Jesus Changes People

Do you ever find yourself doing or saying something that you later regret? We all have things in our lives that we wish we could change about ourselves, but find it impossible to do. Yet, real change is possible and in this week’s message we’ll talk about where to find the power to make those changes.


Scripture: John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.


Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon "He Will Change My Lifestyle. I’m Not Interested" delivered on Christian Crusaders July 15, 2012.

What if I am one of those people who doesn’t want to change my lifestyle? I want to go to church on Sunday, be considered a religious person and all the rest, but I don’t want to risk persecution. Jesus was crucified, John the Baptist was beheaded, and many others in lesser ways along the way have had to pay the price when they identified themselves with Jesus Christ. I pray to God that we will have the courage to really look into our lifestyle, as individuals, as a congregation, and as a Church at large and ask what needs to be done. Then, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we may see that it is done.


About Christian Crusaders
Christian Crusaders is governed by a policy-making board of directors. This eighteen-member panel makes many of the decisions of Christian Crusaders, including our yearly budget, where we broadcast the program, future plans of the ministry, and personnel issues. This year we welcome five new members to our Board of Directors: Rev. Mark Decker of Hudson, Iowa; Fred Morris of Evansdale, Iowa; Jim Potts of Hudson, Wisconsin; and Jan Reisetter and Richard Vande Kieft of Cedar Falls, Iowa. These persons, along with our remaining board members, represent a broad spectrum of business backgrounds.

We are thankful for all our board members and ask that you help us pray for them as they direct Christian Crusaders to better serve our listening audience.


On the Light Side
Those Were the Days – This Date in History, January 20

1885 - The roller coaster was patented by La Marcus Thompson of Coney Island, New York. His coaster was 450 feet long with the highest drop being 30 feet.

1929 – In Old Arizona was released. The movie was the first full-length talkie to be filmed outdoors – mainly the great outdoors of Utah and California.

1937 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to be inaugurated on January 20th. The 20th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution officially set the date for the swearing in of the President and Vice President. The amendment was ratified by Congress in 1933.

1942 - Harry Babbitt sang as Kay Kyser and his orchestra recorded, “Who Wouldn’t Love You,” on Columbia Records. The record went on to be a big hit for Kyser.

1953 - A television show was transmitted from the United States to Canada for the first time. The CBS Television production of Studio One was transmitted to CBLT-TV in Canada.

1958 - Elvis Presley got a little U.S. mail this day with greetings from Uncle Sam. The draft board in Memphis, TN ordered the King to report for duty, but allowed a 60-day deferment for him to finish the film, King Creole.

1964 - This was a big day in U.S. record stores as the first album by The Beatles was released. The LP, Meet the Beatles, became a huge success and was #1 on the charts by February 15, 1964. The British Invasion had begun.

1965 - Alan Freed, “the Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” died in Palm Springs, CA. Freed was one of the first radio disc jockeys to program black music, or race music, as it was termed, for white audiences. In the 1950s, Freed – called Moon Doggy at WJW Radio in Cleveland – coined the phrase, “Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

1986 - New footage of the 1931 horror classic, Frankenstein, was found. It depicted the monster, played by Boris Karloff, throwing a girl into a lake and showed a hypodermic needle in the monster’s arm! The scenes had been cut because they were considered too shocking for the 1930’s theatre crowd. They have since been put back in and the film has been rereleased.

Love Came Down to Tell the Truth

Life can sometimes be very confusing, frustrating, and even dangerous at times, as we stumble around in moral darkness. We no longer know what is right and wrong, and some doubt that truth even exists. We need someone to give us truth. Join us this week as we learn what truth is and that it cannot come from within ourselves or within our world.


Scripture: John 18:33-38
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”

Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.”


Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon That’s What I Like About Jesus – He Paid delivered on Christian Crusaders October 16, 2005.

When people ask me what’s so special about Jesus, I tell them the difference between simply being religious and having Christ in your life. With religion, personal belief is spelled this way: D - O. Do this and do that; then maybe you can get God to love you so he will let you into his heaven. But Christianity is spelled D - O - N - E. It’s all been done for us by Jesus Christ. Consequently, He offers us the forgiveness of our sins and the promises of heaven freely as a gift. “Jesus paid it all,” as the old hymn says. That’s what I like about Jesus.


About Christian Crusaders
Christian Crusaders publishes a quarterly newsletter called the Crusader. The theme of the upcoming issue, to be published in February. The Crusader is sent free of charge to all friends of the ministry who desire to learn more about the ministry and receive spiritual inspiration. If you are not currently receiving this mailing and would like to, contact our office at cc@naz.org. You may also call the office toll-free at 1-888 My Faith (1-888-693-2484).


On the Light Side
How Embarrassing!
A professor at Texas A&M taught during the day and did research at night. He would usually take a break around nine, however, calling up the strategy game Warcraft on the Internet and playing with an online team.

One night the professor was paired with a veteran of the game who was a master strategist. With the veteran at the helm, their troops crushed opponent after opponent, and after six games they were undefeated. Suddenly, the professor’s fearless leader informed him that his mom said it was time to go to bed.

