A Little Respect, Please!

Posted on June 13, 2011 by jesustrek

I was disappointed with the behavior of some of the people sitting near me when I attended the local high school graduation recently. I couldn’t hear much of what was being said up front because of all the noise going on around me. While the graduates were making their speeches and the school administrators were making their comments, my neighbors insisted on giving their own speeches. I’m not talking about a hushed whisper now and then. These people were holding conversations, and they weren’t even trying to keep their voices down. And it wasn’t just a couple of people; there were several different offenders.

How rude! Can’t you forget about yourself for just a few minutes and let life be about somebody else besides yourself for a change? How about some consideration for the graduates on their big day? How about a little respect?

Now that I got that rant out of my system, I had better watch out for signs of selfishness in my own life. I know that I too, have tendencies to think about my own wants and desires, sometimes neglecting the needs of others in the process.

Philippians 2:4 says, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

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I Can Remember

Posted on June 11, 2011 by jesustrek

I keep a few items in my office that remind me of certain individuals. When I look at my glass paperweight, I think of Carl, who collected these items. He gave me this one from his collection before he went to be with the Lord a few years ago.

Whenever I glance at my wood carving of a duck, made from the head of a golf club, I remember Ted, who carved it himself and gave it to me.

A bottle of oil reminds me of Lance. The elders of our church used this bottle of oil when we prayed for Lance to be healed.

My turtle made from beads was given to me by Kaylynn. I remember her each time I look at it.

Every Sunday I look at some bread and grape juice. Then I take it in my hands and eat and drink the communion. It helps me remember that Jesus died to pay for my sins.

“…Do this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.

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You Just Need to Ask

Posted on June 10, 2011 by jesustrek

My sister Tara booked a room in Florida that promised an ocean view, but when she arrived, she found that mostly what you could see from her room was the parking lot. If you stretched your neck out and looked to the side, you could actually get a glimpse of the ocean. However, the scenery did not live up to its billing, and she was noticeably disappointed.

Her husband Mike talked with a hotel employee about their disappointment with the room. After one night with the parking lot view, they were able to move to a different room; one that had a spectacular full view of the ocean. That was what they were promised. That was what they were expecting. And that’s what they got…after they asked for it.

James 4:2 says, “…You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

Who knows what wonderful blessings we might be missing simply because we don’t pray for them?

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Self-Denial

Posted on June 9, 2011 by jesustrek
David Brooks

David Brooks, a syndicated columnist for the New York Times, recently wrote an article addressing the situation faced by this year’s college graduates. He writes, “Today’s grads enter a cultural climate that preaches the self as the center of a life…Most of us are egotistical and self-concerned most of the time, but it’s nonetheless true that life comes to a point only in those moments when the self dissolves into some task. The purpose in life is not to find yourself. It’s to lose yourself.”

Jesus was more specific when he addressed this subject. “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34).

The goal should not be to find yourself, but to lose yourself. And the reason we must lose ourselves is so that we can truly follow Jesus.

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Useless Gain

Posted on June 8, 2011 by jesustrek
Huguette Clark

Huguette Clark died May 31, 2011 at the age of 104. Ms. Clark inherited a fortune that her father made in the copper mining business. She seemed destined to enjoy a life of high society, but in her 20s she dropped out of public view and became a recluse. She rarely saw visitors, choosing to live with her mother in isolation in a huge apartment overlooking Central Park in New York City. In her 80s, although in good health, Ms. Clark started living in a New York hospital, where she stayed until she died. She leaves a fortune that is estimated at $500 million and no descendants. She once said that wealth is a “menace to happiness”.

Jesus once said something similar—“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).

Whether we have accumulated millions of dollars or dozens of dollars, we all need to reflect on the truth of Jesus’ words. It is useless to focus on worldly gain if we have to pay a heavenly cost.

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Sin is Sin

Posted on June 7, 2011 by jesustrek

Have you noticed a subtle change in how the media are referring to subjects such as abortion and homosexual behavior? What was once labeled as “moral issues” are now called “social issues”. It might not seem that there is much difference in the terms, but the implications are huge.

