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.”