Don’t Mess with the Words!

Posted on June 30, 2011 by jesustrek

Hackers recently changed the message on an electronic road sign in Northern Kentucky. The sign should have said, “Nightly lane closures, road work ahead”. However, the message warned motorists, “Nightly lane closures, zombies ahead”.

Officials from the Transportation Cabinet were not amused with the prank. They would prefer that no one change the words on their signs.

God would prefer that no one mess with His words either. Revelation 22:18-19 says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

Let’s leave the message the way it is. We must not change it at all!

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Imposing Gaps

Posted on June 29, 2011 by jesustrek

Those who believe in evolution have to make three major leaps of faith in order for their theory to be accepted.

First, there is the gap between nothing and something. How did matter come into existence? There is talk of a big bang, but where did we get the material that exploded? You have to explain the existence of matter.

The second leap of faith is to believe that lifeless matter somehow began to live. How did it do that? An explanation of the origin of life is needed.

Finally, there is the gap between living microscopic organisms and mankind. How did those simple life forms become complex creatures that seem to have been designed rather than formed by a lengthy series of incredibly fortunate mutations?

These three leaps of faith are far too much for me to accept. My faith is in the God of the Bible.

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”—Hebrews 11:3.

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Won’t Make It Any Other Way

Posted on June 28, 2011 by jesustrek
James Taylor

In his classic song “Fire and Rain”, James Taylor sings: “Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus. You gotta help me make a stand. You’ve just got to see me through another day. My body’s achin’ and my time is at hand. And I won’t make it any other way.”

I don’t know anything about Taylor’s religious beliefs, but he said something profoundly true. Jesus himself says, “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

That message is dismissed by many because of its exclusive nature, but that’s just the way Jesus says it is! We won’t make it any other way!

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Bee or Me?

Posted on June 27, 2011 by jesustrek

I recently sat on my back steps to cool off from my walk before going into the house. As I sat there, I noticed a honey bee busily working among the clover in the back yard. Suddenly, it occurred to me that people who believe that all life on earth evolved from a single source would have to admit that the only reason I didn’t become a honey bee and the bee didn’t become me is pure chance.

I don’t know about you, but that struck me as kind of funny! And those who support evolution think that I am the one who believes in fairy tales! It makes me mad enough to want to sting somebody!

It makes so much more sense to believe what the Bible says–“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”—Genesis 1:1.

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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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