The Aftermath of Christmas (Luke 2:19)

Christmas is over . . . or is it? Most of us will go back to work on Monday. The presents are unwrapped, and some of them already exchanged or broken. We’re recovering from Christmas dinner and all the sweets that go with it. All the special church services are a memory, and we’re thinking about the New Year.

Jesus’ mother held all the events of Christmas in her mind and heart. Listen to Luke’s words: “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” These are his words after the angel’s heavenly chorus and the departure of the shepherds. Mary encountered everything that Christmas brought to our world. She kept them front and center in her consciousness so she could think about them, reflect on them and let them take root in her soul. She knew God was at work in all those events; they deserved more than passing attention. She “pondered” them, thought about them, meditated on them

We can learn from Mary’s response to Christmas night. The lesson she can teach us will help us benefit from Christmas long after our calendars tell us it has past. I’ve been thinking about how to ponder the Christmas event throughout the year. What can men like us do to “ponder” through the year that God stepped into our world as an infant and changed our world and our lives?

Let me tell you what I think we can do that will help us keep the power of Christmas alive between Decembers. First, I plan to read the Christmas story from Luke or Matthew on the twenty-fifth of each month this year. By taking just a few minutes once a month, I give God’s Spirit the freedom to remind me of the power of the Christmas story for my life. Think about reading the story with me once a month.

I’m also going to put a Christmas music CD in the car and make sure that I listen to it at least once a week. The Christmas carols that we sing only three or four weeks a year tell the story of Jesus’ arrival into our world. Listening to the songs and allowing the melodies and lyrics to saturate our souls will help us “ponder” the Christmas events.

Is Christmas over for us? We can refuse, like Mary, to let that happen. Let’s choose to “ponder” Christmas in our hearts throughout the year. — Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

Today and Tomorrow are the last two Freedom Fighter entries that Pastor John will be writing. Some recent changes at First Baptist are placing addition responsibilities on his shoulders, and for the moment, he felt it was best to discontinue writing the weekend FF’s. I have deeply appreciated his commitment in investing in our lives the past several years. I would love to have many of you write notes of appreciation. You can simply respond to this email.

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 27; Zechariah 1-4; Revelation 18

Great Quote: Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel

Charles Wesley

How To Be Content

“I have learned … to be content …” Philippians 4:11

Well it’s the morning after Christmas and I was hit with the “bug” late afternoon and have been in bed feverish and nauseous for the past ten hours. Sounds like so many people have been hit with this fun one.

How many of you spent time finding and picking out the “perfect” gift for that special someone in your life only to find out that when then actually opened your gift, they weren’t quite as excited about the gift as you were? How did you feel at that point? Frustrated? Hurt? Disappointed?

The problem with our culture is that “stuff” will never make us content. We make a list of all the things that we would like or want, and then when we get them — we find that the joy in that gift is so fleeting and more temporary then we thought.

Many of us those same issues with the bigger concerns of life — we go from level to level of wanting and thinking we need this or that, only to discover that we are just not content. Listen to the words of speaker/teacher/pastor, Dr. Eric Crichton, Board Member Emeritus of America’s KESWICK:

“When Paul declared that he had learned how to be content, we must understand that he is not saying that he has learned just how to “put up with” a difficult situation or that he has just learned to “grin and bear it,” so to speak. What he has written is much more triumphant than that.”

The Greek word “content” has in it the thought of learning to be “sufficient” or “adequate” in any given situation. In other words, Paul has learned how to “live above” all the difficult experiences through which he had passed. According to 2 Corinthians 11, those experiences were overwhelming, including stripes, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, imprisonment, etc. Yet in all of these difficult times he had learned to be sustained, to live above, to be upheld. As he added, I know how to be abased, how to abound, to be full and to be hungry. And there was but one secret.

It was not in Paul himself but because of Jesus Christ who infused His life and strength into the Apostle. As Paul explained, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Dr. J. B. Phillips expresses his truth so well when he wrote, “I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular, I have learned the secret of facing either poverty or plenty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives in me.” There it is, “ready for anything” through Jesus Christ who infuses His life and strength into us.
In Colossians 3:4 Paul writes, “when Christ who is our life.” That is just to say that when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, He undertakes to be our life and to live His life in us. That, of course, is through the grace of the indwelling Holy Spirit.”

