Different Kind of Study

Posted on April 7, 2011 by jesustrek

In a report requested by the National Institutes of Health, the National Academy of Sciences said Thursday, March 31 that the federal government should conduct research to understand why homosexuals are more likely to have certain chronic conditions. There seems to be a prevalence of obesity, depression, cancer, heart disease and other health conditions among people who participate in homosexual relationships.

While such research might prove beneficial, I propose a different kind of study to help those who are inclined to engage in homosexual behavior. A study of Romans 1:27 reveals the following: “…Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”

This study would save taxpayers a lot of money, and help many people escape a lifestyle filled with heartache and suffering.

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Devil of a Problem

Posted on April 6, 2011 by jesustrek
Tasmanian devil

The Tasmanian devil has earned a reputation for being smelly, loud and nasty. The marsupial has long been reviled in its native country of Australia. Recently, however, Australians are rallying around the Tasmanian devil because its existence is being threatened by a terrible disease. Once thought to be a virus, it has now been determined that what is killing the Tasmanian devil at an alarming rate is actually a highly infectious cancer—one of only three communicable cancers known to medicine. The disease is spread through facial bites when the devils fight one another.

In nearly twenty years in the preaching ministry, I have had to work with a few “Tasmanian devils” in the local church. I don’t know if they actually enjoy all the fighting among themselves, but it seems to be something that they can’t keep from doing. The damage to themselves and to others is devastating to a local congregation and is a terrible witness to the community.

Galatians 5:15 says, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Wildlife groups in Australia are still working to find an answer to the serious problem facing the Tasmanian devil. As for the cancerous devils in the church, the answer is strong leadership that demands repentance. 

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Page about Birth

Posted on April 5, 2011 by jesustrek
Clarence Page

Syndicated columnist Clarence Page recently wrote a rather telling column about the “birther” movement, a group of people who question that President Obama was born in the United States. The fact that Page uses such terms as–odd, crazy, nutty, racial prejudice, xenophobia and kooks—leaves no doubt about how he feels about people who are concerned about our country’s laws. In no part of the column does Page offer any evidence of Obama’s birth in this country; we are simply supposed to agree with the left no matter what they say.

Page makes disparaging remarks about Donald Trump, who seems to be testing the waters for a run for the presidency, and who recently called attention to Obama’s lack of ability to convince many Americans that he is legally qualified to hold the office of president.

I don’t consider myself a “birther”, although I sympathize with their cause. I am more concerned about President Obama’s moral authority to govern than his constitutional right to do so. While it would be wonderful to know without a doubt that he was born in the U.S.A., it would be even greater to have a president who was born again.

You see, there is a page about birth in the Bible. On that page, Jesus says, “…I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3).

People who are born again show evidence that they have a relationship with Jesus Christ. They don’t give unqualified approval to abortion, like President Obama has consistently done. They don’t give support to homosexual marriage, as the Obama administration has recently done. O-for-2 on the two greatest moral issues of our time is a pitiful record for someone who claims to be a believer in Christ.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m all in favor of obeying the Constitution. But I’m even more strongly in favor of obeying God. Until Obama shows an inclination to do that, I’m hoping that someone else will take his place in the next election.

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Saved from the Fire

Posted on April 4, 2011 by jesustrek

Videographer Rob Cook was traveling to the NCAA Final Four in Houston when he saw a car ahead of him crash and catch on fire. Cook, who works for WLEX-TV (Channel 18), Lexington, Kentucky’s NBC affiliate, was able to pull a woman from the vehicle as the car was filling with smoke. Another driver who stopped to give assistance helped a man get out of the car. Soon after the two people were safe, tires started exploding and the car was completely engulfed in flames.

The Bible says that we should be involved in saving people from the fires of hell. “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”—Jude 22-23.

Not many of us will ever have the chance to pull someone from a burning automobile. However, we all have many chances to do something eternally heroic.

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Leading by Example: Part 2

Posted on April 3, 2011 by jesustrek
Shaka Smart

Virginia Commonwealth University head coach Shaka Smart recently dove on a basketball that rolled loose on the floor while he was giving a halftime speech to his players. His attempt to convey the importance of hustle was not just a one-time ploy. VCU’s coaching staff received a rousing ovation at a practice session for the NCAA Final Four in Reliant Stadium in Houston when they started a drill that had them taking charges, diving on the floor for loose balls and sprinting across the court to save a ball that was heading out of bounds. Coach Smart said, “It’s a drill we do pretty regularly with our team…Our coaches figured we would step in and put our bodies where our mouth is.”

A person who wants to become a leader in God’s kingdom must be willing to lead by example. You have to show people that you are willing to do the things that you expect them to do. If you want people to pray, study the Bible, serve in the community, invite people to church, etc., you have to be doing those things yourself. You can’t lead people anywhere you aren’t willing to go yourself.

