Inconsistent

Posted on September 15, 2016 by jesustrek
Maryiah Coleman

Maryiah Coleman

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported the tragic death of a young mother who was gunned down outside her Lexington apartment. Maryiah Coleman, 22, died at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital shortly after the shooting. Coleman was 8 months pregnant, and the baby boy she was carrying also died.

The headline of the story correctly said that two lives were snuffed out in the shooting. In the article, the child who was killed was referred to as a “grandchild”, “grandson” and “baby”.

It is interesting to note that the Herald-Leader is an unashamed champion of abortion. It is ironic that the same individual who would have been called a “fetus” if he had been killed in an abortion clinic was referred to as a person because the circumstances of his death were different.

How inconsistent!

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”—Psalm 139:13.

 

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Can’t Get Away

Posted on September 14, 2016 by jesustrek
Ray Larson

Ray Larson

Ray Larson has announced that he is retiring after nearly 32 years as Fayette County (Kentucky) Commonwealth’s Attorney. The chief prosecutor began working in the position on January 2, 1985. His last day will be September 30.

Larson joked that he always said that he would retire “when I catch them all.”

Then he said, “I guess I probably ought to officially announce that we have caught them all, every one of them. Some of them six or seven times.”

This is a humorous way of pointing out that some people seem to have a knack for beating the system and continually returning to a life of crime. However, it won’t be as easy to fool God. When all is said and done, he will successfully prosecute all who decide to live in open rebellion against him.

“Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”—Revelation 20:15.

 

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Give the Guy Another Chance

Posted on September 13, 2016 by jesustrek
Lochte, center

Lochte, center

When Ryan Lochte competed on “Dancing with the Stars” last night, 2 men rushed the stage to protest against Lochte. They were thwarted and taken away by the security team. Other people were gathered outside the studio to protest the Olympic swimmer’s appearance on the popular show.

Lochte’s behavior in Rio after he finished competing in the Olympic swimming events has been widely reported. While many of the details are still murky, it appears that Lochte and some buddies were involved in some obnoxious, alcohol-fueled behavior that resulted in vandalism. Rather than own up to what they did, they denied any wrong-doing and put up some resistance to authorities who tried to intervene. Lochte embellished what happened from this point, claiming to be robbed at gunpoint. He later admitted that he had made some major misstatements, and appeared to be contrite.

The fallout has been huge. He has been suspended from swimming competition for 10 months. Many rushed to support Lochte, while others ridiculed him for his behavior. It seems that some want to give him a second chance, while others wish to condemn him.

I don’t consider myself a huge Ryan Lochte fan, but let’s give the guy a break. Everybody deserves a second chance. That’s what God does for us all the time.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”—2 Chronicles 7:14.

 

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Reason to Be Optimistic

Posted on September 9, 2016 by jesustrek

glass-half-fullWhen someone asked New York Jets owner Woody Johnson whether he would be disappointed if the team failed to get into the postseason for the sixth straight season, here is how he responded: “I’m not disappointed for the whole season yet because we haven’t played it.”

It is so easy to be pessimistic about life. Many people see the glass as half-empty when they just as easily could see it as half-full.

It is especially disturbing to see Christians who are pessimists. Haven’t they read the end of the story? Don’t they realize that our side has already won? Sure, there are some battles yet to be fought. We have some legitimate concerns about what is going on in the world around us. However, we should paraphrase what Woody Johnson said. Let us optimistically say, “We are not disappointed in life because we haven’t lived it yet.”

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—1 Corinthians 15:57.

 

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Life Saver

Posted on September 7, 2016 by jesustrek

Cross-FSSheriff’s deputies and other first responders have recently been provided with a drug that saves lives. The new drug, Narcan, immediately counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose. Narcan is the brand name of Narloxone, and it blocks opiates such as heroin, Lortab, methadone, Percocet and oxycontin from the brain’s opioid receptors. If administered in a timely fashion, the new drug can save the life of someone who might otherwise die from an accidental overdose. It has already been given credit for saving the lives of several individuals.

This reminds us that there is a cure for sin. If the blood of Jesus is administered to someone who is suffering from the spiritually fatal effect of sin, that person will be saved.

It works every time!

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”—1 John 1:7.

 

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Saddle Up! (Part 2)

Posted on September 2, 2016 by jesustrek

equestrian2I learned something about the rules of the equestrian event while watching the recent Summer Olympics. Sometimes a horse will refuse to make a jump. He will come up to the rail and stop. This does not disqualify the horse. He and the rider can regroup, make the jump and continue the run. However, a second refusal will result in disqualification.

Isn’t it great to know that God gives us more than one opportunity to get it right? We sometimes call him a God of second chances, but the truth is, we get multiple opportunities all the time to recover from our sins and shortcomings. If we fail to obey God at one point, he is not finished with us. We can regroup and do what he wants us to do.

However, continual refusal to obey God will result in being disqualified for the prize. We can’t go on and on in a lifestyle of sinful disobedience. The Bible clearly and consistently warns us of this.

“…But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”—Luke 13:5.

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Saddle Up!

Posted on September 1, 2016 by jesustrek

equestrianWhile watching on television the Summer Olympic Games that recently took place in Rio, I caught some of the equestrian competition. The announcer mentioned that one competitor had earned $1 million riding her horse. I immediately thought to myself, “A million dollars just for riding a horse? Sign me up for some of that!”

Then it occurred to me that it was probably more difficult than it looks. The jumps were long and high. I know that the training takes a lot of time and effort, the expenses are costly and the traveling must be grueling. After all of that, you have to beat your competitors to earn big money. Yes, there is more to the equestrian competition than first meets the eye.

It’s the same for operating a local church. For the casual observer, it seems like a piece of cake. Anyone could do it, right? So, many people feel that they could make the decisions and set the course.

However, leading a local congregation is much more difficult than many people realize. It requires planning and organization. You have to know the issues facing the church. You have to know the difference between a minor concern and a major problem. You must know how to delegate and how to manage conflict. You have to have thick skin, but a soft heart. It takes a lot of time, effort and energy—a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

Before you saddle up and try to be a policy-maker in the church, you had better understand that it’s not as easy as it looks!

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is…to lead, do it diligently…”—Romans 12:6-8.

 

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Different Reactions

Posted on August 31, 2016 by jesustrek

Teddy BridgewaterMinnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has shown that he can win in the NFL. Bridgewater had made such strides recently that his team felt that their promising quarterback was ready to lead them to a deep playoff run this season. Those dreams took a huge hit yesterday when Bridgewater went down with a serious, non-contact knee injury. His knee was dislocated and he completely tore his ACL. Teddy is expected to be able to make a full recovery, but not without significant time recovering from this major injury.

When his Vikings teammates saw that the injury was so serious, they knew instantly that their season had just taken a drastic turn for the worse, and they felt for their quarterback as he lay on the turf in pain.

However, the Vikings players had greatly differing reactions to what had just transpired. Some hurled their helmets to the ground and shouted expletives. Others dropped to their knees and prayed.

It is interesting to see that such different reactions would occur in response to the same event. However, you see it all the time from other people in all kinds of situations. In times of distress, some will curse; some will pray.

It all depends on what is inside a person.

“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”—Matthew 15:18.

 

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Questionable Stand

Posted on August 29, 2016 by jesustrek

jersey burningSan Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has caused quite a stir by refusing to stand for the National Anthem before a recent pre-season NFL game. The reason he gave for this protest is his concern for the way minorities have been oppressed in our country.

His actions have been met with a lot of ridicule by patriotic fans. Some of them have burned Kaepernick’s jersey to show their disgust with his protest.

Kaepernick has his right to free speech. However, it seems that the path he has chosen will do nothing to alleviate the problem he wants to address. If anything, he has destroyed any platform he might have had to promote any positive change on the issue.

We all have certain causes that stir passion within our hearts. Let us be careful about how we take our stand (or our refusal to stand, as the case may be) on any particular issue. We want to be wise in the actions we take to bring about positive change.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders: make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”—Colossians 4:5-6.

 

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Selfie-Inflicted Pain

Posted on August 25, 2016 by jesustrek

selfieI recently read an article that said that many Americans are suffering physically because they have been taking too many selfies. I kept looking for some hint that the article was a joke, but apparently it’s true. Those who regularly take dozens of selfies a day must extend their arms in an awkward manner, causing a condition that has been named “selfie elbow”.

Orthopedic surgeon Ayan Roy says “A bent elbow with the palm pointing inward is enough to put pressure on the elbow extensor muscles. It eventually leads to tendinitis which causes the swelling and pain.”

Of course there are many other ways that focusing on yourself too much can cause pain. Selfishness not only hurts those around you, but in the long run, brings pain to yourself as well. That’s why the Bible warns against being selfish.

“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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