Matter of Perspective

Posted on September 6, 2011 by jesustrek

There is an old story about three construction workers who were laboring on a building in a downtown area. Although they were all doing the exact same job, they gave different answers to the question, “What are you doing?”

One of them responded, “I’m putting in eight hours a day.” Another answered, “I’m making $20 an hour.” The last one said, “I am helping to build a church.”

All three were doing the same work, but notice the difference in their mindset. Only one of the workers actually gave an answer that reflected the ultimate importance of his work. It’s all a matter of perspective. No matter what you do, keeping your eye on the big picture will greatly benefit your outlook on life, and will have a positive influence on those around you.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”—1 Corinthians 10:31.

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Everybody Wins!?

Posted on September 3, 2011 by jesustrek

Today I attended a high school volleyball match that had an unusual outcome. It seems that both teams won! Stay with me now while I try to explain.

The team from Kentucky won the first two games in a best-of-five match. The team from Ohio won the next two games, setting up the fifth and decisive game. The team from Ohio came from behind to win, or so it would seem. But the rules for Ohio and Kentucky are different. In both states, the first team to reach 25 points wins. But in Kentucky, if a match comes down to a fifth game, the first team to reach 15 points wins, while in Ohio, 25 points is still the number of points needed to win.

In this case, the Kentucky team was the first to reach 15 points in the final game. So according to Kentucky rules, they could claim victory. But since they continued to play, and the Ohio team got to 25 points first, they could claim victory under their state’s rules.

So, both teams were entitled to claim a win. Nobody lost.

I don’t have a problem with the results of this volleyball match. It was an unusual outcome, but both teams appeared worthy of being called winners, and both sides seemed fine with the verdict.

However, life doesn’t always turn out this way. Usually there are winners and losers. People should learn that things don’t always go their way.

More importantly, in eternity there will be winners and losers. Some people have tried to edit the Bible to say that all people will ultimately be saved. This directly contradicts the Scripture, especially the teachings of Jesus. Only those who trust him will be saved. Many will choose another path, one that leads to eternal suffering.

Make sure that you are on the winning team!

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Escaping the Flames

Posted on September 2, 2011 by jesustrek

A wildfire that has been raging out of control in Texas destroyed 25 homes in an upscale subdivision. When residents of the Possum Kingdom Lake neighborhood were told to evacuate, they were quick to comply. However, flames blocked the road leading out of the subdivision and hemmed in several dozen residents. They were forced to turn back, and escaped the fire the only way they could—by taking a boat across the lake. It took several trips, but everyone escaped safely.

God has provided a way to escape the flames of hell. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. It is through faith in him that we are saved. He is the only way out.

Don’t miss the boat!

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Flying High

Posted on September 1, 2011 by jesustrek

I read about a man who was flying his small airplane when he noticed something disturbing. He saw a mouse on the plane with him. This was troubling because mice can gnaw through important wires and cause serious damage to a plane.

The pilot had an inspired idea. He took the plane higher into the sky, where the oxygen levels are much lower. Upon landing the plane, he found that the mouse had not survived the higher altitude.

If there is some sin that is threatening to destroy your relationship with God, maybe you need to fly higher. The closer you get to God, the less likely it is that sin will bring you down.

Psalm 121:2—“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

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The Only Way

Posted on August 31, 2011 by jesustrek

A story is told about a farmer who was working in a field near his house. His two small sons were playing nearby. The farmer saw a huge dog approaching. He noticed that the dog was foaming at the mouth, and immediately determined that it was rabid. He quickly carried his sons to the fence and helped them over, urging them to run to the house. By this time the dog was upon him. Fortunately, the farmer had a knife which he used to defend himself against the dog’s attack. He was able to kill the beast, but not before he was bitten several times.

This turned out to be a deadly encounter for the farmer also, but on his deathbed he would say over and over to his wife, “It’s all right, dear: I saved the boys. And it was the only way I could.”

Another story is told about a man who went to a cross to save us. And it was the only way he could.

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In Training

Posted on August 30, 2011 by jesustrek

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”—1 Timothy 4:8.

