Name That Tune

Posted on October 7, 2011 by jesustrek

A group of scientists recently decided that We Are the Champions by Queen is the catchiest tune of all time.

Then there are songs that aren’t quite so popular. A recent poll conducted by Rolling Stone listed some of the worst songs of the 1980s. At the top (bottom?) of that list is We Built This City by Starship.

People have their own preferences when it comes to music. What pleases you might annoy me, and vice versa.

The Bible encourages us to employ various types of music in our worship of God. 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.”

Let’s try to remember that it’s not so important whether or not we like a certain song that we sing in church. The important thing is that we honor God.

Posted in Christian Living, Culture, Current Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Errors

Posted on October 6, 2011 by jesustrek

Former major league baseball player Danny Litwhiler recently died at the age of 95. He played from 1940-51, was an All-Star in 1942 with the Phillies and a member of the Cardinals’ 1944 championship team.

Mr. Litwhiler had a solid career as a baseball player. He had good offensive statistics, but he was renowned for his defensive abilities. The two-time Gold Glove winner was the first major league player to play an entire season without committing an error. Litwhiler played in 151 games in 1942 and did not make any errors.

This is a remarkable statistic for me. I can rarely make it past my morning coffee without doing something wrong!

The Bible says that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We are all sinners in desperate need of a Savior. So God, in his wonderful love and mercy, sent his Son Jesus into the world to save us. Unlike the rest of us, Jesus was perfect. He never committed a sin of any kind. And then he willingly laid down his sinless life as the atonement for our sinful lives.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”—1 John 2:2.

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

Posted on October 5, 2011 by jesustrek

Cher used to sing a song about a girl who grew up in a travelling show. People in every town would call them “gypsies, tramps and thieves”, but she says that “every night all the men would come around and lay their money down”.

Many people in our society have a similar love/hate relationship with the church. They call us all kinds of names. We are “narrow-minded bigots” when we refuse to go along with the attempt to redefine marriage. We are “mean-spirited control freaks” when we maintain that human life in the womb is precious. We are “heartless” and “cruel” when we insist that able-bodied people should work to support themselves rather than live off of taxpayers’ money.

However, watch what happens when it comes time to “lay their money down”. People readily accept aid from the church when a natural disaster strikes. They don’t turn down the benefits offered by schools and hospitals founded by Christians. And, in the end, they often turn to a Christian minister to read from the Bible to offer hope for eternity.

Interesting, isn’t it?

Posted in Christian Living, Church, Culture | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Just Trying to Help

Posted on October 4, 2011 by jesustrek

Some people who fly have superstitious rituals that they go through as the plane takes off. One man whirls his finger around in a circle faster and faster as the plane accelerates down the runway. A married couple always lifts their feet while the plane is going down the runway to take off. Still another fellow lifts up on the armrest to get the plane into the air.

These are intelligent people who otherwise behave normally, but they somehow think that they are actually helping the airplane to fly. One psychiatrist says that these little rituals give people the feeling of being in control.

Many people like to feel that they can control their own eternal destiny. Sure, they believe in God, but they think they must somehow supply their own power to get to heaven. They think that by avoiding certain sins, or by doing good deeds, or by going to the right church they can earn their reward in the hereafter.

But the Bible says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

God does expect us to do good works. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

But when it comes to saving us, God doesn’t need our help. He’s taken care of that himself!

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Heed the Warnings!

Posted on October 3, 2011 by jesustrek
Joplin tornado damage

A recent report claims that many residents of Joplin, Missouri did not immediately heed the warnings that preceded a massive tornado that killed 162 people earlier this year. It is thought that there was a widespread disregard for the tornado sirens. Some people may have lost their lives because they didn’t heed the warning.

This is reminiscent of a few years ago, when many people were killed by hurricane Katrina. The citizens were told to evacuate, but some chose to ignore the warnings.

It seems that people become complacent when they hear warnings, and then nothing bad happens. They get lulled into a false sense of security when they continue to escape unscathed.

The Bible is full of warnings about the wrath of God. Many people turn a deaf ear to these warnings because life has continued to go on for them. The sun comes up—the sun goes down—it’s just another day. Tragically, those who ignore God’s warnings will not escape being punished. However, the Lord has provided a way to be saved.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 3:23.

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s Done Is Done

Posted on September 30, 2011 by jesustrek

I recently lost a Silly String battle to a 9-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy. Outnumbered 2-1, and completely unarmed, I didn’t stand a chance.

