Still In Need of Advice

Posted on October 20, 2014 by jesustrek

good adviceMy kindergarten teacher from many years ago spoke to me as she walked her dog past my house recently. She said, “It’s a bit cool today, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is”, I replied.

As she continued on her way, she commented over her shoulder, “You need to put on a long sleeve shirt!”

52 years after kindergarten, and I still need to consider the good advice of my teacher!

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”—Proverbs 3:13-14.

 

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Clear Translation

Posted on October 18, 2014 by jesustrek
Vatican

Vatican

The Vatican has released a draft report on family issues that will be presented to bishops for a vote. The report has caused some alarm among conservative bishops because it seems to contain some language that would lead people to believe that Roman Catholicism is now accepting homosexual behavior. This would be a drastic departure from Catholic doctrine, which has always held a Scriptural position on this issue.

When the English translation of the report was first made available, conservatives were enraged by the tone of acceptance toward homosexual behavior. Therefore, an effort has been made to come up with a translation that would not undermine long-held Catholic teachings on this hot-button issue.

It will be interesting to follow this story as it unfolds.

It’s good to know that there is no confusion about what the Bible says about homosexual behavior. Every translation that stays true to the original text clearly and consistently forbids such behavior.

In this rebellious world in which we live, we would do well to remember that.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16-17.

 

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Balanced Reporting

Posted on October 17, 2014 by jesustrek
Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden

You have to be careful where you get your news, because much of what we read and hear is filtered through the worldview of those who report it. It is difficult to find a source of news that is truly fair and balanced.

When I lived in Indiana, I often read a newspaper that leaned a little bit to the right of the political spectrum. I understood this, and read the news with this in mind.

Now that I live in Kentucky, I often read a newspaper that is pretty far to the left. Even the little bit of religious news that is reported must meet the approval of the liberal editorial board. I have to keep this liberal bias in mind as I read.

To give one example, it is being reported today that Hunter Biden, son of Vice President Joe Biden, has been kicked out of the military after testing positive for cocaine. Such a news story would have made the front page of my left wing newspaper if it had happened to the son of a prominent conservative politician. However, since it was the son of a liberal—Hmm, that term has an almost vulgar ring to it!—the story was given all of two paragraphs on page 9.

We all need to be careful where we get our information, so that we can make informed decisions.

“A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.”—Proverbs 12:17.

 

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Leading the Unlikely

Posted on October 16, 2014 by jesustrek

leaderKing David is considered one of the best leaders in the Bible. Even before he became king, his leadership qualities were apparent. He drew many followers, and he and his men became renowned for their bravery and the victories they won.

However, David’s men were not prime candidates for greatness when they first started following him. 1 Samuel 22:2 says, “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.”

That’s probably not the kind of people you would look for if you hope to lead any kind of effective movement! Yet David took these poor, distressed and discontented men and led them to accomplish great things for God.

Keep this in mind when you look around and see the people you are trying to influence. They may not seem like a force to be reckoned with. But if you can get them to rally around the greatest cause ever—Jesus Christ and his kingdom—you may be surprised at what you can accomplish together!

 

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Scary Costume

Posted on October 14, 2014 by jesustrek

Obama maskA friend of mine says that he is going to wear a Barack Obama mask this Halloween. When kids come to his house, he’s going to take half of their candy away from them and give it to kids who are too lazy to trick-or-treat!

Hey! It’s only funny because it has a ring of truth to it!

“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something so share with those in need.”—Ephesians 4:28.

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”—2 Thessalonians 3:10.

 

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Rules for Living

Posted on October 13, 2014 by jesustrek
James Garfield

James Garfield

James Garfield was president of the United States, but he was also a preacher. When Garfield was a young man, an elderly friend reportedly gave him the following rules. He cherished these principles to the end of his life. Perhaps they will help you.

  • Never be idle.
  • Make few promises.
  • Always speak the truth.
  • Live within your income.
  • Never speak evil of anyone.
  • Keep good company or none.
  • Live up to your engagements.
  • Never play games of chance.
  • Drink no intoxicating drinks.
  • Good character is above everything else.
  • Keep your own secrets if you have any.
  • Never borrow if you can possibly help it.
  • Do not marry until you are able to support a wife.
  • When you speak to a person, look into his eyes.
  • Save when you are young and spend when you are old.
  • Never run into debt unless you can see a way out again.
  • Good company and good conversation are the sinews of virtue.
  • Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts.
  • If anybody speaks evil of you, let your life be so that no one believes him.
  • When you retire at night think over what you have done during the day.

Did you notice that these principles for living are all solidly grounded in Scripture? You can’t go wrong when you base your life on the teachings of the Bible!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16-17.

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Different

Posted on October 10, 2014 by jesustrek

salt and pepper“We are best for our communities when we are most unlike our communities.”—J.K. Jones

There is nothing wrong with a church trying to be “seeker-sensitive”. After all, Jesus was quite sensitive to the spiritual needs of others. And he sends us out into the world to make disciples wherever we go. We must be seeker-sensitive in all that we do.

However, we have to keep in mind that we are called out of the world and set apart to live for God. It doesn’t do lost people any good at all if they can’t see any difference between themselves and Christians. In order for us to make inroads in the darkness, we have to shine our light.

If the local church is seen as just another service organization, it loses its ability to evangelize effectively. Therefore, we mustn’t try to win the world by being like the world. We must stand boldly for the truth of God’s word, even if (especially if!) it makes us look different.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”—Matthew 5:13.

 

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Struggling Against Sin

Posted on October 8, 2014 by jesustrek

bow at the cross“We seem to be content to pray for forgiveness when we should have been praying for the power to overcome.”—Virgil Hurley.

In our struggle against sin, many Christians give up far too easily. This has always been the case. The apostles encouraged believers in the first century to strive for holiness. John wrote, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin…” (1 John 2:1). Paul says, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!…” (Romans 6:1).

This is not to say that we can ever attain perfection. Only Jesus did that. However, we mustn’t allow our occasional failures to cause us to give up the fight to live lives of purity.

It’s good to know that when we sin, forgiveness is available through Jesus. But let’s not use that for an excuse to give in to sin.

 

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Getting Along Together

Posted on October 7, 2014 by jesustrek

unitySeveral years ago, a church experienced some inner turmoil. The friction between two groups worsened, and they decided to split. However, neither group wanted to give up the building. So they came to an agreement that they would share the property. Each group would have the place on alternating Sundays.

This arrangement worked out well except for the fact that neither group trusted the other to share the heating bill equally. Now this was the old days, and they used a coal stove to heat the facility. So each group bought their own fuel. One had their coal pile on the west side of the building; the other had theirs on the east side.

I suppose their philosophy was: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism…but two coal piles!”

Unity is difficult to maintain, but it is definitely God’s desire for the church. Ephesians 4:3 urges, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Carl Ketcherside said, “80% of unity is attitude.” Let’s all cultivate an attitude of unity that facilitates peace and harmony in the church.

 

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Marital Bliss

Posted on October 6, 2014 by jesustrek

married couple on cakeDid you know that in the history of mankind, no husband has ever been shot by his wife while he was washing the dishes? It’s a fact; you can look it up!

There are all kinds of jokes about the adventures and pitfalls of married life. The husband/wife relationship can often be quite a struggle. It takes a lot of work to make a marriage successful. Marital bliss requires a lot of sacrifice on the part of both the husband and the wife.

Paul writes about this in Ephesians, where he says, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” (5:22) and “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (5:25).

When the wife is willing to live for her husband and the husband is willing to die for his wife…now that marriage is going to work!

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