Real Adversity

Posted on February 1, 2016 by jesustrek
Blair Walsh

Blair Walsh

Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal in the last seconds of a playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks on January 10, 2016. Instead of putting his team ahead and almost assuring them of victory, Walsh and his teammates suffered a 10-9 loss that ended their season.

Speaking to reporters the day after the game, Walsh said, “I think it’s important that people understand that, as hard as this is, I’m not a charity case. I’m somebody who’s really confident in my abilities. I know that sounds strange, but I’ll be back next year and I’ll be just as good. I know I will. …It’s football. There’s plenty of things that people are going through, battling cancer and sickness and other things that are real adversity.”

Let’s keep in mind that there are some things that are far more important than sporting events. Let’s keep pressing on, even in the face of real adversity.

”And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”—1 Peter 5:10.

 

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Remembering a Great Sacrifice

Posted on January 30, 2016 by jesustrek
Challenger crew

Challenger crew

30 years have now passed since the occurrence of one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the United States space program. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger blasted off, carrying seven astronauts. Shortly after take-off, the shuttle exploded, killing everyone on board.

The nation mourned the loss of those brave individuals, and we still appreciate their willingness to risk their lives in the hopes of making advances in science that would benefit the whole human race. We remember their sacrifice with great gratitude.

Nearly 2,000 years have passed since another noteworthy sacrifice. Jesus Christ gave his life so that the whole human race would have the opportunity to be saved. Every week, Christians gather to commemorate his sacrifice and to remember that he loves us so much that he would rather die for us than to live in eternity without us.

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

 

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The Scars to Prove It

Posted on January 29, 2016 by jesustrek

hockey-clip-art--hockey-clipart-3Former hockey player Phil Daigle has this to say when people ask him if he has all his teeth: “I’ve got a good dentist and I’ve got enough stitches in my face to knit a sweater.”

Hockey players take a lot of punishment in the game they play.

In the same way, Christians can take a beating–metaphorically, if not literally—as they follow Jesus. Let’s wear all of our scars proudly!

“From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”—Galatians 6:17.

By the way, let’s never forget that Jesus received his own scars as he lived and died for us.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”—Isaiah 53:5.

 

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Is That Really What Happened?

Posted on January 28, 2016 by jesustrek

car upside downA recent newspaper headline read—“Area weather wet, but no difficulties reported”. Ironically, just above the headline was a picture of a car upside down in a ditch beside the highway. The driver of the vehicle, who had lost control on the wet road, might have disagreed with the headline!

Sometimes the words we hear don’t match reality. We must always strive to uncover the real truth, and, more importantly, we must be diligent about having our words convey the truth.

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”—Ephesians 4:15.

 

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The Best Medicine

Posted on January 26, 2016 by jesustrek
Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking

Renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, 74, was diagnosed with a rare and slowly progressing form of motor neuron disease at the age of 21. Hawking has spent much of his adult life in a wheelchair, communicating with the aid of a voice synthesizer. When he was recently asked what kept his spirits up, here is part of Hawking’s reply—“It’s also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can lose all hope if you can’t laugh at yourself and life in general.”

Maybe laughter really is the best medicine.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”—Proverbs 17:22.

 

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How Good Do I Have to Be?

Posted on January 23, 2016 by jesustrek
David Blatt

David Blatt

The Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach David Blatt yesterday. Evidently the front office thought that Blatt was not the person who could lead them to an NBA championship.

The decision came as a shock to many. The Cavaliers currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference, at 30-11. Last season, his first in Cleveland, Blatt led his team to the NBA Finals, only to fall short of the championship by two games.

You would think with that kind of record you might have some job security, maybe even deserving of a contract extension. As it turns out, that wasn’t the case.

Blatt must be wondering what more he could have done to keep his job. How good do you have to be, anyway?

That’s the way many people approach eternity. They try to live a good life—more wins than losses, at least—and hope that God will allow them to enter heaven based on the merit of their performance. The problem with that system is, how do you ever know if you’re good enough? What if you end up with one sin too many, or with one less good deed than the required amount to get into heaven? How do you know for sure if you really measure up?

Fortunately, that’s not how we are saved. No one could ever be good enough to earn their way into heaven. God operates on a system of grace. Through our faith in Jesus, we can accept God’s free gift of salvation. We can’t be “good enough”. But Jesus can be–and he is–good enough to save us.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”—Ephesians 2:8.

 

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Ironic Death

Posted on January 22, 2016 by jesustrek
Andres Soto Jr.

Andres Soto Jr.

Andres Soto Jr., of Lexington, Kentucky, wanted to become a counselor for at-risk and violent kids. He had been a member of a gang when he was younger, but he later decided that wasn’t a good path for him. Andres hoped to help other young men make good choices. Unfortunately, he will never have that opportunity. On December 7, 2015, Soto was shot to death by a 15-year-old who has been charged with murder in the shooting. What a tragic irony! He was killed by the very type of person he had hoped to help!

There is similar irony in the way Jesus died. He came to earth to save us, yet he was sentenced to death by the very people he came to save.

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”—John 1:11.

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.”—Acts 3:15.

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Better Together

Posted on January 21, 2016 by jesustrek

Some kind person puts food out for several cats that hang out near a store in my home town. There is also an old blanket there for the cats to lie down on. Now that the weather has turned cold, the cats have started to huddle together, piling up on the blanket in an effort to keep warm. 

Sometimes you just need to be together. 

͞Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.͟—Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. 

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Give Me Five!

Posted on January 19, 2016 by jesustrek

high_five_sunsetThe “High Five” is a gesture that has become commonplace in American society. It seems to have started when outfielder Glenn Burke ran over with his arm in the air to congratulate his teammate Dusty Baker, who had just hit his 30th home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977. Baker wasn’t sure what to do, so he slapped Burke’s hand. The rest is history. The move quickly caught on, and even small children enjoy the ritual of giving a high five.

I don’t know if the high five will ever replace the handshake in church on Sunday morning, but any encouraging gesture is appreciated!

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”—Hebrews 10:24-25.

 

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Bearing the Burden

Posted on January 18, 2016 by jesustrek

BlowoutI recently saw a semi-truck pulling an empty trailer. I noticed that two of the tires on the trailer had blown out. However, the other tires on the trailer were more than able to carry the weight. The trucker was not stranded. He was able to make it in for the needed repairs.

This reminds us of how we all need to pull together. Sometimes we go through a rough stretch, and we feel like a tire that’s blown out. That’s when we need to count on others to carry the load for us. As we all pull together, we will not be stranded on the side of life’s highway; we will eventually make it to our destination.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:2.

 

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