Prayer of Submission

Posted on July 24, 2012 by jesustrek

The following prayer was written by Ben Cachiaras.

DEAR GOD,

Disturb me. Rouse me from sleepy paths of comfortable faith that too easily become dangerous ruts of safety rather than the adventurous path you have called me to walk with you. Forgive me for focusing more on what I want you to do for “my ministry” and “my life” than what you may want me to do for you and for your kingdom. Help me to remember that your call to me is simply to follow—and that you are on the move always. Push me, Jesus, with the lifting power of your Spirit out of stagnant places I’ve been in. Prod me past the horizons formed by my fear. Give me an attitude that is finally ready to follow you, Jesus, no matter what. I want to go beyond. I really do, Lord. Where you lead me, I will follow. No turning back.

AMEN.

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What’s On Your Plate?

Posted on July 23, 2012 by jesustrek

 

Daniel asked that he not be forced to eat the diet prescribed for the king’s trainees. He preferred vegetables and water. When the king’s official hesitated to go along with this idea, Daniel proposed a test. Just let them try the vegetable and water diet for ten days, and then make an assessment. The official agreed to this, and after only ten days, there was a noticeable improvement in the health of Daniel and his friends. So they were allowed to eat vegetables and drink water as their regular diet. (Daniel 1:1-16).

 

Mothers should be quick to use this Scripture to encourage their children to eat their vegetables! The Bible says that they are good for you!

 

We all should take this part of the Bible into serious consideration. It could be said that changing to a healthier diet can naturally bring about noticeable positive changes in as little as ten days. Or we might deduce that perhaps God supernaturally intervenes in the lives of those who try to take care of their bodies and helps them to have better health.

 

Either way, you will be better off if you try to eat a healthy diet. So be sure to eat your veggies!

 

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Slow to React

Posted on July 20, 2012 by jesustrek

Last night a gunman opened fire in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, at the opening of the new Batman movie. Information is still coming in, but as of this moment, 12 people are dead and at least 50 have been injured.

Early reports say that members of the audience were slow to react to the violence because they thought it was part of the entertainment.

The church has been slow to react to the violence that has been perpetrated against our society. We are supposed to be the light that shines and the salt that preserves. But while the church remained seated, more than a tenth of our nation’s population has been aborted, killed in the womb. While the church watches passively, the God-given institution of marriage is being denigrated by people of all sexual preferences. While the church is frozen in place, greedy and lazy people are given money that is taken from hard-working taxpayers.

The church needs to wake up and realize that we are not mere spectators at a movie. We are involved in spiritual warfare. Satan is attacking our nation. He is attacking the American family. He wants to destroy as many lives as he possibly can.

This is no time for slow reactions. It’s time to fight back!

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”—1 Peter 5:8-9.

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Rich Someday

Posted on July 19, 2012 by jesustrek

A four-year-old boy rushed up to his grandfather and said, “Make a sound like a frog, Grandpa!”

“What?!” the old man responded.

“Make a sound like a frog!”

“Now, why in the world would you want me to do that?”

“Because Daddy says when you croak, we’ll have a lot of money!”

Sometimes we spend so much time looking forward to our earthly inheritance that we don’t take time to enjoy the eternal inheritance we have waiting for us.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”—1 Peter 1:3-5.

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Hobbies

Posted on July 18, 2012 by jesustrek

Most preachers I know have some sort of a hobby. Many play golf. Others hunt or fish. I recently met a preacher who has taken up fencing. That’s right; this man of the cloth is a sword fighter!

I immediately thought of how it could benefit the church if people in the congregation knew that the preacher had this talent. For instance, board meetings would definitely have less conflict and more cooperation if the preacher brought his sword with him!

I suppose it would be more spiritual if we could keep the peace without the threat of weapons. Less exciting maybe–but more spiritual.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”—Matthew 5:9.

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Not Half Bad

Posted on July 18, 2012 by jesustrek

I saw a funny T-shirt in Cozumel today. It had a huge 333 at the top. Underneath that number it said: “I’m only half evil.”

Most people think that they aren’t all that bad. They are better than most people they know. Certainly they are good enough that God will have to let them into heaven, right?

