More Than a Flesh Wound

Posted on January 26, 2012 by jesustrek
Dante Autullo’s x-ray

Dante Autullo was building a shed when he held a nail gun above his head and fired it. He thought that he had gotten a harmless cut from the gun, so he cleaned the wound with peroxide. Later, he went to the doctor to get checked out. He thought the doctors were joking when they showed him an x-ray of his head that revealed a 3-inch nail lodged in the middle of his brain. Autullo was rushed by ambulance to another hospital where surgery was performed to remove the nail.

Sometimes we don’t want to admit that our spiritual wounds are as serious as they really are. We tend to gloss over our sins and try to convince ourselves that we are all right when we really aren’t.

The Bible says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9).

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Custom Made

Posted on January 25, 2012 by jesustrek

 

Many people will agree that they were created by God. Fewer people understand that the reason they were created by God was so that they could worship him.

Colossians 1:16 says, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”

 

Notice the last part of that verse. It says that we were not only created by him, we were actually created for him. The purpose for our existence is to give God pleasure. Therefore, we should continually be striving to learn what pleases him, and then make every effort to put a smile on God’s face.

 

I heard about a young lady who had not been a Christian very long. She was late for church one Sunday. By the time she arrived, the people were already standing and singing, pouring out their hearts in worship. As she stood for a moment at the back of the church, just drinking in the atmosphere, someone heard her think out loud, “I was made for this!”

 

She was right. We all were made for this.

 

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Legacy

Posted on January 24, 2012 by jesustrek
Joe Paterno

“Every man is entitled to be valued by his best moments.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Joe Paterno certainly had his share of good moments as head football coach at Penn State. In addition to that, Paterno will be remembered by many as a generous man who donated a fortune to good causes. He was also a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He mentored many young men, equipping them to succeed in life as well as on the football field.

However, many people will remember Joe Paterno for a serious mistake that he made late in life. While it would be nice to be remembered by our best moments, the damage we can cause with our worst moments can be quite harmful to our legacy. This underscores the importance of keeping our focus to the very end.

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”—Colossians 1:28-29.

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Sanctity of Life

Posted on January 23, 2012 by jesustrek

“The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.”—Proverbs 13:5.

Let’s examine how this verse applies regarding the right to life issue.

Those who follow Christ hate the false claim that a woman has a “right” to end the life of her pre-born baby. The Bible consistently upholds the sanctity of life. We must actively oppose those who wrongly believe that the U.S. constitution allows for such evil. We must speak out, we must pray, we must give of our time and resources to oppose this terrible falsehood.

Those who are wicked have brought shame and disgrace upon our nation by shedding innocent blood, or by condoning others who have done so. Because of their cold-hearted disregard for human life, they have helped to place our country in danger of being the objects of God’s wrath.

Yesterday was “Sanctity of Life Sunday”. Many churches celebrated the value of human life. Let us all be aware every day that life is precious from the moment of conception until the final breath is drawn. In a society where falsehood runs rampant, let us stand boldly for the truth. Let us take a stand for the sanctity of life.

Oh, one more thing. Let’s be gracious to those who have made mistakes, but want to be forgiven. The blood of Christ has amazing power to restore and heal those whose lives have been broken because of abortion.

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United We Stand

Posted on January 20, 2012 by jesustrek

I heard about a church that split many years ago. The church divided over a disagreement about how they should heat their building. One group thought that they should continue to use coal. The other group insisted that they change to gas heat.

Now, years later, there are two small churches in that town that hold the same basic doctrinal beliefs, but they worship in separate buildings, not very far apart.

Oh, and I understand that both churches heat their buildings with electricity.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”—Ephesians 4:2-3.

What can you do to promote peace and unity in your church?

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No Guarantees

Posted on January 19, 2012 by jesustrek

Ariane Noelle Patterson, a student at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, collapsed in her religion class this past Tuesday afternoon. She was taken to a hospital, where she died. It was her 21st birthday.

Ironically, Patterson had tweeted earlier that day, “Thank you God for another year of life.”

21 years of age seems awfully young for an apparently healthy person to die suddenly for no known reason. The Bible reminds us that we are not guaranteed even another day.

