Communion in Community

Posted on November 5, 2015 by jesustrek

ChurchPeopleI used to think that communion time at church was my alone time with God. It was a time for my own personal meditation on God’s love for me. The only thing that would make my communion time better would be if all the other people in the room would have the decency to leave for a few minutes, so as not to interrupt my alone time with God.

I don’t know where this mindset comes from. You certainly don’t find it in the Bible. The church at Corinth was chastised severely for being selfish at communion time and not considering their brothers and sisters in Christ when they had the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11).

The early Christians were devoted to observing the Lord’s Supper…together. Communion was one of several worship activities that was practiced by the believers that served to bond them together. When we take communion, it is best that we keep in mind that Jesus not only died for you individually, he died for the community of believers.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”—Acts 2:42.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Church, Communion Meditations, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Remember You

Posted on November 4, 2015 by jesustrek

name-tagI recently attended my 40-year high school reunion. Since our graduating class was small, I thought that I would never forget my classmates, no matter how many years would go by. However, when I got to the reunion, I sure was thankful for name tags! While I hadn’t changed a bit, time had not been so kind to many of my friends!

When you don’t see someone for years—or decades—you tend to forget what that person looks like. If you don’t see them or talk to them or think of them on a regular basis, they tend to fade in your memory.

So it is with Jesus. If we don’t spend time with him, we tend not to think about him. And if we don’t think about him, there is a danger that we might forget who he is and what he has done for us.

This is why it is so critical for believers to meet on a regular basis to have communion. As we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we bring to remembrance the One who loves us so much that he would rather die than to live without us.

That’s certainly something worth remembering!

“On the first day of the week we came together to break bread…”—Acts 20:7.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Other Interests

Posted on November 3, 2015 by jesustrek

football fanaticBrad Dickson, a sportswriter for the Omaha World-Herald, took note of the fact that the Army football team has a junior wide receiver named Edgar Allan Poe. Dickson said, “If he’s the only Edgar Allan Poe you’ve heard of, you may want to watch a little less football.”

There is certainly nothing wrong with watching sports or having hobbies. However, there is a danger of spending too much time on such interests, even to the point of being distracted from what God wants us to do.

We need to make sure that we take time to focus on Jesus and our mission to serve him.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”—Mathew 6:33.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations, Humor, Leadership, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Character to Lead

Posted on November 2, 2015 by jesustrek

voteAccording to the most recent polls, it appears that Kentuckians will once again elect a pro-abortion governor. I find this strange, seeing so many church steeples dotting the landscape of our state. It seems as though many people do a good job of keeping their faith safely separated from their politics.

Call me a one-issue voter if you like, but no man or woman who lacks the moral fiber to stand up for unborn children has the character receive my vote.

Join me in voting for men and women of character.

“A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.”—Proverbs 10:23.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Culture, Current Events, Leadership | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seizing the Day

Posted on October 31, 2015 by jesustrek

halloween-trick-treat-kids-renoToday is Halloween, and many children in our town will be trick-or-treating tonight. If the weather is fairly nice, we will probably have over 200 ghosts, goblins, princesses, super heroes and such visit our house, expecting us to provide them with some candy.

This has become one of the favorite days of the year for my wife and me. We enjoy the visits from children and parents. We get a chance to see some of our best friends, and to meet some people we don’t know. There will be many smiles and much laughter.

Some Christians don’t participate in Halloween, and I respect their decision. However, I don’t see that those who do choose to participate in the festivities are giving in to the dark side. Quite to the contrary, I think that we are seizing the day by taking what some would consider to be evil and turning it into a time of good, clean fun.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”—2 Corinthians 10:5.

 

Posted in Christian Living | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sheep or Goat?

Posted on October 31, 2015 by jesustrek

sheep_and_goatsMatthew 25 records a teaching of Jesus about the end of time, when he will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep are the ones who take care of the needs of people, while the goats are the ones who ignore the plight of the unfortunate. I recently read a paraphrase from Kyle Idleman about what Jesus might say to people today regarding their status as a sheep or a goat. Borrowing from that idea, here is my own view of how that speech might go.

“I was hungry, but instead of giving me something to eat, you continued to stuff yourself with unhealthy foods. I was thirsty, but rather than providing me with something to drink, you sipped on your expensive lattes and drank bottled water. I was a stranger, but instead of inviting me in, you wanted to have me deported. I needed clothes, but rather than clothing me, you bought yourself more outfits and then wondered how you would fit them into your already overflowing closet. I was sick, but you didn’t do anything to help me. You were too busy blaming me for my illness because of poor decisions I have made in the past. I was in prison, but instead of coming to visit me, you smugly said that I was getting just what I deserved.”

So how about it? Are your attitudes and actions more like a sheep, or more like a goat?

 

Posted in Christian Living, Church | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bad Business Slogan

Posted on October 30, 2015 by jesustrek

Planned ParenthoodIt’s good that people are once again talking about the right to life. Another great moral issue of our times has dominated the conversation this year, and it seemed that the discussion about abortion was being neglected.

Planned Parenthood has been in the news a lot the past few months, and rightly so. We should be discussing the dealings of an organization that provides abortions and is also funded by taxpayers’ dollars.

It is interesting to note that most of the attention has focused on what Planned Parenthood does with the body parts of the babies they kill, rather than on the fact that they kill babies. This shows us the great need to keep on discussing this issue, hoping that more people will come to a greater understanding of exactly what is at stake here.

Planned Parenthood’s response to any criticism from the pro-life movement seems to be summed up in this statement—“Hey, we do more than just kill babies!”

What other business could get by with that sort of slogan?

Let’s keep talking about the right to life, and let’s hope that more people begin to comprehend the horror of abortion.

“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”—Proverbs 24:11.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Culture, Current Events | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not Sentenced

Posted on October 29, 2015 by jesustrek
loggerhead eggs

loggerhead eggs

A Georgia man was caught stealing 84 eggs from the nests of loggerhead sea turtles. This happened while he was on probation for an earlier conviction of committing the same crime. Lewis Jackson was sentenced Wednesday to return to prison for 21 months. Jackson expressed remorse for his actions.

In other news, many abortion clinic workers express no remorse for their actions, face no date in court and are free to go about their business.

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

 

Posted in Christian Living, Culture, Current Events | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love Is a Choice

Posted on October 28, 2015 by jesustrek
Liam Hemsworth

Liam Hemsworth

Liam Hemsworth, a 25-year-old Australian actor, and American singer Miley Cyrus were engaged to be married, but broke off the relationship in 2013. Hemsworth explained why he has no ill feeling towards Cyrus: “You fall in love with who you fall in love with; you can never choose.”

I couldn’t disagree more. Love is always a choice. No outside force can decide for you whether or not you will love another. You must make that decision.

The Bible commands us to love God and to love people. We can choose to obey or to disobey, but let it be known that love is a choice.

Regarding marital love, Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives…” This teaching also implies that we have a choice whether or not to love.

Hollywood has done little to teach us the real meaning of love. In fact, the romance we see on the screen and read about in books often has little resemblance to true love.

Love is not a feeling; it is an action—an action based on decisions we make.

True love is a choice. It always has been, and always will be.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Still the Same

Posted on October 27, 2015 by jesustrek

Cross-FSSometimes it can be discouraging to consider the negative changes that we have witnessed over time.

Speech habits have changed a lot in my lifetime. Vulgar language seems to be everywhere now—on television, in music and in the conversations that we overhear in public.

Views on morality have changed drastically over the past few decades, especially the last several years. Behavior that was once considered totally unacceptable is ignored, or in some cases, even championed.

The beliefs that people have about God and his church have also changed a lot over the past few years. Many more people now identify themselves as not affiliated with any religion whatsoever.

Yes, a lot of things have changed, and many of these changes have not been for the better. It gives us comfort to know that Jesus never changes—he is always the same loving and forgiving Savior!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”—Hebrews 13:8.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Church, Communion Meditations, Culture | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment