Super Strong

Posted on June 25, 2011 by jesustrek
Danous Estenor

University of South Florida offensive lineman Danous Estenor rescued Pedro Arzola this past February by lifting the 3,000 pound car that had him trapped. This is a case of what is called “hysterical strength”, a burst of adrenaline that allows people to perform feats of strength far beyond their normal physical limitations.

Arzola suffered relatively minor injuries and was back at work in a couple of weeks. Estenor is being recognized for his heroic feat as the story has recently been reported nationally.

Christians have access to a spiritual source of strength that is also amazing in what it can allow people to do. The source of strength is Jesus himself, who lives in every believer.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” It is no wonder why this verse is so popular with Christians. It reminds us that, through Jesus, we have the strength to forgive those who have hurt us deeply, to remain faithful in a culture where faith is scorned, to keep praying when answers are delayed, to keep reading the Bible when understanding is difficult and to talk to people about Jesus even though the devil wants us to keep quiet.

Through Jesus, God gives us super strength, equipping us to do whatever it is he wants us to do!

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Catchy Phrases

Posted on June 24, 2011 by jesustrek

Nike is receiving complaints about some T-shirts that they have made available to the public. These offensive shirts have words and phrases that refer to drug use and sexual activity. In their defense, Nike officials say that the words on the T-shirts are part of the vocabulary used by their target group—people who participate in extreme sports.

Christians sometimes make some poor vocabulary choices when they attempt to mimic the world. When the world uses the Lord’s name in vain, or substitutes milder f-words for the big one, or uses words that refer to oral sex to convey that they don’t like something—that’s to be expected. That’s the type of thing that worldly people do.

It shouldn’t be that way with Christians. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Are there any catchy phrases you need to eliminate from your vocabulary?

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Taste and See

Posted on June 23, 2011 by jesustrek

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”—Psalm 34:8.

Was there a food that you were afraid to try when you were younger? Or have you had trouble getting your children or grandchildren to even have a little taste of certain foods?

Usually, the foods that kids won’t try are the ones that are good for them, like broccoli, peas, or some other green vegetable. We don’t have any trouble getting them to like ice cream or hot dogs, do we?

In the same way, many people don’t want to give God a try. They think that Christian living will somehow leave a bad taste in their mouth. While they may understand that living for the Lord would be good for them, they don’t realize how pleasing that lifestyle would be, if they would only give it a try.

Sometimes children will finally try a food that they don’t think they will like, and will actually ask for more of it. So it is with people who give God a try.

We should be very diligent and very intentional in our efforts to get people to “taste and see that the Lord is good”. Have you planned out your strategy for today?

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Not Overtly Religious

Posted on June 22, 2011 by jesustrek

A recent news article talked about President Obama’s love for golf. It said, “To be sure, Obama prefers playing golf as a way to release political pressure. He almost always heads out on Sunday mornings, rarely trading his nine or 18 holes of golf for a more overtly religious endeavor.

Those of us who follow Jesus would love to have men and women who are more “overtly religious” in positions of leadership in government. We often cringe at the debate and the decisions made concerning such moral issues as: the right to life, homosexual behavior and rewarding the greedy and the lazy at the taxpayers’ expense.

Nevertheless, we are called upon to pray for the leaders that we have. Paul wrote to Timothy, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Maybe our prayers for those in leadership will cause them to become more overtly religious. It’s worth a try.

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How Is Your Vision?

Posted on June 21, 2011 by jesustrek

An old Chinese proverb says: “If your vision is for a year, plant wheat. If your vision is for 10 years, plant trees. If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people.”

It is good to learn from the past. And there is nothing wrong with reminiscing about the “good old days”. But the past is not an option if we look to it for a destination. We must have a vision for the future.

Jesus wanted his disciples to look to what was ahead. He says, “…I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for the harvest.” (John 4:35).

Many churches want to go back to a “Golden Age” that may have only existed in their imagination. Someone said that a lot of churches are perfectly positioned if the 1950s ever come around again!

We must look to the future. We need to improve our vision. We ought to be putting our time, energy and resources into something that will bring a great return for our investment for all of eternity. We need to invest in people.

What will you do today that will have an impact on people, possibly for all of eternity? In other words, how is your vision?

