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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Noisy Bunch

Posted on March 12, 2012 by jesustrek

A farmer was becoming quite annoyed at the constant noise from the frogs in the large pond beside his house. Every night they croaked on and on. Finally, he decided that he had heard enough. He went down to the local restaurant and made a deal with the owner. The farmer said he would supply him with 10 dozen frog legs each week for the rest of the summer.

The farmer was quite embarrassed when he came in to town the next week with only a half a dozen scrawny frog legs. He said to the restaurant owner, “It sure sounded like there were a lot more frogs out there!”

The Bible says “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”—Philippians 2:14.

Sometimes it seems like there are a lot of people out there sounding off, but usually it’s just a few who are making unpleasant noises. Most people understand that to have a lifestyle of complaining and arguing is just downright sinful.

We would do well to keep our own pond as quiet and peaceful as we can.

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Hands-On Sacrifice

Posted on March 9, 2012 by jesustrek

I’ve known for some time now that the book of Leviticus is important because it explains the system of animal sacrifice that God instituted to prepare his people for the arrival of Jesus. They came to know the importance of sacrifice. They understood that “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22).

Recently I have become more aware of the personal involvement of the worshipers who are depicted in Leviticus. They did not simply bring an animal to the priest and stand back at a safe distance while the offering was being made. No, they had an important part in the sacrifice. Leviticus 3:2 says, “He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it…” This same instruction is repeated several times in chapters 3 and 4, as the various offerings are prescribed.

Maybe the reason God set up the animal sacrifices this way was to make us think about the fact that it was our sin that sent Jesus to the cross. Therefore, we had a hand in his death. Perhaps we should reflect on that as we take the elements of communion in our hands.

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Speech Says It All

Posted on March 7, 2012 by jesustrek

My wife Karen has a bit of a Southern accent. This never drew much attention until we moved to Indiana. There she met a friend who had four young boys. Karen occasionally accompanied them on vacation trips.

One trip took them to Dollywood. There they were welcomed by the recorded voice of Dolly Parton herself. After listening to her for a bit, the youngest boy suddenly exclaimed, “She talks just like Karen!”

As he disowned Jesus, Peter claimed to be someone other than who he was. Those who heard his claims replied, “…Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” (Matthew 26:73).

Usually, it’s not our accent that gives us away; it is the actual words that we speak.

We all make certain claims about who we are and what we believe. Sometimes our words don’t go along with those claims.

Let us make every effort to live consistently. Words matter. Use them carefully.

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Youth Prevails

Posted on March 6, 2012 by jesustrek

Rory McIlroy

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy held on to the lead and won the Honda Classic golf tournament this past weekend. He had to withstand a furious charge by Tiger Woods in order to claim the victory. The win enabled McIlroy to become the top-ranked golfer in the world, quite a feat for a young man who is only 22 years old.

The Bible says that we shouldn’t be surprised to see young people excel. Paul encouraged his young disciple Timothy with these words: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”—1 Timothy 4:12.

Do you know young people who are performing admirably in some way? Remember to let them know that you appreciate their efforts. Let’s encourage our youth to shine brightly!

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Just as He Wanted

Posted on March 5, 2012 by jesustrek

In a cartoon drawn by Hank Ketcham, Dennis the Menace was standing in front of his mother, who was sizing him up with her usual perplexed look. Dennis was wearing skates, a fireman’s hat and a super hero’s cape. He was holding a hockey stick and a guitar, and a soccer ball was right beside him. Dennis explained, “I couldn’t decide what I wanted to be today.”

While we have some decisions to make about how we use our spiritual gifts, we don’t have to worry about what to be today. 1 Corinthians 12 teaches us that the church is like a body that consists of many different parts. Verse 18 says, “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

God has taken a lot of pressure off of us by making us the way we are. As we use the gifts and talents that he has given us, we don’t have to be confused about who we are. We are just who he wanted us to be!

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True Hero

Posted on March 2, 2012 by jesustrek

Frank Hall, a teacher and assistant football coach, is credited with chasing a teenage gunman out of an Ohio school after a shooting rampage that left three students dead. 17-year-old T.J. Lane has been charged with killing the three students on Monday, February 27, at Chardon High School, which is about 30 miles east of Cleveland.

Perhaps Hall’s brave action saved more people from being killed. However, he has brushed aside the praise that has been lavished upon him, insisting, “I’m not a hero.”

Most of us would disagree with Hall’s modest assessment of himself. To willingly put your life on the line to spare others is truly an act of heroism.

Jesus is the ultimate humble hero. “…He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).

By dying on the cross to pay for our sins, Jesus chased away the sin that threatened to destroy us. He is a true hero indeed!

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Willing to Share

Posted on March 1, 2012 by jesustrek

Did you hear about the church that is using advanced technology to try to encourage its members to give more generously? If you don’t put anything into the offering, the collection plate takes your picture and displays it on the big screen!

 

It’s a shame that so many Christians are reluctant to honor God and bless people by giving generously to kingdom work. We should be happy to give to such a great cause.

 

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”—1 Timothy 6:17-18.

 

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