David’s Code of Conduct

When I typed in this week’s memory verse from Psalm 119:80, I was reminded of an early chapter in the book of Psalms written by King David.

Psalm 101 really smacked me in the head a couple of years ago and I try to reread it often. I call it David’s Code of Conduct.

I found eight “I will” principles in this chapter that I believe are important for us as man to keep before us:

1. I will be careful to live a blameless life.
2. I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.
3. I will refuse to look at anything vulgar.
4. I will hate all crooked dealings – I will have nothing to do with them.
5. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.
6. I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbor.
7. I will not endure conceit and pride.
8. I will keep a protective eye on the godly, so they may dwell in safety.

Many a guy who has blown it will with regret look back and say, “I wish I had tattooed this list on my eyeballs!”

Blowing it is far easier than we’d like to believe. I dusted off this list and have placed it on my home and office desk as a reminder to guard my heart! How about you?

How are you guarding your heart?

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 7-8; Revelation 17

Quote of the day: You ought to so live your life that Westboro Baptist will show up at your funeral! J

For some reason this blog did not go out at the right time. Several of you asked, so I decided to repeat it for today.

One Thing Lacking Part Two

 “And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed You.” And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:28-30 (ESV)

This morning I would like to continue with my parallel Freedom Fighter with Pastor Van. But before I do that I would like to share how it was that Pastor Van shared his writings with me. First was with a way we have become familiar with. They were all word documents on a CD that he handed to me. In it he gives you his okay to re-work his work. The second was in its original copy in that of a book that came out of the blue to me via USPS. It was dated April 4^th, 2011. His letter to me thanks me for some stuff I did and then he said, “I will never be accepted as a poet because I am a rhymer.” Pastor Van, I know Jesus accepted you as a poetic, rhymin’ son of His. Gonna miss you Brother…

P.V. “Sadly he left the Master so suddenly defeated

How Christ’s words resounded

As in his head they repeated.

It was not so much doing for others he could gladly help the lost.

But to freely weigh each decision

To measure what it cost.”

So in his heart of hearts our rich young friend wanted to follow Jesus and keep his worldly stuff. He wanted to have eternal life in the heavenlies and still go to the grave with his worldly substance. I am quite sure our friend struggled between his convictions and his corruptions. But a heart for the Master shouldn’t allow corruption to win the day. Yes there is much convicting truth to what Jesus say’s about “serving God and mammon” but as some of us may already know it has become better to serve and give up worldly gain.

P.V. “He did not value His position nor His vast possession.

He paid the price for all our sin.

Would you join the procession?

For since He died and rose again He seeks all those who are lost.

His precious blood has purchased.

He has paid the utmost cost!”

Our own riches (if we have them at all) are a great hindrance on the roadway to heaven. If our rich young friend had had but as little of the world as Peter, and James, and John had, in all probability he would have left it, to follow Christ just as they did. And it wasn’t that Jesus wore a really nice robe to show those around Him that He is the Son of God. It was the display of humility that got people’s attention. Jesus didn’t need to display His awesome power as a showman would, quite the opposite. He would humbly forgive, restore and heal the broken and lost. Then He showed all of us what it does take to get through the gates of heaven…the sacrifice of self.

P.V. “He does not ask of anyone of us something He did not do.

For even His robe they divided

Before the soldiers were through.

The world doesn’t understand this kind of humility, that is the sacrifice of self, but that doesn’t mean we should be discouraged to display and act or two when they don’t expect it. Just give it when you can, what more can you do? Thank you Pastor Van for your poetic-n-rhymin’ reminder of this simple principle. – Chris Hughes is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 7-9;  Revelation 12

Quote of the day: “Give what you can to Jesus and give it while you can. For none can out give our Savior. That was His heavenly plan.”—Pastor George H. Van Sandt

Bible Memory: “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:75-76 ESV

The First Prodigal

Everyone will read the New Testament account of the prodigal son and relate to this passage as the prodigal son. Rightfully so, but long before this story was given as a beautiful picture of repentance and Gods love in the book of genesis the first prodigal son was actually was given to us in the life of Jacob.

