Crime and Punishment

Posted on September 22, 2011 by jesustrek
Troy Davis

Convicted murderer Troy Davis was executed in Georgia last night. Prison officials said that he was put to death by lethal injection at 11:08pm.

Many say that there are legitimate questions concerning the guilt of Davis. 500 people gathered outside the prison to protest his execution. Even people in other countries rallied in his defense. A group of 150 people in Paris demonstrated on his behalf.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Davis’ final appeal, and he was put to death.

Some observers feel that this case may turn public opinion in the United States against the death penalty.

The Bible says that the government “…is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” (Romans 13:4).

It seems that the Bible at least permits, and possibly mandates, the death penalty for heinous crimes. Do you agree or disagree?

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Quite Refreshing

Posted on September 21, 2011 by jesustrek

I recently saw this message on a church sign: “Be a fountain, not a drain.”

We all have encountered people who can be quite draining. Their constant demands on our time, energy, emotions and resources leave us feeling tired and empty. We are tempted to cross the street when we see them headed in our direction!

I can remember times when I was a burden on my family, friends and church. I wish I had possessed more spiritual maturity, so that I wouldn’t have required such a high level of maintenance. I hope that I have grown to the point where I am more like a fountain than a drain.

I know that there will always be needy people around us. Jesus said that the poor would always be with us. The Bible says that we should be ready to bear one another’s burdens. There will be times when each of us needs to lean heavily on someone else. However, we can choose to be less demanding and more of a blessing to other people.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

I’ve noticed something that is generally true about people who choose to be takers rather than givers—they are quite unhappy. In their pursuit to be blessed by other people, they forfeit the blessings that God could pour into their lives.

Fountain, or drain? The choice is yours.

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Signal the Bugler

Posted on September 20, 2011 by jesustrek

It is said that Winston Churchill planned his own funeral. After the benediction, a bugler high in the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral was to play Taps, the universal signal that the day is over. Immediately after that, in the dramatic fashion that was common for Churchill, another bugler across the dome was to play Reveille, the universal signal that a new day has begun and it is time to rise up. This was Churchill’s way of saying that the last note for him—and for human history—would not be Taps. It would be Reveille. It will be so because of our hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In John 11:25, Jesus says, “…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Well, do you?

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Some Things Never Change

Posted on September 17, 2011 by jesustrek

This weekend I am attending the Koh-Koh-Mah & Foster Living History Encampment near Kokomo, Indiana. Founder Bob Auth has hosted this event for the past 11 years. The encampment features re-enactments, crafts, vendors and storytelling that depict life on the frontier during the time of the French and Indian Wars.

Wandering around the encampment, I was surprised to see children who were raised with countless electronic entertainment devices completely enthralled by simple games children played over 200 years ago.

You could see demonstrations of how people cooked back then—not with microwaves, but in pots and pans that were hung over hot coals burning in a hole that was dug in the ground.

The clothing that the re-enactors wore did not resemble what we wear today. Nor could you go to the nearest mega-store to make a quick purchase for something to wear. No, it seems that you had to kill a buffalo and go through various and tedious processes to make the buffalo hide become a wearable garment.

There is also a worship service at the encampment, and here is where we see that some things never change. First, everybody still needs Jesus. Second, Jesus never changes. Hebrews 13 :8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Sometimes it’s fun to attend events that remind us how things have changed over time. However, we must never forget that some things never change. We still need Jesus, and Jesus is still here for us.

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It Might Have Been

Posted on September 16, 2011 by jesustrek

“Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, “It might have been.”—John Greenleaf Whittier.

The Bible contains many stories of people who wasted much of their lives. Samson is a particularly tragic example. He was raised by godly parents. He had strength, intelligence and good looks. He was set aside by God to do great things. But because he continually chased after selfish wants and desires, Samson’s potential went unfulfilled. Oh, he did accomplish some things for the Lord, but reading the story of his life leaves us with the sad feeling that he could have done so much more.

This should encourage us to try to avoid Samson’s mistakes. We should put others ahead of ourselves. We should follow the advice of wise people God puts around us. Let’s live our lives in such a way that no one will mourn our death with the words—“It might have been.”

