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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Time to Grow Up

Posted on June 1, 2011 by jesustrek

My wife and I watched a nest of robins on our front porch hatch out and grow up this spring. The baby birds have grown to the size of their parents. The best way to tell them apart is by their behavior. Even though they are the same size, the mature birds set themselves apart from the babies by the way they act.

Just the other day, my wife watched an older bird try to teach one of the young ones to feed itself. The parent had brought a worm, laid it on the ground near the young bird and started pecking at the ground. She obviously wanted her baby to learn how to feed on its own. The young bird, however, just kept yelling for more food, the same way it had done all its life. Finally, the mama bird gave in and put the worm directly in the baby’s mouth, perhaps just to shut it up!

The mama bird can’t take care of her baby’s needs indefinitely. She will have another nest of youngsters to come along, and this one will have to start fending for itself. It’s time for it to grow up.

Some Christians are like the full-sized baby bird. They have been spiritually fed by someone else, and they have not yet learned to feed themselves, even though it is past time for them to do so. Instead of feasting on God’s word on their own, they squawk about how they are not being fed. It’s time for them to grow up.

“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”—Hebrews 5:13-14.

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Diligent Leadership

Posted on May 31, 2011 by jesustrek
Jim Tressel

Jim Tressel has just resigned as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. The embattled coach has stepped down in the midst of a continuing wave of accusations of NCAA violations and Tressel’s own failure to handle the situation properly.

The author of two books about faith and integrity, Tressel is seen as a hypocrite by some. Supporters still view him as a deeply religious man who has made some serious mistakes.

Tressel has been aware of some of the problems in the football program for quite a while. However, instead of dealing with the trouble head-on, he looked the other way. It seems that he was hoping that the situation would straighten itself out, without his having to intervene. Things rarely work out that way.

I must confess that, as a church leader, I have occasionally tried the same approach as Jim Tressel used—ignore the problem, hoping it will go away. No one enjoys confronting: a divisive elder, a Sunday school teacher who is undermining the authority of the church leaders or a deacon who is teaching false doctrine. The easy way out is to look the other way and hope for the best, but this is a sure prescription for failure.

The wisest action a leader can take is to meet conflict head-on. This is the healthiest way to deal with problems in a sports program, a business, a family or a church.

Romans 12:6-8 says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is…leadership, let him govern diligently…”

I’m sure that Jim Tressel knows that verse. However, at a critical juncture in his career, he failed to live by its principle. Church leaders would do well to learn from his mistake.  

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Memorial Day Encouragement

Posted on May 30, 2011 by jesustrek

The purpose of Memorial Day is to remember those who have passed on. We are especially mindful of those who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom. We also honor family and friends who have died, often by visiting their graves. Some people may be facing a tearful trip to the cemetery. The apostle Paul writes these words of encouragement to those who need hope for the next life.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

These are encouraging words indeed! This Memorial Day, maybe there is someone in your life who needs to be reminded that we know Someone who specializes in empty graves.

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The Real Thing?

Posted on May 28, 2011 by jesustrek

A few years ago I had an early morning routine of walking to the nearby convenience store to get a cup of coffee and a newspaper to start my day. One morning, while it was still dark, I saw an unusual sight in the fellowship hall of our church.

Normally, a Coke machine sat in the lobby, next to the outside glass doors. Through another set of glass doors you could enter the fellowship area.

I was surprised to see the Coke machine sitting in the middle of the fellowship hall. However, I quickly concluded that the deacons had moved it for some reason and that they would put it back in due time. Later in the day, I saw that the machine was indeed back in its usual place in the lobby.

A couple of days later, I started off on my early morning walk. Once again it was dark, and once again, I saw the Coke machine sitting out in the fellowship hall! This time I was too curious to pass on by, so I peeked through the glass doors to get a better look. It was only then that I realized that what I had seen was not the Coke machine, but a very vivid reflection. It was so realistic that it had fooled me, not once, but twice!

It occurred to me that this is how we are to reflect the image of Jesus for everyone to see. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

 I suppose our goal is to get someone to mistake us for Jesus. No, really.

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