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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Foretaste of Glory Divine

Posted on July 11, 2012 by jesustrek

I’m in Orlando, Florida this week for the 2012 North American Christian Convention. The NACC is an annual meeting of members of the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.

My wife and I started attending the NACC in the mid-nineties, and the only one we have missed since then is the year we took a mission trip to Thailand. The convention means a lot to us, and we always look forward to attending.

I have long thought that the word “convention” is quite misleading. I don’t know what I would have called it, but the NACC seems to be more of a gathering for fellowship and worship.

We always see a lot of old friends at the North American—many of whom we met in school, or served with in previous churches. It’s wonderful to see old familiar faces and get caught up with people we haven’t seen in a while. It’s fun to see other people exchange smiles and hugs as they meet up with their old friends too.

This particular NACC is especially exciting for me, because in addition to my wife, I also have my mother, two aunts and the youth minister from our church here with me. I look forward to spending time with them.

However, the worship services at the NACC are more important to me than the fellowship (although I suppose it could be argued that you really can’t completely separate the two). It is always a moving experience when thousands of brothers and sisters in Christ gather to worship God in spirit and in truth.

The fellowship and worship that I so eagerly anticipate is a glimpse of what heaven will be like, when countless believers—from every age and from all over the world—will be gathered together to praise God forever!

It’s going to be a great week!

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About Face

Posted on July 9, 2012 by jesustrek

While preaching recently, I was right in the middle of a humorous story when I suddenly realized that I was telling the wrong joke! I had never made this particular mistake before (although I have made most of the other mistakes that are possible to make while preaching!).

I had to make a quick decision. If I finished the joke, it would make absolutely no point in the context of the sermon. So, in mid-story, I admitted my mistake, bailed out on the joke and told the one that I had meant to tell.

When all was said and done, the fact that I had messed up brought more laughter than if the story had gone as planned.

It’s always best to admit our mistakes. Quite often, the situation is more serious than being in the middle of the wrong joke. People find themselves in the middle of a wrong relationship, a wrong world view, a wrong lifestyle or a wrong mindset. The right thing to do when you realize that you are in the middle of a wrong story is to stop, admit your mistake, and begin to do the right thing.

The Bible calls this “repentance”.

“…But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”—Luke 13:5.

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Up the Creek with a Paddle

Posted on July 7, 2012 by jesustrek

Yesterday I took a short canoe trip up the Ohio River. The temperature was close to 100 degrees and the water was calm when I put in about a hundred yards from my house.

In the hour-and-a-half I was on the water, I enjoyed several fascinating sights from God’s creation.

Schools of minnows swarmed along the surface. Bigger fish occasionally jumped out of the water. Some even bigger ones lurked in the shallows.

The birds, too, put on quite a show. Small birds of prey swooped down to catch an unsuspecting fish. A larger hawk landed in a tree to begin his stakeout for dinner. Then I saw a bald eagle flying up ahead of me. (It might have been a bigger thrill to see a bald eagle on July 4 than on July 6, but I doubt it.)

I really enjoyed seeing these beautiful sights, but I also witnessed some things that weren’t so beautiful. Trash floated down the river and littered both banks. It’s sad to see that so many people still don’t understand the importance of disposing of their garbage properly.

It occurred to me that my canoe trip was just a snapshot of life. We experience a lot of beauty along the way, but there is also no shortage of ugliness.

How do we deal with this? The Bible says we must “…Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9).

What type of evil might you encounter today, and how will you hate it?

What kind of good do you hope to see today, and how will you cling to it?

Happy paddling!

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