Various Uses

Posted on October 3, 2016 by jesustrek

vanI saw an ad in the paper for a 13-passenger bus. The advertisement said that the vehicle could be a church bus, or it could be used as a party bus. Considering the definition many people have for the word “party”, I thought it interesting that the seller would suggest that the bus could be used for either purpose.

Just as a bus could be used for either good or bad purposes, so it is with the parts of our body. Romans 6:12-13 says, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”

 

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The Secret to Success

Posted on October 1, 2016 by jesustrek
Sara Blakely

Sara Blakely

In a devotion he wrote for The Southeast Outlook, Jacob Glassner tells how Sara Blakely learned to appreciate failure. Blakely, the founder and CEO of Spanx, a billion-dollar apparel company, often shares the story that led to her success.

When Sara was growing up, her father would often ask her at the dinner table—“What have you failed at this week?” He would be disappointed if she didn’t have something to share.

Blakely says that this helped her define failure in a different way than many people understand the term. For her, failure was not so much about the outcome of her efforts—failure was not trying. Having no fear of failure led Blakely to found Spanx at the age of 27.

Perhaps the secret to success is overcoming the fear of failure. If we aren’t afraid to try new and difficult things, we can learn from our mistakes, build on our experiences and ultimately succeed in the end.

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”—Proverbs 24:16.

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Curing All Disease

Posted on September 30, 2016 by jesustrek
Zuckerberg and Chan

Zuckerberg and Chan

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his pediatrician wife, Priscilla Chan, recently announced that they will spend $3 billion over the next decade in an effort to “cure all diseases in our children’s lifetime.” They plan to bring scientists and engineers together to empower the entire scientific community to discover new breakthroughs in preventing and curing diseases of all kinds.

While we applaud the generosity and compassion of their initiative, it is highly unlikely that their efforts will result in total success. Any great gains in achieving better health for mankind would be, of course, a wonderful thing, but the odds are likely that there still would be some illnesses to plague the human race.

When it comes to spiritual illness (sin), there has been a cure available for centuries. And it is 100% effective for all who receive the remedy for our sins. It is, of course, the blood of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”—1 John 2:2.

 

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Follow the Money

Posted on September 29, 2016 by jesustrek

planned-parenthoodI see where Planned Parenthood is targeting young, undecided voters in Ohio to try to swing the presidential election in favor of the pro-abortion Democratic Party. Polls show Clinton and Trump in a close race in Ohio, one of the most important battleground states for electoral votes. It is obvious why the largest provider of abortions in the United States would want Clinton, an avid supporter of abortion, to win. A Clinton victory would make it more likely that the blood-stained hands of Planned Parenthood would continue to receive a substantial income for providing their “services”.

Just follow the money.

“…Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.”—Malachi 3:15.

They might get away with it for a while, but they won’t get away with it forever!

 

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Bigger Fish to Fry

Posted on September 28, 2016 by jesustrek

SONY DSC

Alabama football coach Nick Saban tells the story about the time when, as an 11-year-old, he was fishing in West Virginia. He wasn’t getting a bite, but a man not far from him was catching a lot of catfish. Then Saban noticed that the man was keeping the smaller catfish, while throwing the larger ones back in the water. When he asked the man why he was only keeping the smaller fish, the man replied, “I only have a 9-inch skillet.”

Saban’s application of the story is this—“You have to know who you are.”

I have a different application—“Maybe you need to think bigger!”

Does your church really expect to grow? Do you actually intend to be more productive than you ever have before?

Maybe some of us need to get a bigger frying pan!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”—Ephesians 3:20-21.

 

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Be Ready!

Posted on September 26, 2016 by jesustrek
Jose Fernandez

Jose Fernandez

The sports world is mourning the passing of two notable athletes this weekend—golfer Arnold Palmer and baseball pitcher Jose Fernandez.

Palmer was 87 when he died in a Pittsburgh hospital. The cause of death is not yet being reported. Palmer is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. He emerged as a superstar when golf was gaining popularity as a televised sport. His hard-charging style of play won him a large following, and he will be greatly missed by all who appreciated his talent and what he did for the game of golf.

Hernandez was only 24 when he and 2 others died in a boating accident off the coast of Miami. Jose defected from Cuba as a teenager, and became the National League rookie of the year in 2013. Besides his great talent as a pitcher, Jose will be remembered for his positive attitude and his joyful passion for the game. His death came as a shock, and those who knew him are struggling to come to grips with his passing.

Two notable deaths in the sports world—one man 87; the other 24. Just another reminder that we all have an appointment with death. We just don’t know when that appointment might take place. The point is, we all need to be ready.

“What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”—Mark 13:37.

 

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Backwards

Posted on September 23, 2016 by jesustrek

faucetI recently stayed in some accommodations where the faucet on one of the sinks worked the opposite of the way a faucet normally operates. Instead of turning it counterclockwise to turn on the water, you had to turn it clockwise.

This reminded me of another sink I once used. This one had the cold water on the left and the hot on the right—just the opposite of what is considered normal.

This starts me thinking about how often the world has things backwards. From questions of morality to economic issues to family matters, the world keeps getting things wrong—quite often with tragic results.

People who leave God out of their world view cannot see the folly of their ways. In fact, they often think that we Christians are the ones who have things backwards. 1 Peter 4:4 says, “They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.”

Let us choose to accept the world’s abuse in order to live the way God plainly tells us to live. Anything else would be getting it backwards.

 

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YOLO

Posted on September 22, 2016 by jesustrek

yolo-oxford-english-dictionaryThe Oxford English Dictionary recently added 197 new words that have become a part of our English vocabulary.

One of those words is “YOLO”, which stands for “you only live once”. This phrase expresses the view that one should make the most of the present moment without worrying about the future, and often is used as an excuse for engaging in reckless or impulsive behavior.

It is true that we only have one live to live here in this world. The Bible urges us to make the best of our lives, using our God-given talents and opportunities to make a difference for the cause of Christ. If some think that living our lives in an extreme fashion for Jesus is reckless, then so be it.

“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”—Colossians 1:29.

YOLO.

 

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Brangelina No More

Posted on September 21, 2016 by jesustrek
Jolie and Pitt

Jolie and Pitt

The big news out of Hollywood today is that Angelina Jolie Pitt has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, citing “irreconcilable differences”. She said that she made the decision “for the health of the family.”

There is a reported $400 million to be divided up between the two movie stars. That could get interesting. Sadder still is the fact that the couple has 6 children. Angelina is seeking custody of the children, with visitation rights for Brad.

Though the two, commonly called “Brangelina”, have been together for 12 years, they have only been married since August of 2014. Jolie and Pitt have fallen in line with statistics that have been available from recent studies which have found that couples who cohabitate before marriage are much more likely to get a divorce.

Here is yet another example of how God instituted marriage for our benefit. Those who attempt to redefine it, or ignore it altogether, often pay dearly for their mistake.

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”—Hebrews 13:4.

 

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Eventual Winner

Posted on September 20, 2016 by jesustrek
Darwin Day

Darwin Day

Darwin Day, 70, of Grand Prairie , Texas, was cleaning his house and found a complete collection of Topps baseball cards from 1957-58. Along with the cards was a contest. There was no deadline for the contest, so Day filled out an entry and sent it in. Topps Confectionery Brands honored the contest and sent Day a prize, which included T-shirts, a baseball glove, a pillow with a Bazooka Joe comic strip printed on it and lots of gum.

It is good to remember that we Christians will eventually be winners, and our prize is guaranteed!

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 3:14.

 

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