Category Archives: Devotional

Mike’s Mix for Saturday, February 1, 2014

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Lot’s of folks are asking me, “what are you reading?”  My answer is always the same. “Lot’s of things. What are you interested in?”  (I know I am not supposed to answer a question with a question but I can’t help myself sometimes). So to provide a helpful response to those asking this question I decided to start posting links to those sites that I find helpful.  I hope to do this on a regular basis but those of you who know me know that I am a tent-making pastor and carry a full load of activities that keep me very busy. While I love to write/blog the simple truth is it is a lot further down my list of priorities today than it once was.  Forgive me if I don’t do this as regular as you would like.  By the way, let me know if you find these sites helpful. If you have sites you frequent and want me to check them out send me the link in the comments section.  I appreciate your feedback.

Take your time on these sites as there are lots of good articles and obviously some very thought-provoking points for you to consider.

Calvary Chapel of Lima Christmas Eve 2013 Candlelight Service

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Opening song – Handel – Hallelujah Chorus

Angels We Have Heard on High – Paul Baloche 

1 John 4:9-10

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Galatians 4:4-5

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

We gather here tonight on the eve of the day we celebrate the birth of God into this world, to offer Him our thanksgiving, praise, and worship. He is King of kings and Lord of lords, He is Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God, our Immanuel.

Let us join together in song offering up the praises of our lips.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Paul Baloche

O Come Emmanuel – Paul Baloche

Message

We discussed Christmas from heaven’s eyes at length on Sunday.  Tonight I want to touch briefly on 4 specific points in support of this theme.

First point – the 1st Christmas was a declaration of war and therefore we should be reminded that we are still in a battle.

  • Ephesians 6:10-18 – We must daily take up our “equipment.”
  • Romans 13:12-14 – We must know the time is short.
  • 1 Peter 5:8 – We must know we will be challenged

Second point – the 1st Christmas brought the world’s rightful ruler to earth therefore we must “occupy till He comes again.”

  • Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus last words must be our heartbeat
  • Hebrews 4:14 – we must stand firm in His word w/o wavering
  • 2 Timothy 2:2 – we must be a disciple who makes disciples

Third point – the 1st Christmas was God’s invitation of reconciliation to the human race therefore we must be heralds of the gospel of grace.

  • Mark 1:38 – Jesus came to preach a Kingdom message
  • Acts 17:30 – the message is repent and be saved
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 – it is our individual & corporate message

Fourth and final point – the 1st Christmas was a demonstration that Jesus Christ has already overcome the power of the evil one and therefore all who are in Christ are overcomers as well.

  • John 16:33 – knowing Christ as Savior brings peace of/with
  • 1 John 2:14 – faith overcomes the evil one
  • 1 John 4:4 – we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit for power
  • 1 John 5:4-5 – our faith is in Christ not ourselves

Christmas looks vastly different when you understand it through the lens of Scripture.  Isn’t it time we truly give Jesus Christ the central place in our retelling of the Christmas “story”?

I remind you again of Paul’s words to the Christians residing in Rome about the necessity to be bold for Christ in witness and deed – Romans 13:12.

Prayer

What Can I Do – Paul Baloche

Christian Carnival December 2013

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Christian Carnival Lion

It is my pleasure to host the December 2013 edition of the Christian Carnival. In this post you will find a collection of articles from many different authors with one thing in common – a desire to see Jesus Christ magnified in every aspect of living. I hope you enjoy the breadth and depth of the Christian faith expressed in what you find and are encouraged in your faith walk by being introduced to new voices in the Christian community.

APOLOGETICS

J. Warner Wallace (pleaseconvinceme.com) provides a good summary and foundation for discussing the need for apologetic training within the church in his article, “Reaching Those Who Are Disinterested.”

Greg West (The Poached Egg) writes about the need for Christian apologists to be “community-minded” concerning mission and focus in “Stepping Up To The Plate: The Call For Community Apologists.”

