Wonderfully Made

Posted on January 20, 2013 by jesustrek

right to life

January 20 is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday this year. Today, many Christians will contemplate the value of human life. They will celebrate the life that God has given them. They will enjoy the presence of loved ones in their lives. They will also mourn the fact that life has been devalued in our country–and much of the world–because of abortion.

Science, religion and common sense all intersect at a point where any rational person should understand that abortion is wrong. Please don’t remain silent or inactive on this matter. The right to life is one of the greatest moral issues of our time. Don’t be on the wrong side of this important matter. Speak, act and pray in such a manner that God will know that you are on his side.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”—Psalm 139:13-14.

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Arguing

Posted on January 19, 2013 by jesustrek
Earl Weaver

Earl Weaver

Hall of Fame baseball manager Earl Weaver has died at the age of 82. Weaver, one of the game’s most successful managers, was known for his many arguments with umpires. Weaver was thrown out of 91 games in his career. Once he was ejected from both games of a doubleheader!

While arguing and complaining may be acceptable behavior in major league baseball, it is not appropriate in the church. Philippians 2:14 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”

A fiery temper may allow you to get into the baseball Hall of Fame, but if you want to be in the church Hall of Fame, you’ll need to have a better attitude.

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Fessing Up

Posted on January 18, 2013 by jesustrek
Lance Armstrong and Oprah Winfrey

Lance Armstrong and Oprah Winfrey

Lance Armstrong finally admitted that he used performance enhancing drugs to help him become one of the most famous cycling champions of all time. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong, who had for years vehemently denied any wrong-doing, confessed that he had engaged in several different illegal practices to help him win all 7 of his Tour de France victories.

Armstrong didn’t fess up until the evidence stacked up against him was so great that he had no other choice. For this reason, many question the sincerity of his repentance.

The Bible says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:8-9.

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Remembering Important Things

Posted on January 18, 2013 by jesustrek

communion1

Husbands have been known to get into trouble with their wives for not remembering the date of their wedding. There are few marital sins greater than forgetting an anniversary!

Cheryl Bennett and Steven DeLong have come up with an almost foolproof way to remember their wedding date. Cheryl and Steven, longtime residents of Amesbury, Massachusetts, were married on a date that corresponds with the town’s ZIP code: 01913.

This plan might unravel if the couple should ever decide to move.

When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, he gave us a beautiful way to remember his sacrificial death. Every Sunday, Christians in every ZIP code gather together and celebrate communion, honoring the Savior who gave his life for his precious bride, the Church.

“On the first day of the week we came together to break bread…”—Acts 20:7.

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Properly Equipped

Posted on January 16, 2013 by jesustrek

Baseball-Catcher

While no one was voted into the baseball Hall of Fame this year, 3 men who died more than 70 years ago will be inducted into the Hall. These men were chosen by a 16-member panel considering individuals from the era before integration in 1947.

One of these 3 men is Deacon White. I know nothing about Mr. White except that he is described as a “barehanded catcher”.

What!? I can’t conceive of anyone attempting to play any position in baseball without a glove, especially the position of catcher! I wouldn’t last one batter! Imagine the physical toll it would take on a person’s body to be a baseball catcher without any protective equipment.

Now, imagine the spiritual toll it takes on a person who does not “put on the full armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-18). Without the protective gear provided by God (prayer, truth, righteousness, etc.), we would indeed take a spiritual beating!

Make sure you put on your protective equipment every day.

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Sin that Entangles

Posted on January 14, 2013 by jesustrek

Many years ago, as a doctor was preparing to go to a medical conference in a distant city, his wife sat down with him to have a serious talk. She said, “I know that you will face temptations while you are gone. I just hope that you don’t do anything that we can’t talk about when you get home.”

More recently, the same doctor was once again getting ready to go to an out of town meeting. Once again, his wife sat down with him to have a serious talk. She said, “I know that you will face temptations while you are gone. I just hope that you don’t eat anything that will upset your stomach.”

The things that tempt us might change over the years, but we still have to be on guard against sin. Hebrews 12:1 says, “…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”

How have your temptations changed over time?

What precautions are you taking to keep from getting tangled up in sin?

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ThinkHoly

Posted on January 12, 2013 by jesustrek
Louie Giglio

Louie Giglio

Evangelical preacher Louie Giglio was asked to give the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony on January 21. However, Giglio will not participate in the event after a controversy arose over comments he made in the 1990s about homosexual behavior. The liberal website ThinkProgress posted excerpts of a sermon where Giglio criticizes homosexuality as unacceptable behavior in Christianity.

While liberals are shouting their tired and misleading refrain of “Homophobia!”, Giglio’s position is nothing new. Both Old and New Testaments consistently forbid homosexual behavior. Recent attempts to explain away these Scriptures have failed miserably.

(By the way, I understand that President Obama, who came out in favor of “gay marriage” during his re-election campaign, is planning to place his hand on a Bible as he is sworn in for his second term. What irony!)

I have not heard any recent comments from Mr. Giglio on his views, but I hope that he continues to stand firm on the truth.

Will you?

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Legible

Posted on January 11, 2013 by jesustrek

jacob lew

President Obama has nominated Jacob “Jack” Lew to become the next treasury secretary of the United States. The treasury secretary’s signature appears on the dollar bill, which is interesting, since Mr. Lew’s signature is completely illegible.

The president jokingly says that Lew promises to do a better job signing his name “in order not to debase our currency.”

Our lifestyle says more about who we are than our handwriting does. I suppose we could say that our lives are our “signature”.

Jesus says, “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.

Make sure people can read your signature.

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Nearby Threat

Posted on January 10, 2013 by jesustrek

FBI_New_agent_training

The FBI has recently made some changes in the way they train their agents to handle firearms. The agency once focused on long-range marksmanship training. However, studies have shown that 75% of shootings involving FBI agents consisted of suspects who were within 3 yards of agents when shots were exchanged. Therefore, the new training regimen will now focus more on threats from a short distance away.

Church leaders are aware of outside threats to the Lord’s work. However, the Bible also warns us about dangers that are nearby. David writes, “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.” (Psalm 55:12-14).

In my 20 years in fulltime ministry, I have endured my share of “friendly fire”. Just to name a few–a Sunday School teacher who planned her lessons to contradict my sermons, a deacon who angrily rebelled against the church leaders in a public meeting and an elder who tried to turn the other elders against me.

We shouldn’t be paranoid, but we have to be realistic. Sometimes Satan gains influence over people in the church. We should be ready to respond, biblically and decisively, against any such threat to the Lord’s work.

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One of Us

Posted on January 9, 2013 by jesustrek
Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall

When Jane Goodall was in her 20s, she travelled to Africa to observe chimpanzees in Tanzania. Things didn’t go so well at first. As soon as the chimps saw her, they ran away.

Not to be deterred, Goodall decided to imitate the chimps’ behavior. She ate what she saw them eating. She spent hours sitting in trees. In time, the chimps began to see her as one of their own. After she had been with them for two years, they no longer showed any fear of her.

God decided that, in order not to frighten us, he would come to earth as a human. By living the way we lived, he identified with us, and we are able to identify with him. If he had done it any other way, it would have been too scary for us.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”—John 1:14.

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