Jesus says, “…Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28).  

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Leading by Example

Posted on April 2, 2011 by jesustrek
Shaka Smart

The underdog team from Virginia Commonwealth University has worked hard to make it to the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Even when they were leading highly favored Kansas by 14 points, head coach Shaka Smart spoke about hustle in his halftime speech. As Smart talked, a ball rolled loose, and the coach dove on it. He was trying to teach his players what it would take to win the game and advance to the Final Four. He went beyond telling them what to do—he showed them.

Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”—John 13:15-17.

Jesus never asked his followers to do anything that he himself wouldn’t do. Anyone who aspires to leadership in the kingdom of God should understand that the best way to lead people is to show them what is to be done. Leaders must set the example in thought, speech and action.

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Whose Day?

Posted on April 1, 2011 by jesustrek

By now you probably know that today is April Fools’ Day. If you are just being reminded of that fact, perhaps I have spared you from a prank that someone who supposedly loves you is preparing to spring on you.

You have probably heard it said that today should be called National Atheists’ Day. This has been proposed because the Bible says, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1).

The Hebrew words that are often translated as “fool” in the Psalms refer to a person who is morally deficient. It has nothing to do with intelligence; it has everything to do with believing in a righteous God who sets the standards for human behavior and who reserves the right to punish or reward mankind based on our response to the God who has revealed himself to us in creation, Scripture and in his Son Jesus Christ.

Some fools aren’t content to say only in their hearts that there is no God. They say it out loud for others to hear their foolishness. Some have gone so far as to write entire books about their foolishness.

Most fools, however, are content to merely express their foolishness in their hearts. They won’t say out loud that they don’t believe in God, but they show their disbelief in their worldview and in their actions.

Some fools believe in evolution rather than creation. Some fools disregard God’s institution of marriage; they try to re-define it, or perhaps ignore it altogether. Other fools reject God’s plan of salvation and insist that there are many ways to God when he has plainly said that salvation is only through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). Still others act as if God’s church doesn’t exist, or that they don’t need to be a part of it.

There are many ways that intelligent people show themselves to be fools.

I hope you enjoy April Fools’ Day. Just don’t be one!

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A Horse is a Horse, Of Course

Posted on March 31, 2011 by jesustrek
Zenyatta

Lane’s End Farm recently confirmed that one of their most famous boarders, champion mare Zenyatta, is no longer in foal. Zenyatta was bred to Bernardini on February 23 and was confirmed to be in foal after 15 days. Her 35 day check revealed that she had lost the foal. Lane’s End Farm manager Mike Cline said that it was unfortunate, but that Zenyatta was in good health and she would be bred back to Bernardini in a week or so.

I couldn’t help but notice that the news article I read used the word “foal” rather than “fetus” or some other term. The creature that died was obviously thought to have been a baby horse. Of course it was! To say that it wasn’t a horse would be ridiculous!

Don’t you wish we would take the same logic we use to talk about baby horses and apply it to the way we think about baby humans?

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Who Did the Catching?

Posted on March 30, 2011 by jesustrek
Jason Kresse and his catch

Jason Kresse recently caught an 8-foot, 375 pound mako shark. Or maybe the shark caught him. Kresse, of Freeport, Texas, was fishing for red snapper about 50 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico when the shark suddenly jumped into his boat. The crew was unable to get close enough to the monster fish to throw it back into the sea, so it thrashed about for a while and then died. Kresse, who has been fishing since childhood, was shocked to land the huge shark in such a surprising fashion. It took a forklift to get it off the boat. The prize catch is now on display at a seafood business in Freeport, about 55 miles south of Houston. Kresse plans to get it mounted.

Jesus says that if we follow him, he will make us fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). Most of the time, we have to be actively pursuing potential followers of Jesus. Sometimes, however, they practically jump in the boat with us.

A fellow once ventured into the building of a church where I was the preacher. It was Sunday afternoon, and I was the only one there. The man said that he had seen a car outside and thought that he might find his uncle, who was a member of our church. We made arrangements to talk again, and eventually I led him and his wife to the Lord.

Another time, I received a phone call from a man who wanted to know if I had the time to baptize him that day. He had finally decided to follow the example set by his Christian father and his believing wife and wanted to give his life to Jesus Christ.

These are just a couple of times when the “fish” have jumped into my boat. It happens sometimes. Usually, however, we have to work harder than that.

Be ready to catch some fish today.   

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Just Close Enough for Comfort

Posted on March 29, 2011 by jesustrek

Charles Swindoll tells a story about a little girl whose playmate had recently died. The little girl reported to her family one day that she had gone to comfort the mother of her friend. “What did you say?” asked her father. “Nothing,” she replied, “I just climbed up on her lap and cried with her.”

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”—2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

God comforts us in our sorrows so that we will be able to give others comfort in their time of need. It’s so simple a child can do it.

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