DAVID hall

Everything Is Going to Be Okay

It's almost Easter, and I can hardly wait. In a recent column, H.B. London said that because of Easter, "Everything is going to be okay!" I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded of that.

When the angels announced Jesus' birth, they said, "Today in the town of David, A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." They were saying, Everything is going to be okay! When John the Baptist announced the Christ - "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" - he was saying, Everything is going to be okay! When Jesus encouraged the people to hold their heads up in a world of tribulation, He said, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." He was saying, Everything is going to be okay! When he went to the cross, it was brutal and cruel, but his act of sacrifice signaled to all mankind that Everything was going to be okay!

When you and I recognize Jesus died on that cross, that He was buried in the tomb, that on the third day the grave could no longer hold Him, but that He arose triumphant; that surely gives us the assurance that Everything is going to be okay! This is not to say tough times will not come. This is not to say we will never suffer loss or everything will go the way we want. But it is to say that Christ is victorious, and in Him we are more than conquerors. It is to say that because He lives, we too can live. And it is simply to say that because He lives Everything is going to be okay!

Right now things may be tough, but take heart, for in Christ Everything is going to be okay! Busy mother, you may feel overwhelmed, but in Christ Everything is going to be okay! Christian student, you're not alone in serving the Lord and in Him Everything is going to be okay! Persecuted believer, remain faithful, for Everything is going to be okay! For those of you seeking meaning for life and the assurance of life beyond the grave, give your life to Christ, and Everything is going to be okay! So be encouraged, everyone, Jesus is alive. He rose from the grave. He's coming again, and Everything is going to be okay!

Now if that isn't reason to celebrate, I don't know what is!

Town Hall for Hope

Connect with families across the nation for a truly radical message: HOPE. Tired of hearing the fear, doom and gloom that's filling the airwaves? Join Dave Ramsey for a nationwide town hall meeting and discover what's happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we're going. Plus, Dave will answer your questions live throughout the event!

Join us for this free event via live video feed April 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Oakwood Park Christian Church. To register online, click here.

Jesus Cheetos

A lady from High Ridge, Missouri, found Jesus (on a cross) in a bag of Cheetos. Soon, the pilgims will be coming by tour bus.

This is not the first time Jesus showed up in a package of Cheetos. Last March a Houston youth pastor was surprised to find Jesus praying as he snacked in the church office.

And here's another: In New Mexico, a praising Jesus came out of the Cheeto bag to encourage Dorothy to lose weight. She has not eaten a Cheeto since.

Maybe we should erect the Shrine of Holy Cheetos. . . then, again. .

CMT Awards Come to Close

The CMT Awards came to a close on Sunday, but not without showing one final profoundly spiritual country music video. For those of you who are interested, here it is ... "Cletus Take The Reel" ...

Twin Leaning Towers

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the world's great landmarks, was originally designed to stand up straight. It began to lean shortly after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation.

The word "pisa", I've heard, actually means "marshy land", which might explain why history's most famous church bell tower started going off kilter before it was even completed.

Several years ago, it looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa was headed for toppling. Moving one-twentieth of an inch each year, it eventually ended up 17 feet out of plumb.

Alarmed architects and engineers puzzled over it, and in 1990 created a plan to remove 38 cubic meters of soil from underneath, straightening the tower by 18 inches. Now, they say, it is stable for another 300 years.

Perhaps you will be surprised to learn that The Leaning Tower of Pisa is NOT the most tilted tower in the world.

In November 2007, that honor was given to the Leaning Tower of Suurhusen in Germany. Though not as beautiful or old as her sister in Pisa, the 15th century Suurhusen bell tower is the greatest leaner on earth. You don't have to be pretty to be crooked. Once again, the sway from vertical is due to marshy soil and a faulty foundation.

So these twin towers teach us an important lesson. If you want to stand straight, you need to have a firm foundation.

Parents, if you want to grow good adults, start them off right when they're young. This is the most important task for mothers and fathers. Teach them the depths of truth, character and integrity in their childhood, and when they are old, they will display it.

Engaged couples can build a great marriage by building on the firm foundation of selfless love, faith and trust. Marriages built on shallow soil seldom last.

A life, built on the rock solid foundation of God, faith and the Bible, will stand straight and strong through all the storms of life.

Now, if you've started off wrong, and find yourself leaning, there's still hope -- but it always goes back to foundational issues.

The Cost

From the Marine Times and the Encyclopedia of War (vol.1-3), here is the cost of the freedom we are enjoying this weekend. Remember to send up a prayer of thanks for them and for the ones who are still standing between us and evil. These figures are official figures of Americans killed in battle. Many civilians have perished (almost 68,000 in the Battle of Britain alone during WW2) and our allies have also paid dearly.

American Revolution: 4,435 died

War of 1812: 2,260 died

Mexican War: 13,283 died

Civil War: 529,511 died (perhaps quite a lot more, but records are incomplete)

Spanish-American War: 2,446 died

World War I: 116,516 died

World War II: 405,399 died

Korean War: 36,574 died

Vietnam War: 58,209

Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury): 19 died

Persian Gulf War: 383

Panama (Operation Just Cause): 23 died

Somalia (Operation Restore Hope): 43

The Iraq War: 4,564 (and counting)

If you have children at home, please buy some flowers and visit a cemetery. Lay them at the base of a monument to the fallen or on individual graves of those who fell in battle. Talk to your children about life, death, honor, freedom, and the cost of maintaining freedom.

And spare a prayer for the families of those who fell. May God give them comfort and may we never, never, never, never forget.

Steven Curtis Chapman Tragedy

People around the world are mourning the loss of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter.

At approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman, was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN.

Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

A website has been set up for people who want to express their condolences to the family. You can find it HERE.

Jackie Chan-ing People For Jesus

Chris Salzman over at Think Christian posted a link to a short video highlighting a unique approach to church leadership. I must say I've never heard of this strategy before, though I've known a few deacons that I would have liked to try it on.

I'm pretty sure the last place I'd want to be is in the front row of this guy's deal every week...unless I was a lawyer or an ultimate fighter...

The Seven Ups

Yesterday, a good friend emailed this inspiring little message to me: "Happy Wednesday, Pastor David! I thought you might be able to use this list of "The Seven Ups" sometime." Read on and enjoy!

The Seven Ups

1. Wake Up! Decide to have a good day.

"This is the day the Lord hath made;Let us rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalm 118:24

2. Dress Up! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." ~ I Samuel 16:73

3. Shush Up! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.

"He who guards his lips guards his soul." ~ Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up! For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.

"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." ~ Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up! . . . To the Lord.

"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up! . . . For something higher.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up! . . . Your Prayers.

"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." ~ Philippians 4:6

Violence in Kenya

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