Finish the Race

Posted on January 16, 2015 by jesustrek

marathonSometimes you will see a car with a small decal on the back that simply reads: 26.2. This signifies that the owner of the car is a marathoner. He or she has finished at least one race that was a distance of 26.2 miles. Occasionally you will see a driver whose car has a 13.1 decal on it. This, of course, indicates that the driver has completed a half-marathon race, quite a feat in itself.

Yesterday I saw some of these decals, and I wondered if it would be appropriate for me to put one on my car. I have completed some marathons and half-marathons, although it has been several years since I have done so.

Later in the day, a driver went around me on the highway. The decal I saw on his car made me laugh out loud. It read: 0.0! The driver was making a witty comment about his exercise habits. In so many words, he was saying, “You won’t catch me running! At all! Ever!”

Your choices about how you exercise are up to you. You can run or not run. However, when it comes to living for God, the Bible says that we are in a race to the finish. We can’t opt out. Nor can we ever give up!

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”—Acts 20:24.

Keep running, my friends!

 

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A Little Help

Posted on January 14, 2015 by jesustrek

A friend of mine recently told me about something interesting that happened to his father a few years ago. His father, who had been a minister for many years, was living in a retirement home. Always a bit of a stubborn man, this trait had become even more pronounced as a senior citizen. When he learned that he had just missed the bus that was taking some of the residents on a shopping trip, he decided that he would walk to the store. It was only a mile or so!

So off he went. Somewhere along the way, the old gentleman stumbled and went down to the ground. It wasn’t a hard fall, therefore he was not hurt. Still, a lady who was passing by stopped to help him. Each one seemed vaguely familiar to the other. After talking a bit, they discovered that they did know each other. The lady had once been a part of the youth group at a church where the minister had served. He was actually the person who had baptized her!

You could say it’s a small world.

Or you could say that we have a big God who brings people together for certain occasions, and sometimes brings them back together again after many years.

What a mighty God we serve!

 

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Road Warriors

Posted on January 12, 2015 by jesustrek
Torrey Smith

Torrey Smith

The New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens prepared to face off in an NFL playoff game last weekend. Something had to give. The Patriots have the best home record in the league over the past 15 years, playoffs included. But the Ravens have won 10 postseason road games since 2008, and are tied with Green Bay for most in NFL history.

Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith said this about his team’s success on the road: “We could be going to play on Mars and I’d still be very confident.”

You have to admire his level of confidence!

Many church leaders have been saying for years that the church in America no longer enjoys home field advantage. The culture has shifted dramatically in the past few years, and the church does not receive the same respect that it once commanded. Our enemies have become bolder, and many Christians have been caught off guard at this change. Some have become discouraged and perhaps have lost some of the confidence they once had.

Read the end of the Book again.

It still says we win!

 

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Which Team?

Posted on January 11, 2015 by jesustrek
Carlton Bragg

Carlton Bragg

One  of the nation’s top basketball prospects, Ohio power forward Carlton Bragg, recently announced where he would be playing college basketball. At a news conference at his high school Thursday, Bragg pulled out a KU cap, which stands for Kansas University. However, when he did that, he stated that he was committing to the University of Kentucky. Bragg quickly corrected himself, and declared that he was indeed headed to Kansas University.

We can understand how such a mistake can be made.

However, when it comes to choosing what team you’re going to be on for all of eternity, make sure you choose wisely!

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”—Joshua 24:15.

 

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Vengeance

Posted on January 10, 2015 by jesustrek

power of GodIslamic terrorists recently stormed a French satirical newspaper that had repeatedly lampooned Muhammad. Several innocent people were killed by the heavily armed gunmen. One of the cowardly murderers who participated in the massacre was recorded commenting on the event in a video shot from a nearby building. He proclaimed, “Hey! We avenged the Prophet Muhammad! We killed Charlie Hebdo.”

It’s a pity that Muhammad can’t avenge himself; that he has to rely on evil people to protect his reputation. I’m glad that I follow the true God, One who can take care of his own business.

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.”—Deuteronomy 32:35.

 

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Deceitful Hearts

Posted on January 9, 2015 by jesustrek

cheatingDartmouth College has a cheating scandal on their hands. 43 students were accused of cheating in a class last semester. 21 others in the class later turned themselves in. The appeal process is underway, but it appears that there may be suspensions forthcoming.

Dartmouth is not the only college that is facing this problem. Harvard had a similar scandal in 2012, and the University of North Carolina was in the news much of last year for the same kind of inappropriate behavior.

The thing that makes the Dartmouth situation stand out is that the class in which the students cheated was a class in sports ethics. Yeah. That couldn’t be more ironic, could it?

It just goes to show that sinful human nature is a serious, on-going problem. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

Nonetheless, we must never give up trying to do the right thing.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”—Proverbs 4:23.

 

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Silence Is Golden

Posted on January 8, 2015 by jesustrek

silenceWe are continually bombarded by words. Whether they are spoken or written, we live in a constant flurry of communication. From television and movies to newspapers and magazines to social media, we are exposed to the various opinions of the countless people who vie for our attention. Each speaker or writer seems as determined as the next to “wow” people with their words.

Jesus amazed a lot of people with his words. However, there was a time when he made a great impact on an important official by saying nothing at all.

Jesus was on trial before Pilate when this happened. Mark records the incident—“The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.” (Mark 15:3-5).

When is the last time you amazed someone with your silence?

I think I’ll be quiet now.

 

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Don’t Drop the Ball!

Posted on January 7, 2015 by jesustrek
Terrell Suggs makes a remarkable interception

Terrell Suggs makes a remarkable interception

The Baltimore Ravens recently defeated their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs. After the victory, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was distributing game balls to players who had excelled on the field. Linebacker Terrell Suggs was one of the players chosen for this honor. Suggs had made a remarkable, between the legs interception that helped seal the victory for his team.

Harbaugh said: “We just gave him the game ball for the greatest catch in the history of football. I toss it to him. What happened, do you think? He dropped it. He caught the one that mattered.”

We “drop the ball” quite often in life. Far from perfect, we often sin and fall short of God’s glory. However, we mustn’t drop the ball when it comes to the critical issue of holding on to our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:8-9.

 

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Not to Worry

Posted on January 5, 2015 by jesustrek

worrySomeone recently posted a request on social media about a prayer concern. The person asked for “prayer worriers”. I’m sure that was a typo. She certainly meant to say “prayer warriors”.

Prayer and worry do not go together. In fact, worry often keeps us from praying.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Let’s worry less and pray more.

 

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Greed Kills

Posted on January 2, 2015 by jesustrek

greedAt least 36 people were killed in a stampede during a New Year’s celebration that took place in downtown Shanghai. Dozens of others were injured in the tragic chaos that occurred about a half hour before midnight.

The exact cause of the stampede was not immediately clear, but there were some reports that some fliers resembling $100 bills were released from the top of a building. There was speculation that many people rushed to collect these bills, causing the stampede.

If this is found to be the true cause of this senseless loss of human life, it can be blamed on the sin of greed. Perhaps some lost their own lives because of their desire to have something that wasn’t theirs. Or perhaps some greedy people survived, but their selfish actions led to the death or injury of another person.

Let this be a reminder that the Bible continually warns against the sin of greed. Jesus has this to say about the subject—“Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15).

 

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