Calvary

Posted on October 16, 2013 by jesustrek

Jesus on the crossThere are a couple of words in the English language that are very similar—cavalry and Calvary. These words are often mistakenly used for one another, even though they have very different meanings.

Cavalry is a group of soldiers. In Western movies, the cavalry often rides in at the last possible moment and saves people who are in danger.

Calvary, of course, is the hill outside of Jerusalem where Jesus Christ laid down his life to pay for the sins of all people.

Cavalry…Calvary…Either way, salvation is available. The cavalry can save you in this life. What Jesus did on Calvary can save your soul forever!

“And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.”—Luke 23:33 (NKJV).

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Rest for the Weary

Posted on October 14, 2013 by jesustrek
Alpine swift

Alpine swift

Researchers attached monitors to some Alpine swifts to record their activities. They were shocked to discover that these migrating birds apparently flew nonstop for 200 days. The birds stayed airborne for more than six months! Any eating, drinking or sleeping they did was while they were flying. From all the evidence, it appears that the birds did not stop moving during this time.

The swifts must have been awfully tired when they finally arrived at their destination!

Remember, we weren’t created to go nonstop for extended periods of time. We humans were designed to require a day of rest every week. Those who fail to acknowledge this will eventually pay a price.

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…”—Deuteronomy 5:13-14.

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What Kind of Offering?

Posted on October 11, 2013 by jesustrek

Jesus on the crossThe prophet Micah ponders about what type of sacrifice a person might offer to God. “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Micah 6:6-7).

None of the riches we could offer God would be enough to pay the price for our sins. Even the trade of a firstborn would fail to be an acceptable offering to purchase our atonement.

However, the firstborn Son of God is an adequate sacrifice to pay for our sins!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16.

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Able to Call

Posted on October 9, 2013 by jesustrek

cell phoneIn late September of 2013, Angela Dalton took a ride in a small plane above her hometown of Dalton, Alabama. When she tried to use her cell phone to take a picture of her neighborhood, she dropped the phone and it plummeted to the ground.

Three days later, Eric Hall found the phone in his yard. Trying to find the owner, he called the last number the phone had dialed. Remarkably, the phone still worked!

For one thing, this would make a great commercial about the durability of this particular type of phone.

For another thing, this is a reminder that nothing can keep us from calling on the Lord. Our line of communication with him can never be destroyed.

“Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea.”—Psalm 55:1.

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Some Kin

Posted on October 8, 2013 by jesustrek

Here is a heart-warming story from Zelda Cornish.

While working at a shoe store in downtown Truro, Nova Scotia, I noticed a little boy standing on the hot-air register outside the bakery next door in his bare feet, trying to keep warm.

I was unsure whether to invite the boy into the store, or just what to do with him, when a woman came by. After a few words with the barefoot boy, she brought him into the shoe store. She bought him new shoes and heavy woolen socks, for which he tried awkwardly to thank her. “Are you God’s wife?” he asked his benefactor.

Taken aback by the question, she took some time before replying, “No, son, I’m just one of his children.”

“Well, I knew you must be some kin to him,” he said as he thanked her again and ran out the door.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”—1 John 3:1.

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16.

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Market for Decency

Posted on October 7, 2013 by jesustrek

Duck DynastyWe often complain about the lack of decent entertainment. There are a great number of movies, TV shows and books that contain an excessive amount of sex, violence, swearing, etc. We have to search carefully for entertainment that is wholesome and uplifting.

However, the recent success of Duck Dynasty has shown that there is a market for decent entertainment. This television show is drawing an amazing number of viewers. Now that the producers have recognized the desires of the audience, they are not editing out so much of the faith of the Robertson family.

In addition to this, a glance at a recent list of best-sellers shows that 3 books written by the Robertsons were in the top 10 for non-fiction.

Hopefully, this shows that there is a market for decent shows, movies and books. More of such wholesome entertainment would be a welcome relief.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”—Philippians 4:8.

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Connected

Posted on October 4, 2013 by jesustrek
Sandra Bullock and George Clooney take direction

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney take direction

Gravity opens in theaters today. The movie, starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, is about a disaster that strikes when astronauts are trying to repair the Hubble telescope orbiting the Earth. Previews show the Bullock character hurtling through space, untethered, disconnected from her ship and its life-giving resources. Many people will attend the movie to see how the story plays out.

Jesus plainly teaches that we must remained connected to him in order to have any spiritual life. Without him, we die.

“If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”—John 15:6.

How will your story play out?

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Cruel World

Posted on October 3, 2013 by jesustrek

kittyA Clay County, Kentucky man is being held at the Clay County Detention Center, charged with several crimes, including cruelty to animals. Brandon L. Garrison, 23, allegedly beat a kitten to death with a baseball bat while under the influence of drugs.

That was indeed a cruel thing to do, even in a drug-induced state. I’m sure that a lot of people are upset that this senseless act of violence was inflicted on such a cute, helpless creature. Most would agree that this young man deserves to be punished.

However, if he had taken his girlfriend to an abortion clinic and…well…you know…

We certainly do live in a cruel world.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”—Proverbs 14:34.

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Who’s Ignorant?

Posted on October 2, 2013 by jesustrek
Bode Miller

Bode Miller

Leading up to the Winter Olympics, some U.S. athletes are protesting Russia’s laws against homosexual behavior. Skier Bode Miller said, “I think it’s so embarrassing that there’s (sic) countries and people who are that ignorant…As a human being, I think it’s embarrassing.”

Personally, I think it’s embarrassing for a person to think that they could marry someone of their own gender, or for anyone to support homosexual activity of any kind.

As you might imagine, I am not about to wear a WWBD bracelet. I could not care less about the opinion of any arrogant, ill-informed and condescending athlete. I will get my moral advice from Someone else, thank you very much.

“They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”—1 Peter 4:4-5.

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Self-Assessment

Posted on September 30, 2013 by jesustrek

dog playing checkersMy Uncle Herman had a dog that could play checkers, but he wasn’t all that impressed with his pet’s ability. He said, “I don’t know why everybody thinks that dog is so smart. I can beat him 2 out of 3 games!”

Uncle Herman’s son, Roscoe, was a lot like his father. He liked to brag about his intellect. He once told me, “I bought a jigsaw puzzle that said on the box that it was for 4-6 years. I finished it in less than a month!”

Perhaps we should take a more humble approach to assessing our own abilities. Romans 12:3 says, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

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