Jacob lived up to his name and was in bondage to self all of his life. Jacob was God’s chosen to become the father of Israel but God needed Jacob to come to the end of self. Jacob after having everything a man could want in life in genesis chapter 32 was he was in fear of his life. A lie he told in the past had caught up with Jacob and his brother swore revenge and Jacob now had to answer for this sin.

With one last attempt to handle it in his own strength he sent everything he owned to his brother in hope of mercy. Jacob was afraid and alone like never before because he had come face to face with himself. At this moment God pursued Jacob and began to wrestle with him.

Jacob would not give up so God rendered him helpless by crippling his hip. At this surrender God asked Jacob his name. The last time Jacob had been asked his name he lied and stole his brother’s birthright. This was Jacobs moment of truth and he said ” my name is Jacob” (supplanter, swindler, trickster, schemer,) Jacob admitted who he was in his owned strength and God blessed this humble repentance and said your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel because with God through surrender you have power of God and will prevail against man.

Jacobs fear was gone, his new life in God had begun and his limping through life was now a constant reminder of who he was without God and the need to depend on God for everything. The prodigal son returned and Gods will for his people began

In a wrestling match. We all wrestle with God. Are you afraid? Do you feel alone? Wanna wrestle? Will you prevail. What is your new name? – Dan Gavin is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Revelation 13

Quote of the day: Until you know the restraint of the Spirit, you’ll never know the release of the Spirit.

 

Bible Memory: “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:75-76 ESV

One Thing Lacking — Part One

“And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”                                                                                                                       Luke 18:21-24 (ESV)

I am not too sure when I meet this soft-spoken man of rhyme but when I did I got this comfortable feeling that I use to get from my grandfather on my mother’s side of the family. At first I didn’t know his name or his position in life but he and his wife approached me at times and thanked me for being a Freedom Fighter contributor. As time went along Laurel would get me aside (she still does) and remind me how important it was for me to be just as Biblical as creative. Pastor Van always kept his comments short, sweet and to the heart of the matter.

Pastor Van has recently gone home but not without him giving me a copy of his poetry book. As I have gone through it again I found a poem that talks about the rich young ruler and as I have done with past Freedom Fighters I would like to parallel some of what he has written and give my own take on it. The whole of the text is Luke 18:18-30 so I encourage reading that first before you continue on with this. Pastor Van was a fellow Freedom Fighter writer and friend. Now he is with the Blessed Savior.

P.V. “If you were a local leader, so young and very rich,

Not some lowly beggar lying in a ditch,

And the great master teacher were to come where you stood,

What would you do to impress Him?

Would you call Him good?”

It might have been a blessed sight to see but few of the rulers at that time period had any regard for Jesus. But this young authority figure, possibly a civil magistrate had a genuine concern for his soul and where it was going. He gets the attention of The Savior by calling out to Him by saying “Good Teacher.” Flattery may get you somewhere with some people but not with Jesus. He sees right through it and reminds us all it is God alone who is good.

P.V. “Now he asked the Master how he might heaven attain

Since he had from his youth obeyed?

What did yet remain?

“Give what you have to the poor only first you must sell it!”

What a problem that created, who could ever tell it?

Yeah, we think we are doing really good until it comes to the giving up of stuff. There’s an irony that Jesus brings out in this discourse that our young friend isn’t saying it but it’s implied and that is “What am I lacking Good Teacher?” If there was a true affection for Christ he could have simply just sold his stuff and gave the proceeds to the poor. But I don’t think that is what our young friend had in mind. After all he was able to stop Jesus during His travel and ask a simple question… “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

I am going to stop here for today. My next Freedom Fighter I will share with you how it was Pastor Van shared his writings with me. Ya know there are just some brothers who touch your heart in such a way that you never forget who they are no matter what happens to you along the path. Pastor Van will be one of those brothers to me. And so will you be remembered Sister Laurel… Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Revelation 11

