Ups and Downs

Posted on September 4, 2015 by jesustrek
Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant

Chicago Cubs rookie Kris Bryant had an interesting game on Wednesday, September 3rd. Bryant hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning that tied the game against the Cincinnati Reds. The very next inning, Bryant made an error with 2 outs that allowed the Reds to go on and win the game 7-4.

Bryant commented, “You’re on cloud nine when you hit a game-tying home run, and then you blow it the next inning. Sometimes baseball works that way. It’s a crazy game. It gives you everything and it takes everything away.”

You don’t have to be a professional baseball player to understand that life is like a roller coaster ride. There are joyful highs and painful lows, and sometimes they come amazingly close to one another. All we can do is buckle up and trust the Lord on this exciting ride of following Jesus!

 

 

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Pesky Tongue

Posted on September 2, 2015 by jesustrek

converse all-starsI remember a conversation I once had with a teammate as we were getting dressed for basketball practice in elementary school. He said, “I’m going to make sure I keep my tongue straight this year.” I thought that he was going to try to stop cussing. He did have a tendency to say a bad word every now and then. Then it occurred to me that he was talking about the tongue on his basketball shoes! We both had a laugh when I told him about my initial confusion.

The tongues on those sneakers did have a mind of their own. They would really get out of shape if you didn’t keep a close watch on them.

The same can be said for the human tongue. We have the capability to say some unholy things from time to time. Better keep an eye on that!

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”—Ephesians 4:29.

 

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Taking Care of Sins

Posted on September 1, 2015 by jesustrek

2boysAt bedtime, Lillian Holcomb told her two grandsons a Bible story, then asked if they knew what the word “sin” meant. Seven-year-old Keith spoke up: “It’s when you do something bad.” Four-year-old Aaron’s eyes widened. “I know a big sin Keith did today!”

Annoyed, Keith turned to his little brother: “You take care of your sins, and I’ll take care of mine!”

In one sense, we do have the responsibility to take care of our own sins. We need to confess them to God and repent.

But in another sense, only Jesus can take care of our sins for us. We can’t do it on our own.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”—John 14:6.

 

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Not an Accident

Posted on August 31, 2015 by jesustrek

cowboyAn insurance agent was writing a policy for a cowboy. “Have you ever had any accidents?” the agent asked.

“No, not really,” replied the cowboy. “A horse kicked me and broke some of my ribs once. Another time I got bit by a rattlesnake, but that’s about it.”

“You don’t call those accidents?” asked the agent.

“Oh, no,” came the answer. “They did it on purpose!”

It’s hard enough to pray, “Lord, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” It’s even more difficult to forgive people when they hurt us on purpose. Yet that’s what we are supposed to do.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”—Matthew 5:43-44.

Even when it’s not an accident!

 

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Still Serving

Posted on August 28, 2015 by jesustrek

OldManDrivingBarbara Klassen had a great-uncle who lived to be 106 years old. He maintained such good health in his later years that he was able to chauffer some of his less able-bodied senior friends around town.

On his 100th birthday, his driver’s license came up for renewal. When he went to the licensing bureau, the skeptical clerk said, “You’re 100 years old! What do you need a driver’s license for?”

Her uncle replied, “Somebody has to drive the old folks around!”

He continued to have a legal driver’s license for the next 5 years.

You have to admire energetic senior citizens who still have a desire to serve.

One of the feistiest seniors in the Bible was Caleb, who once said, “…So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.” (Joshua 14:10-11).

If you can’t stay strong, at last stay willing!

 

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Time Flies

Posted on August 27, 2015 by jesustrek

flying clockJeanne Calment lived to be 126 years old. She is perhaps the longest-living human being of modern times. Sometime after her 120th birthday, she was asked to describe her vision for the future. She replied, “Very brief.”

Whether we live a long time, or just a few years, the human existence in this life seems quite brief. Let us always remember to make the best of the time we have here on earth. We have so precious little time to worship and serve God and tell others about Jesus!

“The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away…Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:10, 12).

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No Translation Problem

Posted on August 26, 2015 by jesustrek

Trafficsigns-bigThe Los Angeles Times once printed a sampling of signs from around the world that attempted to convey a message in English.

In a hotel elevator in Paris: “Please leave your values at the front desk.”

In a hotel in Zurich: “Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.”

On the door of a Moscow inn: “If this is your first visit to Russia, you are welcome to it.”

Announcement in a Russian newspaper: “There will be a Moscow exhibition of arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two years.”

In a Bucharest hotel lobby: “The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.”

One thing that translates well in any language is the love that God has shown all people through his Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16.

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No Penalty Flags

Posted on August 25, 2015 by jesustrek

As we approach the start of the college and NFL football seasons, perhaps it is a good time to remember what George Will once said about the game: “Football combines the two worst things about American life. It is violence punctuated by committee meetings.” 
Perhaps committee meetings are a necessary evil. But everyone seems to agree that there is far too much violence in our society. “Peaceful” protesters block traffic and loot from local businesses. Women and children are abused. Many babies suffer violent deaths in their own mothers’ wombs. Punches are thrown and guns are fired with little or no provocation. 

Where does it all end? 

Well, we won’t have perfect peace until the perfect Prince of Peace returns. But in the meantime, let’s all do our part to make the world a kinder, gentler place.  

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”—Matthew 5:9. 

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Man’s Best Friend

Posted on August 24, 2015 by jesustrek

dogsA lady once heard that if a dog owner pretends to be hurt, a dog with a bad temper may try to bite the owner. But a good dog will show concern and may lick the fallen owner’s face.

She decided to put her own two dogs to the test. While eating pizza in her living room, she stood up, clutched her heart, screamed and fell to the floor. Her two dogs looked at her, looked at each other, then raced to the coffee table for her pizza!

Our sinful nature makes us tend to be selfish. We have to allow the Spirit of God in us to take control of any situation where we have an opportunity to ignore our own desires in order to take care of someone else’s needs.

“…Love your neighbor as yourself…”—Leviticus 19:18.

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Let Him Eat Cake

Posted on August 21, 2015 by jesustrek

At a children’s birthday party, it came time to serve the cake. One little boy blurted out, “I want the biggest piece!”

His mother was there, and she was embarrassed at her son’s greedy remark. “It’s not polite to ask for the biggest piece of cake!” she scolded.

The little fellow looker at her in confusion, and asked, “Well then, how do you get it?”

Hopefully we grow less selfish as we get older.

Hopefully.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”—Philippians 2:4.

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