Atheist Chaplain?!

Posted on May 9, 2011 by jesustrek

The New York Times reports that atheists are hoping to have an atheist leader join the chaplaincy corps. A group called Military Atheists and Secular Humanists, or MASH, is planning to ask the Army to appoint an atheist lay leader at the base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. According to the Times, “Atheists and secular humanists are pushing for the appointment of one of their own to the chaplaincy, hoping to give voice to what they say is a large—and largely underground—population of non-believers in the military.”

Isn’t the term “atheist chaplain” an oxymoron? I thought that the purpose of a military chaplain was to help the enlisted men and women connect with God. If there were no God, what would be the function of an atheist chaplain? How would he or she go about performing their duties?

I suppose that such a “chaplain” would not be needed in combat situations, since there are no atheists in foxholes!

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”…–Psalm 14:1.

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MOMS

Posted on May 8, 2011 by jesustrek

Wife, companion, sweetheart, friend,

One on whom we all depend,

Chauffeur, laundress, cook and baker,

Casserole and cookie maker,

Seamstress, skilled in many arts,

Mending clothes and broken hearts,

Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher,

Confidante, advisor, preacher,

Bargain hunter, tutor, nurse,

Keeper of the family purse,

Neighbor, cousin, daughter, niece,

 Making beds and making peace,

Always smiling, always giving,

What a busy life they’re living,

Feeding children, dogs and cats,

How do they wear so many hats?

                        Janice Lewis Clark

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He Laid His Life on the Line

Posted on May 7, 2011 by jesustrek

SEAL Team Six had prepared for many scenarios as they trained for the raid that ended in the death of Osama bin Laden. One concern they had was that they might have to deal with suicide bombers who were ready to die in order to protect bin Laden.

At one point in the raid, one SEAL noticed a woman whom he perceived might be wearing a suicide vest. He quickly grabbed her and pulled her away from the rest of his team. It turned out that she was not a suicide bomber, but this still qualifies as an amazing act of bravery. This man was willing to give up his own life in order to spare the lives of his companions.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”—John 10:11.

Let us never forget the drama that took place at Calvary, where Jesus bravely laid down his life so that we could be saved.

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Not in Control

Posted on May 6, 2011 by jesustrek

I own a universal remote control, but it doesn’t work. I’ve been pushing buttons all day and I haven’t been able to control the universe at all!

Sometimes we are able to “change the channel” in our lives. We can make decisions that will alter what is happening around us.

At other times, however, we are helpless to change the circumstances that are thrust upon us. We simply must endure the situation and trust in the One who really does control the universe.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”—2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

Relax, and hand Him the remote.

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The Bells Are Ringing

Posted on May 5, 2011 by jesustrek

A nurse with whom James Dobson had worked, Gracie Schaeffler, had taken care of a five-year-old boy as he was dying of lung cancer. This little boy had a Christian mother who loved him and stayed by his side through the long ordeal. She cradled him on her lap and talked softly about the Lord. Instinctively, she was preparing her son for what was to come.

One day Gracie entered the boy’s room and heard him talking about hearing bells ringing. “The bells are ringing, Mommie,” he said. “I can hear them.”

Gracie thought he was hallucinating because he was already slipping away. She left and returned a few minutes later and again heard him talking about hearing bells ringing.

The nurse said to his mother, “I’m sure you know your son is hearing things that aren’t there. He is hallucinating because of the sickness.”

The mother pulled her son closer to her chest, smiled and said, “No, Mrs. Schaeffler. He is not hallucinating. I told him when he was frightened—when he couldn’t breathe—if he would listen carefully, he could hear the bells of heaven ringing for him. That is what he’s been talking about all day.

That precious child died on his mother’s lap later that evening, and he was still talking about the bells of heaven when the angels came to take him.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”—Colossians 3:2.

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The Name of the Lord (Part 2)

Posted on May 4, 2011 by jesustrek

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”—Exodus 20:7.

Let’s go a little deeper today in trying to understand the importance of honoring the Lord’s name.

One of my professors at Bible college convinced some of us that we should eliminate all the “G-words” and “J.C. phrases” from our vocabulary. You know the words; the ones that let you express yourself without technically using the Lord’s name.

The argument goes something like this. Suppose that the name of your Creator and Redeemer was “Lawrence”. You know that you are not supposed to use the name “Lawrence” in vain. So when you want to put some force into your words, instead of saying, “Oh my Lawrence!” you say, “Oh my Larry!” Have you avoided misusing your deity’s name? Is he pleased with your choice of words?

Now, make a mental list of the words people use as a substitute for “God”, “Lord” and “Jesus Christ” when they are trying to express themselves. Would Jesus use those words? How might God feel when his children use them?

Does the professor have a point, or is he being too picky? What do you think?

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The Name of the Lord

Posted on May 3, 2011 by jesustrek

I overheard an informal prayer meeting taking place in the bleachers behind me at a high school ball game yesterday. I didn’t turn around to look, but it must have been a prayer meeting. I heard the name of God being used quite a bit. Someone even invoked the name of Jesus Christ once. Surely they were praying.

OK, I’m being sarcastic. What I actually heard was the 3rd Commandment being broken…over and over again.

The commandment to refrain from misusing the Lord’s name is not taken seriously in our society today. It is sad to see how casually people—even Christian people—use the name of the Lord in their conversations. They say things like, “Lord, it’s hot today!” or “God, I’m tired!” when they aren’t even thinking about the Lord at all.

Someone once said that if you aren’t talking to the Lord or about the Lord, there is a good chance that you might be misusing his name when you speak it. This seems to be a pretty good rule of thumb.

Exodus 20:7 says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”

You would think that the last part of that verse would catch people’s attention. You’d think.

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His Day Has Arrived

Posted on May 2, 2011 by jesustrek
Osama bin Laden

The breaking news today is that Osama bin Laden is dead. U.S. forces shot and killed bin Laden in Pakistan, eliminating the elusive leader of al-Qaida once and for all. DNA testing confirmed that the body was that of the most notorious terrorist on the face of the earth. Osama bin Laden’s body was buried at sea.

As we breath a collective sigh of relief that this evil man has been given his due, we also wonder why it took so long. It has been nearly 10 years since the attacks of September 11. Why did it take so long for justice to prevail?

David must have had some of the same thoughts as he wrote Psalm 37. He reminds us throughout the chapter that we shouldn’t fret because of evil men. We should simply trust in the Lord and continue to do good. In verses 12-13, he says, “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.”

For Osama bin Laden, his day has arrived.

I am reminded of the words of an old hymn: “This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.”

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It’s Possible to Change

Posted on April 30, 2011 by jesustrek
Ron Artest

Last Tuesday, Ron Artest was named the best citizen in the NBA. Artest, who just a few years ago was one of the main participants in the most notorious brawl in NBA history, was awarded the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for outstanding service and dedication to the community. He was given the award because of his work promoting mental health awareness.

Even Artest seemed surprised to be given the honor. He said, “There’s been ups and downs, a real roller coaster ride, but this is one of the times you look back and say it was all worth it.”

The kingdom of God is filled with people who have changed. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”—1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

We should thank God that, through Jesus, it’s possible to change. Every time we look in the mirror.

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You Can’t Get Away with It

Posted on April 29, 2011 by jesustrek

I saw a cartoon that pictured two men in a jail cell together. One man said to the other, “In my case, what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas!”

Your sins will eventually catch up with you. That’s what a burglar in Hickory, North Carolina found out. He thought he had successfully robbed a seafood restaurant. However, the criminal didn’t realize that the two cash registers he stole had spools of paper that had snagged on something in the restaurant. He left a perfect trail for the police to follow to his apartment just down the street.

David realized that you can’t get away with your sin. He wrote, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:3-5).

If we want forgiveness from God, we had better be willing to confess our sins.

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