Quote of the day: “Turn from your sin and seek His face, let Him have your heart. He will claim you for His own and never ever part.”—Pastor George H. Van Sandt

Bible Memory: “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:75-76 ESV

“For such a time as this”

There was a moment in Biblical history that called for great encourage, prayer and the will to act. Many of you know the popular story in the book of Esther, in this book we come to a critical moment in History when a young girl was placed by God to stand up for the nation of Israel. There is a key verse that I would like to highlight and comes from Esther 4:14; “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

“For such a time as this”, this phrase has resonated in my heart and mind for some time in regards to where WE are in History and is this the time that I need to stand up with the will to act. Over the last few years God has continually placed a burden on my heart for this current generation and there overwhelming need to Christ’s hope.

I remember reading an article a few months back in USA Today. The article was talking about astronomic rise in military suicides and what the government was doing to help curve these horrible events. At the end of the page it said that after bringing in some of the country’s best psychiatrists the conclusion was this “these young soldiers have a lack of hope”.  I can tell you this, that if we don’t act, that if “I” don’t act we are going to lose this generation and I am not willing to sit on the sidelines. That is why I am committed to bringing in concerts such as “Tenth Avenue North”, helping support the youth ministry of “Beyond” which ministers to over a 150 teens a month and looking for new opportunities to find ways of sharing the message of hope to a generation that has none.

As America’s Keswick we see more than ever what the transforming hope of our savior can bring to people who have loss all hope. God has placed the Church in this moment in History to be like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. As a ministry representing Christ we have the awe-inspiring call to reach out into this world and shine the light and hope that only Jesus can offer.

Our Lord has already claimed the victory and his work will be accomplished whether we run the race or chose to step aside. I hope and pray that you join me and claim this verse more than ever.

Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. “ – Graeme Wilson serves on our full-time staff working with IT, marketing, and programming. He is our “millennial-in-residence and will be a regular blogger for Freedom Fighter.

Daily Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Revelation 10

Quote of the day: What we need is not great faith, but faith in a great God! Adrian Rogers

Bible Memory: “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:75-76 ESV

Boundaries

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2:11

America’s beloved gospel singer, George Beverly Shea went home to be with Jesus last week at 104. He was part of an amazing team of three men who have faithfully walked with God for the past 70 years that they have been together – Dr. Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shea.

I have read many books about these men and their ministry. One of the things that stands out about them is that early on in their ministry they understood that they would face temptation and would need to guard their hearts. Early on they laid out strict boundaries to protect themselves.

They made it a policy to never even ride an elevator unless another one of the team or a family member was with them. They never allowed themselves to be in a room alone with another woman other than their wives.

In the Every Man, God’s Man devotional, Steve Arterbun says “God’s man cannot win battles without boundaries. A specific plan needs to be draw up and pursued. This means laying out in advance, those actions that will preserve your commitment, help you practice your faith, and allow you to produce the desire result you are seeking as God’s man.”

What might those boundaries look like?

• Places you will or will not go
• Things you will or will not place before your eyes
• Friendships you will or will not keep
• Situations you will embrace or avoid
• Disciplines you will or will not pursue
• Words you will or will not use
• Conversations you will or will not participate in
• Relationships you will or will not pursue
• Thoughts you will or will not allow yourself to feed upon
• Values you will or will not teach to your kids

Talk to guys who have been disqualified from the race and they will tell you that they wished that they had taken the time to lay out the boundaries. You and I can start today by stating what the boundaries are in our lives and then keeping them before us at all times.

What are the boundaries you have put in place? I’d love to hear your!

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 11-12; Revelation 9

Quote of the day: I can preach truth, but only the Holy Spirit can impart truth. Dr. Adrian Rogers

Bible Memory: “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:75-76 ESV

Listen, You Can Hear It!