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Promise Not to Look

Posted on June 20, 2011 by jesustrek

Job said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” (Job 31:1). This is a worthy promise for a man to make to his eyes, but for most it is a difficult promise to keep.

A few years ago, my wife and I were vacationing at Myrtle Beach. As we were taking a walk along the beach one day, we noticed a young lady whose bathing suit was quite skimpy, even by beach standards. We weren’t the only ones who noticed. This girl was drawing quite a bit of attention to herself, with people craning their necks for a better look.

We continued our walk up the beach and then returned to the place where we had been relaxing. Karen said, “I didn’t notice that girl with the skimpy bikini on our way back. Did you see her?”

I hesitated before I replied, “Maybe I did catch a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye.”

Jesus says, “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.” (Mark 9:47).

Perhaps we all need to make some promises like the one Job made.

Author’s note: I usually try to find a picture to go along with the message of the blog. In this case, my wife would not allow it.

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Walk a Little Plainer, Daddy!

Posted on June 19, 2011 by jesustrek

I know that once you walked this way, many years ago,

And what you did along the way I’d really like to know;

For sometimes when I am tempted,

I don’t know what to do.

So walk a little plainer, Daddy,

For I must follow you.

            Author Unknown

Malachi 4:5-6 says, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

If it seems as if there has been a curse on our nation in some ways over the past few decades, perhaps at least part of the blame can be placed on irresponsible fathers. Hopefully, more fathers realize that raising children is an awesome responsibility.

This Fathers’ Day, let’s pray that all fathers walk a little plainer. Their children could use the good example, and our nation would benefit greatly.

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Do Not Touch!

Posted on June 18, 2011 by jesustrek

A New Jersey man was bitten by a rattlesnake that he was trying to save. Around 6:30pm Thursday, a 24-year-old man was driving on Route 679 near West Stage Road in Tuckerton when he spotted a rattlesnake trying to cross the highway. Not wanting the snake to be hit by traffic, the man stopped to help it. As he tried to pin the snake down with a stick, it bit him. He was taken to a hospital where officials say his injuries are not life-threatening.

The man was probably surprised when the snake bit him, but it was just doing what snakes do. If you mess with a rattlesnake, it’s going to try to bite you.

A lot of people are surprised when sin jumps up and bites them. They shouldn’t be; that’s just what sin does.

Many people act surprised when they get drunk and something bad happens. It’s like they never heard of this ever occurring before, when it actually happens all the time. Others behave as though a sexually transmitted disease or unplanned pregnancy could never happen to them, and then can’t believe it when it does. Some people tell lies and then are shocked when they have to deal with unpleasant consequences. Others are caught off guard when they have to pay the price for greed, violence or some other sinful behavior.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”—Galatians 6:7-8.

Don’t be surprised if sin jumps up and bites you!

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Lowly in Spirit

Posted on June 17, 2011 by jesustrek
LeBron James

Millions of people were delighted to see the Miami Heat lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA finals. Even after their loss, Heat star LeBron James found it hard to be humble. He said that his critics would have to wake up the next day with their same lives and problems, but he would go on living just as he wanted. In response to James’ quote, Stephen Colbert said, “Like they say, it’s not whether you win or lose, but how you disparage the pathetic lives of the little people who make it possible for you to have a career bouncing an inflatable ball.”

The Bible has many warnings against pride and many exhortations to help the poor. Proverbs 16:18-19 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”  Proverbs 17:5 says, “He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker…”

It would be easy to join in with the many people who are deriding LeBron James. The harder thing would be to find some way to help a poor person today.

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Leap of Faith

Posted on June 16, 2011 by jesustrek
African Impala

I read that an African Impala can jump 10 feet high and cover as much as 30 feet in a single bound. That’s some impressive leaping ability! Yet a zoo can keep an Impala enclosed with just a 3 foot high wall because they won’t jump if they can’t see where they’re going to land.

Part of the definition of faith is trusting in what we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

When is the last time you or your church took a leap of faith? We like to quote 2 Corinthians 5:7—“We live by faith, not by sight.” However, we often practice the opposite and live by sight, not by faith.

Don’t live your life inside a self-made enclosure that limits your ability to influence people for the Lord. Take a leap of faith!

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