“How old are you?” the professor typed.

“Twelve,” he replied. “How old are you?”

Feeling his face redden, the professor answered, “Eight.”

Growing Up

We know very little about Jesus’ life as a boy growing up in Nazareth. However, the Bible does give us one glimpse into his childhood and the kind of home in which he was raised. In this Sunday’s message, we will talk about that home and learn what it takes to raise our own children to be Christian adults who are eager to walk with Christ.

Scripture: Luke 2:41-51

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.


Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon Don't Forget the Children delivered on Christian Crusaders March 23, 2003.

. . . teach God’s Word to your children. Let your witness begin at home when your children are small. What an opportunity you have to read them a Bible story before they go to sleep. Let them see you get on your knees and pray to God. When you are driving and the trip gets boring, visit with them about God’s love. Looking at the marvelous creation is an opener for you to point out how God has blessed your family with an exciting world in which to live. Hang pictures and symbols on the walls of your home that will be reminders of God’s presence in your midst.


Christian Crusaders Speakers
Would you like to know more about our speakers – Rev. Homer Larsen and Rev. Steve Kramer? On our Web site, www.christiancrusaders. org, you will find information about all our speakers since we first began broadcasting on the air 77 years ago. We have also posted an interesting historical slide show, which you can find at the page.


On the Light Side
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School.

“Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge, and all the people walked across safely. He used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters and call in an air strike. They sent in bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.”

“Now, Joey, is that REALLY what your teacher taught you?” his mother asked.

“Well, no, Mom, but if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

Ready to Die

I am ready to die. This is a statement often made in our later years of life, as our bodies grow weak and our spirits grow weary. Two thousand years ago, another man told the Lord that he was ready to die, and in this week’s message we will try to understand what he meant by this statement.


Scripture: Luke 2:25-35
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ”This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”


Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon The Fulfillment of a Promise delivered on Christian Crusaders December 26, 2004.

I pray that the messages from God’s Word in this Christmas season will give us courage to go forth in the name of Christ to stand for what is right. We hear the argument: What is right? What is right for you might not be right for another person. Right is right. These words have no place in the life of a committed Christian. Our Father, in His Word, has taught us the absolutes. One of these great truths is that the Lord Jesus, who once was held in the arms of Simeon, now offers to hold us in his arms where we are safe forevermore. . . God never told us we would not have crushing blows in our lives. However, He did assure us that he could use these blows to bring us great blessings.


Happy New Year
The staff of Christian Crusaders — Homer Larsen, Steve Kramer, Janet Mennen, Crystal Gooding Smith, Janet Freed, Jerry Easter, and Matthew Hundley — wish our Web site visitors, listeners, and supporters a blessed new year. God grant that 2013 may bring you and your family peace, happiness, and good health. We thank you for your generous support throughout the year.

On the Light Side
Report From the Doctor’s Office:
Good News: “Well, well. It seems your weight is perfect.”
Bad News: “Unfortunately, you just happen to be eleven feet too short!”

Why Am I So Blessed?

We have so much to be thankful for at this time of the church year. It is good to take a moment to examine those blessings and appreciate their purpose in our lives. In this Sunday’s message, we will join with another person who, when she learned of a special blessing in her life, exclaimed in a loud voice, “Why am I so blessed?”

Scripture: Luke 1:39-45

            At that time Mary got read and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

            Luke 2:1-7

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and the line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Hymns

“Away in a Manger”

“Silent Night”

“Joy to the World”

Renewing Reflections

It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon A Thankful Spirit delivered on Christian Crusaders November 21, 1999.

During my years in the ministry it has been a joy to see how God has created a thankful spirit in many lives. The thought that God owes me these blessings I enjoy are no longer a part of the thinking. Let me tell you about Sonya who died when only 15 years of age. In my last visit with Sonya, and only a few hours before her death, I asked Sonya, "Sonya, do you ever get angry because this illness has come to you?"

Sonya replied with words like these, "No, because then I would have a bigger question to answer. Why did God give me such a wonderful family, parents, a brother and two sisters, my horse, and a place to ride it on our family farm?” This statement reveals a thankful spirit. Yes, God had blessed her with caring parents. They wanted their children to grow up and be well mannered. They taught them to be polite and say thank you. But they were also Christian parents who introduced Sonya and their other children to Christ. He was the One who gave her this thankful spirit.
Are we not blessed to have a Heavenly Father who loved us so much that he gave his Son for us? Through him we have the forgiveness of our sins. He is the Father who wants to take us deeper in our relationship with him and create within us a thankful spirit.

We Want to Hear From You

Christian Crusaders receives many letters each month from listeners across the country. These letters are frequently sent to simply thank us for delivering the Gospel to the sender’s home over the airwaves or to comment on a particular message that touched them. Sometimes, we receive prayer requests. Listeners have even sent postcards from their vacation destinations! A handwritten note is much appreciated and helps us to know our listening audience better. Don’t hesitate to put your thoughts down on paper and mail it or email it our way.