They certainly don’t get that idea from Scripture. The Bible plainly says that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Without Jesus we are not even half good; not by a long shot.

However, once we accept  Jesus as our Savior, all that changes. God looks upon those who have been redeemed by Jesus in a different light.

Romans 3:23-24 explains this: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Now that would make a great T-shirt!

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Taking a Stand

Posted on July 14, 2012 by jesustrek

Bob Russell preached at the Friday morning session at the North American Christian Convention in Orlando. In his sermon, Bob reminded us that the church must not try to become more like the world in an effort to be accepted by the world. The fact that we are not like the world is reason enough to make them hate us. “They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.” (1 Peter 4:4).

Russell pointed out that one of the main areas of difference today between the world and the church is concerning the acceptance of gay marriage. From the very beginning, God instituted marriage as a union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Jesus reaffirmed God’s definition of marriage when he said, “But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mark 10:6-9).

The church’s position on marriage is clearly spelled out in Scripture. The world’s position—while indefensible—is becoming more and more apparent. The world is trying to force its view on the church, and many Christians are showing signs of confusion and weakness.

It has been said that you aren’t really taking a stand against Satan if you are willing to oppose him along the frontline everywhere except the point where his is pushing his main attack. Russell asked the convention attenders, if you can’t take a stand for marriage—the first human institution ordained by God—then what can you stand for?

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”—Ephesians 6:13.

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With the Great Ones

Posted on July 13, 2012 by jesustrek

We had some wonderful speakers at the North American Christian Convention in Orlando this week. I felt privileged to get close to some of them. I sat just a few feet away from Reggie McNeal as he presented a seminar. I spoke to Bob Russell in the hallway. I sat 3 rows from Rick Warren in the worship service this morning. It was so wonderful to be in the presence of such greatness!

Oh, and Jesus was there too!

“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”—Matthew 28:20.

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Heroes

Posted on July 12, 2012 by jesustrek

One of my heroes died yesterday.

I first heard of Billy when he was a star pitcher for a Little League baseball team in a nearby town. I later met him when we played on the same high school basketball team; he was a senior when I was a freshman. Still later, we became teammates on a softball team that won the Kentucky state tournament in 1979. Along the way I grew to love him dearly.

I looked up to Billy in many ways. He was a great athlete who excelled in every sport he tried. He had a winning personality; everybody liked Billy. He was a respected businessman in the community. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Billy’s parents were proud of him. Who wouldn’t want to be like Billy?

I moved away from my hometown for many years, so I didn’t see Billy often, but I still admired him from a distance.

Billy began to experience some serious health problems. A serious heart attack at a young age led to a heart transplant. If that wasn’t enough, cancer attacked his body…several times. Billy always fought back. Even in sickness, he was a good role model, speaking at churches about how—with the Lord’s help–he had dealt with adversity.

Billy had won so many battles against serious illness, his friends and family thought he would win this latest battle as well. But even heroes have to die sometime. One of mine, Billy Barbour, died yesterday morning.

We will meet again, and it is all made possible by a hero who will live forever—Jesus Christ!

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Face in the Cloud

Posted on July 11, 2012 by jesustrek

The Tuesday evening session of this year’s North American Christian Convention included a tribute to some of our influential servants who died in the past year. Among these faithful men and women were church leaders, teachers, preachers, worship leaders and those who worked for Christian colleges.

As the names appeared one-by-one on the big screen, I wondered if Fred’s name would be there. This friend of mine passed away last September. After decades of preaching the gospel and ministering in local churches, this dear saint went to receive his heavenly reward.

Fred worked with me in his retirement years. He occasionally filled the pulpit and was diligent in shepherding the flock. He and his wife Marge were great encouragers to me in my ministry. I thought that it would be a well-deserved tribute to Fred if his name were included with the others who were being recognized.

Finally, there it was—Fred Whitacre. Even though I had anticipated the moment, I still was surprised by the emotional impact. It was a very moving experience to see my friend honored this way.

The Bible says that we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses”, faithful people who have gone on before us (Hebrews 12:1). It means a lot to me to know that Fred is now among that great cloud.

Do you have someone in heaven who inspires you to keep the faith?

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