Author: Chris

My belief is that God has created each of us for a holy destiny. Through biblical teaching and writing I hope to lead souls to find God, learn to apply His Word to their lives, and find opportunities to join in the work of His Body, the Church.
Christian Living

Choose the Cross

Chris

As I toy around with ideas for my next writing project, I tend to start elaborating on some of the concepts running through my mind. Here is one of those “start-up” ramblings.

So often we bypass the Cross in our lives.  Sometimes we don’t mean to, sometimes we do.  Take for instance, a benign occurrence one day.  I received two free devotional booklets from an international publisher of devotionals, the kind they send out in an effort to get pastors to purchase a case of them for their congregations for the days leading up to Easter.  A friend of mine was with me when I opened it up, and I offered him one.  One was titled after the blessings of the Cross, and the other for blessings for day to day.  I honestly don’t know why he chose the latter of the two, but you have to wonder how many decisions we make that avoid the Cross each day.
Continue reading “Choose the Cross” →

Faith

Elementary Worship

Chris

The author of the book of Hebrews told his readers, “you need someone to teach you again the first lessons of God’s message” (5:12b, NCV).  In my wandering thoughts this week, I came to think about worship as one of these first lessons, or “elementary principles” (NKJV).

You see, we talk a lot about reading our Scriptures, praying, having our devotional times with those classics by Charles Spurgeon or Oswald Chambers.  But what did people do before the printing press brought books to be available to the masses?  What about when the Scriptures were only in Latin, and the average person couldn’t read, much less read the Bible?  What did these people do for their “devotions”?  Surely we cannot say that they didn’t serve God, did not truly know Him because they didn’t read their Bible or have My Utmost available to them. 
Continue reading “Elementary Worship” →

Christian Living

I Believe

Chris

You might have seen the remake of the classic movie Miracle on 34th Street back during the Christmas season. One of the great zingers at the end of the movie is that the two “henchmen” of the big bad villain are each secretly wearing buttons that boldly proclaim “I BELIEVE,” referring of course to a belief in Santa Claus.

There are many who would liken a belief in God to a belief in Santa Claus. “I believe God is more of a feeling than a real being.” “That’s for kids. Haven’t you grown up yet?” “You’re a bit naïve to believe all that stuff.” “I used to believe in God, until…” But like those in the movie, I’m not so timid or scared to tell you that I believe in God. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16, NKJV).
Continue reading “I Believe” →

Faith

Beyond “first and last”

Chris

Have you ever listened to a CD or heard song for the first time in a service and found yourself floored by the implications of the words? Sometimes it is the utter truthfulness of the message; other times it’s the insight the concept gives us into the holiness, great-ness or awesomeness of God.

This happened to me a fews days after Christmas when I opened Chris Tomlin‘s “See the Morning” CD. The more I hear the song, the more I feel I should draw other’s attention to it. Continue reading “Beyond “first and last”” →

Christian Living

“How are you?”

Chris

Have you ever really considered what it means when you say a simple phrase we all throw out there everyday? On average, how often each day do you start a conversation or recognize someone’s presence by asking any variance of, “How are you?”

Recently we had a communion service at church, and the congregation all went and stood at the altar to partake of the elements together. After the service, as we headed back to our seats to gather our things and leave for the day, I simply asked a friend, “How are ya?” I didn’t even realize the implications of what I asked until after he looked back at me and answered, “I’m alright, I’m alright.” Continue reading ““How are you?”” →

Ministry

Christmas Caroling vs. Worship

Chris

It’s that time of year again when worship leaders and pastors try to fit in the traditional Christmas songs that they believe need to be sung for those visitors or twice-a-year members who stop by the church during the month of December. Unfortunately, most of us cave to the pressure, or to our own relief at not having to “wait upon the Lord” for a worship set, and we fill our December Sundays with everything from “Joy to the World,” to “Away in a Manger” and “Go Tell It On the Mountain.”

I’ve come to believe that in doing so, we miss out on one of the greatest opportunities to introduce visitors and seasonal members into the presence of God. Maybe this is why they only come once or twice a year. If we give them the cookie-cutter songs that they have on um-teen CDs at home, hear in the malls, and are rerun over and again on the radio, why would they think church was worth going to? Continue reading “Christmas Caroling vs. Worship” →