Time to Wake Up!

Posted on August 6, 2013 by jesustrek
Al Roker

Al Roker

For the first time in 39 years, early-morning broadcaster Al Roker overslept and missed a show. Ironically, Roker did not wake up in time Tuesday to make it to “Wake Up with Al” on the Weather Channel. Co-workers gave him a hard time for his mistake, calling him “Rip Van Roker”.

I think we should give Al a break on this one. Late for work only once in 39 years? That seems like a pretty good record!

What is really sad is to see so many people sleepwalking through life. They never seem to wake up spiritually, no matter how many wake-up calls they receive.

Don’t sleep your life away.

Jesus says, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”—Revelation 3:2-3.

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Devalued

Posted on August 6, 2013 by jesustrek
John Henry

John Henry

John Henry, the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, recently purchased The Boston Globe from the New York Times Co. for $70 million. Newspapers have greatly declined in value over the past several years. The Times Co. paid $1.1 billion for the Globe in 1993.

One thing that will never depreciate is your value in the eyes of God. There is no terrible thing you could ever do that would prevent him from loving you. And there is no good deed that you could possibly do that would make God love you more than he already does.

God has shown his love for you at the cross, where Jesus died to pay for our sins. There is no need for further proof of God’s love.

“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.

You are quite valuable to God!

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Too Close

Posted on August 5, 2013 by jesustrek
Kern Power Plant being demolished

Kern Power Plant being demolished

Over 1,000 spectators gathered Saturday, August 3, 2013, to watch the demolition of the decommissioned Kern Power Plant in Bakersfield, California. Many slept in their cars overnight in order to get a good view of the planned implosion of the old steam power plant.

When the explosion occurred, shrapnel came flying toward the crowd. 5 people suffered injuries, including one man whose leg was severed.

Officials are conducting an investigation to try to find out what went wrong with the demolition.

Sometimes people get hurt for the simple reason that they chose to be too close to a dangerous situation.

Several years ago, some young people in the town where I lived gathered together for a party. Alcohol was consumed. Tempers flared. A gun was fired. Someone who was not even the intended target was shot to death. A young man lost his life because he chose to be too close to a dangerous situation.

There are many types of sins that entice us to get too close to the danger. Before we realize what is happening, we can suffer a serious spiritual injury.

That’s why the Bible says—“Avoid every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

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Tower of Babble

Posted on August 1, 2013 by jesustrek

minionsA friend from my church recently gave me a gift—a little toy minion from the movie Despicable Me 2. There are different minions that you can collect. This one is especially appropriate for me because it is named after me, “Tom Babbler”.

Actually, I meant to say that the “Tom” part of the name is appropriate. I’m sure (I think?) that the “Babbler” part was a joke. As a preacher, I don’t want to babble; I want to say things that are significant. This should be the goal of any Christian.

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God…”—1 Peter 4:11.

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Listen to the Coach

Posted on August 1, 2013 by jesustrek
John Calipari

John Calipari

Former University of Kentucky men’s basketball players have some advice for the highly touted crop of freshman players coming in—Listen to your coach! Those who have played for John Calipari know that he can come across as gruff and overbearing. They also know that he is a basketball mastermind. Coach Cal has a proven track record of improving the abilities of individual players and molding them into teams that compete for championships. Therefore, players would do well to heed his advice. Former players tell the new guys, “Listen to what Coach Cal says, not how he says it.”

In the church, the elders might be considered our coaching staff. They are the leaders of the congregation, and we would do well to listen to what they say. (Fortunately, most elders are a bit more congenial than some excitable basketball coaches, and hopefully their vocabularies aren’t quite so colorful!)

If we want our churches to win a lot of victories, we would do well to listen to our coaches. Most churches are blessed with godly elders who pray, study the Bible, love their people and do their best to guide the church along the way. We should pay attention to what these leaders have to say.

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”—Hebrews 13:17.

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Where’s the Beef?

Posted on July 31, 2013 by jesustrek

man eating a hamburger

Many restaurants advertise that they sell only Angus beef, implying that the quality is superior. I know for a fact that Angus beef is good because my Dad raises it, and I have enjoyed it often.

