Casting Crowns Healer Album

Casting Crowns Healer Album – Blessing Hurting Hearts

A few days ago, the Grammy® and Dove Award-winning Christian rock band, Casting Crowns, released their new album, “Healer Deluxe” on Sony’s Provident Label.

You may have heard some of the earlier songs on christian radio, but new ones were added that are uplifting fans all over. 

Every song on the album showcases the band’s skillful songwriting, likable melodies, and meaningful lyrics.

The band’s frontman, Mark Hall, is a truly gifted songwriter and vocalist.

From the many fan comments I’ve read regarding the title track, this song has struck a chord with many people.

No doubt, we live in a world full of suffering and antagonism.

Jesus is our only shining light in a world plunging into darkness.

Even more than healing our bodies, we need the Healer to heal our hearts and seal our souls for eternity. 

“The title track, a sweeping, big-voiced plea-turned-prayer, speaks to the things we often try instead of turning to the Healer.

The point of this song is that healing is not going to come from the people we’re voting for, or the people we’re following on screens,” Mark says. “It’s only going to come from Jesus. He is the Healer.” – Mark Hall, as quoted, from castingcrowns.com.1

Casting Crowns 2nd Opinions

Admittedly, there’s one song on the album that had me cracking up in laughter.

Have you heard “2nd Opinions” yet?

If not, let me help you with that!

As you will see, this melody is more lighthearted and fun, but with lyrics that get an important message across.

To know what’s in the Bible, you have to actually read it.

Props to Mark Hall and also Matthew West for writing the catchy lyrics.

Casting Crowns Healer Tour

The Casting Crowns Healer Tour is happening now.

You can find if your city is on their tour schedule right here:

https://www.castingcrowns.com/

Upcoming venues include cities in California, Florida, Texas and more.

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1 Mark Hall quotation. “About” page. [castingcrowns.com]. n.d. Web. Accessed August 25, 2022. 

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Major League Grace

Little League Game, Major League Grace

Never in a million years did I think I’d ever share a video from the major sports network, ESPN.

But, I’m delighted to share this one with a glimpse into America’s greatest pastime – Baseball.

major league grace

Sometimes it takes a young teen to remind us what the God-given qualities of compassion and forgiveness are all about.

See if this doesn’t tug at your heartstrings.

What a beautiful scene to witness – the epitome of sportsmanship, but beyond that – major league grace. 

Even more amazing is the way that God so readily forgives us when we come to Him with humility.

No matter “what” we’ve done, no matter how much we’ve hurt Him, God will forgive our repentant hearts.

In one of Jeremiah’s final “turn back to God” prophecies spoken to Judah, the prophet reminded the people that the hearts of man can be deceitful.

God’s truth is paramount.

The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it? – Jeremiah 17:9, (NASB).1

As guilty sinners, we deserve eternal punishment and yet, God sent us His Son.

The blood of Christ redeems us.

Because what has happened in the resurrection is cosmic in its significance. It is akin to what happened when God created the universe. You read the very beginning of the Bible, and what do you discover? That: it was darkness over the face of the land, and into that, the power and might of God shines. – Christian pastor and author, Alistair Begg, of Truth for Life teaching ministry.2

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Quotation from Alistair Begg, Christian pastor, author, and founder of Truth For Life Teaching Ministry. “Then They Were Glad”, April 17, 2022. para. 28. Web. Accessed 21 August, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/then-they-were-glad/ 

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God is in the Details

God is in the Details 

A morning greeting – a God-given sunrise that was almost too beautiful for words.  God is in the detailsMagnificent shades of oranges, yellows, blues, and purples blended together perfectly to light up the morning sky with their brilliance.

No human artist can even come close to painting a masterpiece like this one.

God is in the details of creation.

Wait! Take a picture of that!

Mesmerized for a moment, I forgot we had someplace to go.

Lord, we praise You for Your beautiful sunrises

that bear witness to Your holy signature.

In the following verse from Romans 1, the Apostle Paul taught the Gentiles (and all of us by extension) that there is no excuse for denying that God exists.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. – Romans 1:20, (NASB).1

The handprints of creator God are all over His creation. His divine power is so clearly seen that no one has an excuse not to believe.

This affirmation is available to all – even those who live in the deepest jungles in the world.

God is invisible, and His attributes or characteristics can only be seen indirectly. This is achieved through God’s creation, through His intervention in human history, and through His revealed Word. This revealed knowledge of God is evident and undeniable. – Bob Deffinbaugh, pastor and bible study teacher.2

Every Little Detailevery little detailWe can easily get caught up in the “beauty” of creation itself, but we can’t let it distract us from worshipping the One who made it.

To God be all the glory!

We can only stand back in awe, and thank Him for His goodness.

M.S. Lowndes wrote a wonderful poem called “The Beauty of Your Creation.”

As her poem beautifully illustrates, we should never lose our sense of wonder over what God has done.

The Beauty of Your Creation

Lord, I marvel at your creation,
Such beauty to behold,
For you can be seen in all you’ve made
And in each regenerate soul

For you are truly magnificent,
And I stand back in awe
At each small, but significant detail
Of your created works, O Lord

For the beauty your creation unveils,
Keeps me truly amazed,
But so much more than all of this,
It is you, Lord, who I praise.

© By M.S.Lowndes

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Bob Deffinbaugh quotation is courtesy of bible.org. from “The Present Wrath of God (Romans 1:15-32)” August 18, 2004. Web. Accessed August 2, 2022.  Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/2-present-wrath-god-romans-115-32

3 Poetry courtesy of M.S. Lowndes. “The Beauty of Your Creation.” [online post]. From Heavensinspirations.com, ©M.S. Lowndes, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, n.d. Web. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://www.heavensinspirations.com/beauty-of-creation.html

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Eternal Riches 

True Wealth and Eternal Riches 

money can't buy eternal riches

According to an article on Investopedia.com, Jeff Bezos, former CEO of Amazon, has a net worth of 144 billion dollars.1

I can’t even tell you what a billion dollars looks like, much less 144 of them!

But seriously, I don’t even want to know.

Money can become the main priority in a person’s life – a serious distraction away from God.

Specifically, I’m talking about the self-indulgent pursuit of wealth which we can see, for example, on display in some celebrity lifestyles.

The pursuit of riches and fame are on display all around us, but these two worldly scorecards amount to a big “0” when it comes to our eternal salvation.

Does that mean that money itself is bad?

In general, no.

To emphasize, there’s a huge difference between being blessed by God with a nice bank account or choosing to let money pursuits consume your life.

In Matthew’s synopsis of the Sermon on the Mount, we find Jesus teaching the multitudes about, among other vices, the dangers of materialism and idol worship. 

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. – Matthew 6:24, (NASB).2

Consequently, Jesus’ words here are eternally significant for all of us.

The Blessing Of Eternal Riches 

Acclaimed poet, Louis Gander, recently published a poem that gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to the love of money.

To emphasize: true wealth and eternal riches aren’t in your bank account.

A Stubborn Lot      8-1-22

Can a penny buy a morsel of some dried unleavened bread?
Can a nickel have some meaning to apologies unsaid?

Can a dime hide a confession that we want to keep inside?
Can a quarter take the place of the regrets when we have lied?

Can a dollar buy a drop of love from someone we have pained?
Can a ten buy us full freedom, though it’s we ourselves we’ve chained?

Can a hundred cover up our sins so we can’t be enslaved?
Can a Million pay for all our sins so that we can then be saved?

Can a Billion buy a sliver from the cross where Jesus died?
Can a Trillion buy a seat in Heav’n so we can’t be denied?

ALL the money in the world can’t buy one SPECK of space
in Heaven where the God of Love bestows sufficient grace.

It’s loving dedication and full faithfulness we owe.
Our money is so worthless – yet we idolize it so.

We are a spoiled people in our air conditioned cars.
We’re over-entertained by our most favorite superstars.

We are a prideful people and we’re such a stubborn lot –
but owe to Jesus EVERYTHING and EVERYTHING we’ve got.

