Smile for the Camera

Posted on March 21, 2011 by jesustrek

I attended the Kentucky state high school boys basketball tournament in Lexington last week. During timeouts, the camera crew would often zoom in on certain fans and put their face up on the big screen. They called this feature “Smile for the Camera”.

It was interesting to see the different reactions people had. Some would cheer even louder when they saw themselves on the big screen. Others would simply smile and wave. Some would try to hide from the camera.

Many people were never aware that the camera had focused on them. They would go on doing whatever they were doing, whether it was cheering or sitting there with a bored look on their face.

Jesus says that God is looking for people who will worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). In a sense, we are always on camera, whether we realize it or not. Therefore, we should always try to live a life that is pleasing to God. I believe that we smile for God whenever we recognize his presence and direct our attention to him.

Let’s all smile for the camera today!

Posted in Christian Living, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Putting It All Together

Posted on March 19, 2011 by jesustrek

A father wanted to read a magazine, but he was continually interrupted by his young daughter. Finally, he tore out of his magazine a page that had a map of the world on it. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to his daughter and said, “Go to your room and see if you can put this puzzle together.”

After just a few minutes, she returned and handed him the map correctly put together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. “Oh,” she said, “On the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where he belonged, the world came together.”

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”—Matt.6:33.

Do you have Jesus where he belongs in your life?

Posted in Christian Living | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Do You Know About Hell?

Posted on March 18, 2011 by jesustrek

My wife had an interesting experience while playing with a 4-year-old boy the other day. He was down on the floor with his battleship. There were “people” lying on the carpet all around the ship. Keeping his eyes on his toys, our little friend explained that the people in the water were dead. “They’re in heaven…unless they were bad. Then they’re in hell,” he casually informed Karen. Then he looked up at her and asked very seriously, “Do you know about hell?”

The way many people are living today, you would think that they didn’t know about hell. They should know about it. Jesus teaches that hell is an awful place that is to be avoided at all cost.

Some religious leaders are questioning what Jesus says about hell. Authors are giving their own opinions about what happens to those who go into eternity having rejected the grace that God has given them through his Son Jesus Christ.

The Bible is consistent in its teaching that hell is a real place where people who have rejected God will spend eternity shut out from his presence. It is a place of terrible punishment. The agony experienced there is unimaginable.

God is a perfectly loving God, but he is also perfectly just. He will not allow for anyone who has opposed him to go unpunished. Believe it; teach it.

Do you know about hell?

Posted in Christian Living, Culture | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

One Solitary Life

Posted on March 17, 2011 by jesustrek

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was a preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn’t go to college. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of these things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only 33 when public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

When he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race, the leader of mankind’s progress.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that One Solitary Life.

            Author Unknown

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Left the Building

Posted on March 16, 2011 by jesustrek

When Elvis Presley was still performing, his fans often lingered long after the concert was over. They were hoping for another encore; perhaps another glimpse of the one they affectionately called “The King”. In order to clear the building, it became a custom to announce over the public address system after the concert was over, “Elvis has left the building!” Only then would the crowd disperse.

The church gathers weekly to worship the true King. After church, it would be wonderful for our motto to be: “The church has left the building!” The church has left the building—to help the poor, to minister to the sick and elderly, to care for the widows and orphans, to evangelize the lost…You get the picture! The church must gather to worship, and then scatter to serve!

Has your church left the building?

Posted in Christian Living, Church | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

He Dropped the Ball

Posted on March 15, 2011 by jesustrek



Fred Snodgrass

Fred Snodgrass was a successful major league baseball player for the Giants, but he was remembered for one of his failures. In the 1912 World Series, he dropped a pop fly. His error set up the wining run, because the next batter hit a single. Consequently, the Giants lost the game and the Series.

When he died in 1974, the New York Times printed this headline: FRED SNODGRASS, 86, DEAD; BALLPLAYER MUFFED FLY IN 1912.

62 years later, and yet they could not forgive him. Omitted was the fact that Fred later became the mayor of Oxnard, California, was a successful banker and rancher, and raised a fine family. He dropped a pop fly in 1912 and they could not forget his mistake.

Eph.5:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

The world is not a very forgiving place. But we Christians are called to be set apart from the world. We are to forgive others for their mistakes, always remembering the forgiveness that God has given us in Jesus Christ.

Posted in Christian Living, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Every Part is Important

Posted on March 14, 2011 by jesustrek

When I saw the headline, “Jockey Cuts Off Fingers”, my first thought was, “Wow! Some of those guys will do anything to keep their weight down!”

Then I read that he didn’t do it on purpose. Jean-Luc Samyn cut off two fingers in a snowblower accident at his home in New York. He will be sidelined for about a month. Samyn hopes to return to riding in late March. The 54-year-old native of France has won 2,611 races in his 36-year career.

Any jockey would rather have all ten fingers functioning properly as he or she tries to guide a horse in a competitive race. In the same way, any church would love to have all of its members functioning properly as it tries to minister in its community.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Cor.12:27).

This verse tells us that every functioning Christian is an important member of the church. Every single one.

Posted in Christian Living, Church | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How Do You Define Success?

Posted on March 13, 2011 by jesustrek
Mother Teresa

It is reported that Mother Teresa once attended a gathering with kings and presidents and statesmen from all over the world. They were there with their fancy clothing and expensive jewelry. Mother Teresa looked out of place, with her clothing held together by a safety pin.

During the course of the evening, one gentleman talked with her about her work with the poor people in Calcutta. He asked her if she didn’t become discouraged because she saw so few successes in her ministry. Mother Teresa answered, “No, I do not become discouraged. You see, God has not called me to a ministry of success. He has called me to a ministry of mercy.”

God does not define success in the same way that the world does. Let us never forget that.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”—Matthew 5:7.

Posted in Christian Living | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unless You Repent

Posted on March 12, 2011 by jesustrek
Charlie Sheen

In the television sitcom Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen plays the part of Charlie Harper, a boozing womanizer whose moral code is non-existent. He only thinks of himself, and rarely considers the consequences that might come as a result of his poor behavior.

Ironically, Sheen’s actions in real life are starting to make Charlie Harper look like a pretty good guy! The actor’s many missteps have been well-documented in the media lately. His behavior and subsequent comments have dominated the news.

Perhaps the saddest part of this disheartening story is the fact that Sheen seems to show no remorse whatsoever. In fact, he seems to revel in the negative attention that he is receiving and insists that he is still a winner in life. At least many of the Hollywood stars who have had similar problems admit that they were wrong and that they need to make some major lifestyle changes.

Christians aren’t perfect. Some Christian people find themselves involved in gossip, lying, greedy schemes, immoral relationships, bad language habits, divisive behavior and arrogant attitudes. There is room for repentance in the life of every Christian.

However, many Christians seem to have the same mindset as Charlie Sheen. They don’t see that they are doing anything wrong, nor do they have any intention to change. They glory in the negative attention that they receive and they see themselves as being on the winning side. They feel that they are in good standing with God.

Jesus says twice in Luke 13:1-5, “…But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Repentance is needed in the life of a Christian. One must repent at the time he or she is baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38). There is also an on-going need for repentance; it is required whenever we find sin in our life. Acceptance of sin is not an option.

Hopefully, Charlie Sheen will come to his senses and get his life in order. Let’s hope the same for any Christians who have a similar resistance to repentance.

Posted in Christian Living, Culture, Current Events | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Time Well-Spent

Posted on March 11, 2011 by jesustrek

Jay Leno recently commented: “Facebook is looking into buying Twitter for around $10 billion. If all goes as planned, the company hopes to combine these two companies to create the biggest waste of time the world has ever seen.”

Modern technology can be a blessing by giving us instant access to news and other information, and by allowing us to communicate with others effectively. However, it is possible to waste time on these activities instead of developing relationships that will allow us to influence people for Christ. It is up to each of us to make good decisions about how we spend our precious time.

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12.

Posted in Christian Living, Culture, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment