1 1 8 Counting My Blessings
[2ND week @ # 1]		 Seph Schlueter
2 2 23 Lead On Good Shepherd Patrick Mayberry
3 5 3 Unsung Hero for King + Country
4 4 12 You’ve Already Won Shane & Shane
5 3 12 He Does Brandon Heath
6 7 4 That’s My King CeCe Winans
7 8 3 Somebody Like Me Caleb & John Ft. Cain
8 – 1 Beautiful Life Pat Barrett
9 9 6 The Prodigal Josiah Queen
10 6 10 All Because Of Mercy Casting Crowns

# 1 This Week In:
2023 – “The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)” – Matt Maher
2022 – “Egypt” – Cory Asbury
2021 – “Fires” – Jordan St. Cyr
2020 – “Almost Home” – MercyMe
2019 – “Alive” – Big Daddy Weave
2018 – “The Way (New Horizon)” – Pat Barrett
2017 – “Forgiven” – Crowder

PAT BARRETT – He’s back with his 4TH hit at # 8 – “Beautiful Life”. (His debut smash hit # 1 on my chart exactly 6 years ago this weekend.) In his new song (which could be this summer’s anthem) – Pat reminds us that every day is a gift from God. We mustn’t waste another moment, for we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. Enjoy this day that our LORD has made. Rejoice. Be glad in it. Sing to Jesus !

TOP 40 OF 400 – Introducing a special edition of my chart – a day after I publish my 400TH chart of this current era. On Tuesday October 15TH 2024 – I’ll present my Top 40 hits of 400 weekly charts – from # 1 to # 40. I’ll also present a new Spotify playlist of those 40 biggest hits of the era.

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.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday May 12TH 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.

Happy Mother’s Day across much of the world.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks – her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all !” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last. But a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. (Proverbs 31:25-31 NLT)

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 6:

[CONTINUE SERMON]

You know – there is Heaven – and there is hell. Those people that we know – that don’t believe and follow our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ – and never do so before they pass on – they are headed for a fire and brimstone future. Their punishment from God’s judgment will last forever.

You know – if you continue to live in sin – and we know that sin is what separates you from Christ – if you continue to live in your sins – you will die in your sins. You are headed straight to a fiery forever in hell without God.

I know that it’s not comfortable to hear it. It’s not comfortable to preach it, but hell exists, and it is horrific. I decided 17 years ago that I did not want to end up in hell forever.

In some churches you’re not allowed to talk about hell or the devil. This is not one of those churches. We don’t need to follow a particular denomination and its manmade laws and rules. We are a non-denominational Bible-believing church. We don’t answer to a board of directors at a large headquarters building in another state. We answer to the King of Kings – our Lord God Almighty !

Our Pastor talks about hell and Satan. Many Pastors don’t like to preach about hell in their sermons. They don’t want to talk about the angry side of God – and the eternal fire of His judgment. I just did. We must preach the Word. We must preach the whole Word – from Genesis to Revelation – and everything in-between. I believe that the entire Bible is truth – God’s Truth – and it does not change with the times. He is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life – then, now, and forever and ever. Amen.

[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.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp