Lost and Found

Posted on October 23, 2012 by jesustrek

Corn mazes have become a popular activity for many people. Some farmers have found that they can make some extra money by taking advantage of this trend.

One of the more elaborate corn mazes is at Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, California, where Mark and Matt Cooley have designed a course that winds its way through 53 acres of corn. It can take visitors up to two hours to find their way out.

I don’t know about you, but this is not my idea of a fun time. I can get lost easily enough on my own. I can’t imagine paying money to become any more confused than I already am!

Sometimes life seems like a maze. Many people are wandering around in a state of moral confusion. They are lost, and it seems unlikely that they will ever get back on the right track.

Thankfully, God has given us a map to safety, the Bible. His Word will lead us on the right path and will guide us safely through life’s maze.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”—Proverbs 16:25.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”—Psalm 119:105.

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Bullet-Proof

Posted on October 22, 2012 by jesustrek

Officer John Rainey, of the Nicholasville (KY) police department, got out of his cruiser last Friday evening to investigate a man who was acting suspiciously. The suspect opened fire on Rainey, striking him in the back.

Fortunately, Officer Rainey was wearing a bullet-resistant vest, and the only injury he received was a severe bruise. The protective body wear at least kept Rainey from serious injury, and perhaps saved his life.

Scripture makes it clear that the devil is taking aim at each of us, hoping to inflict great harm. Our only hope is to put on the armor that God gives us (Ephesians 6:10-18). Only then can we be guaranteed to have full protection against spiritual harm.

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”—Ephesians 6:2.

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Simple Reminder

Posted on October 20, 2012 by jesustrek

When the Israelites entered the promised land, the Lord had them to set up 12 stones as a reminder of what the Lord had done for them. This simple memorial would be used to tell the story of God’s goodness and greatness to future generations (Joshua 4).

12 stones? That doesn’t seem like much of a monument. Surely something more elaborate could be established to help people remember the Lord who had brought them out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea for them, provided them with manna from heaven and water out of a rock, kept their clothing from wearing out and led them with his glorious presence for 40 years.

But all that the Lord asked for was this simple monument.

And all he asks us to do today to be reminded of his goodness and mercy is to participate in the Lord’s Supper. All we need to remind us of Jesus’ sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection is a simple meal of juice and bread.

It is a simple reminder, but a powerful one. Let us continually remember the love and mercy that God has shown us through his Son, Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

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

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Hospitality

Posted on October 18, 2012 by jesustrek

 

Hospitality is one of the qualities that we ought to see in a church leader (Titus 1:8). For obvious reasons, we want our elders to be men who are willing to share their lives with others.

 

In addition to inviting people into your home, there are other ways that we can show hospitality. For instance, one of our elders and his wife recently treated my wife and me to a play in a nearby town. We had lunch in their home before riding with them to our destination. After the play, they treated us to a milkshake. (Chocolate!)  We all had a delightful time.

 

A couple of days later, another elder and his wife blessed my wife and me with tickets to a Christian concert. We drove with them to the concert, and, once again, enjoyed a good time.

 

Every Christian ought to strive to be hospitable. What ideas can you come up with to share your life with other Christians?  

 

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Showing Appreciation

Posted on October 17, 2012 by jesustrek

Derek Jeter

The New York Yankees’ hopes for success in this year’s playoffs took a severe blow when team captain Derek Jeter broke his ankle in the 12th inning of the first game of the AL Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers.

As the 38-year-old Jeter was helped off the field, the fans showed their appreciation for their star player by chanting his name.

The members of my church have yet to chant my name on a Sunday morning, but this past Sunday they showed their appreciation for me (their preacher) and our youth minister in various ways. We received gifts from the congregation, cards signed by the members and many kind words of encouragement.

While not every Sunday is Pastor Appreciation Day, any time is a good time to be thankful for your church leaders—including those who earn their living in some vocation other than ministry.

How can you encourage a church leader today?

“Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”—1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.

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From Mascot to Hero

Posted on October 16, 2012 by jesustrek

 

Trent Bauer, a junior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky, started out this football season as the team mascot. He suited up in a bulldog costume for the first game of the season.

 

However, Bauer found that he had a desire to play football again, something he hadn’t done since he was 10 years old. When he asked if he could help the team in any way, the coach welcomed him, thinking he might be able to use Bauer on the junior varsity.

 

After doing well in a couple of junior varsity games, Bauer got a chance to play in the closing minutes of a varsity game. He threw a couple of touchdown passes, and earned a starting assignment in the next game.

 

Bauer struggled for the first three quarters of the game, but with the final seconds counting down, he fired a touchdown pass that gave his team a come-from-behind victory over cross-town rival Henry Clay.

 

This remarkable story of a young man who quickly went from mascot to hero reminds us that we may have opportunities to succeed in ways that are far beyond our wildest dreams. David went from shepherd boy to giant-killer in a day’s time. Just imagine what feats we might accomplish if we just continue to show up and offer to do whatever we can for the Lord’s team!

 

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”—Galatians 6:9.

 

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So Small

Posted on October 15, 2012 by jesustrek

 

Felix Baumgartner

 

Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner successfully completed a 24-mile jump through the stratosphere yesterday. Reaching a speed of over 833 miles per hour, Baumgartner became the first skydiver to fall faster than the speed of sound.

 

After the jump, Baumgartner reflected, “Sometimes we have to get really high to see how small we are.”

 

You can also get a perspective of our smallness simply by looking up into the heavens. David wrote, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:3-5).

 

The universe can indeed make us seem small and insignificant. Yet God wants us to know that each one of us is very important to him, and that we have a special role to play in life.

 

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If You Love Him

Posted on October 12, 2012 by jesustrek

Chapter 21 of John’s gospel records an interesting exchange between Jesus and Simon Peter. Not long removed from denying Jesus three times, Peter was asked by Jesus, three times, if he loved him. After the third time, Peter was hurt by the question, and he responded, as he had twice before, that yes, he did indeed love Jesus.

Each time that Peter answered that he loved him, Jesus exhorted him to feed or take care of his sheep. If what is true for Peter is also true for us, it seems that one of the greatest things we could do to show our love for the one who died for us is to take care of his people.

How’s that coming along?

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Special Days

Posted on October 11, 2012 by jesustrek

Today’s date is unusual—10-11-12. Some people consider dates that form such a numeric sequence to be special days. They believe that there is some sort of significance to these days; that such dates will bring good fortune in some way. Some have even planned their wedding day to fall on such a date, hoping that it will bring them good luck.

Most Christians don’t give these ideas a whole lot of thought. We cherish each day as a gift from God—a blessing to be experienced and a chance to serve God and help other people.

Therefore, we pray like the Psalmist—“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12). We hope to use this wisdom to “…make the most of every opportunity.” (Colossians 4:5). And we gladly offer our worship to God. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).

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Anxious to Learn

Posted on October 10, 2012 by jesustrek

Our friends’ young son was anxious to start school because he looked forward to learning how to read. When he came home from his first day of school, the young fellow was obviously upset, so his mother asked him what was wrong. With his arms crossed and a stern look on his face, he replied, “They did not teach me how to read!”

He could have used more patience, but you have to admire the little guy’s desire to learn.

We don’t learn in a single day everything we need to know about following Jesus. Sometimes our progress is slow, and we might tend to get discouraged. However, let’s never lose the desire to gain more understanding about the Christian life. The better informed we are, the more enjoyable the journey will be.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16-17.

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