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Susan and I watched with her mother a week ago one of our family’s favorite Christmas movies, “White Christmas.” A more appropriate title might be “right Christmas.” Let’s think about that. Philippians can help. 

A right Christmas begins with who I am in Christ. Paul writes in 2:1, Because there is encouragement in Christ, since we have comfort of love, because we have fellowship with the Spirit, since we have affection and sympathy …  The Christian is in Christ. Studies show more suicides occur during the holidays than any other time of the year. This can be a sad time – the first Christmas without ___.  But we must be reminded of God’s love – his particular love. While he loves all sinners, he loves his children in a greater way. These blessings are the fringe benefits of the gospel. 

A right Christmas isn’t automatic. You see others enjoying the holiday and think, “They’re so lucky!” But relationships aren’t a matter of luck – but godly sweat. Phil 2:3, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. The holidays bring families into closer contact – and more people means we multiply problems. But having the right Christmas demands humility. We’re not talking about a false humility, demeaning yourselves. That’s not biblical. Biblical humility is accepting ourselves as God made us, acknowledging our talents as his gifts and using them for his glory to serve others.

So, this Christmas season ask yourself if you are in Christ – and if so, rejoice in that truth. Secondly, if you are in Christ then think how you can practice humility in putting others before yourself. Rom 12:10, Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Susan and I watched the 2023 movie, “One Life.” It is the true story of Nicolas Winton, a British stockbroker who, in 1939, helped arrange the escape of Jewish children from Nazi controlled Czechoslovakia. The film moves from the historical to the contemporary as England discovered the  measures this man and his team accomplished. It is simply astonishing. I won’t spoil the ending but make sure the Kleenex is nearby. 

As with all movies I look for any redemptive values. Nicolas went to heroic measures to save lives of many who would have surely been lost in concentration camps in the years following. The humanitarian message is heard loud and clear. But there’s more. Nicolas Winton became focused on saving physical lives – important as that is, I could not help but ask myself, “how important is it to me to rescue souls for eternity?”  I am ever so thankful for the efforts of last September’s Fall Fest – and recently Christianity Explored. I am excited about this year’s Christmas Ladies Tea along with Christmas children’s program December 22 and our Christmas Eve service.

Our evangelism can be divided into two categories: Come and see – and go and tell. The events I’ve mentioned are “come and see” events. People are much more prone to attend “religious” events around the holiday season. Let’s take advantage of that and invite folks. Each week we cross paths with those who are not believers. We need an increased sensitivity to “go and tell.” We’ve seen this in our series in Acts. The early church was consumed with getting the message out. The gospel is truly the best news anyone will ever hear. No wonder the word ‘gospel’ literally means good news. We too only have “one life.” Let us make it count for eternity.

Dr. Michael Emlet, faculty member at CCEF wrote a blog recently that spoke to me about stretching our joy.  Last week we mentioned 4.

1. Open your eyes and slow down.
2. Remember you are not alone.
3. When you find your heart moved by joy see it as God’s kindness to you.
4. Contemplate your spiritual blessings by your union with Christ.

We conclude his suggestions today:

5. Prioritize thanksgiving in prayer. Remember the hymn: “Count your many blessings, name them one by one.” 

6. Spend a few minutes at the end of a day recalling the places where you felt met by God. Ask, “Where have I seen God’s goodness to me this day.”

7. Keep a gratitude journal. Put into writing the gifts of God’s kindness, small and large.

8. Tell someone else about your experience of joy. A blessing shared is a blessing amplified.

9. Lean against a view of God’s character as stingy. He is a generous Father. Too often I feel like I’m holding my breath, just waiting for the next shoe to drop. Gratitude nips grumbling and cynicism in the bud.

10. Frame hard things with an admission of God’s sovereign and loving care over your life. This is not a syrupy, Hallmark card counterfeit gladness, but a hard-won conviction that my tried-and-true Savior is working redemptively in my life.

Let’s stretch our daily joys!

I’ve enjoyed the ministry of Dr. Michael Emlet, faculty member at CCEF. I’m abbreviating a wonderful article I recently read by him – will continue it next week.

