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Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Music Radio Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday April 16TH 2023, 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.

If you read #TravelThursday 3 days ago then you’ll know that I was in the Fort Myers Florida area this past Thursday (with a scenic drive out of the area early the next morning). So what was I doing there on Thursday ?

I went to my favorite mid-size sports and entertainment arena in Estero – Hertz Arena – to attend the Casting Crowns concert !

One of my favorite Christian pop bands brought “The Healer Tour” to Southwest Florida. It was my 3RD time seeing them LIVE in concert. (My 2ND time was in October 2021 at the same arena when Matthew West opened for him.)

For this tour Ben Fuller opened the show. He sang his heart out, and he preached his amazing testimony. God rescued and saved him from a young life of sex, drugs, and alcohol about 3½ years ago, and now he’s all in for Christ. That’s who he is. (His song “Who I Am” was a # 1 smash nationwide on the Christian pop charts last year.)

My favorite Irishman – Darren Mulligan – was up next with his band – We Are Messengers. I’ve been a big fan of their music since this current era of my pop chart began 6 years and 2 months ago. They’ve scored with 7 hits so far. Darren always leads an awesome set on stage, and the church family in the arena was singing, clapping, and dancing along with him.

Darren was wearing a cool Psalm 23 white tee-shirt.

The Lord is my shepherd. I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows. He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths – bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley – I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4 NLT)

Casting Crowns took the stage after a short fundraiser and intermission. They plowed through almost 20 of their greatest hits over the past 20 years, and most of us on the floor section were constantly standing for each new track down memory lane. I didn’t know who they were until 2017, but now they are one of my favorite bands. Other than MercyMe and Matthew West – no other artist has spent more weeks at # 1 on my pop chart since 2017. They debut on my chart tomorrow with their latest hit – “Desert Road”.

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) 2023 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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2000s Blogging Christian Church God Music Radio

My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 2008

Hello again retro music fans. 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, 20, 25, or 35 years ago this weekend (rotating each week).

Last Friday I observed Good Friday, and so #RetroFriday was preempted. It’s the 2ND Friday of the month, and this is the edition I would’ve presented last week. I go back 15 years ago. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday April 13TH 2008:

  1. “Face Down” – Family Force 5
  2. “Friend Like That” – Hawk Nelson
  3. “The Flame In All Of Us” – Thousand Foot Krutch
  4. “Apathy For Apologies” – Everyday Sunday
  5. “Southern Weather” – The Almost

Family Force 5 (#FF5) made quite the presence on my pop chart back during the infancy of my salvation in Christ. They were on with 6 hits from 2006 to 2009 – including “Love Addict” – which was one of the first songs I ever heard in August 2006 – right after God rescued and saved me and showed me His love. “Love Addict” was their first # 1 smash. It was also my 2ND # 1 smash during my Salvation Era. “Face Down” was their 2ND # 1 smash, and it was at the top of my chart for 3 weeks in a row starting exactly 15 years ago this week.

There was no music video made for “Face Down”, but #FF5 uploaded this to YouTube about 10 years ago for your listening pleasure. Take a listen to what my chart sounded like on this day 15 years ago:

Next #RetroFriday I’ll go back 25 years ago to April 1998. It’s when – it’s when – um – I – I can’t remember. I may suffer from long-term memory loss.

It’s halftime my friends. I’ll be back on Sunday and Monday with 2 more blog posts for this weekend. Enjoy your Saturday. Thanks for going retro with me !

All rights reserved (c) 2023 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Bible Blogging Christian Church God Holidays Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday April 09TH 2023, 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.

Today I observe and celebrate my 17TH Easter Sunday with my brothers and sisters of my church family. Before salvation – Easter was just another day of the year. Now it’s the most important day of the year – and the reason why I live today.

As the Bible says in the Gospel According to Mark – Chapter 16 (1-7):

Saturday evening – when the Sabbath ended – Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning – just at sunrise – they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb ?” But as they arrived – they looked up and saw that the stone – which was very large – had already been rolled aside.

When they entered the tomb – they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said – “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth – who was crucified. He isn’t here !  He is risen from the dead !  Look – this is where they laid His body. Now go and tell His disciples – including Peter – that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there – just as He told you before He died.”

HE IS RISEN !  HE IS RISEN – INDEED !  The Lord has really risen !  He appeared to Peter. (Luke 24:34). He was seen by the Twelve, and the more than 500 of His followers at the time, and by James (the half-brother of Jesus), and by all the apostles, and by Paul. (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)

Today we join our brothers and sisters in Christ – God’s children – all across this great nation of ours – and all around the world – as we observe and celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ – our Lord and Savior.

We join our brothers and sisters of this global church family on this Resurrection Sunday, but we know that every waking moment of every new day is a renewed celebration of Christ conquering the grave, and rising from the dead, and giving us life.

HE IS RISEN !  HE IS RISEN – INDEED !  And since He is risen – we have risen from where we once were.

See Jesus keeps His promises – then and now. He does what He says He is going to do. He is who He says He is. He is risen. He is risen – indeed. He is alive. He sits on the throne of Heaven. He is the King of Kings. He is the Lord of Lords. He gives us life. He breathes life onto our dry bones. Breath of God – breathe on us !  He makes all things new. He gives us hope. He gives us purpose. He makes us vessels of vibrant living waters.

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) 2023 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Holidays Ministry Scripture

Good Friday

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Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said – “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it He said – “It is finished !” Then He bowed His head and released His Spirit. (John 19:28-30 NLT)

It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming !

All rights reserved (c) 2023 Christopher M. Day, CountUp