What Are You Chasing?

Posted on September 16, 2014 by jesustrek

toadI recently attended a Christian men’s meeting where the preacher delivered a powerful sermon on giving God the honor and respect that is due him. Moments after the message concluded, a young boy, perhaps 12 or 13 years old, came in and sat down near me. He showed me a toad he had in his hands. Evidently he had found it outside, and what boy can resist picking up a toad when he gets the chance?

My mindset changed quickly. I suddenly went from meditating on the Almighty God to looking at a toad!

I don’t blame the boy for exchanging a great opportunity to worship for a few moments with a toad. We all made immature decisions like that when we were at that age. However, we have to grow up and make better choices about our priorities. At some point, we have to stop chasing toads and start pursuing the presence of God.

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”—1 Corinthians 13:11.

 

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Get Rid of Those Mistakes!

Posted on September 12, 2014 by jesustrek

Jumbo EraserBrowsing in the school supply section of a store recently, I noticed a product called Jumbo Eraser. This eraser was huge—I refer you back to the name—and it had a clever phrase printed on it: “For Big Mistakes”.

If only we had a big eraser that could take away all the mistakes we make in life! I don’t know about you, but I can make some sizeable blunders. It would be nice if we could just wipe the slate clean of all our sins, especially the big ones.

While we can’t remove our sins, Jesus can atone for them. Even the biggest sins can be washed away by the blood of Jesus. His death on the cross makes it possible for us to be forgiven and have the guilt of our sins removed from our lives.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”—1 John 1:7.

 

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Memory Failure

Posted on September 11, 2014 by jesustrek

The Family CircusThe Family Circus recently ran a cartoon that showed one of the children telling his mother, “Grandma says she’s seen it all, done it all, and heard it all. She just can’t remember it all.”

I think that Grandma speaks for many of us! Life sends a lot of things our way, and sometimes we can’t remember all of it.

Thankfully, the Lord has provided a way to help us remember the most important thing—the salvation that we have been offered through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Each time we participate in communion we are reminded of the forgiveness we have been freely given through Jesus.

“…Do this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.

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Driving with Charlie

Posted on September 9, 2014 by jesustrek

drive safelyMy friend Charlie is a retired policeman. He and his wife Heather came to visit us recently. As I drove us around that weekend, I found myself being extra cautious with this former lawman riding shotgun. I was continually saying to myself things like: “Be sure to come to a complete stop.” “Make sure you don’t weave across the line.” “Don’t go over the speed limit.” “Am I too close to the car in front of me?”

It sure does improve your driving if you are constantly aware of an authoritative figure who might be evaluating your performance.

Perhaps we would have fewer mishaps on the road of life if we were more cognizant of God’s presence with us.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”—Philippians 4:5.

 

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Stop the Violence!

Posted on September 8, 2014 by jesustrek
Ray Rice

Ray Rice

The Baltimore Ravens terminated the contract of running back Ray Rice today after a video was released showing Rice striking his then fiancée, Janay Palmer. The incident took place in February in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino.

Rice had already been suspended by the NFL for domestic violence because of this incident. It seems that actually seeing the horrible event on video caused the outrage to reach a whole new level.

Maybe we should release some videos of babies being aborted in their mothers’ womb.

“Rescue those being led away to death…”—Proverbs 24:11.

 

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Feeling Fresh

Posted on September 6, 2014 by jesustrek

pushing a lawnmowerA couple of days ago, I pushed a lawnmower for about an hour in 90 degree heat. The humidity was high also, so when I finished I was soaking wet with sweat. As I peeled off my shirt, I found a dryer sheet that had been hiding near my right armpit. “Oh”, I said to myself. “That’s why I’ve felt so fresh and clean this afternoon!”

Seriously, I felt anything but fresh and clean! I needed more help than a dryer sheet could offer!

Some people think that their sins can be covered up by something less than the blood of Jesus. Don’t be fooled. They can’t.

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”—Psalm 51:7.

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Go Ahead! Make My Day!

Posted on September 4, 2014 by jesustrek

My father-in-law passed away suddenly last Saturday evening. That afternoon, my wife and I had stopped in to visit her parents. We brought a couple of friends with us. We all enjoyed the visit, and as we left, my father-in-law said to our friends, “I’m so glad you came. You made my day!”

Sometimes it doesn’t take much to make someone’s day. A visit, a kind deed, a word of encouragement… You never know what kind of a difference you can make in someone’s life.

And you never know when it might be your last chance to do so.

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”—Proverbs 11:25.

 

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Plenty of Support

Posted on September 1, 2014 by jesustrek

My father-in-law, Bill Mauk, died suddenly this past Saturday night at the age of 86. The outpouring of support from family and friends has been tremendous. We truly appreciate the prayers, the comforting words and the various deeds of kindness people have performed to express their compassion.

An elder in our church gave an example yesterday that illustrates how we need a good support system to help us through difficult times. He pointed out that it would seem unbearably painful for a person to lie down on a bed of nails. If there were only a few nails, this would be true. However, the secret is in the large number of nails. Because the pressure is spread among so many nails, the pain is bearable.

So it is with our grief. The more people we have holding us up, the easier it is to bear the pain.

Let’s appreciate those who support us in times of difficulty, and let’s vow to help others through their hard times as well.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:2.

 

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Now That’s Coaching!

Posted on August 29, 2014 by jesustrek

disciplineThe coach of our high school volleyball team brings her pre-school daughter to the games. Friends help keep an eye on the little girl while her mother coaches. This can be quite a task, because the young lady is very feisty and energetic.

At a recent game, the little girl, despite warnings from her mother and her babysitters, ran down on the floor while the players were warming up. Her mother saw what was happening and intervened. Swooping her daughter up in her arms, she marched out into the hallway of the school.

Several of us in the stands were watching with amusement. I turned around and commented to some of my friends, “I think some special coaching is about to take place!”

Many parents don’t understand the importance of disciplining their children. They, and their children, often pay a terribly high price for that lack of understanding.

“Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.”—Proverbs 29:17.

 

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Young Worshipers

Posted on August 28, 2014 by jesustrek

drummer boyI couldn’t help but notice a couple of small children at church this past Sunday, and how they seemed to be fascinated with the worship experience.

1-year-old Ava couldn’t take her eyes off the praise team as the music part of our worship started. She was seated on her grandmother’s lap on the front row, but she managed to wiggle her way to the floor and take a couple of steps toward the platform. She seemed to comprehend that something very important was taking place.

After the worship service was over, Tate, 2-and-a-half, showed interest in the drum set on stage. With permission of the praise team and his parents, Tate gave us a memorable drum solo! People filing out of the worship center left with smiles on their faces as the sounds of the drums permeated the room. When it was time to go home, Tate had to be literally dragged away from the drum set.

Humans seem to be designed to worship. Colossians 1:16 says, “…All things were created by him and for him.” Even small children instinctively know that there is a higher Power that we are to honor and praise.

It is our duty to help them come to a better understanding of God and how he is to be worshiped.

Proverbs 22:6—“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

 

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