Imagine someone going into a restaurant that advertises Angus beef. He orders a hamburger and takes a big bite. Suddenly, he spits it out and throws the burger up against the wall. Angrily, he shouts, “There is no way this is Angus beef! Who are they trying to fool?! This beef is obviously a Holstein/Hereford cross!”

(Please don’t try this prank! It is only to be enjoyed in our imaginations! Besides, I seriously doubt that everyone shares my warped sense of humor.)

Most people don’t have taste buds as sensitive as the fellow in my story. However, we must be sensitive to the fact that there are many different false spiritual beliefs that are trying to pass themselves off as the real thing. We must be discerning enough not to swallow anything but the truth.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”—Psalm 34:8.

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Best Embrace

Posted on July 30, 2013 by jesustrek

hug from grandma

I know that during corporate worship we are supposed to focus on God, but last Sunday I couldn’t keep from observing a sub-plot that was unfolding in the congregation.

A teenage girl came in after we had begun singing. As she made her way toward her grandmother, I decided to notice the look on grandma’s face when she suddenly came face-to-face with her granddaughter. Needless to say, grandma’s face lit up with joy as she welcomed her granddaughter. She put her arm around her as she encouraged her to join in the worship.

It just so happened that we were singing a song that has this line—“Nothing compares to your (God’s) embrace.”

Hugs from grandma are special. There’s no doubt about that.

But hugs from God are even better!

Let your heavenly Father embrace you today.

“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.

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Spiritual Confusion

Posted on July 29, 2013 by jesustrek
Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu made the news Friday when he said that he would rather go to hell than go to what he referred to as a “homophobic heaven”.

Pope Francis recently responded, when asked about gay people, “Who am I to judge?”

I am concerned that Tutu may one day have his wish granted. I also would like for the Pope to be clearer in his statements, which have been interpreted to mean that he approves of homosexual behavior.

It is no wonder there is so much spiritual confusion in the world! If spiritual leaders are not able to communicate spiritual truth, more and more people will be led astray.

The Bible clearly and consistently forbids homosexual behavior. Romans 1 warns of the wrath of God that awaits all those who practice wickedness. Of all the sins mentioned in this chapter, the one that is given the most attention is the sin of homosexual behavior. Not only are men and women forbidden to engage in such perversion (God’s word, not mine), we are forbidden to approve of those who practice these things.

Did you get that last part? We cannot approve of homosexual behavior and call ourselves Christians.

Please don’t be confused about that.

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Bringing Home the Bacon

Posted on July 29, 2013 by jesustrek

bacon cooked

I recently shared a story Kyle Idleman told at the North American Christian Convention in Louisville earlier this month. Here is another story Kyle told in his sermon there.

Kyle has always loved the taste of bacon. However, he married a lady who is very concerned about eating healthy foods. She will only buy turkey bacon. (Kyle says this is an oxymoron!)

After years of having only turkey bacon in their house, Kyle took their young son out for breakfast one day. He was anxious to introduce his son to the taste of real bacon. He was disappointed when his son said, “This is OK, but I like Mom’s real bacon better.”

Imagine that! The young fellow couldn’t determine what was real bacon and what was the substitute! His only experience in life left him unequipped to make that decision.

Many people are unable to decide what’s real and what’s fake. Satan has invaded our culture and warped people’s views about marriage, family, the sanctity of life and many other spiritual issues.

Make sure that you and your loved ones don’t settle for something that’s fake. Don’t settle for anything other than the truth.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie…”—Romans 1:25.

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Water of Life

Posted on July 26, 2013 by jesustrek

goldfish

Kyle Idleman tells about the time he bought a goldfish for his young daughter. They thought that the goldfish might like to play with them, so they put him in a glass and set it on the edge of the swimming pool while they swam.

After a while, Kyle noticed that the glass was empty. The goldfish had jumped out, and now he was swimming in the pool. Little did the goldfish know that the chlorinated water was poisonous to him. He was happy to swim around, evading everyone’s attempts to catch him. Eventually, however, he was easy to capture—after he began to float belly up!

Many people don’t understand that this poisonous world in which they are so content to live will eventually lead to their death. They frolic around in greed, immorality and selfishness, not realizing that their spiritual death is imminent.

Let us continue to attempt to bring them to an understanding that Jesus can give them a better kind of water.

“But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”—John 4:14.

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