First Things First

Posted on January 30, 2012 by jesustrek

Former Florida State University head football coach Bobby Bowden used to play college baseball. He had never hit a home run, but one game he hit a ball down the right field line, into the corner. He rounded the bases and saw that the third base coach was waving him in. He crossed home plate and was very excited as he received the congratulations of his teammates. Then the pitcher tossed the ball to the first baseman, and the umpire called him out. Bowden had missed first base.

Bowden says, “If you don’t take care of first base, it doesn’t matter what you do. If you don’t honor the Lord first, it doesn’t matter what else you do.”

Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33).

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Choices, Good and Bad

Posted on January 28, 2012 by jesustrek
Cynthia Nixon

Actress Cynthia Nixon has caused quite a stir in the homosexual community by saying that she made a conscious choice to be a homosexual. Nixon has been in a relationship with a woman for eight years. Before that, she spent 15 years with a man with whom she had two children.

Nixon says, “A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if it’s a choice, then we could opt out.”

She has pinned down the truth here. It is important to many people who practice this type of immoral behavior to believe that they had no choice in the matter—that they were born that way. Then they take no responsibility for their actions, and—at least in their own minds—they will face no consequences from the God who supposedly “made them that way”.

It is interesting to note that the word “choice” takes on such a negative connation regarding this particular moral issue, while that same word is a rallying cry for those on the wrong side of another great moral issue of our times.

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”—Joshua 24:15.   

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Longing for You

Posted on January 27, 2012 by jesustrek

Someone once asked a fellow what the secret was for his apparently happy marriage. He responded, “We take time to go to restaurants twice a week. We enjoy dinner by candlelight, soft music and then a slow walk home. She goes on Tuesdays, and I go on Fridays.”

Obviously, that is not the formula for an ideal marriage. The key to any successful relationship is the desire to spend quality time together.

So it is with our relationship with God. Our attitude should be the same as David when he says, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1).

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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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