Looking Up

Posted on May 8, 2015 by jesustrek

silly expressionIt’s so easy to get discouraged, living in a fallen world like we do. Bad things happen to good people. Sin brings suffering into the lives of the innocent as well as the guilty. You don’t have to look far to find someone who is hurting.

Some people resign themselves to a life of dread, fearing the next bit of bad news that will come their way. Others are on the verge of giving up. Perhaps if they just “check out” and stop caring, the pain will subside.

Perhaps it’s time to change our point of view. Instead of looking around us at all the pain and suffering, maybe we should look up; up to Jesus. He promised to be with his people no matter what happens. He promises to come and rescue us from this life and bring us into an eternity without pain and suffering.

Yes, it’s time to look to Jesus!

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”—Hebrews 12:2-3.

 

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Take a Stand

Posted on May 7, 2015 by jesustrek
Charles Kuralt

Charles Kuralt

In Charles Kuralt’s America the author recalls a town meeting he once attended in Strafford, Vermont:

“What happens at a town meeting is pure democracy. Every citizen may have his or her say on every question. For a half-hour that day, for example, they debated the question of whether to go on paying $582.50 a year for outside health services deemed unsatisfactory by a farmer named Brown.

The moderator, rail-fence-maker James Condict, said, “I’m going to ask for a standing vote. All those in favor…” and there it came, the Yankee expression that is the soul of the town meeting, “stand up and be counted.”

By a standing vote, Strafford agreed with farmer Brown.”

Christians must be willing to take a stand for what is right. The Bible says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13).

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Vision for the Future

Posted on May 6, 2015 by jesustrek

shipMany years ago a ship filled with travelers landed on the northwest coast of what is now the United States of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.

In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?

Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision.

It’s a shame that this same thing happens to so many churches. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great.

“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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Obedience or Performance?

Posted on May 2, 2015 by jesustrek

obedienceSusan Maycinik once wrote the following essay for Discipleship Journal:

“The line between obedience and performance can be a blurry one. Yet it is an important distinction to grasp, because obedience leads to life, and performance to death…

Obedience is seeking God with your whole heart. Performance is having a quiet time because you’ll feel guilty if you don’t.

Obedience is finding ways to let the Word of God dwell in you richly. Performance is quickly scanning a passage so you can check it off your Bible reading plan.

Obedience is inviting guests to your home for dinner. Performance is feeling anxious about whether every detail of the meal will be perfect.

Obedience is following God’s prompting to start a small group. Performance is reluctance to let anyone else lead the group because they might not do it as well as you would.

Obedience is doing your best. Performance is wanting to be the best.

Obedience is saying yes to whatever God asks of you. Performance is saying yes to whatever people ask of you.

Obedience is following the promptings of God’s Spirit. Performance is following a list of man-made requirements.

Obedience springs from fear of God. Performance springs from fear of failure.”

There is a good reason why there is an old hymn called “Trust and Obey”, but none called “Trust and Perform”!

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”—John 15:10.

 

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Check the Motives

Posted on May 1, 2015 by jesustrek

man knocking at doorA lady answered a knock on her door and found a man with a sad expression on his face.

“I’m sorry to disturb you,” he said, “but I’m collecting money for an unfortunate family in the neighborhood. The husband is out of work, the kids are hungry, the utilities will soon be cut off, and worse, they’re going to be kicked out of their apartment if they don’t pay the rent by this afternoon.”

“I’ll be happy to help,” said the woman with great concern. “But who are you?”

“I’m the landlord,” he replied.

“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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The Importance of Singing

Posted on April 28, 2015 by jesustrek

While visiting a church last Sunday, I noticed some interaction between two people in the row in front of me. I assume that they were mother and son. The teenage boy was obviously not happy about something, but he stayed there with his mother as the worship service began. Most of the worshipers stood as we sang, but the young man sat down directly in front of me and put his head in his hands. He didn’t seem to want to be there at all.

We were singing a song about the power in the name of Jesus. I determined that I would sing loudly and joyfully. Perhaps the truth of the words would help the boy through whatever teenage crisis he was experiencing.

You never know what people are going through when you gather to worship on Sunday morning. It’s been said that there is a broken heart in every pew on every Sunday. I think that there is a lot of truth in that statement. Some hide their discouragement better than others. You never know who you might be helping whenever you sing praises to God loudly and joyfully.

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Ephesians 5:19-20.singing in church

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Plainspoken Word

Posted on April 24, 2015 by jesustrek

BiblesI’m working on a new translation of the Bible—The Pig Latin Version. I’m already up to the Entay Ommandmentscay. The PLV should be available by the ummersay of extnay earyay.

OK, that’s not really happening. I am glad that there are many English translations of the Bible that are easy to understand and obey.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”—James 1:22.

 

 

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Getting Close

Posted on April 23, 2015 by jesustrek

rising pricesThere was a ship captain who had a regular route from California to Columbia. One day, shortly before leaving for California, some drug dealers sent him a message that offered him $50,000 to take a shipment of drugs to the U.S. He quickly said “No!” On his next three trips, they raised the offer each time until they reached $150,000. He then contacted the FBI, and a sting operation was set up and the drug dealers were arrested. One of the FBI agents asked the captain, “Why did you wait until they offered you $150,000 before contacting us?” The captain replied, “It wasn’t until then that they were getting close to my price!”

What is your price before giving in to the sin of: theft? Sexual immorality? Lying? Violence? Slander? Gossip?

Don’t sell out your integrity for any price!

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”—Ephesians 5:8.

 

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Earth Day

Posted on April 22, 2015 by jesustrek

Earth DayToday is Earth Day, and people all over the world are celebrating in one way or another. I am reminded of Tony Campolo’s book, How to Rescue the Earth without Worshiping Nature. Campolo says, “Being concerned about the environment is a biblically mandated command, and acting to rescue creation…is a Christian obligation.”

It saddens me to see all the trash that people throw out. It blows down the streets and sidewalks and floats down our rivers and streams. Surely we can do better than that!

Dispose of your trash properly. Concentrate on reducing waste. Re-use things whenever possible. Re-cycle. Use less energy. Be more of a minimalist. Do whatever you can to create a healthier environment.

It’s the right thing to do.

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Better Wake Up!

Posted on April 20, 2015 by jesustrek

SleepyLast week a baggage handler for Alaska Airlines fell asleep in the cargo hold of a jetliner that was about to take off. The plane had just departed when the worker woke up and started banging on the plane. The noise was heard by the pilots and some of the passengers in first-class. The captain immediately turned around and headed back to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Medical personnel examined the worker and found that he was not hurt in the incident.

The Bible warns of the dangers of falling asleep spiritually. The disciples who were with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane couldn’t stay awake to pray. Ten young ladies in Matthew 25 were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive. Five of them fell asleep. Jesus bluntly implored the church at Sardis to “Wake Up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.” (Revelation 2:2).

Many people sleepwalk through life and miss out on the salvation that God offers all people through Jesus. Others accept Christ, but sleepily fail to realize their full potential. In either case, it’s time to wake up!

“This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”—Ephesians 5:14.

 

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