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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Stuck Like Glue

Posted on March 28, 2011 by jesustrek
Harry Wesley Coover, Jr.

Harry Wesley Coover, Jr., who is recognized as the inventor of Super Glue, passed away Saturday at the age of 94. According to his grandson, Adam Paul, Coover discovered the sticky substance by accident. The glue was first discovered in 1942, when researchers were trying to develop material for a clear plastic gun sight to be used in World War II. The substance was rejected by scientists because it made everything stick together. Coover and a co-worker, however, saw the potential for an adhesive compound, and Super Glue is the result of their work.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were some type of Super Glue that could hold human relationships together? It could be applied to marriages, families, friendships and local churches. It would cause people to stick together, even through difficult times in their relationships.

Well, there is such a substance—the Holy Spirit of God. Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Unlike Mr. Coover’s accidental discovery, it was God’s purpose to provide us with something to make human relationships last. Its potential is only limited by our human weakness and inability to apply it properly. That’s why the Bible says we must “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…” God has given us this wonderful gift to help us be united. It’s up to us to work to apply it to human relationships.

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Next!

Posted on March 26, 2011 by jesustrek

According to Zsa Zsa Gabor’s publicist, John Blanchette, the famous actress became so upset over the recent death of her friend, Elizabeth Taylor, that she had to be sent to the hospital because of her high blood pressure. Gabor, 94, was reportedly watching the news last Wednesday at her Los Angeles home when she learned that Taylor had died. She was inconsolable and commented, “Oh, Jane Russell and Liz Taylor—I’m next!”

One would hope that a 94-year-old who has had some serious health concerns would at least be pondering his or her death. However, there is hope for people who have come to that stage in life.

Hebrews 9:27-28 says, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Those who focus on the words “die” and “judgment” have reason to worry that they might be next. But those who rely on the words “Christ”, “sacrificed” and “salvation” have a better outlook on life…and death.

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Youthful Influence

Posted on March 25, 2011 by jesustrek
Trevor Bayne

Trevor Bayne became an overnight sensation when he recently won the Daytona 500 at the age of twenty. Conan O’Brien quipped that what was even more incredible was that he was texting the whole time. Someone else joked that Bayne was the only driver to ever win a major race with only a learner’s permit.

Young people sometimes surprise us with their ability to succeed in life. However, God has a way of using young people in important ways. David was a youth when he defeated Goliath in battle. Mary is thought to have been a teenager when she gave birth to Jesus.

Paul wrote the following words to a young man named Timothy: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Let’s encourage the young people in our lives to be all they can be and to make a difference in the world around them. They can be a positive influence, and we should exhort them to do just that.

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Power of Prayer

Posted on March 24, 2011 by jesustrek

There is a story told about a small town where a man had just opened a bar. One local church, not wanting to have that kind of influence in their town, began to pray that the bar would close. They publicized their efforts, and the whole town knew that they were praying for the bar to shut down.

It just so happened that lightning struck the bar, and it burned to the ground. The owner of the bar sued the church, holding them responsible for what happened. The church denied any responsibility. When the case went before a judge, he mused, “Isn’t this interesting. It seems that the owner of the bar believes in the power of prayer, but the church doesn’t!”

Acts 4:31 says, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Maybe we all need to put more faith in the power of prayer.

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Keep the Fire Burning

Posted on March 23, 2011 by jesustrek

John MacArthur tells this story about a pastor who went to see a member of his church who didn’t attend the worship services very often. He found the man sitting in front of a fire, watching the warm glow of the coals. It was a cold winter day, but the coals were red hot, and the fire was warm. The pastor pleaded with the man to be more faithful in attending church, but the man didn’t seem to be getting the message.

So the pastor took the tongs beside the fireplace, pulled open the screen, and reached in and began to separate all the coals. When none of the coals was touching the others, he stood and watched in silence. In a matter of moments, they were all cold. The man got the message.

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”—Hebrews 10:25.

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Renewed Strength

Posted on March 22, 2011 by jesustrek

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”—Isaiah 40:28-31.

I thought of this Scripture yesterday while I was out for a long walk. At the top of a huge hill I saw a bird soaring majestically above the tree tops. (No, it wasn’t an eagle, but in certain situations even a crow can soar majestically!) The ease at which the large bird allowed itself to be propelled by the breeze was a sharp contrast to the way I had labored to the top of the hill.

Life is often a struggle. With great effort we endure pain and suffering, overcome obstacles and maneuver our way through hard times. Sometimes we feel like we don’t have the strength to go on; we have become very weary from life’s journey.

It is in times like these that we need to rely on the strength and power that is available from God. Free for the asking, the Lord will renew the strength of anyone who will trust in him. God supplies the power; all we have to do is spread our wings in faith.

Allow God to renew your strength today.

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