Do you lament that moments of beauty, joy, and laughter in your life are so fleeting? Challenges and griefs of life in this fallen world can quickly overshadow our perception of the good that God brings. Too often when life is difficult, I think, “If I can just get around the corner of this, then I can experience joy.” But the apostle Paul described his experience as “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing,” 2 Cor 6:10. The Lord takes care of his children now by granting a multiplicity of tangible kindnesses each day. So how can we grow in gratitude and notice these things? Let me suggest ten ways we can stretch a momentary joy into a more durable posture of gratitude.

1. Open your eyes and slow down. “This is the day that the Lord has made.” Ask God to make you more mindful of his work and his ways throughout your day. 

2. Remember you are not alone. Jesus, by his Spirit, is present with you every step of your day, whether it feels like green pastures or the valley of the shadow of death.

3. When you find your heart moved by joy see it as God’s kindness to you. It might be a beautiful sunset or the funny thing the dog just did. Thank the Lord right then as the Giver of this good gift.

4. Contemplate your spiritual blessings by your union with Christ. Start each day asking God to help you experience the reality that you live under his smiling, not frowning face.

To be continued …

Where are you in your Christian life?

That’s a question asked by Tim Keller in his most recent book, Prayer. He likens our Christian experience to being out on a boat or in the water.

Are you sailing? The wind is at your back, you are moving along at a pretty good clip. This is what we desire.

Are your rowing? Yes, you’re moving forward but things are more a duty than a delight.

Are you drifting? No real direction. Feel aimless.

Are you sinking? You feel as if you could walk away. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.

There are those times where we don’t have any unconfessed sin we’re harboring but things just aren’t the way we wish them to be spiritually. That’s ok. Sometimes we must simply persevere. Keep rowing in the dark. Let’s face it, most of the Christian life isn’t in the first category – at least not for me. When it is, its great, but sometimes it’s just facing the right direction vs. sprinting along (to change metaphors). I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:14.

“To compare our current political climate to a dumpster fire would insult dumpster fires everywhere,” writes Christian author Kevin Holloran. We’re being told our nation will end depending on who wins this week’s election – by both parties. While we as believers bask in God’s sovereignty our emotions are nonetheless affected by our circumstances. I enjoyed reading an article a friend gave me by Kevin. He suggests Psalm 2 as his weapon of choice to regain our sanity. Let me quote him freely.

Ps 2 inspires us to rejoice in God’s sovereignty and justice. God won’t be wringing his hands in despair with the results of Tuesday’s election. God’s Word reminds us that politicians will not usher in a utopian society nor destroy the world as we know it. God laughs. His rule isn’t challenged by term limits, opposing parties or voter fraud. 

Dear friend, don’t let the raging nations or rebellious politicians suffocate your faith. Our hope is beyond the headlines of tomorrow. Ps 2 calls rulers to escape God’s wrath by surrendering to the Son. We must pray for that politician who makes our blood boil. He/she needs Christ. Ps 2 motivates us to rest in Christ, our Refuge. Let us not allow politics to derail our mission. Our mission isn’t to get so-so-so elected but to advance Christ’s kingdom by sharing his glorious gospel. Let us not let sinful anxiety overtake us. When political anxieties rise in you, filter the drama through God’s eternal purposes expressed in Ps 2. Remember who’s on the right side of history: Jesus, God’s anointed King, along with all who take refuge in him by faith. These days of distress might present our greatest opportunity to exalt the King of kings in a world desperate for hope.

Abortion continues to be a hot topic. We hear “My body, my choice.” But that line of thinking denies science. A person doesn’t have two types of DNA. A person doesn’t have two beating hearts, two heads, 20 fingers or 20 toes. We also hear about how the government has no right to tell a woman what to do with her body. Now that’s true. But the child within her body is not her body – it’s another living human being created in the image of God. Don’t be conned by cultural lies. Abortion is a moral evil.

My heart aches for women who are in the position to consider an abortion. Many feel there is no alternative. The emotional trauma that involves that decision no doubt is horrendous. The pro-abortionist talks about rape or incest or life of the mother. Here are the facts (May 2024):  Abortions due to rape/incest account for 0.4%; risk of the woman’s life 0.03%. In other words, the vast majority of abortions are for elective reasons.

