Taking Time to Listen

Posted on May 28, 2012 by jesustrek

I had the honor of praying at a Memorial Day service today at the Veterans Park in our town. The service also included a brief, inspiring speech by our state representative and the playing of our national anthem. A group of veterans provided a 21-gun salute and played “Taps”. The ceremony concluded with the placing of a wreath on the park’s memorial monument.

I felt blessed as I turned to leave, but the greatest blessing was yet to come. A friend introduced me to a World War II veteran who is just a few months shy of his 90th birthday. The old soldier was happy to meet me, and he shared some of his memories about his contribution to the war effort.

Even though it was hot, and everyone else had left, I was happy to stay and listen to how this gentleman had served his country. Sometimes listening helps you to better appreciate things that are important.

So it is with Jesus. Sometimes we just need to stop and listen once again to the story of how he served us by giving his life on the cross to pay for our sins. Then we can truly appreciate his sacrifice and enjoy the blessing that comes from being saved.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16.

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Take the Plunge

Posted on May 25, 2012 by jesustrek

I heard about a preacher who had agreed to baptize someone who wanted to become a Christian. When the man arrived at the location where he was to be baptized, the preacher was surprised to see him wearing a complete SCUBA diving outfit! The preacher exclaimed, “I’m not sure you completely understand the concept of faith!”

The Bible says, “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Yet sometimes we approach situations with our SCUBA gear rather than our faith! Is there some area of life in which you are not fully trusting God? Maybe it’s time to show some faith and take the plunge!

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Conditioned Response

Posted on May 24, 2012 by jesustrek

There is a dog in my home town that barks at every passing train. As many trains as there are going through town, you would think that the dog would finally quit barking. But I suppose that he thinks he is being successful. Every time a train infringes on his territory, he barks at it. And every time he barks at a train, it goes away–every single time. The dog feels that he is rewarded for his behavior, so he keeps barking.

I see at least two applications for this story.

First is a lesson for parents. Many children continue to throw tantrums because they have been rewarded for doing so. When they cry long enough and loud enough, their parents give in and give them anything they want. They have learned from experience that it pays to raise a fuss.

Church leaders can also learn from this example. Many church members continue to be loud, belligerent and rebellious because this has enabled them to get their way. When leaders cave in to childish tantrums, immature people are rewarded for their misbehavior. When this occurs, leaders can only expect a repeat performance sometime in the future.

So, if you are leading a family or a church, just remember—don’t reward bad behavior!

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”—2 Timothy 4:2.

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Obesity and Hunger

Posted on May 23, 2012 by jesustrek

According to a Tamara Sandberg article that appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader on May 21, there is a paradox in Kentucky and the rest of the U.S. It appears that people are obese and hungry at the same time.

The simple answer to the problem is two-fold. First, you have to consider the amount and the quality of calories that a person consumes. Second, you have to determine the amount of exercise this person gets. A combination of proper diet and exercise will improve the health of any individual.

This principle can be applied to spiritual health as well. I suppose you could make an argument that many people are both spiritually obese and hungry at the same time. They find themselves too unfit and weak to effectively serve the Lord.

The solution to the problem is similar to the one for those with health concerns. First, you have to consider your intake. Are you feeding on the Bible, or some sugar-coated ideas that might seem spiritual? A lot of people are spiritually fat and weak from a constant diet of Oprah Winfrey or some other new age religious teachings.

Second, you have to ask yourself, “Am I getting any spiritual exercise? Am I doing what the Bible says to do, or am I merely reading about what I am supposed to do?” No exercise program is effective unless you do what it says. You can read the book or watch the video for hours, but you won’t receive any benefit unless you get moving.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”—1 Peter 2:2-3.

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”—Philippians 4:9.

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Religious Freedom

Posted on May 22, 2012 by jesustrek

Roman Catholic leaders filed lawsuits yesterday against the Obama administration’s mandate that employers provide birth control coverage for workers. They contend that the requirement violates religious freedom.

Many Christians do not agree with the Roman Catholic position on birth control. However, all believers must be concerned with the on-going assault on religious freedom.

The Obama administration is pushing an agenda that should be alarming to all Christians. We are being told that abortion and homosexual marriage must not merely be tolerated; they must be accepted by all and promoted in our domestic and foreign policies.

We must take a stand against these attacks on our religious freedoms. Thankfully, Roman Catholic leaders are doing just that. Among the plaintiffs in these lawsuits is the University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame president, the Rev. John Jenkins, said, “Although I do not question the good intentions and sincerity of all involved in these discussions, progress has not been encouraging.”

I agree with Rev. Jenkins that progress has not been encouraging. However, I fail to share his trust in the Obama administration’s good intentions and sincerity. How about you?

Proverbs 25:26 says, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.” Let’s do what we can to clean up the water and preserve our religious freedoms.

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At the Name of Jesus

Posted on May 21, 2012 by jesustrek

I was asked to pray at our local high school’s graduation ceremony that took place last week. Thankful to have that privilege, I gladly accepted the invitation, and offered both an invocation and a benediction in the name of Jesus.

This would not have happened in many parts of the U.S. Some school districts only allow student-initiated prayer. In other places, prayer has been banned altogether from school functions. This has led to some interesting occurrences. For instance, at some graduations, a student has faked a loud sneeze, and the other seniors shouted in unison, “God bless you!” That’s one way of getting in some kind of a prayer!

Public prayers have been banned or restricted in the name of religious tolerance. It seems to me that some can’t tolerate Christianity.

Some argue that if public prayers offend someone, that is reason enough to ban them. I have been offended by sermons and prayers that I didn’t agree with. That’s no reason to abolish them altogether. Since when does anyone have the right to never be offended?

The core issue here is that our country no longer agrees on who God is. When this nation was established with the principle of providing religious freedom for all, the founders agreed that the God of the Bible, Jesus Christ, was Lord of all. That consensus is not so strong today, and there-in lies the problem.

People can argue about this issue all they want, but the matter has already been settled. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:9-11.

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More than a Nod

Posted on May 18, 2012 by jesustrek

A farmer once complained that he owned the laziest rooster that ever existed. He said that the rooster was too lazy to even crow when the sun came up in the morning. He simply waited until some other rooster crowed—and then nodded his head in agreement!

Don’t be the person in church who merely nods while others are saying and doing what needs to be said and done!

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”—Hebrews 6:12.

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Better Toss

Posted on May 17, 2012 by jesustrek

I recently saw something at a high school baseball game that I had never seen before. A batter drew a walk and tossed his bat toward the dugout. However, his bat landed far short of where he intended. Most players would have just shrugged it off and continued toward first base, leaving the job of retrieving the bat to someone else. But this young man wasn’t content to do that. Not pleased with his initial effort, he jogged over to the bat and gave it a second toss. This time it landed in a much more appropriate spot. Now satisfied, the runner proceeded to take his base.

It might seem like a small, unimportant incident, but I think there is much to be said in favor of doing things the right way—even the small tasks. Jesus wasn’t content with giving a mediocre effort. At one point during his ministry, “People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said…” (Mark 7:37).

We ought to follow the example of Jesus and try to achieve excellence in all that we do.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”—Ecclesiastes 9:10.

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In the Strength You Have

Posted on May 16, 2012 by jesustrek

Gideon was an unlikely hero. He was threshing wheat in a most unlikely place, a winepress, in order to hide from Israel’s enemies. An angel of the Lord met him there and said to him, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12).

Mighty warrior? Really? God apparently saw the potential in Gideon, even while he was in hiding. God had plans for Gideon, and he sent him out to do great things. Gideon had some questions and reservations along the way, but he stepped out in faith and trusted God to be with him.

Perhaps the key verse in Gideon’s calling is Judges 6:14—“The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

We get our meaning in life from the sense that God has a purpose for us. He calls us to himself and sends us out to do things that we could never accomplish without his help.

The world may never see you as a hero, but God views you as a mighty warrior as long as you stay faithful to his call. You may feel as weak and insignificant as Gideon did, but the message to us is essentially the same—“Go in the strength you have.”

Let’s all continue on our journey of faith—in the strength we have—knowing that God is with us every step of the way.

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No Change

Posted on May 15, 2012 by jesustrek

There once was a cantankerous middle-aged woman who griped and complained constantly. She was especially hard on her husband. The poor fellow couldn’t seem to ever do anything right.

This woman began attending church with a friend and decided to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Everyone rejoiced at her baptism. They were delighted that she had been converted.

However, her family was disappointed to see that there was very little change in her disposition. The woman was just as bitter and critical as she had been before. One day her husband remarked to a close friend, “I don’t mind her being born again, but why did she have to come back as herself?”

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”—2 Corinthians 5:17.

In what ways have you changed since you became a follower of Jesus?

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