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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More Time?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by jesustrek

Mayan calendar

Many people have been concerned because the impressive calendar developed by the Mayan civilization appeared to end on December 21, 2012. This led to speculation that the Mayans had predicted that the world would radically change, or perhaps even end on that date.

A recent discovery, however, has found that the Mayan calendar extends well beyond 2012. Some inscriptions include dates corresponding to a time beyond the year 3500.

This new revelation calls for a change of plans. I had decided to put off my Christmas shopping until December 22. You know, just in case the Mayans were right. I mean, why shop for a holiday that may never occur?

Now I suppose we had all better plan for Christmas, New Year’s and beyond.

Seriously, Jesus teaches that no one knows when the end will be, so we all should live as if the world, as we know it, could end any day.

We should pray along with the Psalmist, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12.

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What Comes Around

Posted on May 11, 2012 by jesustrek

A couple of days ago, I heard a rooster crowing as I began my morning walk. This is not a familiar sound, since I live in the middle of town. I am sure that the rooster was annoying some people who had not planned to wake up quite that early.

At a corner near my house, I saw the culprit up close. On the sidewalk across the street was a large rooster, strutting about as only roosters can do, acting like he owned the town. A neighbor on his front porch jokingly asked me if that was my rooster. I responded that it wasn’t and made some kind of remark about how the rooster wanted to make sure everybody knew it was morning.

Many people are like roosters. They boastfully crow their way through life, annoying anyone in their vicinity. Life revolves around them, and their concern for others is minimal at best.

We all know someone like this, and, if we are totally honest, we sometimes wish they would get a taste of their own medicine. If only they could experience some of the misery that they so skillfully inflict on others!

As I finished my walk, I heard the rooster again. This time it was not an arrogant crowing noise. It was more like a desperate clucking. Turning around, I saw the rooster running through an intersection, with a large dog in close pursuit.

What goes around comes around. And sometimes it comes around with its feathers flying!

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”—Galatians 6:7.

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Evolving Into What?!

Posted on May 10, 2012 by jesustrek

President Obama has officially announced that he is in favor of homosexual “marriage”. He says that his position has been “evolving”. I suppose his present stance on this important moral issue can be explained by 20 years of listening to the sermons of Jeremiah Wright.

There is a reason I call this an important moral issue, even though the media insist on the milder term “social issue”. You see, the Bible not only condemns homosexual behavior, it also forbids anyone from supporting this kind of activity.

Most people who have even a passing knowledge of the Bible understand that God does not condone homosexual activity. However, many people, even some Christians, have a Seinfeld attitude toward this behavior—“Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” They want it to be known that they themselves aren’t homosexuals, but they want to be seen as enlightened and tolerant individuals who approve of others who are.

This is a dangerous position. The second half of Romans 1 warns us of the wrath of God against godless people. While other sins are mentioned here, the primary targets of God’s wrath in this scripture are homosexuals. But get this—the chapter concludes with a warning not just to those who participate in homosexual activity, but also to those who approve of it.

Remember this when you vote!

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Out of Position

Posted on May 9, 2012 by jesustrek

On Sunday, May 6, both teams ran out of pitchers in a 17-inning game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox. It was described as “a crazy game at Fenway Park”. It was the first major league game since 1925 in which both teams put a position player on the mound. The Red Sox used an outfielder to pitch, and the Orioles used a designated hitter as their pitcher. Baltimore ended up winning the game 9-6.

Sometimes circumstances demand that we perform tasks that we don’t normally do. Among the people Nehemiah used to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem were goldsmiths and perfume-makers (Nehemiah 3:8). Many of the workers were unaccustomed to the job they were given, but the work was so important that they willingly helped out in any way they could.

While we should normally seek to work in areas that are our strengths, sometimes the circumstances demand that you do something that is outside of your area of expertise. You might find yourself in a situation where you need to step in and lead a study group, chaperone a youth outing or even (gulp!) pray out loud.

Remember that the next time the coach asks you to play out of position!

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Turn Around!

Posted on May 8, 2012 by jesustrek

A lady heard on the radio that there was a driver headed the wrong way on the interstate highway during the afternoon rush hour. This errant driver was endangering the lives of many people.

Concerned because her husband was travelling that route on his way home from work, she called him on his car phone.

“Honey, be careful!” she exclaimed. “They are saying on the news that someone is driving the wrong way on the interstate!”

“It’s much worse than that!” he answered. “It’s not just one! There are hundreds of them!”

Jesus says that there are many who are headed down the wrong road in life. If they don’t turn around, something tragic will happen. We need to help them change direction!

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

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Close to Home

Posted on May 7, 2012 by jesustrek

I baptized my sister-in-law, Karen, yesterday. It was a very moving experience for me. The whole church celebrated as we welcomed her into the kingdom of God.

Jesus sends us out to make disciples of people everywhere. This, of course, means supporting the work of missionaries who work in far-away places. But it also includes reaching people close to us with the good news about Jesus.

Jesus once set free a man who was tormented by demons (Mark 5:1-20). This man was grateful to have a normal life once again, and naturally he wanted to travel with Jesus. However, Jesus had other plans for him. He said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” (vv.19-20).

Quite often, the best influence a person can have is on people close to home. The next person you see baptized into Christ might be someone very close to you. That’s an exciting prospect, isn’t it?

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Confession Time

Posted on May 3, 2012 by jesustrek

A lady walked up to the confessional booth and said to the man inside, “Hey, you’re not my priest!”

“No, ma’am”, he answered. “I’m just polishing the furniture.”

“Well, where’s the priest?”

“I don’t know, but if he’s heard anything like the stories I’ve been hearing today, he’s probably gone for the police!”

The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:9.

It’s confession time. Who wants to go next?

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