The Story of Christmas

Christmas in July?! With Christmas in July being marketed more and more. Why not post the meaning of Christmas for Throwback Thursday?

The Good Word

Christ Born of Mary

2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed ^[a]wife, who was with child. ⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a ^[b]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in…

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God and Baseball

Decided to go a little lighter for Throwback Thursday this week. This is a fun post I wrote about baseball and God from 2019. I remember how much I enjoyed writing this entry.

The Good Word

Summer is officially here so it’s the perfect time to write an entry combining two of my biggest passions.  Today I’m writing about God and Baseball.

When something occurs on the field that seems miraculous or like justice is occurring in favor of a wronged player or team people often times like to use the term, “the baseball god’s”. When these things happen I prefer to say God is a Baseball fan.

Rather than discussing memorable Baseball moments there is a quote and a joke I love that I want to discuss.

First the quote, “Baseball is like Church. Many attend few understand.” -Leo Durocher, Hall of Fame Baseball Manager.

I think that’s a brilliant quote and it is very true. In church many do attend but often times miss the point of the Gospel or misquote the Gospel to get a point across that fits their view.

I know…

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True Freedom Means Dependence On God.

This is a post from 2020…

The Good Word

This past Saturday we in American celebrated Independence Day. A day where we celebrate our freedom but the truth is many in this country and in the world are not free no matter what type of country they live in or what type of government they have.

In reality true freedom comes from God.

Only He provides you with true freedom.

Freedom from sin and destruction.

Freedom from this world that hates what is good and loves what is evil.

Freedom from all your past mistakes.

Freedom from those chains that hold you down.

Freedom from the darkness in your life.

Freedom from the lies of this world.

God is the truth and the truth can set you free.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

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Love Your Enemies And Pray For Those Who Persecute You

This is from just a year ago but it seems like the Bible verse in this entry is needed more than ever. Things have gotten way worse in a short time.

The Good Word

I have heard and seen people who hold onto bitterness and refuse to listen to scripture and pray for their enemies.

It could be someone they know personally, it could be a type of person or just an entire group.

Sometimes a person views someone as their enemy because of race, religion, denominational differences, politics, etc.

They say the person or group has hurt them or that they’re enemies of God, I have even heard a person say I only pray for those who the Holy Spirit guides me to pray for.

These are all not Biblical arguments.

The Bible is clear on this matter…

Matthew 5:44 (ESV),
“44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

None of us are worthy of God’s grace so your enemy and yourself are on the same page.

In the Bible, throughout history and today people…

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Father’s Day 2020: You Will Always Have a Father

Father’s Day blog entry from 2020 for this weeks Throwback Thursday.

The Good Word

Happy Father’s Day’s to all the fathers out there who are reading this.

My wife and I’s fathers passed away a few years ago so this day can be a somber day for us. I know this is true for many people as their fathers have also passed away and  sadly for some they may never have truly know their father or any father.

If any of that describes how you feel I want to tell you, today can still be joyous.

Because while our earthly fathers might not still be in our life or ever were in our life we have THE Father who is there and who wants to have a personal relationship with us.

If you’re missing your dad or never felt fatherly love from someone know that God made you, God loves you and God is your Father.

I thank God for everything He is done…

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Seek Joy

This post reminds me of a Christmas commercial from last year that said, “Give Joy” when talking about their stuff they were selling. The truth would have been give the gift of fleeting fake joy with a present that will be out of style in a month. Well here is a Throwback Thursday Post from June 2020 about seeking true joy.

The Good Word

When are you going to stop seeking pleasures of the flesh and start seeking God?

Why do you pursue things that bring you only temporary happiness that fades away?

Instead pursue joy which truly is only found in God.

God’s love is never ending.

The joy that comes from God’s love is never ending.

Even the darkest moments in your life you can still know joy if you know God.

Know God and know joy.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

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God, What Am I Missing?

This is one of the entries I wrote that seems more timely than ever. Throwback Thursday from June 2019

The Good Word

My wife and I had a discussion last night, the conversation went on for a long while. We talked about all kinds of different problems in society, from political to social to economic to psychological and yes religious as well.

We both had a lot of passion and backed up our points with scripture, we agreed on pretty much everything.

At the end of our talk I prayed for guidance and wisdom, I was wondering if there was something I missed?

I heard one word.

“Love.”

Our discussion was missing Love.

We were missing Love.

The most important part of our faith.

You can’t fight hate with more hate, anger with anger, sadness  with sadness. Only one thing can fight the negativity in the world, it’s Love.

Despite all the problems in the world, Love is the answer.

Love is never wrong.

Love is never evil.

Love is the way.

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One Enemy

Throwback Thursday Post from May of 2019. More timely in 2022 than it was in 2019.

The Good Word

We have one God but we also have one enemy. It is satan. All those who hurt you or others, those who lash out at our faith or do horrible things it’s not just them it is satan. He is using them as a vessel to bring evil into the world.

I am of course not saying that we people are blameless, unfortunately some allow him to take over their hearts. Some do it unwillingly, satan is cunning, he can trick a good Christian into thinking he is doing right when in fact he is acting against God.

Jesus knew this. That is why in Matthew 16: 23 when Peter rejected what Jesus said about His coming death He told him,  “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Jesus rebuked…

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Forgiveness is Available For All Sinners

Throwback Thursday from May 2019. This is one of my more controversial posts, in that it attracted some angry attention in the comments. Two comments I had to delete due to profanity. Nevertheless it also received a lot more positivity. I’ve learned a lot about soteriology since I wrote this, so I may have worded a few things different to respect everyone’s theological beliefs but other than that I think the message holds.

The Good Word

I’ve heard many people ask a similar question that often times is hard to answer or even comprehend for some Christians. The question is usually along the lines of, “How can someone who is in jail who did terrible things and repented go to Heaven while I haven’t done horrible things will go to hell for not believing in God?”

For years I struggled with an answer to this question but God showed me the answer through scripture. The reason is that person in prison has now paid twice for their sins.

First through earthly consequences, the person committed crimes, was punished and served their sentence or is serving their sentence. That is their physical judgment.

But what remains is their spiritual judgment and when one truly accepts Jesus Christ as their savior, it is He, Jesus who took on their spiritual punishment. God will know if they truly are…

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Anger

This week I am re-posting an old blog entry from four years ago about Anger. This is the perfect post to reflect on for a lot of reasons. The first thing I noticed was that my writing seemed a lot sloppier back then. However after I dug deeper I started to notice the more important things to reflect on. God has transformed me in so many ways. I still struggle with anger at times but not nearly like the way things were. Also reading a few of those blog entries from that same time frame, it reminds me of how tough things were during that season. Since then God has blessed and transformed me in more ways than I can imagine. Praise God.

I hope you enjoy reading this post from May of 2018…

The Good Word

Today I am writing about anger. This is hard to talk about because one of my biggest struggles is my anger. Out of nowhere something occurs, could be major or could be small and I lash out. I shout, I bang the table, throw something, kick something. Then comes the shame. Whether a short outburst or a long one, the shame comes.  My wife and I were watching the new Thor movie and there is a scene right after the Hulk has an angry moment. He calms down and is pouty, looking like  a child ashamed of himself. My wife looked right at me and motioned to the screen, I could tell what she meant. We both laughed as it reminded us of me.

While that moment was funny often times when I’m in the middle of my anger I get angry at God. I’ll question him, wonder why the…

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