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We Need More Heroes

Posted on September 14, 2011 by jesustrek
Brandon Wright

Motorcyclist Brandon Wright was recently involved in a serious accident in Logan, Utah. He had to lay his bike down to try to avoid a collision with a BMW. Wright ended up trapped beneath the car as both vehicles burst into flames.

Bystanders quickly sprang into action. Several of them lifted the 2-ton car while another one pulled Wright to safety. He is listed in satisfactory condition.

The rescuers are being called heroes. Wright said, “I’m just very thankful for everyone that helped me out. They saved my life.”

The Bible says that we should “snatch others from the fire and save them…” (Jude 23). This, of course, is referring to saving others from the fire of hell. We must see the danger that lost people are facing and respond to their need. They will be thankful that we did.

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Willing to Sacrifice

Posted on September 13, 2011 by jesustrek
Lt. Heather “Lucky” Penney

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Lt. Heather “Lucky” Penney was one of the first combat pilots sent up to protect our airspace. The fourth hijacked airliner appeared to be on its way to a target in Washington, D.C., and Penney was ordered to bring down United Airlines Flight 93. She took off from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland in an F-16, intent on preventing the terrorists from using the stolen passenger plane as a weapon against U.S. civilians on the ground.

However, there was a problem—Penney’s plane had no weapons. In that innocent age, there didn’t seem to be a need to keep combat planes armed at all times, and there was no time to equip it for battle now. The plan was to ram the hijacked plane with her fighter jet. She said, “I would essentially be a kamikaze pilot.” She was being sent on a suicide mission.

Fortunately for Lt. Penney, the sacrifice she was willing to make proved unnecessary. The passengers of Flight 93 wrested control of the plane away from the hijackers, and it crashed in rural Pennsylvania. The heroes aboard that flight did what Penney had been ready to do—make the ultimate sacrifice.

Jesus came into this world knowing full well that he would have to sacrifice his life for ours. There was no other way. No one else could atone for our sins except the sinless Son of God.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”—John 15:13.  

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Dwelling in the Land

Posted on September 12, 2011 by jesustrek

We have just observed the tenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States of America. Many people took special note of the events of that day and remembered how they felt when evil men carried out a horrifically vicious crime against innocent people.

The Bible tells us how we should respond to evil in this world. Psalm 37 says that we should turn our focus toward God and his goodness. Verse 3 encourages us to “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

Ten years ago, after the initial shock of the attacks, Americans everywhere got back to a somewhat normal routine of living life to its fullest. They appreciated more than ever the blessings we enjoy in this wonderful land in which we dwell. We attended sporting events and watched games on television. We brushed back tears every time we heard the national anthem or “God Bless America”. We hugged each other a little more tightly and we started caring a little more deeply. In other words, we really did “dwell in the land.”

Today, we should keep on trusting God, doing good and enjoying the lives we live in this blessed land.

Yesterday, our church marked the tenth anniversary of 9-11 by having a picnic. I think it was a wonderful way to live out Psalm 37:3!

What are you doing to show your trust in God as we live in this evil world?

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He Responded

Posted on September 10, 2011 by jesustrek

As we come to the tenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack on America, we think back on the many ways that fateful day changed the way we live and think.

For one thing, the term “first responder” has become a part of our vocabulary. Many brave men and women who worked for fire departments and police stations in New York City were the first to respond to the need for help. While others were trying to escape burning buildings, these heroes were rushing into harm’s way in order to try to rescue people who were in danger. They saved a lot of people that day, but many of them paid the ultimate price for their effort.

In the same way, Jesus came to a world that was filled with people who were perishing in their sins. He too, sacrificed his life to save others. He wasn’t a “first responder”—he was the “Only Responder”. No one else could have saved us. But Jesus could…and he did. Let us never forget his great sacrifice for us!

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Hurtful Kiss

Posted on September 9, 2011 by jesustrek

Some friends of mine recall the time when they found some bite marks on their infant son. When they questioned his older sister about this, she explained, “I was just kissing him with my teeth!”

Have you ever been hurt by fellow Christians who would insist that they weren’t harming you at all, that they were actually loving you? I know I have! With friends like that, who needs enemies, right?

“The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”—Galatians 5:14-15.

Let’s take good care of the most vulnerable members of God’s family. In order to do that, we have to watch out for the biters.

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