I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, ~ Song of Songs 1:5

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.~ Psalm 139:17-18

Oh beloved!  On our better days, we can rest in the fact the God Loves us dearly, even intimately.  Wonderful moments these are, and the communion with Him is marvelous and reverent.

 

Then, on some of the best days, He let’s us hear Him more clearly.  And very often we hear something so welcome – but unexpected…   Laughter!

Stop.  No.  He is not laughing at you…

He is laughing because He is simply abounding in Joy over the truth that you are His friend.  He is all lit up with the success of His work in and through your life.

Yeah, sometimes it’s like the laugh of a Father who watches His precious baby toddle around glibly, just learning to walk.  

But, more often than not, friend, He is laughing because He just likes you so much that He chooses not to contain the joy.  Rather, it is a boisterous exultation.   A song.

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion;let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. ~ Zephaniah 3:14-17

He is laughing like the Coach who just saw His new running back tear off a beautiful run on the football field.

He is laughing like the Warrior who has beaten back death, and brought those kids out of the battle to safety and a cup of hot cocoa.

He is laughing with you like the time when you were with your Best Friend, and you laughed so hard that your cheeks hurt, and your tummy ached.

Are you catching this?  God Loves you for sure.  Passionately.

But, do you get it yet?  God likes you.

Really! – Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent blogger for Freedom Fighter

Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 3-4; Revelation 6

Quote of the day: If you woke up this morning and you are still here, God still has a plan for your life. Dr. Adrian Rogers

Bible Memory: “Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.” Psalm 119:73-74 ESV

Sufficiency for the Insufficient

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”   (2 Corinthians 12: 9a)

There are times when we, like the apostle Paul, plead with God to change the circumstances.   It may be a persistent health problem, unemployment, financial limitation, an unsaved loved one, etc.   Or perhaps it is the apparent call from God to serve Him in some way that seems impossible, and you pray for Him to release you from this obligation.

God’s answer to you and me is likely to be the one He gave to the apostle Paul in today’s theme verse. Three times Paul had offered a pleading prayer that an unnamed thorn in the flesh might be removed. God answered him, but not in the way he hoped. He said, My grace is sufficient for you. He did not remove the condition, but He pointed to His provision of enabling grace.

The key word in God’s answer seems to me to be “is.”  Christians tend to pray “make your grace sufficient for this situation,” or “make your grace available to me in my time of need.”   God longs for us to claim the “is.”   He has already made His grace both adequate and available for every Christian in every situation.   It becomes a matter of unbelief if we pray for what is already available.

Dr. A. W. Tozer declared, “God is always previous.”   He has made provision prior to our petition.   One day during the construction of the main building at Keswick, my father was approached by the electrical contractor.   He said, “Mr. Raws, this is Friday, the day I pay my men.   I’ll need a check for $ 3,000 to deposit by noon so I can write their pay checks.”   Dad knew that the Keswick account was near zero, and as he stood by his desk, he told the Lord how impossible the situation was from the human standpoint.   He said, “Lord, only you can do something about this.”   He picked up the first letter from the pile of morning mail.   As he unfolded its contents, he discovered a check for $ 3,000.   The attorney writing the letter apologized for having taken so long to settle the estate of a man who had died three years before.   International complications had delayed the payment until this time.   God’s timing was perfect.   He had made provision for the need three years in advance. Rev. William A. Raws is the grandson of the founder of America’s Keswick and served for over 50 years in a variety of roles.

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 4463-4485).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 1-2;  Revelation 5

Quote of the day: If you have a Bible that’s falling apart, you’ll have a life that is not. Dr. Adrian Rogers

Bible Memory: “Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.” Psalm 119:73-74 ESV

Revelation 21:5 “behold I make all things new!”

As a child of God my focus on life and the world around me has changed drastically. In my wilderness days the my focus was in ward. I was a taker. What can i take from you, from God and from creation to better my own little world.

God Calls us to something bigger than this. One day everything will be made new and my life and my relationships now should reflect just that!