Since the Bible says that physical training is of some value, I try to get some exercise on a fairly regular basis. My knees don’t like to run anymore, so I walk or ride a bicycle. Sometimes I do some light weightlifting.

A few years ago, I had a membership at a gym where I worked out quite often. Once they had a program where parents could bring in their pre-schoolers for some organized exercise. The youngsters had a great time running, jumping and zigzagging around. They were enjoying themselves so much that they were squealing with glee.

Meanwhile, we older athletes were making other types of noises—mostly grunting, moaning and complaining! But we kept working out because we knew that it was for our benefit.

The above Bible verse implies that we also have to put in some spiritual training in order to achieve a greater level of godliness. We can benefit from spiritual workouts as well as physical ones.

New Christians tend to gleefully do their Bible reading, prayer and service to the Lord. Sometimes we older Christians have to remember to be joyful as we get our spiritual exercise. If we keep in mind the benefits of godly training—both for this life and the life to come—maybe our exercise sessions will be more enjoyable. Who knows, we might even squeal a little bit!

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Sweet Communion

Posted on August 29, 2011 by jesustrek

One of the most memorable communion services I ever took part in occurred in a rural village in northern Thailand, while I was on a short-term mission trip with about 15 other people from the U.S.

The language barrier was quite apparent during the worship service. The singing was in Thai, so we foreigners were limited in our ability to participate. We did recognize the tune of a couple of songs, so we sang along in English.

When it came time for communion, I noticed that the juice looked different. Later I learned that the villagers didn’t have access to grape juice, so they used a substitute–a thick, yellowish concoction that was very sweet.

As we ate the bread and drank the sweet juice, the language barrier didn’t seem so significant. We were all worshiping the same Savior, the crucified and risen Christ.

Revelation 15:4 says, “Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

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Sober Judgment

Posted on August 26, 2011 by jesustrek

When I played high school basketball, I used to dread trying to guard players who were much quicker than I was. Being quite slow-footed, I often found myself in this position. I remember one time I was isolated on the perimeter against a superior athlete who held the ball as he sized up his opposition. I wondered if he realized that he could blow by me any time he chose to do so. Evidently he didn’t, because, much to my relief, he passed the ball off to a teammate.

It is a good thing to know your limitations. Romans 12:3 says, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

Maybe you shouldn’t be singing solos at church. Perhaps you aren’t cut out for leadership. Teaching may not be your strong point.

The key is to be brutally honest with yourself. If necessary, get the opinion of someone you can trust. God has equipped you to be effective in some area of service. But if you don’t know your weaknesses, you might not be aware of your strengths.

Can you recall a time when you had to make a sober judgment about yourself?

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Improvised Communion

Posted on August 25, 2011 by jesustrek

It was my grandmother’s job to prepare communion for the little country church where she worshiped. One Saturday night, she noticed that she didn’t have any grape juice. This was a problem, since she lived ten miles from the nearest town, and besides that, all the stores would be closed for the weekend.

What would she do? Racking her brain, she finally came up with a solution. She had some grape jelly, so she mixed it with water until it had the consistency of juice. She took it to church the next day, and no one noticed the substitution.

I doubt that the Lord is offended if we have to improvise occasionally in order to observe his supper. He is pleased whenever we choose to obey him by participating in this celebration that helps us remember his sacrificial death that saved us from our sins.

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”—1 Corinthians 11:26.

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Not My Fault!

Posted on August 24, 2011 by jesustrek

Millions of people in the eastern part of the United States felt an earthquake that occurred yesterday. Officials say that the 5.9 earthquake was centered in Mineral, Virginia. However, some pundits insist that the quake actually originated in Washington, D.C. They say that the cause is a previously unknown fault that lies beneath our nation’s capitol. Some are calling it the “Obama Fault”. In response to this, the president is blaming the Bush administration.

Seriously, we all sometimes have difficulty admitting that we are at fault. We would much rather blame other people, or circumstances, or the devil, than to take responsibility for our wrong-doing.

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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