©2022 louis gander – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/ 3

We All Need Jesus

If you’ve experienced God’s grace, then you know that all of the riches in the world can never replace the treasure of knowing His love firsthand.

Looking back, there was a time in my own life where money and fame were important to me.

However, once I came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, those pursuits took a nosedive.

In short, 

We don’t “need” followers

We don’t “need” fame

But, we all need Jesus

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1 Quotation from Dan Moskowitz, financial writer for many investment online magazines. “The 10 Richest People in the World.” Courtesy of Investopedia.com. June 1, 2022. Web. Accessed 1 August, 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/012715/5-richest-people-world.asp

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

3 Poetry courtesy of Louis Gander,  ©2022 Louis Gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, “A Stubborn Lot  8-1-22.” [online post]. From Gander Story Poems, n.d. Web. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://www.ganderpoems.org/2022/07/a-stubborn-lot-10-1-22.html

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Designed By The Almighty – The Dumbo Octopus

The Dumbo Octopus – Designed By The Almighty

Now I’ve seen everything!

Who ever thought an octopus could be described as “cute”?

Meet the Dumbo Octopus.

With its flappy ears (flippers, actually) and big soulful eyes, this little creature has captured the fancy of those who are lucky enough to see one up close.

 

And how about that name, “Dumbo Octopus.”

It does kind of look like “Dumbo” the Elephant from the Walt Disney film of long ago.

I never cease to delight in what God has created!

To know that every animal is designed by the Almighty, not by random chance or an accident, is humbling indeed.

This little one has a long scientific name that seems almost bigger than he is.

 “Grimpoteuthis”

When you pronounce it, it sounds like this:  “Grimp oh tooth this.”

Designed by the Almighty

 The Dumbo Octopus – NOAA Ocean Exploration1

The Dumbo Octopus can reach lengths of about 12 inches long.

They like to eat worms and other wiggly things that swim in the deep along the ocean floor (Helminstine).2

In the Bible, Psalm 104 (attributed to David) conveys the many wonders of the world that God created, including under the sea.

All glory to God!Psalm 104

Deep Dive

According to the Institute For Creation Research, a Dumbo Octopus was spotted swimming at a depth of about 21 thousand feet.

Now that’s deep!

It should be appreciated that the Dumbo Octopus has no high-tech submersible to house and protect it in those depths. It only has what its Creator gave it—the innate ability to thrive at those great depths. – James, J.S. Johnson, Institute For Creation Research.4

How humbling it is when we realize that the wonders and complexities of the creation around us lead us right to our Creator God.

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1Photo courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration. November 19, 2019. Online Image. NOAA Photo Gallery. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanexplorergov/49203817176/in/photolist-2hXYqBs-2jsp69y-vcXdBp-nxFUAS-HaDW8D-GKstCA-M6NLAN-LHdtjs-LuNYZ-zfR4-8daU8S-zfR3-2jp5RY1-5HWhs1-atvdh1-5vWZVP-BgJv-2eDnx8-2eDnzk-9brE82-4xkYfi-4momfm-2eDnyK-2WdjX2-2jsRGjG-2jq7LFb-2jqvgwC-2joUX8d-4xkYwZ-aFTer8-2eDnwi-9vVvpb-eShSAu-ndWySt-6jrqSG-BByY-4Lrt8W-75wewg-4LnfFi-KfebxD-ajdhaL-2joHca9-4LnfEg-2jpw7nX-s2sNUH-4d4ANn-7MgSUu-6obpVp-4jLdhE-2jqbSpy

2 Quotation from Anne Marie Helmenstine (Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences) – science writer, educator, and consultant. “All About Grimpoteuthis, the Dumbo Octopus.” Courtesy of ThoughtCo. July 13, 2019. Web. Accessed 31, July, 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/grimpoteuthis-dumbo-octopus-4160927

3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

4 Quotation courtesy of The Institute For Creation Research. By James. J.S. Johnson, J.D., TH.D. From “Like Father, Like Son, in the Deepest Deep”, June 23, 2020. para. 10. Web. Accessed 29 July, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.icr.org/article/like-father-like-son-in-the-deepest-deep

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