Romans 8:19 ” For the earnest expectation of all creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” If all of creation is waiting for redemption from the fall, if sin has affected everyone and everything around me then my focus in life is bigger than my own little world and my priorities have drastically changed.

Paul Tripp says it like this: “your sadness with sin should be bigger than the fact that it complicates your life. Your sadness with sin should extend as far as sin reaches. Your celebration of Gods restoring Grace should be bigger than the fact that it brings blessing to your private little world.

The goal of God’s kingdom is a complete restoration of every last thing that was damaged by the fall. Grace calls you to shape your life living to the contours this amazing work of restoration.

As the great old Christmas carol proclaims ” He comes to make his blessings known, far as the curse is found.” –Dan Gavin Jr. is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves on the full-time ministry team of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 26-27; Revelation 4

Quote of the day: The Church is the Church in her worship. Worship is not an optional extra, but is of the very life and essence of the Church….Man is never more truly man than when he worships God. He rises to all the heights of human dignity when he worships God, and all God’s purpose in Creation and in Redemption are fulfilled in us as together in worship we are renewed in and through Christ, and in the name of Christ we glorify God. James B. Torrance

Bible Memory: “Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.” Psalm 119:73-74 ESV

Sharks in the Kiddie Pool…what?

“If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5 (NASB)

How do you run with the big dogs when the little pups nibbling at your heels frustrate you? How do you swim with the sharks in the ocean when you’re still in the kiddie pool with the shrimp? How do you call yourself an enlightened giant when you contend apologetic arguments with spiritual midgets? These could have been some of the questions asked of Jeremiah had he been a street preacher on the streets of Atlantic City these days. Pastor Colin Days of the Second Baptist Church of the same city challenged us to re-examine ourselves through the beginning of this the 12^th chapter of Jeremiah’s Biblical book.

When I got back to the text I saw those infamous questions that we all ask ourselves at one time or another. “Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?” (Jeremiah 12:1 ESV) As Christians we really should be able to rest in God’s grace. After all if it was sufficient for the Apostle Paul it should be that much more encouraging to us but to be real about this when we see things around going well for the un-churched while we can’t even fill the gas tank we can stray into these kind of questions…or should I call them complaints?

I will confess to all that at times I get into this funk of watching a whole wide, wicked and deceitful world gleefully prosper while the numbers before the decimal point in my checking account get fewer and fewer. Even if I look for an encouraging word on the One-Eyed Zombie King (that’s television folks) I find alleged preachers testimony on how they turned a pair of shoes to a suit and then be blessed with a check for what appears enough to pay-off the national debt, or at least my share of it. What a load of that stuff (horse manure) that is strewed all over the landscape of Clippity-Clop Land (that’s Lancaster PA. folks). HMPH!!!

And it doesn’t have to limited to finances like I am alluding to. Remember there is a need to examine the whole of the text, especially YHVH’s response in verse 5. There three things here to point out. The first is failing to keep up with mere footmen…The Big Dogs!! Then there is failing in a land of peace…can you say Home, Sweet Home? And the final part, making it in the thicket of Jordan. If you cannot contend with the first two of these things how do you expect to crossover a river that is at a flood stage? For me there was 27 years of substance abuse and failure to achieve godly manhood.

Ya know when we are in the dark concerning how God divinely orders His creation we must keep our thoughts CAPTIVE to the obedience of Christ. We must keep on believing that He would not do the least bit of wrong to those who are His. When we find it hard to understand any of his dealings with us, or others, we must look to His truths as our first principles, and abide by them. His divine judgment will pull the wicked out of their pasture as sheep for the slaughter.  Our God knows how our hearts are toward him. We need to rest in that…so do I. Amen? –Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 25; Revelation 3

Quote of the day: “Our grief that there should be so much evil is often mixed with peevishness on account of the trials it occasions us. And in this our favoured day, and under our trifling difficulties, let us consider how we should behave, if called to sufferings like those of saints in former ages.”—Matthew Henry

Bible Memory: “Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.” Psalm 119:73-74 ESV