[The Mayor]

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A Crutch?
December 1, 2010

Have you ever heard skeptics say that the Christian faith is nothing more than a crutch—that the only reason people claim to trust Jesus is that they are weaklings who have to make up “religion” to get by?

Apparently those skeptics haven’t heard about the doctor in one Far Eastern country who spent 2 ½ years in jail being “reeducated” because he professed faith in Christ. Then, after his release, he was arrested again—this time for his efforts at his church.

And perhaps those skeptics haven’t heard about Paul. After trusting Christ, he was arrested, flogged, mocked, and shipwrecked (2 Cor. 11:16-29).

These believers were not looking for a crutch. No, they had something deep and essential in their hearts. They had a personal relationship with God—a relationship born of faith in the work of Jesus on the cross. As a result, they became children of the King—eager to sacrifice everything for the privilege of proclaiming Him. They were not limping along looking for something to hold them up.

A crutch? Hardly. Faith in Christ is not about safety and caution. It’s about believing Jesus and trusting Him no matter what. It’s about taking up a daily cross (Luke 9:23) and living for the Savior.

“Take up your cross,” the Savior said,
“If you would My disciple be;
Take up your cross with willing heart
And humbly follow after Me.” —Everest

Because Jesus bore the cross for us,
we willingly take it up for Him.

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:8-15

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed. —2 Corinthians 4:8

Bible in a year:
Ezekiel 40-41; 2 Peter 3

[jaycee]

What a wonderful message this morning, Rus! Thank you so much and I hope your day is special!!

[JustAmy]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to JustAmy,The Mayor or Billie and We will add their name to this list.

As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

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Dubya............................nephew ak_daddoo...................nephew LBGA (RIP)....................son Hostel....................cousin ladtx.....................2 sons ak_daddoo...............nephew gator girl ............husband severa..........husband, brother Maigrey............cousin mystery-ak.....son, husband Inspectorette...........son Blessed American....nephew Slip18..............nephew Diver Dave.....niece, nephew Diver Dave............cousin ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews W.W.Smith..............son sneakers...................son weldgophardline.............2 sons weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater.......cousin WaterDragon............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law kimmie7......................brother Donaeus.....................nephew LadyX (RIP)..............grandson fawn796......................nephew ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady....................nephew Spruce......................daughter Leofl...........................son chena...........................son Hope and Glory..................son TheMayor...............friends'son Doug from Upland.......soninlaw homeschoolmama........nephew ariamne...................2 cousins mhking.........................cousin 911angelady.................2 sons Consort.................2 daughters Consort...................son-in-law Jen's Mom.................daughter Skyraider.........................son Meg33......................grandson cookcounty......................son JFC............................nephew visualops......................cousin painter........................nephew Himyar.............................son jackv............................son jrushing.........................son Azbushgal........................son LoneRedRanger...brotherinlaw tina07......soninlaw & his friend varina davis...............grandson weeder1.....................nephew MontanaCowgirlCop......brother nelibeli........................nephew Anthem....................2 cousins fatima...............granddaughter Misty4jc.....................husband Colorado Slim..............nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews meanie monster...family friend ProudAFDad......................son JulieRNR21...friend's grandson Alouette.............................son Katydidnt...........................son Zechariah_8_13....brotherinlaw Zechariah_8_13.............cousin PreviouslyA-Lurker........brother sheeza.......................husband kemathen7..................husband monkeyface...........2 grandsons redhead................grandnephew Q6-God..................twin brother Q6-God....................active duty Warrior Nurse........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish........................active duty ODC-GIRL................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc..............active duty Don Simmons.........active duty wingnutx...............active duty CGblue.................active duty bigghurtt...............active duty frankiep................active duty veeceeque............active duty JRios1968................active duty NoLongerFreeState..act. duty CMS..................active duty JemiansTerror......active duty tongue-tied ............active duty txradioguy...........active duty Hoosiersailor .........active duty DCBryan1................active duty Col. Mike..........active duty USAFSecurityForces..activeduty