The Origin of Some Best-Loved Christmas Hymns

Away in a Manger

No Christmas song is more loved than this tender children’s carol. It’s simply worded expression of love for the Lord Jesus and trust in his faithful care appeals to young and old alike.

For some time “Away in a Manger” was titled “Luther’s Cradle Hymn.” However, stanzas one and two (author unknown) first appeared in the Little Children’s Book, published in 1885.The third verse was written by Dr. John T. McFarland, a Methodist minister, in the early 1900s when an additional stanza was desired for use at a church children’s day program.                       (Taken from “Amazing Grace” by Kenneth W. Osbeck.)

On the Light Side

As the number of sons of our friends, Marge and Dick Hitt increased, their Christmas cards carried the signature, “Dick and Marge and the Three Hitts” or “Four Hitts” or “Five Hitts” depending on the score. Finally a long-awaited baby girl arrived and the signature changed to: “Dick and Marge, Five Hitts and a Miss.”

Just a Closer Walk: Stick Together

The Bible teaches that we are to live in close, personal communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. So does that mean we can ask for his help with our everyday affairs? In this week’s sermon, we will discover how we can have a relationship with Jesus that is as intimate as with our dearest friends.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Renewing Reflections

It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon Extreme Makeover: Give Him the Keys delivered on Christian Crusaders May 7, 2006.

Christ calls us to ask for help and then to give him access to every area of our lives. That’s been referred to as the act of surrender – to give it all over to him and say, “Lord, you know what makes life work, and I don’t. Take over my life and make it over.” We sometimes have people encounter roadblocks to that happening in their lives. They ask the question, Can I really trust him with my life? Or with this religious stuff? I don’t know if I want to get involved like that. Can I really trust Jesus like that? All I can say to you, if you are asking that question, is to look at the cross. Jesus is not about ruining lives; he is about saving them. He is meek and lowly and self-sacrificing, and he has your best interests at heart. He knows what makes life work. He said, “I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.”

How to Help Christian Crusaders Grow

Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry supported entirely by our faithful listening family. We thank all those who send us an annual gift this time of the year. Gifts to Christian Crusaders are tax deductible.

For your convenience, we are able to take credit card donations by phone or mail. Online Donations can be made through our secure Web site on our donations page.

We pray this will be a holiday filled with good things that add to your Christmas memories.

On the Light Side

One evening, during a violent thunderstorm, a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?"

The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room."

A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: "The big sissy."

Repent

When we think of all that is wrong in this world, we like to think of ourselves as basically good people. We do what is right, try to keep from doing wrong, go to church, give to the poor, etc. However, in this week’s sermon, we ask the question, What are we going to do about our own sin? Join us as we hear a stern warning from an outspoken and interesting New Testament prophet.

Scripture: Luke 3:1-14

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar – when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene – during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the desert,
   ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
   every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
   the rough ways smooth.
And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”

Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay.”


Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon Stop Trying to Kid Him delivered on Christian Crusaders October 20, 2002.

The Word says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.” We do not have to lie. We do not have to project our guilt onto another person. We do not have to rationalize our sins. We do not have to be a Pharisee. All we have to do is confess these sinful motives to our Savior, and he will forgive us. How relaxing. Why continue to live all tied up in our hypocrisy? Listen to these inspired words: “Let the wicked forsake his ways and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will abundantly pardon him.” That is the Gospel.


Christmas Sermons on CD
It’s not too late to order a last-minute gift – copies of Christian Crusaders’ gift set of Christmas sermons are still available! This audio CD set of sermons based on Isaiah 9:6 is available for a gift of any amount. Call 1-888-My Faith or visit ChristianCrusa-ders.org to order. It might be a meaningful gift for a faraway friend, a next-door neighbor, or someone from your church who is lonely around the holidays.


The Origin of Some Best-Loved Christmas Hymns
O Little Town of Bethlehem
This beautiful, well-phrased hymn was written by Phillips Brooks, one of America’s most outstanding ministers of the nineteenth century. It is based upon Luke 2:4, and tells the glorious message of Christmas.

During a trip to the Holy Land in 1965, Brooks was deeply moved when he worshiped at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Three years later, while pastoring the Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia, Brooks desired to have a special carol for the children to sing in their Sunday school Christmas program. Recalling the peaceful scene in the little town of Bethlehem, Brooks completed the writing of the text in just one evening. He gave a copy of the words to his organist, Lewis R. Redner, and requested him to compose a melody that would be easy for the children to sing. On the evening just before the program was to be given, Redner awakened suddenly from his sleep with the present melody in his mind – and he quickly wrote it out. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” has been a favorite with children and adults around the world since that time. (Taken from “Amazing Grace” by Kenneth W. Osbeck.)


On the Light Side
Our family-owned restaurant is the setting for many of our family discussions about how to handle the customer who asks, “What’s good tonight?” Obviously, we would never serve anything we didn’t think was good.

I braced myself one Saturday night when I heard the dreaded question posed to my husband.

He calmly replied, “Anything over $13.95.”