After two cans of Silly String had been emptied, the youngest child said, “OK, let’s put it back in!” The rest of us laughed because we knew something that he didn’t. You can’t put it back in. Just like when toothpaste comes out of the tube, once it’s out, it’s out.

We all have wished that we could take back words that we have said. But once they’re out, they’re out. Words spoken in anger can never be unspoken. Thoughtless, hurtful statements cannot be taken back as if they were never uttered.

Sometimes forgiveness is granted from those we have offended. But the hurt remains. Relationships may never be what they once were. Respect and trust are difficult to regain once they have been lost.

It’s no wonder that the Bible often warns us about the potential harm that can come from an uncontrolled tongue. It’s much easier to refrain from harmful speech in the first place than to try to clean up the mess afterwards.

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”—Proverbs 21:23.

Posted in Christian Living, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Watching for the Master

Posted on September 29, 2011 by jesustrek

I was in the church building one weekday afternoon when I heard a dog begin to bark outside. Curiosity got the best of me, so I stuck my head out the door to see what was going on. I saw a dog, not much more than a puppy, tied up to a pole on the church’s volleyball court. There was no human being in sight. The little dog was straining at his leash, staring intently at the grocery store next door. His bark was as steady as his gaze.

Apparently, the dog’s owner had taken him for a walk to the store, and left him tied up outside while he went in to make a purchase. While the dog was not in distress, it was evident that he was anxiously awaiting something. His attention was focused on the promise of his master’s return.

This reminded me of the way we are supposed to be anticipating the return of Jesus. He urges us to be ready, watching and waiting for our Master to come back for us. He says in Matthew 24:42, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

One way we can remain focused on the return of Jesus is by faithfully participating in the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Doing Your Best

Posted on September 28, 2011 by jesustrek

After 42 years in the hamburger business, Wendy’s decided to make a change. Their executives have spent the past 2-and-a-half years examining every detail of each ingredient that goes into their hamburgers. In the end, they changed everything but the ketchup and began serving the new and improved burgers last week.

Denny Lynch, a Wendy’s spokesman, said, “Our food was already good. We wanted it to be better. Isn’t that what long-term brands do? They reinvent themselves.”

I suppose it makes sense that in order to do your best, you might have to make some significant changes in how you operate. Didn’t Tiger Woods reinvent his swing a few years ago, at a time when he was already considered the top golfer in the world?

I reinvented my preaching style over the past year. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not to preaching what Wendy’s is to hamburgers or Tiger Woods is to golf! But I hope you get the point. Sometimes we can be so content with the status quo that we don’t see the opportunity for improvement. And you don’t improve without making changes.

So maybe you need to take a look at your service to the Lord. Are you in a rut? Does your service seem less than what it could be? It might be time to reinvent yourself.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”—Ecclesiastes 9:10.

Posted in Christian Living, Current Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spreading the Message

Posted on September 26, 2011 by jesustrek

The number of posts on Jesustrek recently passed the 400 mark. When I started writing this blog a little over a year ago, I never imagined that by now over a million people would have read it. Turned out I was right.

Seriously, I am happy to have the opportunity to write about the adventures, and the struggles, of trying to follow the teachings of Jesus every day. I hope to continue to influence as many people as I can to do their best for Jesus.

I am humbled to think about how many lives Paul the apostle was able to influence with the gospel message. Even without our modern technology, and sometimes hindered by prison bars and shackles, he was able to communicate the word of the Lord to a great number of people.

We all should do our best to spread God’s word, using any means available to us. We must take advantage of any and every opportunity to get the message out.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 says, “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.”

Posted in Christian Living, Church | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Impressive Youth

Posted on September 23, 2011 by jesustrek
Lexi Thompson

Lexi Thompson got into the record books for women’s golf this past Sunday, when she won the Navistar LPGA Classic. Her 17-under-par 271 earned her a 5-stroke victory in the tournament. What is so remarkable is that she is only 16 years old, making her the youngest winner in LPGA history.

We must never underestimate the value of what young people can do in God’s kingdom. Paul wrote to Timothy, “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).

Some of our teenagers led the worship service at our church last Sunday. An 18-year-old preached his first sermon. Some other teens played musical instruments, led the singing and gave a communion devotion. They did a wonderful job of helping people worship, and church members of all ages appreciated their work.

Let’s always be looking for ways to encourage young believers to use their gifts and talents for the Lord.

Posted in Christian Living, Church, Current Events, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment