No Turning Back

Posted on December 7, 2016 by jesustrek
William Borden

William Borden

William Borden was an heir to the Borden dairy fortune. However, he chose to give up the pleasures of his position in order to go into full time Christian service. Upon graduation from high school in the early 1900s, William wrote two words in his Bible—“No reserves.”

Borden later decided that he wanted to reach Muslim people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. After he graduated from Yale University, Borden left family and fortune behind and set sail across the Atlantic. On the way he wrote two more words in his Bible—“No retreats.”

He reached Cairo, Egypt and zealously immersed himself in the task at hand. However, he soon contracted spinal meningitis. A short time later, William Borden died at the age of 25. During the last days of his life, he managed to write two more words in his Bible—“No regrets.”

William Borden’s short but meaningful life can be summed up with those 6 key words: no reserves, no retreats, no regrets.

May we all have such a dedication to spreading the good news about salvation through Jesus!

“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”—Colossians 1:28-29.

 

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Hard to Go to Hell Here!

Posted on December 5, 2016 by jesustrek

evangelismSeveral years ago I heard someone talk about an evangelistic organization in Ohio whose motto was something like this—“Let’s make it hard to go to hell in Ohio!”

I like that philosophy. We should do everything we can to keep people from going to the place of eternal torment. Charles Spurgeon once said: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees…”

The good news about salvation through Jesus is such an important message that we must do everything we can to spread the word! The consequences are simply too great for us to neglect our duty to take this lifesaving message to those who are perishing!

Wherever you live, make it hard to go to hell there!

“Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”—Jude 22-23.

 

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Distracted

Posted on December 2, 2016 by jesustrek

distracted-walkingUniversity of Kentucky officials are concerned that too many people walking on campus are so distracted by their phones that they may cause harm to themselves or to others. So they have placed 50 warning signs, 9 x 11 inches, at busy crosswalks around campus. (These warning signs, which adhere to the concrete, are, for obvious reasons, affixed to the sidewalk!)

The hope is that these distracted walkers would be encouraged to look up, thereby preventing any accidents that could cause injury.

Unfortunately, there are also many people who are distracted as they walk spiritually. Instead of looking up, they are looking down, focusing on earthly things rather than heavenly things. We all need occasional reminders to raise our sights and meditate on higher matters.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”—Colossians 3:1-2.

 

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Consider the Damage

Posted on December 1, 2016 by jesustrek
Part of the damage in Gatlinburg

Part of the damage in Gatlinburg

The Gatlinburg, Tennessee area has been devastated by fires that have ravaged much of the Great Smoky Mountains. More than 14,000 residents have been displaced. Over 15,000 acres have been consumed by the blazes. It is estimated that over 700 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. It has been confirmed that 7 people died in fires in Sevier County this week. One eye-witness described what he saw—“It was like an apocalyptic wasteland.”

The Bible uses the example of a forest fire to illustrate the damage that can be done by the spoken word. We must be very careful that we use our words for positive purposes rather than to cause destruction.

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”—James 3:5-6.

 

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Then Sings My Soul!

Posted on November 30, 2016 by jesustrek

woman-singingI had a great moment of worship in church last Sunday. In the middle of a song, I glanced to the side and caught a glimpse of a young lady who was totally engaged in worship. She was singing loudly and joyfully, with a look of pure rapture on her face.

I immediately smiled, my heart filled with joy, to notice someone so totally involved in worship. This is what we were created to do! Colossians 1:16 says, “…all things have been created through him and for him.” We were not only created by Jesus, we were created for him. We were designed to give him pleasure.  Never are we more in tune with our purpose than when we are serving and worshiping him.

When is the last time someone caught you in the act of worshiping God?

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Keeping Up with the Times

Posted on November 26, 2016 by jesustrek

deer-hunterYears ago, all a deer hunter needed was a gun, ammunition and perhaps a pickup truck to get him to his hunting destination. Times have changed. Now, in addition to those items, many hunters have small 4-wheel drive vehicles to help them get up and down the wooded hills. Of course they need a trailer to pull their 4-wheelers behind their pickup trucks. Many of them also have state-of-the-art tree stands set up in strategic locations. They also have the latest products on the market to draw deer to them with a smell that no red-blooded buck could possibly resist.

Yes, times have changed, and you can’t blame a hunter for wanting to take advantage of every means available to try to get his quarry.

Times have also changed how we do evangelism. Technology has given us new ways of spreading the gospel. From texting our friends to blogging for the masses, there are many ways of communicating the good news to people near and far.

Are you taking advantage of every means at your disposal to win people to Jesus?

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”—Colossians 4:5.

 

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Still Thankful

Posted on November 25, 2016 by jesustrek
James Taylor

James Taylor

“Gratitude is the way to an improved attitude, dude.”—James Taylor

Thanksgiving is behind us now. The holiday, that is, not the lifestyle. If we aren’t careful, we may succumb to the greed and discontent that have come to be so commonly connected with the Christmas season. It is so easy to forget what Christmas is all about and to become self-centered. Make sure that you don’t develop an attitude that is unbecoming for a Christian. One way to do that is to maintain an attitude of gratitude.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

 

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How Can I Say Thanks?

Posted on November 23, 2016 by jesustrek
Andrae Crouch

Andrae Crouch

Gospel singer Andrae Crouch wrote a song called “My Tribute”, which asks the Lord this question—“How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me? Things so undeserved, yet you give to prove your love for me?”

We don’t deserve God’s love. We didn’t earn our salvation—it was freely given to us by the grace that God has shown us through Jesus.

In addition to our salvation, we are constantly showered with countless blessings from God. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

God’s goodness never changes. He always wants to forgive. Always wants to draw us closer to him. Always wants to bless us as only he can.

So we give thanks. How will you give thanks to God for his good blessings? A song, a prayer, a good deed…there are many ways of saying thanks. Choose at least one way to show your gratitude to God for all of his goodness.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”—Psalm 107:1.

 

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Anger Management

Posted on November 22, 2016 by jesustrek

anger“Anyone can become angry—that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not easy.”—Aristotle.

It is not a sin to become angry. Jesus became angry from time to time. However, anger can cause us to sin if we do not handle it properly. Managing our anger in the right way can help resolve conflicts and solve problems. Mishandling our anger, however, can make an already volatile situation become even worse.

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”—Ephesians 4:26-27.

 

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All about Me

Posted on November 21, 2016 by jesustrek

two-year-old-girlI was at a basketball game recently when I had a conversation with the two-year-old granddaughter of some friends. Or at least I tried to have a conversation with her. The discussion was very one-sided.

The little girl had evidently just celebrated her second birthday, and she was very excited about the prospect of being two. She wanted everyone to know how old she was, so she went around to people seated in our section, saying, “I’s two! I’s two!”

When she made her proclamation to me, I tried to expand the conversation. “What’s your name?” I asked. “I’s two!” was her response. Even when I informed her that I was 59, it didn’t faze her. “I’s two!” she said over and over. It was all about her.

It’s kind of cute when a two-year-old is focused only on herself.

Not so much with older people.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”—Philippians 2:3-4.

 

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