Getting Along

Posted on June 20, 2012 by jesustrek

Winston Churchill

Lady Nancy Astor reportedly once remarked to Winston Churchill, “Winston, if you were my husband, I’d poison your tea.” Churchill replied, “Nancy, if I were your husband, I’d drink it!”

It is impossible to get along with everyone. That’s hard for some people to accept, but Jesus didn’t get along with everyone, so why would you expect to be able to do so?

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t try. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” We should make every effort to have pleasant interactions with the people in our lives. However, some people make it impossible to have a peaceful relationship. If you have done your best, don’t fret over things that are out of your control.

And be careful whose tea you drink!

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Connections

Posted on June 19, 2012 by jesustrek

Warren Buffett

Billionaire Warren Buffet was once a water boy in the NFL. It seems that Buffett’s sister, Doris, was dating Dudley DeGroot Jr., whose father was the coach of the Redskins. Buffett says that he made a pest of himself until, finally, Dudley Jr. arranged for him to be a water boy. He got to sit on the bench and be up close to stars like Sammy Baugh. He says it was great.

Then his sister broke up with Dudley Jr. Buffett says that they let him go immediately.

I guess it’s true what they say—It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.

Jesus tells a story about some people who tried to gain admittance to a wedding banquet (which represents eternal life with Jesus), but were too late. “…”Sir! Sir!” they said. “Open the door for us!” But he replied, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.” (Matthew 25:11-12).

Yes, it’s who you know that counts!

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Fond Farewell

Posted on June 18, 2012 by jesustrek

A married couple became known throughout their neighborhood for their amorous morning ritual. Each day before the husband left for work, he gave his wife a huge bear hug and a long, passionate kiss.

One morning, the couple next door was observing this daily expression of love. The wife asked her husband, “Why don’t you do that?” He answered, “Why, I hardly know the woman!”

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”—Ephesians 5:25.

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Fathers’ Day Challenge

Posted on June 17, 2012 by jesustrek

Calling all Dads! God wants you to be the best father you can possibly be. How do you achieve that? Here is some godly advice.

First, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25). Here is a call for sacrificial love. Husbands are to lay their lives down for their wives. Many men like to think that they would be willing to make a huge sacrifice for the woman they love. They would even take a bullet for their wife if necessary! Most wives would be happy if their husbands would just take out the trash on a regular basis. Rather than wait for a chance to be a big hero, let’s make little sacrifices for our wives each day.

Second, love your children by raising them the right way. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4). I once tried to reach out to a family that didn’t come to church because the 3-year-old daughter didn’t like getting up in the morning. A toddler was making the most important spiritual decisions for the family! I hope your family is doing better than that. Fathers are given the main responsibility for the spiritual direction of the family. Don’t shirk that responsibility!

Most importantly, if you want to be a good father, “…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38). Is church attendance a chore or a joy for you? Do your wife and children ever notice you praying or reading your Bible? You can’t love your family to the fullest of your capability unless you also love the God who created you and who provided the means for your salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ!

Have a godly Fathers’ Day!

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What’s It To You?

Posted on June 16, 2012 by jesustrek

Beau Hossler

17-year-old amateur golfer Beau Hossler found himself in sole possession of the lead early Friday at the U.S. Open tournament. Then the tough course caught up with him, and he dropped out of the lead.

I have a 17-year-old friend who plays golf. I considered teasing him about why he wasn’t contending for the lead at a major tournament. Then it occurred to me that he might ask me why I haven’t won as many majors as Tiger Woods!

Sometimes we are more concerned about someone else’s performance than we are our own, and this causes us to lose focus.

Jesus had just told Peter what his fate would be—a death that would glorify God (John 21:18-19). Then Peter saw John nearby. “When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:21-22).

That’s good advice for all of us. Instead of being overly concerned about what is going to happen to someone else, we should simply concentrate on following Jesus.

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Praying on a Tightrope

Posted on June 16, 2012 by jesustrek

Nik Wallenda

Daredevil Nik Wallenda walked on a wire across Niagara Falls on Friday evening June 15. The feat was covered live by ABC television.

Wallenda was equipped with a microphone so that he could communicate with viewers. The audience was able to hear him offer up prayers of praise and thanksgiving to his heavenly Father and to Jesus.

Here are a few observations about these high-flying prayers.

First, I was glad that the event was covered live. Otherwise, the prayers would probably have been edited out.

Second, I noticed that the commentators ignored the fact that he prayed. (At least they did while I was watching. I was channel surfing, and did not see the event in its entirety.)

Finally, I got the feeling that Mr. Wallenda prays on a regular basis. I don’t think that he waits until he is facing danger before he ever talks to God.

That seems like a good idea.

“Pray continually.”—1 Thessalonians 5:17.

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In Agreement?

Posted on June 15, 2012 by jesustrek

Don DeWelt once said, “Someday I’m going to write a book and call it Agree With Me or Go to Hell!” After pausing, he held up the Bible and said with a smile, “But then I realized that someone had already written the book!”

Many people spend their lives hoping that God will agree with them, when we are the ones who must agree with him. The consequences of disagreeing with God are horrifying.

Hell isn’t a very popular subject these days. Some people go so far as to deny its existence. But Jesus believed in hell; therefore, so should we. And we should agree with God that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world. Then we can avoid hell and gain access to heaven.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”—John 14:6.

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Heart for Worship

Posted on June 14, 2012 by jesustrek

The widow Gladys Dunn decided that she would be more out-going, especially in making visitors to her church feel welcome. The very next Sunday, she saw a man with whom she was not familiar, but she didn’t notice him until after the worship service had started. She vowed to give him a proper greeting after church.

As soon as the service had ended, she walked up to the sleep-looking visitor, who had only stayed awake in church with great difficulty. Extending her right hand to the man, she said, “Hello, I’m Gladys Dunn.” The gentleman replied, “I’m glad it’s done, too!”

That’s not quite the attitude God wants us to have toward worship! Jesus says that God is looking for people who want to worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). We should say along with the Psalm writer, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”—Psalm 122:1.

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Immortality

Posted on June 13, 2012 by jesustrek

Ray Bradbury

Legendary American author Ray Bradbury died on June 5 at the age of 91. Bradbury, best known for his works of science fiction, inspired and entertained many people with his imagination.

Bradbury often said that his career was inspired by a chance meeting in 1932 with a magician called Mr. Electrico. At the end of his performance, the magician reached out to the captivated 12-year-old, tapped him with his sword and proclaimed, “Live forever!”

Mr. Bradbury will indeed live on, in a sense, through his writings. However, the only way to truly live forever is by trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior.

In John 11:25, Jesus was talking with a lady named Martha about this subject. “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

She did. Do you?

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Fair Judging

Posted on June 11, 2012 by jesustrek

Left, Pacquiao; Right, Bradley

There is a huge uproar in the world of professional boxing after the controversial outcome of the welterweight title fight Saturday night in Las Vegas. Most observers thought that Manny Pacquiao successfully defended his title against challenger Timothy Bradley. However, two of the three judges saw it differently, and their decision is the one that counts.

Sports writer Tim Dahlberg called the judging “…questionable, if not borderline incompetent.” Dahlberg adds, “But boxing has always been a subjective sport, and anything shy of a knockout is always open to interpretation by the three ringside judges who score each round.”

Life is often unfair. We sometimes disagree with those who give their assessment of our efforts. It’s good to know that the final analysis of our lives will be made by a Judge who is perfectly fair and impartial.

“God will give to each person according to what he has done…For God does not show favoritism.”—Romans 2:6,11.

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