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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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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