Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday October 26TH 2025, 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.

A couple of weeks ago on a Tuesday evening I was inspired by The Holy Spirit to begin writing a new standalone sermon. I completed it less than 24 hours later. It’s titled “Rescued & Saved”, and it’s essentially a follow-up to our recent “This Is My Story” message series at my home church. It’s my 68TH sermon overall, but it’ll very likely be the next one that I preach, so it will become my 64TH sermon. My 1 Timothy sermon series will slide down to # 65 to # 68. (And I’ll continue progressing forth with it.)

This week I begin transcribing my “Apostle & Elder” sermon that I preached to my previous church family on Sunday October 18TH 2020.

Here’s Part 1:

Today I want to preach from the shortest book in the Bible – almost. It’s the 2ND Letter of John. It has 13 verses in it. No multiple chapters. Just 13 verses. As far as verses – no other book in the Bible has less than that. As far as words – there’s actually one other book in the Bible that has less than the 2ND Letter of John – and that – is the 3RD Letter of John.

So back to 2ND John – and its 13 verses. I think I can preach on this entire book over the next 1 hour and 45 minutes. Just kidding. I’ll do it in the next 30 minutes. (Julie doesn’t like it when I’m long-winded.)

So 2ND John was written by the Apostle John – one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus. He probably wrote it when he was very old. He was probably in his 80s. (That was “very old” – at the time.) He lived to be an old man. He was about 95 when he passed on peacefully of natural causes. He was not murdered like many in his day were.

John was the youngest of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was still in his mid-20s when Christ died and rose again. He outlived the other 11 Apostles. He was truly an elder some 60 years later when he wrote what we now know as the Gospel of John, and the 3 letters of John. Oh – he also wrote the Book of Revelation; although, some will dispute that it was not the same John. Some believe that it was another John of the time. But most believe that it was this John.

In his 2ND letter John the Elder warned his fellow believers and followers of Christ that there are some in the region – the region being Asia Minor – present-day Turkey – there are some in the region – preaching that Jesus – did not have a physical human body. They believed that His human form was a mere illusion. Some members of the young church in the region believed these deceivers, and they ended up leaving the church and following them.

So here’s how 2ND John begins:

This letter is from John – the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children – whom I love in the truth – as does everyone else who knows the truth – because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace – which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ – the Son of the Father – will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. (1-3)

So you may be thinking – which lady and her children – is John writing to in his letter ? I believe that the “chosen lady” is probably a local church in the region that John is responsible for. “Her children” are probably the brothers and sisters that make up the church body. John is their Elder. John is caring for God’s children.

[TO BE CONTINUED – NEXT WEEK]

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, a testimony, 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) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging Christian God Ministry Music Radio

My Top 10 Hits – Week 453

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 almost 50 years. Here’s this week’s chart – for the week ending Sunday October 19TH 2025 – the 453RD week of this current era that began on Presidents’ Day Weekend of 2017:

TW LW WKS SONG TITLE ARTIST / SITE
1 1 12 Can’t Steal My Joy
[3RD week @ # 1]
Josiah Queen X Brandon Lake
2 2 19 Breakdown Andrew Ripp
3 4 7 Still Crowder
4 3 18 What An Awesome God Phil Wickham
5 5 7 I’ve Just Seen Too Much Big Daddy Weave
6 8 5 Get Behind Me Emerson Day
7 9 3 Mighty Name Of Jesus Hope Darst
8 10 2 Dusty Bibles Josiah Queen
9 1 How Good It Is Chris Tomlin
10 1 God Story Anne Wilson

# 1 This Week In:
2024 – “Up + Up” – Colton Dixon
2023 – “Praise The Lord” – Micah Tyler
2022 – “Good Morning Mercy” – Jason Crabb
2021 – “What If” – Matthew West
2020 – “Rise Up (Lazarus)” – Cain
2019 – “Fear No More” – Building 429
2018 – “Only Jesus” – Casting Crowns
2017 – “Word Of Life” – Jeremy Camp

CHRIS TOMLIN – He’s back with his 11TH hit over the past 8½ years of this current era of my chart. It’s his first hit since June 2024 when “Strongholds” spent 2 weeks at # 3. “How Good It Is” has been building at U.S. Christian Radio for the past couple of months. As written on his official web site – it “is a celebration of the greatness of God, the goodness of God, and the faithfulness of God. Nearly every word is pulled directly from Scripture – from Psalm 92, 98, 100, and 113. When we sing it together – we’re proclaiming God’s Word, and there’s something powerful in that.”

ONE-HIT WONDERFrancesca Battistelli was quite active on the radio from the late-2000s through the late-2010s with more than a dozen Top 20 hits. One of them was late enough to make it onto my chart in 2018 – “The Breakup Song”. One of my favorite singers from one of my favorite bands – Bart Millard from MercyMe – is a cowriter of the song that’s all about breaking-up with fear. 5 years later in 2023 it became a certified gold smash with over 500,000 units sold, downloaded, and streamed.

SPOTIFY – You can hear “My Top 10 Hits” anytime by accessing 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 in South Florida 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) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday October 19TH 2025, 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.

This past week I was trying to figure out what I wanted to write about for this edition. I’m in a great chapter of my life right now 20 months into retirement – with great things happening at my church, at my museum, and in my neighborhood.

I looked back in time for inspiration. I looked at my church “wrap-up” blog posts from this weekend in 2008 and 2009, and they were both a bit cringeworthy. Notably I began my public speaking ministry on stage 16 years ago this month when I began hosting Sunday morning services.

I looked back at my sermons that I’ve preached on this weekend over the years, and I stumbled across one that I preached to my second church family (in Homestead) exactly 5 years ago this weekend. It was titled “Apostle & Elder”, and it was based on the 13 verses of John’s second letter. It inspired me – even 5 years later. I thought about using an excerpt from the sermon for this edition, but I couldn’t figure out which excerpt to use. What I really want to do is transcribe the entire sermon in here.

What I remember behind the scenes of that sermon is that it was from October 18TH 2020 – 7 months after the start of the COVID pandemic, and less than 5 months after we reopened as a church. (We shut down for 10 Sundays because of COVID.) Everyone had their temperature taken at our front hallway, social distancing was in effect all throughout our sanctuary, and the wearing of face masks was required. (I got to take mine off while I preached from the pulpit.) We actually lost a few members of our small church family who were anti-face mask and refused to wear them. Our Pastor was (and still is) pro-COVID vaccine, and that turned them off as well. They never returned.

I just looked at the calendar. After today there are 10 Sundays remaining in 2025. I should be able to fill-up the next 9 weeks of #SundayScripture posts with that sermon – led with a little bit of commentary each week. So that’s what I’m going to do. I’ll get that started next week.

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, a testimony, 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) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging Christian God Ministry Music Radio

My Top 10 Hits – Week 452

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 almost 50 years. Here’s this week’s chart – for the week ending Sunday October 12TH 2025 – the 452ND week of this current era that began on Presidents’ Day Weekend of 2017:

TW LW WKS SONG TITLE ARTIST / SITE
1 1 11 Can’t Steal My Joy
[2ND week @ # 1]
Josiah Queen X Brandon Lake
2 3 18 Breakdown Andrew Ripp
3 2 17 What An Awesome God Phil Wickham
4 8 6 Still Crowder
5 4 6 I’ve Just Seen Too Much Big Daddy Weave
6 6 21 God Did It Micah Tyler
7 7 23 The King Is In The Room Phil Wickham
8 9 4 Get Behind Me Emerson Day
9 10 2 Mighty Name Of Jesus Hope Darst
10 1 Dusty Bibles Josiah Queen

# 1 This Week In:
2024 – “Up + Up” – Colton Dixon
2023 – “Praise The Lord” – Micah Tyler
2022 – “Good Morning Mercy” – Jason Crabb
2021 – “What If” – Matthew West
2020 – “God So Loved” – We The Kingdom
2019 – “Fear No More” – Building 429
2018 – “Only Jesus” – Casting Crowns
2017 – “The Gospel” – Ryan Stevenson

CAN’T STEAL MY JOY – Josiah Queen’s 3RD hit on my chart is his 1ST # 1 smash, as his collaboration with Brandon Lake spends its 2ND week at the pinnacle. (Brandon is credited with his 2ND # 1 smash.) It’s from Josiah’s 2ND studio album – “Mt. Zion” – which was released a little over 7 weeks ago. His follow-up single – “Dusty Bibles” – enters my chart this week at # 10.

ONE-HIT WONDER – Last week Lincoln Brewster was featured with his one hit that was a # 1 smash for 4 weeks and the # 8 hit of 2018 – “No One Like Our God”. This week it’s another man with one hit that was a # 1 smash, and in fact it was the # 1 smash right before the aforementioned. Matt Redman spent 6 weeks at the top of my chart with his duet with Tasha Cobbs Leonard – “Gracefully Broken”. It’s a song that I sang many times with the Praise & Worship band of my previous home church. It too was one of the biggest hits of 2018. It was the # 6 hit of the entire year.

SPOTIFY – You can hear “My Top 10 Hits” anytime by accessing 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 in South Florida 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) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp