What Do You Know?

Posted on December 9, 2014 by jesustrek
Sergeant Shultz

Sergeant Shultz

Recently I have watched a few episodes of the old television show Hogan’s Heroes. Quite often, the bumbling German soldier, Sergeant Shultz, would catch Hogan and his buddies breaking the rules at the prison camp where they were held captive. Whenever Shultz threatened to go to his superiors to report the infraction, Hogan would always find some clever way to suggest that the action would backfire on Shultz and make life harder for him. After taking a moment to think about it, Shultz would deliver his classic line—“I know nothing!”

Too often we pull a “Schultz” by pretending we don’t know of any wrong-doing in our own lives. We think that if we ignore the sin, we will somehow be better off.

That’s not the way things work with God. He would rather have us tell him what we know about ourselves, even if it makes us look bad.

“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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Deer in the Headlights

Posted on December 8, 2014 by jesustrek

deer in the headlightsI narrowly missed hitting a deer as I was driving home a few nights ago. I saw her in the headlights and slowed down as I approached her. She was walking slowly and calmly toward the highway, apparently oblivious to the oncoming danger. If she had been moving a little faster and I had not noticed her as soon as I did, she might never have known what hit her.

This is how it is with many people in regards to the danger of sin. They do not understand the peril they put themselves in. They blindly continue on a path that could very well lead to disaster. They move toward temptation, instead of away from it. They don’t see the oncoming disaster of their flirtations with drunkenness, sexual immorality, greed or a lackadaisical attitude toward God and their fellow man.

Don’t be like a deer in the headlights! Wise up and see the danger of sin.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”—Proverbs 16:25.

 

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Wife of Noble Character

Posted on December 5, 2014 by jesustrek

Proverbs 31Yesterday I was in my office preparing to speak at the funeral of a Christian lady. I was reading through Proverbs 31, which speaks of a wife of noble character. This Scripture paints a picture of the ideal woman. She works hard, both in and outside the home. She sews, farms, buys land and provides for all of her family’s needs. It seems that there is nothing this woman can’t do, and she blesses everyone around her.

I only had about three verses of this Scripture left to read when the phone rang. I hurried through the chapter before answering the phone. It was my wife, asking if I would like for her to pick us up some lunch. I hesitated to answer because I was running on a tight schedule. Then I asked, “Hey, could you bring it by the office so we could eat here? That would save me some time.”

“Sure!” she answered. And, sure enough, a few minutes later I was enjoying a nice lunch with my wife.

Sometimes you read Scripture and then immediately watch it unfold right before your eyes!

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”—Proverbs 31:29-31.

 

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Fierce Competition

Posted on December 4, 2014 by jesustrek

Here’s what Central Michigan women’s basketball coach Sue Guevara had to say about the Kentucky Wildcats as her team prepared to play them recently. “They’re good. There’s a reason they’re in the top 25. They’re fast. They’re aggressive. They know the kind of toothpaste you used in the morning. That’s how tight they play you.”

Now that’s what you call being competitive!

We Christians need to understand that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. Sometimes the battle is up close and personal. In order to compete in our struggle against the enemy, we must put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). This will assure us of victory.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.—Ephesians 6:10-11.

 

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Knowing Your Purpose

Posted on December 2, 2014 by jesustrek

Skyline ChiliIn an effort to reduce obesity, new regulations will soon go into effect that will mandate calorie counts on menus in restaurants. Some restaurants have already begun to offer more healthy choices.

However, there is a danger that some eateries will lose sight of what made them successful. Mark Keilholz, franchise owner of Skyline Chili, says that won’t happen to his company. He says, “We’re known for our chili—not for our salads. We’re successful in the niche that we fill. If you try to be everything to everybody, you sacrifice your product.”

In the church, we have to keep in mind that the product we offer is salvation through Jesus Christ. There is nothing wrong with offering programs that alleviate suffering and provide needed services. However, we have to remember that our primary purpose is to glorify God by making disciples.

What is your church best known for?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”—Mathew 28:19-20.

 

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Changing the World

Posted on December 1, 2014 by jesustrek
Terrafugia Transition

Terrafugia Transition

Carl Dietrich has been working for years to produce a flying car. Now it seems that his efforts are about to pay off. Dietrich thinks that the Terrafugia Transition, a two-seater flying car that costs $279,000, will be on the market in about three years. This innovative machine runs on unleaded gasoline. It can go 70 miles per hour on the ground and 100 miles per hour in the air.

Dietrich thinks that flying cars are inevitable, and that the concept will quickly catch on once the first one is put into regular use. He is serious about his efforts to bring this product to the public. He says, “I wouldn’t waste my time if I didn’t think we could change the world.”

That same philosophy should apply to Christians as we endeavor to spread the gospel message. We wouldn’t be wasting our time if we didn’t think we could change the world.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”—Acts 1:8.

 

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Black Friday

Posted on November 28, 2014 by jesustrek

Black FridayThe Friday after Thanksgiving has come to be the biggest shopping day of the year. “Black Friday” has expanded in recent years. Stores have been opening at ridiculously early hours. More recently, Black Friday has backed up into Thursday evening, and even Thanksgiving morning at some stores.

There is nothing wrong with trying to find a bargain price on a needed item. However, for many people, Black Friday has become a symbol of greedy, selfish consumerism.

How different that is from the black Friday when Jesus so unselfishly hung on a cross to pay for the sins of mankind!

“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.”—Matthew 27:45.

 

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Ticket Required

Posted on November 28, 2014 by jesustrek

ticketMy wife went to a Black Friday sale that actually started at 6:00pm on Thursday. She followed the standard procedure of getting a ticket for the item she intended to buy, then going to stand in the proper line until the sale began. Shortly before 6:00pm, a lady close to her in line just realized that she needed a ticket. She had stood patiently in line for a long time, but she didn’t have the piece of paper that said she was entitled to purchase the desired product.

We don’t know how it turned out for the lady. Was she shown mercy and allowed to purchase the item without a ticket? Or did she have to leave her place in line and go through the standard procedure?

In any case, it just reminds us that we need Jesus to get into heaven. It’s tragic that so many people are waiting in line to enter eternity, yet they have not accepted Jesus as their savior.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12.

 

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Prayer of Thanksgiving

Posted on November 27, 2014 by jesustrek

prayer of ThanksgivingDear Abby recently printed this prayer that was written by her mother. She says that no Thanksgiving would be complete without it:

“Oh, Heavenly Father, We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry. We thank Thee for health and remember the sick. We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless. We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to service, that Thy gifts to us may be used for others.”

This prayer, offered up in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, would be a great one to pray this Thanksgiving, or any day of the year.

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

 

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The Captain

Posted on November 24, 2014 by jesustrek

river boatBob Russell likes to tell the following story. I hope it blesses you.

An old, experienced fisherman was sitting on the bank of the Ohio River years ago, hoping for some action on the end of his line. A young boy he’d never seen came strolling up and attempted to strike up a conversation. Then a few minutes later, this lad began shouting and waving his arms frantically at a tugboat that was chugging up the river.

The old fisherman smiled condescendingly at the naïve boy. “Son, you are wasting your breath trying to get the attention of that boat. That captain has important business. He’s not stopping here for you.”

But the young boy ignored the stranger’s advice and kept waving and hollering. Oddly, the powerful tugboat came closer and closer until finally it stopped and the boy waded out into the water and jumped on board. As the boat steamed away, the boy called to the surprised fisherman, “Mister, my father is the captain of this boat and he’s just taking me to our home on the other side of the river.”

The ship of death makes some unexpected stops along the river of life. And death is serious business. The Bible says, “…People are destined to die once and after that to face judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27).

So when the ship of death stops for you, make sure the Heavenly Father is the captain of your life and He will just be taking you to your permanent home on the other side of the river.

 

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