Can you say today — I have learned to be content? Something to think about on this 26th day after Christmas. I trust you had a good day with your families. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 26; Haggai; Revelation 17

Great Quote: We have false expectations of our holy days, of our churches, of each
other. We have false expectations of our friends. Jesus did not. He had expectations, but they were not false, and when they were not met, he
did not fall apart. He was never taken in by golden calves! Friendship
not only takes time, it takes a willingness to drop false expectations,
of ourselves, of each other. Friends – or lovers – are not always
available to each other. Inner turmoils can cause us to be unhearing
when someone needs us, to need to receive understanding when we should
be giving understanding. Madeleine L’Engle

Christmas Day 2008

CHRISTMAS AND THE CROSS

“. . . I am a King. In fact, for this reason was I born.” (John 18:37)

The celebration of Jesus birth has been separated from His life and especially from His death. Our Lord’s birth in Bethlehem is still a celebration tolerated commercially and privately. Christmas at the Malls and behind the walls of churches and homes is acceptable to the present world system, as long as it goes no further. The cradle, isolated from Christ’s life, can be controlled and kept out of public life. But join the cradle to His mission and execution and the world reacts.
Yet Jesus did this very thing. In fact, the only time He is recorded in Scripture as speaking of His birth was on the day of His death.

This reference found in John 18:37 came in a statement made to Pilate only hours before His crucifixion. From the political prospective Jesus’claim sealed His fate. Our Lord, however, in bringing the cradle and cross together revealed the true reason for coming and cause of His execution. Born a King He would die to carry out the sovereign plan of God.

At nine o’clock on good Friday morning it seemed His claim to be King would die with Him, as He was lifted up on Rome’s cross. Nevertheless this, His crucifixion was not the end, but rather it was the beginning of His reign. Paul, the apostle, looking back on this hour wrote:

“. . .he humbled Himself and became obedient
To death-even death on a cross!
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
And gave Him the name that is above every name
That at the name of Jesus every
Knee should bow. . .” Philippians 2:8, 9

His words to Pilate on the day of His death predicted and confirmed what His execution would accomplish. The promise of Christmas was realized by His cross. Together they testify to the truth. Born a King in Bethlehem=s stable cave, He gained the throne at Calvary.

Why? Why would God who created the universe, who rules the universe, allow Himself to be born a King that had to die on a cross to gain His Kingdom? Simon Peter tells us why:

“You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” II Peter 1:11 He was born a King, and died on a cross to establish a Kingdom that could include you and me. Let us then celebrate Christmas, the coming of the King while always looking beyond the cradle to the cross that gained a Kingdom we can enter.

Dr. James O. Rose was the Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, New York City, and is a friend of the ministry of America’s KESWICK

On behalf of Bill Welte, the Freedom Fighter Team, and America’s KESWICK — Merry Christmas!!!

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 25 Zephaniah; Revelation 16

Great Quote: Christmas is nothing more than sentiment to those who do not know Jesus
Christ. But for us who know Him Christmas commemorates an event well
worth celebrating. Anonymous

What will Jesus say to me?

“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you; You will find the Babe in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

The time that surrounded the death of my father is still a little blurry. But I do remember the night of the viewing. I come from a nutty background and that is reflected in some of the folks I am related to. At my father’s viewing I saw some people I have not seen in a real long time. I had to ask some of them to re-introduce themselves to me. I had hoped that they were not offended. When it comes to family who knows?

Since then I have heard some very sad tales about addictions and extra martial affairs that run deep among my cousin’s. I praise God that He stopped me when He did. And then there an uncle that I see from time to time. He is my mother’s brother and he is not too much older than me. He has done very well for himself. I visited his company’s website and got a glimpse of his position with them. WOW! I am just a production manger in a vinyl fence/railing company. But this guy…WOW!!

I have also come to know this guy who has the great responsibility of overseeing the daily operations of America’s Keswick. I have considered it quite an honor to know Bill Welte. I consider him a good man of God and at times a fine example of strength under control or dare I use the word, meekness. I was quite taken back on one of his recent Freedom Fighters. It sounded like he had the same “WOW” hit him with the company that he was surrounded by.

But there was a bigger “Wow” that happened many years ago, the birth of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. God sent his only Son to come down here to hang out with us. That is a major “WOW”!! When I get to hang out with folks who I think have more on the ball than I do I get like those guys in the Wayne’s World movie “I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy.” But will I do that when my times comes to actually meet the Savior of the world? Will I fall down like Wayne and Garth and bow and say “I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy.”? And what will Jesus say to me? I wish a Merry Christmas to all the Freedom Fighter Brethren. — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent Freedom Fighter Contributor

God’s WORD for You: Proverbs 24; Habakkuk; Revelation 15

Great Quote: “While I regarded God as a tyrant I thought my sin a trifle; But when I knew Him to be my Father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against Him. When I thought God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against One who loved me so, and sought my good.” C.H. Spurgeon

Search the Heart (Part 5)

We are on the home stretch of questions for you to use to diagnose your “spiritual” heart. Here are today’s probing questions for your consideration:

27) How do you spend your time? What are your daily priorities? What things do you invest your time in every day?

28) What are your fantasies? What are your dreams at night? What do you daydream about?

29) What is your belief system? What beliefs do you hold about life, God, yourself, others? What is your worldview? What is your personal ‘mythology’ that structures the way you interpret things? What are you specific beliefs about your present situation? What do you value?

30) What are your idols or false gods? In what do you place your trust or set your hopes? What do you consistently turn to or regularly seek? Where do you take refuge? Who is the savior, judge, controller of your world? Whom do you serve? What voice controls you?

31) In what ways do you live for yourself?

32) In what ways do you live as a slave to the devil? Where are you susceptible to his lies? Where do you give in to deceit?

33) When do you say, “If only…”? Our “if onlys” actually define our vision of paradise. They picture our biggest fears and greatest disappointments. They can reveal where we tend to envy others. They picture where we wish we could rewrite our life story. They picture where we are dissatisfied and what we crave.

34) What instinctively feels right to you? What are your opinions — those things that you feel are true? — XRay Questions by David Powlison

These are the 34 questions that I am asking myself. How about you? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23; Nahum; Revelation 14

Great Quote: Divine love is perfect peace and joy, it is a freedom from all disquiet, it is all content and happiness; and makes everything to rejoice in
itself. Love is the Christ of God; wherever it comes, it comes as the blessing and happiness of every natural life, a redeemer from all evil, a fulfiller of all righteousness, and a peace of God, which passeth all of things, nothing is uneasy,
unsatisfied, or restless, but because it is not governed by love, or because its nature has not reached or attained the full birth of the spirit of love. For when that is done, every hunger is satisfied, and all complaining, murmuring, accusing, resenting,revenging, and striving, are as totally suppressed and overcome, as the coldness, thickness, and horror of darkness are suppressed and overcome by the breaking forth of the light.– William Law

Some Additional Search My Heart Questions (Part 4)

We are still experiencing some issues with the new format of Freedom Fighter. Your feedback is very important. If you cannot open the email version, please let me know. The date is still wrong and some of you are having read issues. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Now for the questions:

19. Whose political power would make everything better for you? Don’t just think in a national sense. Think about the workplace and the church. Whose agenda would you like to see succeed and why?

20. Whose victory and success would make your life happy? How do you define victory and success?

21. What do you see as YOUR rights? What do you feel entitled to? What do you feel is your right to expect, seek, require, or demand?

22. In what situations do you feel pressured or tense? When do you feel confident and relaxed? When you are pressured, where do you turn? What do you think about? What do you fear? What do you seek escape from? What do you escape to?

23. What do you REALLY want out of life? What payoff are you seeking from the things you do? What is the return you are working for?

24. What do you pray for? The fact that we pray does not necessarily mean we are where we should be spiritually. On the contrary, prayer can be a key revealer of the idols of the heart. Prayer can reveal patterns of self-centeredness, self-righteousness, materialism, fear of man, etc.

25. What do you think about most often? In the morning, to what does your mind drift instinctively? When you are doing a menial task or driving alone in your car, what captures your mind? What is your mindset?

26. What do you talk about? What occupies your conversations with others? What subjects do you tend to discuss over and over with your friends? The Bible says it is out of the heart that our mouths speak. — from X Ray Questions by David Powlison

Good questions to work through. Have they been helpful to you? I would love to hear from you. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 22; Micah 6-7; Revelation 13

Great Quote: God put a cross between you and hell. If you want to go to hell, you’ll have to crawl over the cross of Jesus. — Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (John 1:6-13)

Today is the last Sunday before Christmas. It is a time of anticipation and joy. Many of us will be in churches tomorrow where the fourth candle of the Advent wreath will be lit. It’s the “candle of peace,” and reminds us that Jesus came to bring us peace—abiding and lasting peace. John reminds us that Jesus came to bring us that peace, but we can’t know it unless we receive it by faith in Jesus’ finished work. “But as many as received him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

Most of you who read Freedom Fighter will have received Jesus Christ as your Savior. Praise God for that! Most of us, though, know people who haven’t received Christ. This closing time of Advent gives us time before Christmas to share with our non-Christian friends the importance of receiving God’s gift of hope, love, joy and peace.

2008 has been a difficult year for many of us who read Freedom Fighter. Some of us have lost loved ones. Others have lost their jobs. Some of us have experienced difficult times. That’s why Jesus coming to bring peace is so important. Receiving that peace isn’t just about salvation; it’s about life in all its facets. Some of us may need to receive Jesus’ love and peace in different ways this Christmas season. Part of what makes Advent so special is that opportunity to receive, again, all that God brought to us in Jesus.

We all need hope. We all need love. We all need joy. We all need peace. We receive all of that in Jesus. It begins with receiving Him as Savior. It continues as we receive His work in our lives day after day. Where do you need to receive hope, love, joy and peace in your life this Advent season? That’s just where God’s Spirit wants to bring Jesus’ work to you! — Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist of Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 21; Micah 4-5; Revelation 12

Great Quote: It comes every year and will go on forever. And along with Christmas
belong the keepsakes and the customs. Those humble, everyday things a
mother clings to, and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart.

Marjorie Holmes

Living Life Well (James 1:19)

I attended a funeral today. Emile Krompasick was ninety-one years old when he died as the result of a car accident. He was a World War II veteran and a retired firefighter. He was a faithful husband of sixty-two years and the father of two children and grandfather of four granddaughters. Most of all, he lived as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

One of his granddaughters and his son shared memories and observations about his life. They were moving. They were credible because I’ve known his son and two of his granddaughter for almost seventeen years. I’ve observed the influence of a father and grandfather in the lives of his son and granddaughters. During his granddaughters’ words this morning she referred to James 1:19: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath . . . .” She watched that kind of living in her grandfather for all her twenty plus years.

As I listened to all that was said and watched a family who grieved the loss of one who had significant influence in all their lives, I thought about all the years Mr. Krompasick invested in living honorably. I thought about the discipline he exercised to stay in the Scriptures. (His Bible gave evidence of how much he read and studied God’s Word.) I thought about how many choices he had to make in those ninety-one years to maintain his character and commitment to Christ.

Emile Krompasick was a simple man. He was a courageous man. He was a godly man. He was clearly a man who influenced others in his family, his church and in the fire hall where he worked for more than thirty years. His funeral service today was the celebration of a life lived well. I left the church with greater desire to “be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath . . . .” Perhaps God will allow me to have influence in people’s lives that inspires them to walk with God like Emile Krompasick inspired people to walk with Him.

Perhaps the question for all of us Freedom Fighter is this: Do our lives inspire people to walk with God or not? I’m thinking about my answer to that question this week. I hope you will, too. — John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for You: Proverbs 20; Micah 1-3; Revelation 11

Great Quote: We give ourselves to prayer. We preach a Gospel that saves to the
uttermost, and witness to its power. We do not argue about worldliness; we witness. We do not discuss philosophy; we preach the Gospel. We do not speculate about the destiny of sinners; we pluck them as brands from the burning. We ask no man’s patronage. We beg no man’s money. We fear no man’s frown. Let no man join us who is afraid, and we want none but those who are saved, sanctified and aflame with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Samuel Chadwick