There is a great need today for the church to speak the truth and to speak the truth in love. Holt Baptist Church upholds the sanctity of human life. We state this openly in our doctrinal statement. We were created in the image of God. Image speaks of our mental, emotional capacities – but largely we are spiritual beings. We can know God – animals cannot. Thankfully, there is hope in Christ. Our counseling ministry is willing to help anyone struggling in this area. We are thankful for crisis pregnancy centers that help too. Let us as believers not waver in our commitment to the unborn regardless of the political and cultural pressure of the day.

“A mature Christian is easily edified.”

I read that quotation in a blog written by Justin Taylor of Desiring God Ministries. Easily edified. I was convicted. I am not alone. Taylor writes, “I’m afraid that far too often an accurate assessment of myself would reveal:

• easily annoyed
• easily irritated
• easily impatient
• easily hurt
• easily angered
• easily distracted
• easily arrogant.”

Oh, I sincerely desire the opposite, don’t you? I so want that the people who know me best to honestly say, “It is so easy to edify Fred.” My heart desperately needs to be changed for that to happen. We call it progressive sanctification. Growing towards Christlikeness.  

Just simple gospel truth is enough to refresh our hearts in Christ. It doesn’t take much. May we begin each day with the prayer, “Lord, may I be like Christ today. Give me a heart that loves you and seeks to please you in all things.” May our minds be filled with Scripture and its truths. May the Holy Spirit who indwells us as believers, control our thoughts, our speech and our behavior.  May we be easily edified to the glory of God. Yes, Lord, help that to happen. 

I found interesting the advice a New York divorce attorney gives to married couples. James Sexton charges $750 an hour for his services. Most people he meets with have already made the decision to call it quits. However, listen to his marital counsel. “Try loving your spouse a quarter as much as you love your cat … Be as polite to your spouse as you are to strangers … If your marriage has gone south, try as a last-ditch effort doing one kind act a day for a month and see what happens.” Sexton isn’t a Christian – he knows nothing of the power of the gospel that can resurrect the deadest marriage. But his advice stings.  

Alistair Begg wrote, “Most marriages don’t disintegrate because of some bizarre event that appears like a devasting scud missile out of the blue. Much more frequently, the love in the relationship gradually evaporates like a slow leak in a tire that goes undetected for a long time.” Marriage is a call for vigilance.

More of Sexton’s advice. “Just be kind to your spouse … all the things you were to each other when you were dating … What if it’s that simple? What if it’s just leaving a note before you go to work that says, ‘I married the prettiest girl in the world. See you later.’ There’s no product you have to buy … What does it cost you to tell your spouse they’re beautiful or that they’re funny, or that they’re smart, or that they’re a great mom?” 

This is exactly what the apostle says.  “Outdo each other in showing honor,” Rom 12:10.  That’s for marriages too.

Last summer’s Olympics caused me to remember a special anniversary – the Paris games of 1924. It was 100 years ago that devout Christian Eric Liddel won the gold. One of my favorite movies is Chariots of Fire, the 1981 film that won four Academy Awards retelling the story.  

Eric learned his 100-meter heat was scheduled to be run on a Sunday. He decided not to compete as he believed it would violate the Sabbath. (Now I would disagree with his interpretation but admire him for not violating his conscience even with his future king pressuring him). Through a series of maneuvers, Eric was asked to skip the 100 and run the 400-meter instead – a race he wasn’t expected to place. He was known more for short runs, not long ones. Nonetheless he did win!

That is where the movie ends. Born in China to missionary parents, Eric felt called to return. He became a rural evangelist. War with Japan became a constant threat. In 1941, Eric sent his pregnant wife to Canada to live with family along with their two daughters. By 1943, the Japanese ordered all foreigners to an internment camp at Weihsien in northern China. 1800 crowded into the small camp. Eric taught children math and science and became the director of sports. He became a surrogate parent to hundreds of children known as “Uncle Eric.” At the age of 43, Eric was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. As he lay dying in the camp hospital, his students met outside and sang to him, “Be Still My Soul.” His final words were “It’s complete surrender.” 

Well done, good and faithful servant.