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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Really Following

Posted on February 2, 2015 by jesustrek

fishing with a netThe first people Jesus called to be his disciples were Peter and Andrew, brothers who were both fishermen. They were casting a net into a lake when he extended the invitation to follow him. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19).

They immediately left their nets and followed him, and we know that they indeed did become fishers of men. Instead of trying to get fish out of the lake, they tried to get people to come out of their lives of sin by trusting Jesus to be their savior. They tried to get other people to choose to follow Jesus, just as they had done.

Jesus still calls for people to follow him. Don’t you think he still intends for his followers to become fishers of men? It just stands to reason, doesn’t it? How can we obey the first part of his invitation and ignore the intended outcome of our choice to follow him?

Those who are really following are working, in some way, to try to gain followers for Jesus Christ.

 

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On Second Thought…

Posted on January 30, 2015 by jesustrek

professorHarvard professors have often advised presidents and Congress on crafting laws concerning health care. Now, many of the Harvard faculty are upset that the university has recently made some changes that will require their employees to pay more for their health care. Harvard says the increases are partly because of the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act, which was championed by many Harvard professors.

You have to laugh when the pigeons come home to roost!

Now, if we can just find a way to force lawmakers to live with the consequences of their actions!

“He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap…”—Proverbs 28:10.

 

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Focus on Your Game

Posted on January 29, 2015 by jesustrek
Russell Knox

Russell Knox

Golfer Russell Knox is not known for hitting the ball a long way off the tee. He came in at number 120 on the PGA Tour last year in driving distance. Knox comments about this:  “I played with Bubba (Watson) a couple of years ago and I almost cried. I was like, if this guy hits it straight I might as well try to caddie for him. But the reality is, distance is maybe 10% of golf. If those guys hit it so much further than me, there’s obviously part of my game that is better than theirs or I’d never beat them. I need to focus on those parts.”

Christians don’t have the same gifts and abilities. Like golfers, some of us excel at certain aspects, while others are better at doing something else.

Don’t judge your own service by what others can do. Just focus on what you do best.

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…”—2 Timothy 1:6.

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Say that Again?

Posted on January 27, 2015 by jesustrek
Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra

Former major league baseball great Yogi Berra is well-known for his unique way of expressing himself verbally. Some of his unforgettable one-liners include:

You can observe a lot by watching.

A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical.

Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore because it’s too crowded.

I made up my mind, but I made it both ways.

Let’s talk about that last quote. It seems that a lot of people have made up their mind about God, but they have tried to make it both ways. They try to live their lives with one foot in the church and the other foot in the world.

You know it doesn’t work that way.

“…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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Strange Fellow

Posted on January 26, 2015 by jesustrek

I’ve run into some odd people in my life, but a fellow I met the other day just might be the strangest of them all. He says he believes in the Bible, but he never reads it. He thinks that prayer changes things, but he doesn’t pray. He says he thinks highly of the church, but he never attends worship services. This guy says that people need the Lord, but he never tells anyone that. My new acquaintance feels that a person should be honest to God about money matters, but he is very stingy. He says the church needs dedicated people, but he isn’t one. This fellow says that he believes the Lord is returning soon, but he lives as though he never will.

He is a strange fellow, indeed!

“Woe to you…hypocrites!”—Matthew 23:13.

 

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Strict Training

Posted on January 23, 2015 by jesustrek

exercisePaul the apostle must have been a big sports fan. He liked to use examples from athletics to show how we should live for God. In 1 Corinthians 9:25, he writes, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

Many Christians feel that by praying and studying the Bible, they have completed the “strict training” that the Bible says we must go through. Prayer and Bible study are essential, but we have not really flexed our spiritual muscles until we have served others.

Can an Olympic athlete succeed by simply reading the training manual and thinking about the competition? Of course not! He or she must go through the process of training the body. With the proper training techniques, the body becomes stronger and the athlete is better prepared for competition. In the same way, as we serve, we strengthen our spiritual muscles and become better prepared to live for Jesus.

It might be time to put down the training manual and get some exercise! Let’s serve somebody today!

 

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Still a Foe

Posted on January 22, 2015 by jesustrek

abortion kills childrenThey’re still doing it. The mainstream media are showing their liberal bias by referring to us pro-lifers as “foes” of abortion. The terminology is meant to make us look like the bad guys while portraying those who would sanction the killing of innocent babies in the womb as the good guys. That seems like quite a confused outlook on this important moral issue.

I used to take offense at being labelled a “foe” on this issue, but not anymore. I wear it as a badge of honor. Why? Because I like to consider myself as a loving person, and the Bible says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9).

If abortion isn’t evil, then I don’t know what is! I will hate this senseless killing of pre-born babies as long as I live! I will fight against it with my speech and my votes!

I will also cling to what is good. I will celebrate life and embrace the joy that comes from living for God in regards to the sanctity of life issue.

So, if you want to call me a “foe”, go right ahead. I know Whose side I’m on, and I’m not changing!

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…”—Isaiah 5:20.

 

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