Enjoy Your Pizza

Posted on May 20, 2011 by jesustrek

When I first accepted the call to be a preacher, I realized that I would have to face some controversy along the way. I thought that these occasions would always be about matters of opinion, such as what color carpet to install or what songs to sing. However, over the years I have discovered that the most combative situations I have encountered have been over doctrinal issues. People have gotten most upset over issues that are plainly spelled out in black and white (sometimes red and white) in Scripture.

Tim Bettger, pastor of Glenburn Community Church in McArthur, California, said this about people who get upset over hearing the Bible proclaimed. “They might not like what I say. But I’ve found it helps immensely if I let people know ahead of time that I see my only purpose in preaching is to glorify God. Like I tell them, “Don’t get mad at me if you don’t like what’s on this pizza. God made it. All I’m trying to do is deliver it while it’s hot.”

“Preach the Word: be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”—2 Timothy 4:2-3.

We glorify God when we preach and obey his Word. Enjoy your pizza!

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Atonement

Posted on May 19, 2011 by jesustrek

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”—1 John 2:2.

The 1984 movie Places in the Heart has a powerful closing scene. The characters from the movie are gathered in a Baptist church in a small Texas town. As the elements of communion are passed, the camera focuses on the faces of the participants. They are all there, even those who have died. The bad are present, along with the good. The killer and the victim share the same Lord’s Supper.

The only force that is powerful enough to bring them all together is the blood of Jesus Christ. His atoning sacrifice allows us to be united with God and united with each other.

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Attitude

Posted on May 18, 2011 by jesustrek
Charles Swindoll

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And, so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes.”—Charles Swindoll.

Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

 Are you in need of an attitude checkup?

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Effective Citizens

Posted on May 17, 2011 by jesustrek

“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”—C.S. Lewis.

The apostle Paul seems to agree with C.S. Lewis. He reminds us that “…our citizenship is in heaven…” (Philippians 3:20) and gives the following exhortation: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:1-2).

All Christians should want to make a difference in the world around us. We can’t do that by blending in with society. We do need to engage our culture, of course. We can’t isolate ourselves from other people and expect to influence them in any way. However, we must live distinctive lives. We must be recognized by all as having been set apart by God to live as citizens of heaven. It seems like a paradox, but the only way we can be effective Christians in this world is to understand that we are citizens of heaven.

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Pleasing to Whom?

Posted on May 16, 2011 by jesustrek

Some people initially decide to follow Christ because it is what their family and friends want for them. Other Christians seem to have the idea that the purpose of their faith is to provide them with the desires of their own heart. But the Bible says that our goal should not be to please others, or even to be pleased ourselves. Our purpose is to please God.

Colossians 1:16 says, “…All things were created by him and for him.” All believers would readily agree that we were created by God. Many of us need to become more aware of the fact that we were created for him.

The realization that we were created for God’s pleasure changes everything. Our primary goal is not to please those around us. Our main priority is not to please ourselves. We must first and foremost have the desire to please God.

Ask yourself this question: Is my religion a means of getting what I want, or getting what God wants?

Ephesians 5:10 says that we must “…find out what pleases the Lord.” We are born with an instinctive knowledge that there is a God, but we must learn what he desires from us. This learning process lasts a lifetime. Let us strive to please God more and more as we journey together through this life.

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Grace and Truth

Posted on May 15, 2011 by jesustrek

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”—John 1:14.

The story is told about a lady who gave her preacher a pie that she had just baked herself. He thanked her for it and took it home. The pie looked wonderful, but it had a terrible taste. After only one bite, he decided to throw it in the trash.

The preacher knew that the lady would ask him about the pie, which presented him with a dilemma. He wanted to tell the truth, but he also wanted to be graceful. How could he avoid being deceitful, and at the same time keep from hurting his friend’s feelings?

Sure enough, the next time he saw her, the lady asked him how he liked the pie. She beamed with satisfaction when he answered, “A pie that tastes like that doesn’t last long at our house!”

Only Jesus could be perfectly truthful and perfectly graceful at all times. We can only hope to come close to following his example.

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Caught in Sin

Posted on May 13, 2011 by jesustrek

Art Lower tells about the time he and his friend Clarence stole a watermelon from the local drug store owner. They took the melon, cut it in half, ate the center, then put it back on the man’s porch. The boys were sure they would never be caught.

Days later, Art stopped at the drug store to get an ice cream cone. When he laid the money on the counter, the druggist asked, “How was the melon, Art?”

Art took off running, leaving his money and his ice cream cone behind.

Years later, Art asked the drug store owner how he knew it was him. He said he didn’t. He asked every kid the same question, and Art was the only one who ran away.

Sooner or later our sin will catch up to us.

“Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.”—Psalm 26:2.

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Preview of Heaven

Posted on May 12, 2011 by jesustrek

My Uncle Bob Wilmoth preached for many years in Texas. He and his family would make the drive to Kentucky every summer to visit family here. They were often able to time their vacation to coincide with the North American Christian Convention. Uncle Bob loved to talk about how wonderful the convention had been.

I had trouble understanding his excitement. The term “convention” made it seem like a boring event that I would not enjoy at all. It wasn’t until my wife convinced me to go to one in 1994 that I finally realized what it’s like to experience a NACC. Uncle Bob was right—it was wonderful!

How do you try to explain the North American Christian Convention to someone who has never been there? For me, it is a preview of heaven.

The corporate worship is truly inspiring. It is a very moving experience when thousands of believers gather to lift up their voices, hearts and minds to the Lord. Led by some of the finest worship leaders and musicians in the country, and challenged by some of the best preachers this nation has to offer, a worship service at the NACC is an unforgettable event.

Besides that, the fellowship at the NACC is amazing. You get to see people you haven’t seen in years. You have opportunities to make new Christian friends from all over the nation. I got to see more of Uncle Bob and his family.

Once I started going to the North American Christian Convention, I was hooked. The only time my wife and I have missed a NACC since my first one is when we were in Thailand on a mission trip during the week of the convention that year.

There’s no way I can explain in a few short paragraphs what the NACC is like. I do encourage you to go this year and experience it for yourself. It is in Cincinnati on July 5-8. For more information, go to http://gotonacc.org.

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Life Preserver

Posted on May 11, 2011 by jesustrek

On Saturday, June 14, 2003, the charter fishing vessel Taki Tooo capsized in Oregon’s Tillamook Bay with 19 people on board. 11 of the passengers perished in the rough, cold water. The 8 fortunate survivors were able to swim a few hundred yards to land.

 All 8 of the survivors had something in common; they had decided to wear an orange life jacket. None of those found dead were wearing a life jacket. Investigators later found unused life jackets washed up on the beach. How tragic.

Someday, life as we know it is going to be turned upside down. Time will be no more, and a new age will be ushered in by God. He has provided each human being with a means of surviving this earth-shattering event. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16.

Are you wearing your life preserver? Are you trying to get others to put on a life jacket?

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Not a Fanatic

Posted on May 10, 2011 by jesustrek

A supply preacher arrived early one Sunday at the town where he was preaching. He sat down at the local donut shop, opened up his Bible and started going over his sermon notes.

A man sitting down the counter from the preacher noticed what he was doing and asked, “Are you a preacher or something?”

“Yes, I preach at the church down the street,” he replied.

The man at the counter got excited and said, “Hey, you know what, I’m a member of that church!”

The church was small, and the preacher had been there long enough to know all the regulars, so he said, “I’ve been preaching there for about three months and I’ve never seen you there.”

The man looked at the preacher and replied, “I said I was a member of that church. I never said that I was fanatical about it!”

Satan is a master at deceiving people. He convinces many people that they have a sincere faith in Jesus Christ when in fact they do not. It is important that each professing Christian examine his or her heart to make sure that they have a genuine, saving faith.

“Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”—Matthew 7:21.

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