Humble Star

Posted on March 29, 2012 by jesustrek

Davis blocks another shot

University of Kentucky basketball star Anthony Davis has blocked a phenomenal 175 shots so far this season. Davis refuses to call undue attention to himself after blocking an opponent’s shot. He does not wag his finger, beat his chest or otherwise taunt other players.

Davis’ humble demeanor has not gone unnoticed. Mississippi Coach Andy Kennedy said, “It gives me hope. To me, it’s refreshing in this day and age because it’s not about look-at-me. He just lets his play do the talking.”

Humility is a rare virtue in the world of sports, yet it is something that God looks for in all of us. Pride is a deadly sin, therefore Scripture continually urges us to remain humble. So let’s avoid being boastful or proud. Let’s just let our lives do the talking.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”—1 Peter 5:6.

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Bow

Posted on March 28, 2012 by jesustrek

Anthony Davis and his mother

Freshman basketball player Anthony Davis has helped lead his Kentucky Wildcats to the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Davis has become known for two things, his shot-blocking ability and his unibrow. Many of his fans wear t-shirts with this warning–“Fear the Brow”.

Recently a 5 or 6-year-old girl approached Davis. He said, “She got on her knees and bowed down to me like I was a king and said, “Bow to the Brow”. Davis took the adoration in stride. “I just started laughing”, he said. “Man, fans of all ages, Kentucky is crazy and I just love it.”

This is all in good fun, but let us be reminded that there is a true king who deserves our reverent worship. The Bible says, “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 2:10-11).

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Pretty Lamp

Posted on March 27, 2012 by jesustrek

I spent some time yesterday with a friend in a waiting area at a local hospital. The room was spacious and beautifully decorated. My friend was surprised to find that the lamps in the room did not work. They did not produce any light at all. Their only function was to look pretty.

That’s not my idea of what a lamp is supposed to be. Lamps are meant to provide light in areas where light is needed.

So it is with Christians. We aren’t meant to be useless decorative objects. We are supposed to have a function. We are designed to shed the light of God in a world that is filled with darkness. Jesus says, “You are the light of the world…Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Don’t be a mere decoration! Be a functioning light.

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Keep Your Focus

Posted on March 26, 2012 by jesustrek

Bob Russell

In his book When God Builds a Church, Bob Russell remembers a time when he visited a restaurant called The Pancake Factory. He says that the luncheon special that day was a grilled chicken sandwich with spicy Mexican sauce. He decided that the restaurant had lost their focus!

Sometimes an organization or business can lose sight of what they originally set out to achieve. The same can be true for a church.

Jesus sends us out into the world to make disciples. He says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Make sure that you and your church keep the main thing the main thing. There are a lot of godly endeavors that a congregation can be involved in, but let us not lose our focus. Let us remember that, first and foremost, we are to make disciples.

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Best Not Served

Posted on March 22, 2012 by jesustrek

The newspaper ad read: “Wedding dress for sale. Never worn. Will trade for .38 caliber pistol.”

It is so tempting to want to get back at those who have harmed us. It’s human nature to desire revenge. After all, it’s only fair, right? That person deserves to know what it feels like to hurt so much!

That’s human nature, but it’s not the type of behavior God desires of us. Romans 12:19 says, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

It is said, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Actually, it’s best not served at all.

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Making Music in Your Heart

Posted on March 21, 2012 by jesustrek

Earlier this week, I attended a Christian men’s meeting. We sang a few worship songs to begin the meeting. I was pleased that I knew the songs. Every song we sang was an old hymn that I had grown up with in my home church.

Sometimes I wish that I knew every song every Sunday as well as I know and love those old faithful hymns. Occasionally I wonder why we have to sing anything but my favorites! Then I remember that people don’t gather on Sunday morning to help me re-live the best moments of my childhood; they come to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

Ephesians 5:19-20 says, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This verse lets us know that God appreciates a variety of music. It suggests that we ought to be flexible in the music we use in the church to worship God together.

Other Scriptures tell me that I shouldn’t demand to get my way. This biblical principle certainly applies to our attitude toward music. I have six days a week—and most of the day on Sunday—to listen to and sing along with any kind of music I choose. It would be quite selfish of me to demand to have my favorite music played and sung during the church service also.

Sometimes I have remind myself not to be selfish. How about you?

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Going Forward

Posted on March 20, 2012 by jesustrek

Charlie Wi

Charlie Wi had trouble making progress on the 5th hole at the Transitions Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida last Sunday. Three straight shots he took ricocheted off a tree and bounced behind him. Wi ended up on the practice range, where he said everyone just stopped and looked at him. He scored a 13 on the par-5 hole. In case you’re wondering, that’s an octuple-bogey.

We’re not supposed to go backwards. 1 Timothy 4:15 says, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.”

Sometimes it’s difficult to move forward in life. We know that God expects us to mature in our faith. But we get stuck in habits and routines that keep us from progressing. If we aren’t careful, we could even find ourselves going backward.

Let’s keep swinging away. That’s what Charlie Wi did, and he eventually finished the course.

I’ll bet that clubhouse isn’t nearly as nice as ours will be.

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Messed Up Brackets

Posted on March 19, 2012 by jesustrek

Kyle O'Quinn

Kyle O’Quinn had 26 points and 14 rebounds Friday to lead his Norfolk State team to an unlikely victory over the second-seeded Missouri Tigers in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. After the game, O’Quinn exclaimed, “We messed up some brackets! We messed up some brackets! We even messed up my bracket.”

Sometimes we Christians get the feeling that victory is not likely. It seems that the odds are stacked against us. Abortion is still prevalent. Sexual immorality is becoming more accepted. Injustice can be seen all around us. When God’s name is heard, it is probably being used as a swear word.

However, we are not to despair. The Bible promises that our side will win. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Don’t pick against Jesus. If you do, he’s going to mess up your bracket!

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Undivided Heart

Posted on March 15, 2012 by jesustrek

While attending the Kentucky high school boys state basketball tournament yesterday, I noticed a fan who obviously had some mixed feelings about who to cheer for in the upcoming game. I could tell because of the t-shirt she was wearing. She had taken a couple of different colored shirts–one from each school–cut them in half and sewn the halves together to make one hybrid shirt.

I thought about asking her about her situation. Did she have relatives at both schools? Did she graduate from one school, and now works at the other? Was there some other explanation for her divided allegiance?

Since I didn’t ask her, it will remain a mystery to me. She had a reason to root for both teams, and that’s all that matters.

Sometimes we Christians try to have one foot in the kingdom and the other foot in the world. God forbids this. Jesus says you can’t serve both God and Money (Matthew 6:24). The Lord wants us to choose whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15). A kingdom divided against itself can’t stand (Matthew 12:25); neither can an individual with mixed spiritual loyalties.

We should pray like David, “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”–Psalm 86:11.

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Everyone

Posted on March 14, 2012 by jesustrek

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”—2 Peter 3:9.

God wants everyone to be saved. Everyone. That means those who don’t look or think or act or talk like we do. God wants to save people who have done terrible things. He wants to bless for all of eternity those who haven’t even thought about him in years.

Let’s bring it a little closer to home. God wants to save the cashier who rings up your groceries, the man who picks up your garbage and the waitress who refills your coffee. He wants to save your mailman, your next door neighbor, your child’s math teacher, and your nephew’s basketball coach.

Sometimes it’s good to be reminded who “everyone” is.

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