Tom Gilson hosts a blog site that addresses the Peter Boghossian flavor of “new atheism” – On “Creating Atheists”

BIBLE STUDY

Tim Burns provides us a study in Mark 6 entitled “No Faith No Hope,’ on his Preach the Word blog.

BOOK REVIEWS

Terrell Clemmons takes a look at junk science applied and global warming in her review of Chicken Little Redux.

Jennifer Vaughn Estrada reviews “Why It Doesn’t Matter What You Believe If It’s Not True” on The Chic of Domesticity

My review of Robby Gallaty’s book, “Growing Up: How To Be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples.”

CHRISTIAN LIFE INTERSECTING WITH CULTURE

I admit I made this category up “on the fly” but I did so in order to post this link to Leslie Keeney’s blog Ruthless Reading and especially to her post Ruthless Reading: Inerrancy, Black Friday, and Bruce Springsteen. I’m convinced you’ll find something of interest there.

What do you think about the so-called “Christian Hip Hop” music genre?  Read what some are saying in this engaging dialogue – Debatable: Is Christian Hip Hop Ungodly?

Just in time for Christmas – the annual debate about the value of the Christmas story, indeed Christianity, in a scientific age. John Lennox provides the answer: The Magic of Christmas

DEVOTIONS

Ridge Burn’s reminds us to marvel at and take pleasure in the mystery of God in his post Mystery.

Ruth Povey reminds us that we are who God says we are in A Letter to Fill You In.

MUSIC

Hannah Beck is a dynamic young singer and songwriter with a depth of Christian faith uncommon among one so young.  She led worship at a recent women’s conference my fellowship hosted and the ladies were very simply “blown away” by the Lord’s use of Hannah and her music. Check her music ministry out here – Hannah Beck Music

THEOLOGY

Josh Turansky responds to John MacArthur’s recent conference in The Strange Fire Conference and Calvary Chapel

CONTACT US

For more information about the Christian Carnival blog group visit Christian Carnival. If you would like to submit a post for consideration you may do so here – Christian Carnival Submission Form.

JESUS OR MORE BARNS?

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And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.’

Luke 12:16-18 NAS

Summing up this parable Jesus said we should give our wealth to the poor and needy before allowing our possessions to rule our thoughts and actions.  His teaching that we should not be consumed with thoughts of how we will maintain and build our bank accounts, 401K’s, and mutual funds is a clarion call to focus on the imperatives of the Christian life.

We are to be watchmen waiting for the Master – “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.  Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks” (Luke 12:35-36).

If the things of this world get in the way of us seeing the important things of the Kingdom, then Jesus says we are to get rid of them.  We don’t need more barns, we need all of Jesus!

DO YOU KNOW A PLACE?

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There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.

Psalm 46:4-5 NAS

Trouble comes often into the life of a Christian.  Our handling of it demonstrates a number of things.  First, when trouble comes where do we turn?  If we are anchored into the rock immovable – Jesus Christ – we will remain unmoved.

Second, when trouble comes what is our outward response?  Does our countenance reflect the calmness we have in Christ?

Third, when the storms of life batter us, of what effect is our hope and trust in Christ?  The Psalmist gives us a beautiful picture of the reaction to trouble most fitting the Christian.

Verses one through three describe what we all know to be true, namely that trouble finds us all sooner or later.  But notice the Psalmist describes for us what our response should be.  First, we acknowledge even in the midst of our most dire straits that God is the One to whom we turn.  It is in the shelter of His mercies and grace that we seek refuge.

But even in the midst of our whole world shaking apart, in the midst of the deafening roar of the churning ocean waves that seem to engulf us, God bids us come to Him and find solace.

There is a river, the Psalmist says, that brings joy.  This river makes glad the city of God.  God is there, and He will not be moved.  Oh how glorious is the truth that God makes us to receive His joy and strength to withstand the trials we all face.

Your eyes and your countenance will be lifted up today as you reflect on our mighty God, maker of heaven and earth.  He is our strong tower and refuge!