katykelly..............................son Armymarinemom................3 sons american_ranger.....................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin boxerblues........................2 sons the piper..............................son Tiffee4Bob......................boyfriend TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Darheel...............................niece BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother Ladysmith......nephew, friend's son auboy..................................cousin AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson spotbust1........................husband campfollower......................fiance LUV W........................................son SilentServiceCPOWife........husband DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law Skimask.....................................son Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy........2 nephews Kramster...............................stepson Socratic.............................nephew freema.......................nephew, son kimmykay.................................son NavySEAL F-16........................son repubmom...........................2 sons wolfcreek..........................daughter JesseJane ...........................cousin Roses0508..............................son pmmd81..................................son SoldiersPrayingMom.................son WakeUpandVote..................brother CyberAnt...........................nephew mrs tiggywinkle...................cousin Nadine...............................nephew U S Army EOD.................daughter thehumanlynx...........brother-in-law Earthdweller......................nephew ChairmanDec19thSociety ..brotherinlaw PragmaticWarrior..........2 nephews Sageb1...........................3 cousins SuzyQue...mom,2 sons,3 brothers IndyPendance..daughter,soninlaw Lori from Long Island....soninlaw gonzo............................soninlaw Rivendell.......................daughter vigilante2.....son, adopted soldier Jaxter...........................son-in-law USMCWife6869..............husband AgThorn & Lily4Jesus.............son 2ndDivisionVet..........brotherinlaw 2ndDivVet.....former stepdaughter GrandEagle........................friend DebWisconsin.................nephew prophetic.................brotherinlaw GulfWar1Vet.................2 cousins Tina Kirby...........................son Kudsman.......................nephew JarhedAirmanPatriot......brother TADSLOS............................son Athelass........2 sons, 2 nephews ItsForTheChildren......2 nephews dwhole2th.......................son skimask.........................son VARepublican.......................son Katydidnt..........................son oneolcop..........................son Edgewood Pilot...son, 2 nephews Trooprally.............................son 007girl.............................nephew arbee4bush ...................daughter PERKY2004...................husband marsh2............................nephew lilycicero..........................husband o_zarkman44.............son,stepson o_zarkman44...................nephew NotJustAnotherPrettyFace..nephew Bushman2..............................son DeLaine..................daughterinlaw Kalee...................brother,soninlaw Enough_Deceit.......................son xJones...................................son Freedom Dignity n Honor .....son Cailleach .......... husband & uncle Tammy8 ........... son-in-law Tammy8 ........... adopted soldier MozartLover ............ son Don-O .................. son Mrs Don-O .............. son PatriciaRuth ..... Friend, Thomas PatriciaRuth ..... Friend, Stephanie PatriciaRuth ..... Friend, James PatriciaRuth ..... Friend, Sean Wardaddy ......... cousin's son Upstate NY Guy ....... son Ben Lurkin ......... nephew The Mayor .......... son

[geologist]

Thank you, for this Devotional today. It is inspiring.

Christmas is under attack every year. The removal of Christmas and the replacing of it with Happy Holidays is in. IE.

How much do we agree, and say nothing, and pretend it does not matter? Jesus was not about all the consumerism of Christmas. It is a HOLY time and It is the day that marks for Christians, the birth of our Lord and Savior, redeemer, deliverer, and his example of living as the Son of God directly, and we skim over the main part and indulge in the second part (traditions of gifting, partying, drinking..)

Celebration is in order. I love the gifting part and all the decorations, lights, music, songs, and the spirit of Christmas. Has it overshadowed Christ, and led others to know Him, and come to Him in surrendering their life to Him?

Do our children have the same ideas, or do we have the same view of Christmas we had 20 years or 30 years, ago?

Let us come to the time and significance of His birth with Joy, reverence and realizing it is indeed the greatest gift given to man: in awe and honor and respect and brotherly love.

We must guard truth and the LORD God Creator of the universe in our time. It is our time to stand and be strong for God. MO.
May God help us in our day, in Jesus name, amen.

Sorry, this is something I had to mention today.

[JustAmy]

Good afternoon, Mayor.
Thank you for Today's ODB lesson.
We appreciate you and your morning coffee.

Wishing you a Warm Fuzzy Wednesday on this snowy day.