A Tale of Two Players

Posted on February 17, 2015 by jesustrek

baseball playerOne the opening day of the 1954 baseball season, the Milwaukee Braves visited the Cincinnati Reds. Two rookies began their major league careers with that game. The Reds won 9-8 as Jim Greengrass hit four doubles in his first big league game. That certainly was a sensational debut for a young player who had a perfect name for a baseball player.

The rookie starting in left field for the Braves went 0-for-5. That was not a very good start for young Henry Aaron. However, Aaron, of course, went on to become baseball’s all-time home run king.

Even if you don’t get off to a good start, keep giving it your best. You never know how much you will accomplish in the long run.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.—Philippians 3:12.

 

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Only Opinion that Counts

Posted on February 16, 2015 by jesustrek
George Will

George Will

In Men at Work, George Will noted that baseball umpires are professional dispensers of pure justice. As an example, he wrote about a time when umpire Babe Pinelli called Babe Ruth out on strikes. Ruth made an argument that many people make—that popular opinion carries moral weight. He said, “There’s 40,000 people here who know that last one was a ball, tomato head.”

Pinelli replied calmly, “Maybe so, but mine is the only opinion that counts.”

Don’t be swayed by the number of people who have aligned themselves against the moral law of God. In the end, only one opinion counts—that of the all-knowing Umpire of all human affairs.

“Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.”—Proverbs 8:14.

 

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Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2015 by jesustrek
Denzel Valentine prepares to shoot the game winner

Denzel Valentine prepares to shoot the game winner

Valentine’s Day 2015 found the Ohio State Buckeyes visiting the Michigan State Spartans for a Big Ten showdown in men’s basketball. The game had a thrilling finish. With the game tied and the game clock winding down, the Spartans had the ball for a last shot. One of their players found himself open for a 3-point shot. He took aim, fired and hit the game winning basket. The player’s name? Denzel Valentine! How appropriate!

When we take time to celebrate love today, how appropriate it is that we consider the greatest love of all—the love that sent Jesus Christ to the cross to die for our sins!

“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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Right Direction

Posted on February 13, 2015 by jesustrek
Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson is serious about running footraces and competing in triathlons. He is so devoted to these endeavors that his wife has called it his “second job”. But he still makes mistakes every now and then. He recently got off course during a half-ironman competition. Johnson said, “To everyone’s surprise, I did miss a left-hand turn.”

Sometimes we make some unbelievably bad mistakes. We mess up on things that should be routine for us by now. We often get discouraged and down on ourselves for committing sins that we never thought we would do.

Thank God we have a loving Savior who is willing to forgive us and will help us get back on course.

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”—2 Corinthians 7:1.

 

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Making His Case

Posted on February 12, 2015 by jesustrek
Pete Rose

Pete Rose

13-year-old Abby Campbell, of Ashland, Kentucky, is trying to make a case for Pete Rose to finally be included in baseball’s Hall Of Fame. The Ashland Middle School seventh-grader has begun a project called “4,256 reasons why Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame.” The number is significant because it is the number of hits Rose achieved in his baseball career. He is the all-time record holder for total base hits.

So far, Abby has collected over 2,000 reasons, and she continually adds to the list. Her goal is to be finished by April of this year.

We Christians should always be looking for reasons why people should make Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives. Some Christians have adopted this motto for their lives—“To know him, and to make him known.”

That sounds like a worthy project!

“…You will be my witnesses…”—Acts 1:8.

 

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The Price of One Man’s Faith

Posted on February 11, 2015 by jesustrek

marriageI was just reading from Matthew 14 about how John the Baptist was arrested and later beheaded. He got into this trouble because he spoke out against an illegitimate relationship. Matthew 14:3-4 says, “Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

You have to admire John’s courage. He spoke God’s truth to the powers-that-be, even though he no doubt knew that his message would not be well received. He took a stand for marriage, even though it cost him his freedom, and later, his life.

You wonder what preachers of today might face in the not-so-distant future regarding their stance on marriage. Do you think that it’s too far-fetched that some will be put in prison for their faith?

Only time will tell.

Pray for America!

 

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Properly Labeled

Posted on February 9, 2015 by jesustrek

health supplementsA recent study suggests that many supplements supposedly containing herbs or other ingredients that allegedly promote health and well-being actually contain little or none of these ingredients. It seems that many of these products are little more than cheap fillers such as wheat, rice and beans.

Makers of these supplements are maintaining that the study was flawed, and that their products do indeed have some value in promoting health.

When we call ourselves “Christians”, we are making some type of statement about the content of our lives. The Bible says that we Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit, and that the fruit, or evidence, of that fact is plainly seen. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23).

What would a study of your life show?

 

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Take It!

Posted on February 6, 2015 by jesustrek
Tony Campolo

Tony Campolo

Tony Campolo writes about a particularly memorable worship service he attended long ago:

Sitting with my parents at a communion service when I was very young, perhaps six or seven years old, I became aware of a young woman in the pew in front of us who was sobbing and shaking.

The minister had just finished reading the passage of Scripture written by Paul that says, “Whosoever shall eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Cor.11:27).

As the communion plate with its small pieces of bread was passed to the crying woman before me, she waved it away and then lowered her head in despair. It was then that my Sicilian father leaned over her shoulder and, in his broken English, said sternly, “Take it, girl! It was meant for you. Do you hear me?” She raised her head and nodded—and then she took the bread and ate it. I knew that at that moment some kind of heavy burden was lifted from her heart and mind. Since then, I have always known that a church that could offer communion to hurting people was a special gift from God.

 

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Protection

Posted on February 5, 2015 by jesustrek
Maxey Flats

Maxey Flats

Maxey Flats is a site in Kentucky where low-level nuclear waste was dumped between 1962 and 1977. The site contains about 4.7 million cubic feet of low-level waste. Some of that waste began leaking out in the 1970s, which caused the place to be shut down.

Since then, precautionary measures have been taken to try to prevent surrounding land from being contaminated. Now, a final cap will be installed in an attempt to provide permanent protection from contamination. Some are certain that this procedure will work, while others are skeptical. Only time will tell who is right.

Some people try to cover up the sin in their lives. But no matter how deep they try to bury it, it always comes up to the surface. Your sin will surely find you out someday.

There is, however, one surefire way to make sure that your sins will be covered up for all time. That is through the blood of Jesus. Some are skeptical of his ability to do so, but Jesus can ensure your spiritual safety. That’s a guarantee that lasts an eternity!

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

 

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Chain Reaction Prayer

Posted on February 3, 2015 by jesustrek

This morning I thought to pray for a lady who is making a long trip to see a medical specialist. Then I thought about a man who is witnessing to this lady and her husband. He has been in their home talking with them about Jesus. So I prayed for him, giving God thanks for hprayer circleis faithful service. Then I thought about a teenage boy who lives close to this same couple. He has been sitting with them in the church service instead of sitting with his teenage friends. I gave thanks for his spiritual maturity and willingness to reach out to make his neighbors feel welcome in the worship service. This same boy, along with two other teenagers, shoveled snow at the church property recently. I prayed for the other boys, and the entire youth group. Then I prayed for our youth minister.

This is what I call a chain reaction prayer. One thought leads to another, and before you know it, you’ve spent significant time praying for a number of people about various concerns.

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”—Philippians 1:3.

 

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