Tag: Christian Living

Ministry

Law of the First Date

Chris

My latest book, Worship Theory, had a working title, The Laws of Worship.  As I considered what I was writing, the perspective I was writing from, and the fact that I have to admit that I don’t know everything, I ended up changing the title and cutting some of the content.  Some of that content were “laws” I try to follow and encourage others in when leading worship.

One of these laws can be entitled, The Law of the Dynamic, and it states “A worship service should employ and be a mixture of the different levels of music.”

Continue reading “Law of the First Date” →

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

“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?”” →

Christian Living

Deal or No Deal

Chris

Back this fall is the hit television series “Deal or No Deal.” Have you seen it? Chances are if you’ve seen it once, you were likely to catch it again in your channel surfing. At least we were in our house.

The game works by the player choosing one briefcase out of 26. Each case has a dollar amount the player can win from $.01 to $1 million. There are several rounds where the player must choose a number of cases left in an effort to determine which dollar amount they have in their briefcase. At the end of each round the “banker” offers the player a dollar amount for their briefcase. Sometimes the player makes a good deal, sometimes they don’t. Continue reading “Deal or No Deal” →

Christian Living

Family Basics – Vision and Priorities

Chris

We all have visions in our lives, whether we know it or not. Do you need some examples?

I will do everything I can to get that next promotion. Your vision = the promotion
I need to work some overtime to help pay the bills again this month. Your vision = to pay the bills on time
I want to be a better dad than my dad was. Your vision = to be a better parent
Mom and Dad said I have to get a job before I can get a car. Your vision = to buy a car

We have visions for our kids. Continue reading “Family Basics – Vision and Priorities” →