Up the Creek

Posted on August 14, 2012 by jesustrek

I recently took up canoeing. About a hundred yards from my house there is a good place to put my canoe in the Ohio River.

A couple of days ago, I was all set to go out on the water. I put the canoe on the caddy I use to wheel it to the river. I had my life jacket with me, along with a cooler filled with drinks and snacks. I was almost to the river before I noticed that I had forgotten something very important—my paddle!

Knowing that I wouldn’t get anywhere without this important piece of equipment, I left the canoe and went back to retrieve the paddle. Only then could I take my trip.

Some people seem to think they can get somewhere without Jesus. However, he says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Don’t be caught up the creek without Jesus!

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

All That’s Left

Posted on August 13, 2012 by jesustrek

Today is “Left-Handers Day”. Since I am part of the 10 percent of Americans who are left-handed, I can sympathize with others who share in the struggles of being a lefty. Only those who have fumbled with can openers, scissors and other gadgets made for right-handed people can fully appreciate how difficult life can be for this beleaguered minority.

I keep hoping that Ned Flanders will open up a “Leftorium” here in our town. I have thought about walking across the United States to raise awareness for the plight of left-handed people.

I suppose I’ll just accept the fact that life will always be difficult, not only for lefties, but for people of all handedness.

Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

The Bible never sugarcoats anything. Jesus plainly says that we will have trouble. But peace and, ultimately, victory, are available to those who trust Jesus.

Posted in Christian Living, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rise and Shine!

Posted on August 9, 2012 by jesustrek

I had just spent an intense week with several teenagers on the campus of a Christian college. We had gathered, along with hundreds of other teens and adult sponsors, for inspiring worship, dynamic speakers and challenging workshops. It was truly a mountaintop experience, and many had enjoyed some type of renewal or revival.

I saw one of the teenage boys around town the day after we came back home. We talked about what a great experience we had just had together. It happened to be a Saturday, and when we prepared to go our separate ways, I said, “I’ll see you in church tomorrow”.

I’ll never forget his response—“If I wake up in time!”

There are too many people spiritually sleep-walking through life. They have every chance in the world to respond to God’s creation and His goodness and mercy revealed in the Scripture and in the life of His Son Jesus. However, they fail to wake up and make the proper response of a lifetime of service and devotion to the One who would rather send His Son to a cruel death than to live in heaven without us.

The Bible warns against spiritual sleep-walking—“…The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11).

I have kept track of the young man I mentioned above. He appears to be showing signs of awakening.

May we all be found awake, alert and living for Jesus!

Posted in Christian Living, Church | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Godly Attitude Toward Diet

Posted on August 7, 2012 by jesustrek

Ryan Lochte

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte did not trust the local food when he competed in Beijing four years ago. So he went to McDonald’s for most meals, and as a result says he gained about ten pounds.

Since then, Lochte has become somewhat of a fanatic about eating a healthy diet. He thinks that this has been a big part of the reason for his success in the 2012 Olympics.

The Bible says that a Christian’s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and therefore we should honor God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This principle implies that we should give some thought to our daily diet.

Daniel and his friends were blessed because they chose a healthy diet over the royal food and drink prescribed by the king (Daniel 1). We can expect to be blessed also if we make healthy choices about what we eat and drink.

Trying to live a healthy lifestyle is one way that we can honor God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Posted in Christian Living, Sports | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Off Target

Posted on August 6, 2012 by jesustrek

 

Matt Emmons is a world-class marksman who is perhaps best known for a critical mistake he made in an important competition. While participating in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Emmons had a comfortable lead going into the final round of the 50-meter, three-position rifle competition. Winning the gold medal seemed like a sure thing.

 

Emmons fired at the last target and was surprised that the automatic scoring system did not give him any credit for his shots. When the judge examined the target more closely, it was determined that it had not been hit at all. However, there were three extra holes in the target in the next lane over!

 

Emmons had aimed at the wrong target, and this mistake cost him dearly. Instead of winning the gold, he finished in eighth place.

 

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

 

Make sure you are aiming at the right target! The stakes are much too high to make that kind of mistake!

 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”—Matthew 6:33.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Help for the Hurting

Posted on August 3, 2012 by jesustrek

Someone in Longview, Washington injured a duck with a blow dart. People noticed the wounded bird and tried to help it. But the duck was able to swim and fly, so it avoided capture for more than a month. Finally, parks workers netted the bird, and it was treated for a few days and then released.

Some people are hurting very badly, and Jesus would love to help them. But they continue to run away from the healing that they so desperately need.

Listen to the heart of Jesus—“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37).

Are you hurting in such a way that only Jesus can help? Don’t run away from the Healer! Run toward him!

Posted in Christian Living | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lackluster Effort

Posted on August 2, 2012 by jesustrek

It seems that 8 Olympic badminton players, representing 3 different nations, have been kicked out of the London Olympic games for not giving their best effort to win. The players defended themselves by saying that they were conserving their energy for the next round. However, it is speculated that they were attempting to control who their opponent would be in the quarterfinals, which is a breach of conduct for the sport.

Michelle Kaufman, of the Miami Herald, writes, “According to published reports, the players did not seem to be exerting themselves and the longest rally in the first game was four strokes. The referee, Thorsten Berg of Denmark, went onto the court at one point and warned the players of their conduct amid a chorus of boos.”

I wonder if some half-hearted Christians would put forth more of an effort if they faced the possibility of being publicly chastised by their leaders, or if the rest of the church could boo their performance?

I suppose the best motivation to do our best would be to remember that Jesus died for us.

“To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”—Colossians 1:29.

Posted in Christian Living, Church, Communion Meditations, Current Events, Sports | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Stress Marks

Posted on August 1, 2012 by jesustrek

One of my bicycle routes takes me past a commercial sand and gravel pit. You can tell a marked difference between the two sides of the roadway at this point. The highway leading away from the pit is cracked and depressed because of the heavy loads carried by the trucks that are leaving. The other side of the road, which is travelled by empty trucks coming in to pick up a load, is noticeably less stressed.

I suppose that if a person is carrying a load for Jesus, he or she might show some signs of stress. Paul, the apostle, certainly felt that way. In Galatians 6:17, he says, “…I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

While most Christians today have not had to face the physical beatings that Paul endured, it does take a toll on us to live for Jesus. The world heaps scorn upon us. Even well-meaning people question our actions and motives. This causes a lot of stress. We shouldn’t think that this is strange; it is actually to be expected.

It seems that Paul considered these stress marks to be a badge of honor. Perhaps we should do the same.

What kind of marks do you bear for Jesus?

Posted in Christian Living | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Point of Entry

Posted on July 31, 2012 by jesustrek

While on a family cruise in the Bahamas a few years ago, my wife was talking with a lady she had just met. As usual, the conversation turned to questions about where everyone was from. My wife said, “Well, I live in Indiana, my mother-in-law is from Kentucky and my aunt is from Texas. The lady mulled over that statement for a few seconds before asking, “Where did you get on the boat?”

She was soon embarrassed as she realized the absurdity of her question. We had all gotten on the boat in Miami, of course!

Many people have the idea that they can get on the boat to heaven at different places. They reason that all religions are good, and that as long as you are sincere about what you believe you will safely reach your eternal destination.

Jesus doesn’t give us that option. The One who claimed to be God in the flesh says, “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

Posted in Christian Living, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finishing the Race

Posted on July 30, 2012 by jesustrek

John Stephen Akhwari

John Stephen Akhwari represented Tanzania in the 1968 Olympics at Mexico City. Akhwari’s event was the marathon, a grueling 26.2 mile race.

Early in the race he fell and severely cut his calf. He also injured his knee in the fall, but despite the painful injury, he was determined to keep running. Bystanders tried to get Akhwari to drop out of the race and get some medical attention, but he refused to do so. Each step was excruciating, but he was set on finishing the race.

Long after all the other runners had finished the race, the runner from Tanzania entered the stadium and headed for the finish line. The remaining spectators cheered in appreciation; they knew that they were witnessing an amazing moment.

After the race, a reporter asked Akhwari why he had not dropped out of the race, since he could not possibly win and he was in so much pain. He replied, “My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish.”

The Bible compares the Christian life to running a race. Let us be reminded that Jesus does not merely call us to begin the race; he expects us to finish it!

“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.”—Galatians 5:7-8.

Posted in Christian Living, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment