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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The Need for More

Posted on September 8, 2011 by jesustrek

According to an old fable that is attributed to Aesop, a dog was carrying a bone as he crossed a bridge. Looking down into the water, he saw his own reflection. He thought he had encountered another dog, and he decided that he wanted that dog’s bone. So he tried to scare the other dog, and in so doing, he lost his bone in the water.

This is how it is with human greed. In our attempts to get something that we desperately want, we sometimes lose something that we have. Countless people have lost cars, homes, jobs, reputations and families because they wanted more.

“A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.”—Proverbs 28:22.

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Whatever It Takes

Posted on September 7, 2011 by jesustrek
Jon Hutt

On August 19, Jon Hutt was doing some logging work all alone in a remote area in Colorado when disaster struck—his 6-ton trailer fell onto his right foot. Since there was no one around to hear his cries for help, Hutt pulled out his pocket knife and cut off his toes in order to free himself. He then drove himself to get medical treatment.

This was certainly a drastic measure, but it was necessary in order for Hutt to free himself. He did whatever it took to save his own life.

Jesus says that we should do whatever is necessary to keep from getting trapped in a sinful lifestyle. He teaches, “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.” (Matthew 18:8).

Jesus is not recommending self-mutilation! He is using exaggeration to make a point. We must be diligent in avoiding sin and temptation. We must ruthlessly prune from our lives anything that keeps us from being holy.

Is there some habit, relationship or thought pattern that you need to cut out of your life?

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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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