Be Careful How You Use That Name!

Posted on July 23, 2014 by jesustrek

Ten CommandmentsKenneth and Ruth Gambill, a married couple from Salyersville, Kentucky, were charged, along with Morgan County Judge-Executive Tim Conley, in a federal corruption case. The Gambills each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The couple operated a construction company that received contracts in Morgan County to clean up debris and perform construction jobs in the aftermath of a March 2, 2012 tornado.

Ironically, the company is known as “Praise Be the Holy Name of Jesus and Jehovah Construction, Inc.”

It appears that there are multiple ways to break the Third Commandment!

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”—Exodus 20:7.

 

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That’s Not How It Goes!

Posted on July 22, 2014 by jesustrek

Buzz-LightyearMost young children enjoy the Toy Story movies. Many of these youngsters have an action figure of their favorite character. Perhaps the most flamboyant of these heroes is astronaut Buzz Lightyear. Buzz is brimming with self-confidence and enthusiasm. His catch phrase is, “To infinity and beyond!”

I enjoy teasing little kids who like Buzz. I will intentionally mess up his line by saying, “To infinity and then just a little bit farther!” They always respond by saying something like, “That’s not how it goes!”

It’s not such a big deal to change a line from a cartoon movie. However, we had better be careful when talking about what the Bible says. God doesn’t like it when we twist his words around!

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”—Revelation 22:18-19.

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Engaged in Worship

Posted on July 18, 2014 by jesustrek

bored-in-church1A few years ago, a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon showed Dennis sitting in a church pew beside his father. Looking up at his Dad, he says, “Is it OK if we leave at half time?”

Worship services don’t normally have a half time, but you get the idea that some people might like to change that! Some people do mentally check out about halfway through the service. Their bodies are there, but they aren’t really participating in the worship.

Let’s always strive to be fully engaged in every worship service we attend.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”—John 4:23-24.

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Time to Slow Down

Posted on July 17, 2014 by jesustrek

I just got home from the doctor’s office with 3 stitches in my head. I hit my head because I got in too much of a hurry. Hearing the phone ring in the bedroom, I rushed from the shower without drying off. Caller ID told me that it was a solicitor, so I didn’t take the call. However, returning to the bathroom, I slipped on the wet linoleum. I tried to break my fall with my arms, but my head hit the floor pretty hard. Therefore, a trip to the doctor was necessary to get sewed up. And it all happened because I got in a big hurry.

This reminds me of how Martha was so distracted by everything she thought she had to get done, that she neglected the most important thing—spending time with Jesus (Luke 10:38-42).

Maybe God was telling me that I need to slow down and spend some time with him. If I don’t finish everything on my “To Do” list today, or if I let the answering machine pick up sometimes, so what? Being with the Lord is far more important.

I hope the next time I need to be reminded of this, he doesn’t need to smack me up the side of my head!

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Hypocrisy

Posted on July 15, 2014 by jesustrek

masksLouisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal recently proclaimed: “I am tired of the left. They say they’re for tolerance; they say they respect diversity. The reality is this: They respect everybody unless you happen to disagree with them. The left is trying to silence us, and I’m tired of it. I won’t take it anymore.”

I agree that there is a lot of hypocrisy on the political left. However, a bigger concern for me is that I don’t put on a false mask myself. We have a tendency to pretend to be better than we actually are.

Jesus can’t stand hypocrisy. In Matthew 23, he pronounces a series of woes on religious people who were not nearly as spiritual as they would have others believe they were. Jesus angrily calls them “hypocrites”, and he points out all of their pretentious actions that make them so vile and corrupt.

If religious people have the tendency to be hypocrites, I had better not be looking to the left to see hypocrisy. I had better keep my eye on the mirror in front of me.

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Truly Hungry

Posted on July 14, 2014 by jesustrek

hungry manWhile walking in downtown Indianapolis, I was approached by a man. After making some polite conversation, he mentioned that he had not had anything to eat all day, and asked if I would give him some money. “Just a dollar or two would really help me.”

Skeptical about giving money that might be used for drugs or alcohol, I had a better idea. “Why don’t you walk with me and let me buy you something to eat?”

“That’s all right”, he answered, and abruptly walked away.

I don’t think he was really all that hungry. Do you?

People often say that they are hungry for God. However, when the opportunity comes to be filled, many say, “That’s all right”, and walk away.

Let’s be truly hungry for God.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”—Matthew 5:6.

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Honoring a Hero

Posted on July 12, 2014 by jesustrek

Officer Perry Renn

Officer Perry Renn

Indianapolis police officer Perry Renn, 51, died last weekend from wounds received in a gun battle. Renn, a former paratrooper, saved several bystanders when he fired back at the suspect, critically wounding him.

Officer Renn’s funeral was held yesterday in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where the Indiana Pacers basketball team plays their home games. Gov. Mike Pence spoke at the funeral, and said, “Heroes are not simply defined in moments of crisis, they also are defined in moments of quiet dedication.” All who knew Officer Renn will tell you that he met every criteria for being a hero.

The funeral procession was 11 miles long. It was a fitting tribute to honor a hero who was willing to give his life to save others.

Jesus Christ is also a hero. He willingly gave up his innocent life to save us from our sins. It is fitting that we honor him by remembering him as he told us to do, by participating in the Lord’s Supper.

“…The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”—Matthew 20:28.

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Clothed a Certain Way

Posted on July 11, 2014 by jesustrek

UK t-shirtThis morning I was walking in downtown Indianapolis, on my way to the final day of the North American Christian Convention. Someone on the street noticed that I was wearing a blue University of Kentucky basketball T-shirt. Smiling, he remarked, “You sure are brave to wear that shirt in this town!”

“I guess so!” I replied.

Our clothing sometimes tells others something about us. It could show that we are proud of a certain city, state, sports team, etc.

The Bible says that when we become Christians we are, in a sense, clothed in him. Our actions and our words should reveal that we are not just associated with him, but that we are indeed proud of Jesus.

Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as Gods’ chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

If you are clothed in Jesus Christ, you just might get someone’s attention as you walk down the street.

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Pick a Live One

Posted on July 8, 2014 by jesustrek

duck decoyA recent Andrew Armstrong cartoon in Parade magazine pictured two ducks standing on the shore looking at a third duck floating in the water. One of the two says to the other, “We were together three weeks before I realized he was a decoy.”

You have to be very careful about choosing a potential mate. Scripture forbids a Christian to marry a non-Christian. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

The Bible teaches that we were dead in our sins before God saved us through Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10). So, when you are looking for a spouse, be sure to pick a live one!

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Hard to Love

Posted on July 7, 2014 by jesustrek

girl making faceA Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, from Luke 10. She asked the class, “If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?”

After a few seconds of silence, one little girl finally spoke. She said, “I think I’d probably throw up!”

Jesus says that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love people (Matthew 22:37-40). However, he never said it would be easy. People who need our love have often been beaten up by life and left alongside the road, hurting and bleeding. Sometimes they are suffering because of bad choices they have made. Still, they need our help.

Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and do the right thing.

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