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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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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