Ups and Downs

Posted on April 12, 2011 by jesustrek
Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy was playing some fantastic golf at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia this past weekend. The 21-year-old was poised to become the second youngest player to ever win the Masters. With a 4-shot lead to begin the final round, McIlroy had everything going his way. Then it all came apart.

A couple of disastrous holes cost McIlroy the lead. An errant tee shot on number 13 sealed his fate; he would not win the green jacket. Instead he would be remembered with other golfers who squandered a big lead on the final day of a major tournament.

Life can be cruel that way. Everything is going your way, and then, suddenly, it all starts to go downhill.

Paul knew what it was like to experience the ups and downs of life. In Acts 14, some people at Lystra thought so highly of Paul that they were actually prepared to worship him. But some other people came along and quickly turned the crowd against Paul, and they stoned him and left him for dead.

I’ll never blow the lead at the Masters. I just try not to embarrass myself at the church golf outing. And I doubt that I will ever be dragged out of town and left for dead, but the thought of that possibility gives me incentive to work a bit harder on my sermons.

We all have to understand that life has its ups and downs. Let us try to remain humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

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Keep Moving

Posted on April 11, 2011 by jesustrek

A college class was graduating on a hot and humid day. Graduation ceremonies sometimes seem to last forever, so the college president was doing the best he could to speed up the process. As the graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas from him, the president smiled, shook their hands, and loudly said, “Congratulations!” Then, in a much lower voice that could be heard only by the graduates, he said, “Keep moving!”

The college president was only trying to keep the line moving, but his words are good advice for a lifetime. Too many people slow down or eventually come to a stop in life when God has plans for them to keep moving.

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”—Hebrews 6:12.

Keep moving!

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The Games People Play

Posted on April 9, 2011 by jesustrek

Some men die in battle,

Some men die in flames,

But most men perish inch by inch,

While playing little games.

            Author Unknown

 

It’s sad to see people wasting their lives away, playing little games that are not at all important. On more than one occasion, Jesus had to rebuke his followers for wanting to be more important than the others. His followers still jostle for position, playing politics in the church and trying to see who can wield the most influence. They gossip and complain and otherwise waste their lives away in insignificant pursuits of self-indulgence.

Jesus wants more from us. He says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33). He wants us to have our priorities in order.

I don’t want to major in the minors. I want to lead a life of significance, the way that Jesus defines such a life. I want to go down fighting for the greatest cause in the universe, the building of God’s kingdom.

How about you?

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Too Comfortable?

Posted on April 8, 2011 by jesustrek

An advertisement for a drive-in movie about the life of Jesus said: “Come and experience the life of Christ all from the comfort of your car.”

That doesn’t seem to be the kind of life Jesus says we can expect if we choose to follow him. He promises that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33). Jesus teaches that we can expect to be insulted, persecuted and have people speak evil against us (Matthew 5:11). He even goes so far as to say, “…If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24).

Jesus expects us to deny ourselves and put to death anything in our lives that prevents us from truly following him. Far from a life of comfort, Jesus paints a picture of striving against the flow of the world around us. Truly following Jesus is anything but a life of ease.

We American Christians tend to lose sight of the cost of true discipleship. Is following Jesus costing you anything? Anything at all? Have you ever paid a price—mentally, emotionally, financially, physically, etc.—for having decided to follow Jesus?

If you are living a comfortable life, you need to look in the mirror. Check to see if there is a cross on your back.

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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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