Liberals—I’m sorry, “progressives”—are still trying to control the way we define certain issues. If they change the designation from “moral” to “social”, they are saying that these issues do not really pertain to morality at all. They are simply matters of opinion that we can deal with in any way we choose in our society.

Christians need to understand the ways of the world and not fall prey to the devil’s schemes. Let’s not allow the world re-define the terms of morality. Let’s not remain silent when evil forces try to undermine the moral foundation upon which our nation has been built.

“Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes.”—Isaiah 5:18.

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Global Change

Posted on June 6, 2011 by jesustrek

OK, I must finally admit that it’s true. The planet on which we live has undergone some drastic changes in the last few decades. I don’t want to be an alarmist, but I can no longer remain silent. The facts cannot be denied. I don’t know if mankind is responsible for the change that has occurred. Nor do I know if we can do anything to reverse the dangerous trend, but we must admit the truth—gravity is much more powerful than it used to be!

I don’t know when I first became a believer in this theory. Perhaps it was after laboring up a flight of stairs. Maybe it was when I realized how much longer it takes me to walk a mile than it did just a few years ago. Has anyone else noticed how golf balls do not travel as far as they once did? Surely I am not the only one to see what is happening!

We must assume that scientists are currently working around the clock to come up with a solution to this problem before it’s too late. Please hurry! Just this morning, I found it extremely difficult just to get out of bed!

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth…”—Ecclesiastes 12:1.

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My, How She’s Grown!

Posted on June 4, 2011 by jesustrek

I first laid eyes on my niece, Hannah 18 years and 2 days ago, the day she was born. When I first saw her, she was a roly-poly 10 pound bundle of joy. She didn’t seem to be too happy. A nurse was trying to do whatever it is nurses have to do to newborns, and Hannah wasn’t liking it. Her life has been much better since then.

She just graduated from high school this morning. She sure has come a long way since that first day in the hospital. Still, 18 years and 2 days can go by pretty quickly! Now she’s all grown up and ready for the next phase of her life.

We all hope and pray for the best for the young people in our lives. And let’s keep remembering that Jesus knows what it’s like to have to grow up. Luke 2:52 says this about Jesus when he was a boy–“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

May Hannah, and the rest of us, continue to do the same!

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Bless their Hearts!

Posted on June 3, 2011 by jesustrek

We Christians sometimes speak as if we have a license to say mean things about people when they aren’t present. It’s as if we think our words are not offensive if we end the comment with the phrase, “Bless their heart!”

We have all heard people make cutting remarks like this: “Poor thing! She tried to bake a decent cake for the bake sale…bless her heart!” “He’s not a bad guy. He just can’t seem to stay sober long enough to keep a job anywhere…bless his heart!” “She sure does date a lot of different men…bless her heart!”

If we really wanted to bless people’s hearts, maybe we could start by guarding our tongues and not saying mean things behind their back.

“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4).

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Be Very Afraid!

Posted on June 2, 2011 by jesustrek

There is a story told about a mild-mannered little fellow who sold everything he had and moved west to open up a saloon in a frontier town. He enjoyed his new life, serving drinks to the men who frequented his establishment.

One day a wild-eyed cowboy burst into the saloon and yelled, “Big John’s comin’ to town!” All the men took off running, and within seconds the place was deserted.

Curious, the owner peeked outside, and on the horizon he saw a cloud of dust getting larger and larger. Soon he could make out the biggest, meanest looking man he had ever seen. This giant was riding a buffalo and using a rattlesnake for a whip. The little man rushed back into the saloon and hid behind the bar as the stranger came to a stop and walked into his place.

The big man brought his fist down with such force that it cracked the bar, and growled, “Whiskey!” The timid bartender pushed a bottle of whiskey toward him. The man broke off the top of the bottle with his bare hands and started slugging down huge drinks. He seemed to calm down a bit more with each drink, so the saloon owner began to think that maybe he would survive this encounter. He meekly asked, “Sir, would you like another whiskey?”

The giant replied, “No! Are you crazy? I’m gettin’ out of here! Big John’s comin’ to town!”

Sometimes our fear is misdirected. We shouldn’t fear other people. Jesus teaches us that we should fear God and have a healthy respect for the Lord. He says, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” (Luke 12:4-5).

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