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”—James 4:13-15.

Let’s appreciate the time we have been given by God, and let’s use it wisely.

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Victory in Jesus

Posted on January 18, 2012 by jesustrek

It excites sports fans to watch games and events where the outcome is in doubt until the very end. The competitors give their best, hoping for a win, but knowing that defeat is a definite possibility.

Sometimes Christians compete in life as if there is a chance we will be defeated. This shouldn’t be! We must be reminded that we are not fighting for a victory, but from a victory that was won when Jesus was crucified and resurrected. He defeated sin on the cross, and he defeated death when he came out of the tomb.

While we are indeed engaged in spiritual warfare, we do not need to be concerned about the prospect of losing. Our victory is assured!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”—1 Corinthians 15:57-58.

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No Pages Missing

Posted on January 17, 2012 by jesustrek

Last year I found a Bible in our church library that seemed to be just the right size to use for preaching. The print was large enough for my 50-something eyes, and yet this Bible was light enough to carry around easily.

The only major blemish on this slightly used copy of the Scriptures was a page that had been partially torn. I took some clear tape and, ever so carefully, repaired the page as best as I could.

I wonder if there was some reason that Satan would like to have ripped that certain page out of God’s Word? And I wonder what truths Satan would like for me to disbelieve?

What about you? Is there a specific part of the Bible that you are questioning? If Satan is trying to take some truth away from you, what might that be? Let the Holy Spirit speak to you and help you discern if there is some part of Scripture that you might need to give some serious consideration.

“And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”—Revelation 22:19.

Make sure that your Bible remains intact—every single page!

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Shipwrecked Faith

Posted on January 16, 2012 by jesustrek

This past weekend the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized and partially sank off the coast of Italy. Of the 4,200 people on board, 5 have been confirmed dead so far, and 15 others are listed as missing.

Authorities are holding the captain of the ship, as an investigation begins to determine whether or not he was responsible to some degree for this horrible event.

Paul warned Timothy that some people had shipwrecked their faith because they had rejected faith and a good conscience. Scripture urges us to hold onto these qualities (1 Timothy 1:18-20).

Many times when people shipwreck their own faith, they harm many innocent people in the process. This is tragic.

We can learn a lesson in leadership from this. It is critical that we make sure that the local congregation is being steered by competent leaders who have been called by God to lead the church. I have seen churches turned on their side because unspiritual people have been allowed to take the wheel.

Perhaps the best lesson to take away from this is a personal one. Hold on to your faith with a good conscience. If you do so, the boat may rock occasionally, but you will never find yourself shipwrecked along life’s journey.

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Pain That Serves a Purpose

Posted on January 13, 2012 by jesustrek

A few years ago I needed to have major surgery on my hand. Part of the rehabilitation process was to make a tight fist, but I could not even bring my fingers down to the palm. Therefore, my physical therapist decided to use electro-shock therapy. Electrodes were hooked to my forearm, and a battery-powered machine was supposed to give me a mild shock to help me make a fist.

The therapist, a young lady who was probably in her twenties, was having trouble getting the machine to work. She had me all hooked up, but the shock wasn’t being delivered. She kept turning the knob to increase the voltage, but nothing happened. She jiggled some wires, thinking there might be a loose connection.

Suddenly, the machine started to work. It gave me a shock that brought me out of my seat. I screamed into the face of this young lady who was trying to help me, “It’s too much! It’s too much!”

My outburst caused quite a stir in the facility. The receptionist peeked around the corner to see what was going on. Patients in the waiting room no doubt wondered what torture might be in their immediate future.

Thankfully, my therapist quickly adjusted the machine to the proper setting. Being the professional that she was, she did not hold any hard feelings against me for crying out in pain. I understood that she was just doing her job, and that she had no intentions to harm me. We all had a good laugh over the incident.

Sometimes life hurts. God allows us to experience various types of pain and suffering. We might react by screaming, “It’s too much”! However, there is always a purpose for our trials, and God, in his own timing, will dial it down so that it doesn’t hurt so much.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”—James 1:2-4.

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