Categories
Bible Christian Church God Humor Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

This weekend it’s something a little bit different. I’m a big fan and regular reader of “The Babylon Bee” – a satirical web site mostly on Christianity and Politics. It’s been around for almost 4 years. They are also on Facebook and Twitter.

A couple of nights ago they reran a classic post from 2 years ago. I loved it the first time. I loved it the next time. I loved it again. Check it out:

https://babylonbee.com/news/pastors-pulpit-says-theology

Recently as part of a major remodeling project of our church sanctuary (new stage, new lighting, new carpet, new chairs, new paint) I was asked to select a brand new pulpit for my use. (Our Lead Pastor doesn’t use the pulpit. He preaches on both sides of it, and in front of it, but never at it.)

I picked-out a really nice plexiglass pulpit, and it was purchased, and I use it every week. I love it. (You can see my reflection in it taking a picture of it.)

IMG_3719

Well apparently The Babylon Bee says that (because of my pulpit) I’m transparent (yes), and I’m vulnerable (yes). Oh yeah – and my theology is lightweight. (OK – I’ll take that one too.)

I essentially preach what I know. I don’t try to preach above my knowledge and skills level. I don’t try to preach like anyone else. I just preach on my 13 years of salvation, and I compare it with my 39 years of life before Christ. I preach a lot on repentance and salvation. I preach on the God that I’ve known since 2006. So yeah you can see right through my sermons. I testify and preach. (That was actually the title of an early sermon of mine from 2017 – “Testify & Preach”.)

All of my sermon titles are two words separated by an ampersand. I’m currently working on two sermons for the next couple of months – “Ways & Memes”, and “Habakkuk & Forth”.

As for the NLT – um – well – guilty as charged !  #BushLeague

Preach the Word of God. Be prepared – whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2 NLT)

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Categories
2000s Bible Christian God Ministry Music Radio Scripture

My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 2004

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 10, 15, 20, or 30 years ago this weekend (rotating each week).

It’s the 2ND Friday of the month, so I go back 15 years ago. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday November 07TH 2004:

  1. “Lose My Breath” – Destiny’s Child
  2. “Over And Over (Again)” – Nelly Ft. Tim McGraw
  3. “Dare You To Move” – Switchfoot
  4. “I Don’t Want To Be” – Gavin DeGraw
  5. “Breakaway” – Kelly Clarkson

15 years ago this weekend Switchfoot were trying to tell me all about God, but I wasn’t really listening to the lyrics. I was rockin’ out to the melody. That was 21½ months before salvation began for me. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dared me to move. He dared me to lift myself up off the floor – out of the pit of despair – out of the mud and the mire – and reach for Him. I did. It was a new day – a day that never happened before. A day that I never imagined before. Salvation began on that day. That was the start of my fantastic journey, and it’s in the lyrics:

♫ Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself ?
Where you gonna go ?
Where you gonna go ?
Salvation is here !

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself
To lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before ♫

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. Enjoy this long holiday weekend here in the U.S.A. Thanks for going RETRO with me !

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Categories
Christian God Ministry Music Radio

My Top 10 Hits – Week 142

Every Monday I post my all-new Top 10 Christian hit music chart based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday November 03RD 2019:

  1. “Fear No More” – Building 429 [# 1 last week / 14TH week on chart]
  2. “Burn The Ships” – for King & Country [3 / 7TH]
  3. “Nobody (But Jesus)” – Casting Crowns Ft. Matthew West [2 / 14TH]
  4. “Up Again” – Dan Bremnes [5 / 6TH]
  5. “I’m Gonna Let It Go” – Jason Gray [4 / 13TH]
  6. “Dead Man Walking” – Jeremy Camp [7 / 16TH]
  7. “Yes I Will” – Vertical Worship [8 / 12TH]
  8. “Faith” – Jordan Feliz [6 / 4TH]
  9. “Better” – Pat Barrett [10 / 4TH]
  10. “Rescue Story” – Zach Williams [- / 4TH]

# 1 One Year Ago This Week:
“Only Jesus” – Casting Crowns

# 1 Two Years Ago This Week:
“Different” – Micah Tyler

A couple of noteworthy anniversaries related to this weekly hit music chart:

  • 4 weeks from now will mark the 34TH anniversary of my very first printed hit music chart. This hobby goes back over 40 years into the late-1970s, but it wasn’t until the week ending November 30TH 1985 when I actually wrote down via paper, pen, and pencil my personal favorite songs of the week. (Starship’s “We Built This City” was my first # 1 smash.)
  • This upcoming week marks 27 years since that very first era of my hit music chart came to an end. (Toad The Wet Sprocket’s “All I Want” was my 174TH and final # 1 smash of that initial 7-year era.)
  • This past week marks 24 years since my hit music chart came back to life for a 2ND run that lasted over 14 years. (Gin Blossoms’ “Til I Hear It From You” was my 175TH and first # 1 smash of that 2ND 14-year era.)

And so here we are on this 142ND week of this 3RD era of my hit music chart – the continuation of a hobby that goes all the way back to when I was in elementary school. Nowadays I share my love for Christian Contemporary music on the radio. That is – pop songs about God – performed by believers and followers of God. This is part of my online ministry. My vision statement is “Sharing God’s Good News through His music”. If you’re not familiar with one or more of the songs identified above then I encourage you to look them up on Google or YouTube, and listen to them. I think you’ll hear God’s voice in the music.

This concludes another weekend of blog posts. I’ll do it again next weekend – with 5 new entries on Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday, and a special bonus post on Tuesday. 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. Enjoy this week my friends. I’m on Twitter @ChrisMDay, and I’m also the man behind the tweets for my church @LivingWatersHFL. May the God of hope fill you completely with joy and peace as you trust in Him.

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Categories
Bible Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Today I led my church family in our monthly observance of Communion. I shared God’s Word from Romans 3:22-26:

Communion

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes – no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned. We all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God – with undeserved kindness – declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life – shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.

We are made right with God – despite the fact that we are sinners. We have always been sinners. We will always be sinners. But Christ took all of our sins to the cross, so that we may live eternally with Him – because we believe in Him – because we follow Him – because we have faith in Him.

God has declared us righteous through Christ Jesus. We didn’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. With undeserved kindness. With unmerited favor. With grace. With mercy. With love. Christ Jesus is God’s greatest gift to us – now and forevermore.

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries