Preview of Heaven

Posted on March 5, 2011 by jesustrek

One of the most memorable worship services I have ever participated in took place in a remote village in northern Thailand. There were about 15 in our group that had travelled there for a short-term mission trip. We tried to participate in the worship service as much as we could, but the language barrier was a factor—most of the service was conducted in Thai.

However, when it came time for communion, there was no difficulty understanding what we were doing. The congregation–which on that day consisted of people from different sides of the world—was united in remembering that Jesus died to save us all.

The apostle John wrote, “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb…” (Rev.7:9).

In that remote Thai village on the other side of the world, I got a marvelous preview of heaven.

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Answered Prayer

Posted on March 4, 2011 by jesustrek

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,

I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things,

I was given illness, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.

Almost in spite of myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all people, most richly blessed.

                        –Author Unknown

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Focus of Attention

Posted on March 3, 2011 by jesustrek

I just read about an athlete who was much-ballyhooed as a high school basketball player. This led me to reminisce about my own high school basketball career. I can’t remember being ballyhooed all that much. Maybe twice. Three times, tops.

“Ballyhoo” means: 1. A noisy attention-getting demonstration or talk. 2. Grossly exaggerated or sensational advertising or propaganda.

Christians shouldn’t be concerned about being much-ballyhooed. We should be making Jesus the focus of attention. We are walking advertisements for Jesus Christ, and we don’t need to exaggerate when we talk about him. He created everything (John 1:3) and he died in order to save the world (1John 2:2). Therefore, Jesus really deserves to be much-ballyhooed.

John 3:14-15 says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Let’s lift Jesus up and make him the focus of attention, today and every day.

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Get Your MBA

Posted on March 2, 2011 by jesustrek
Dave Thomas

Dave Thomas, founder of the Wendy’s restaurant chain, was always reminding his employees that they needed to have an MBA. He wasn’t referring to a Masters in Business Administration—he meant a Mop Bucket Attitude. He wanted the people who worked for him to have the mindset that their job was to serve people. One year, the annual corporate report had a picture of Mr. Thomas holding a mop and a plastic bucket.

Jesus wants those who work for him to have a servant mindset also. I don’t think that Jesus and his disciples ever published an annual report, but if they did, perhaps it would have featured a picture of Jesus with a basin in one hand and a towel in the other.

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”—Mark 9:35.

Try to work on your MBA today.

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We’re Playing Who?

Posted on March 1, 2011 by jesustrek

A few years ago, my wife and I were driving in Lexington, Kentucky, listening to some local sports talk on the radio. We were informed that the next opponent for the University of Kentucky would be the Florida Gators. Karen wasn’t paying close attention, so she misunderstood what was said. She asked me, “Did he just say that we are playing the fornicators?”

Over the years we’ve had a lot of fun over that comment. Any time we hear about that team from down south, we jokingly call them the “fornicators”.

“Fornicator” is a word that isn’t used much these days. A fornicator is a person who participates in sexual activity outside the institution of marriage. Modern translations of the Bible usually replace the word “fornicator” with “sexually immoral” or some similar word or phrase. But the prohibition of such activity has never changed. 1 Cor.6:9-10 says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

“Fornicator” may be a funny sounding word, but it is no laughing matter. There is no room for fornicators in the kingdom of God. Make sure that you are on the Lord’s team. Don’t be a fornicator!

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Something to Sing About

Posted on February 28, 2011 by jesustrek

There has been a songbird outside my window every morning for the past couple of weeks. Doesn’t he know that it’s still February? Why would he sing when the temperature is in the 20s? What kind of song would he warble with a storm on the way? Shouldn’t he wait for sunshine and warm temperatures before he sings?

Psalm 59:16 says, “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”

Maybe that little bird is trying to teach me something. We Christians have something to sing about no matter what is going on in our lives. Don’t you agree?

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Don’t Forget!

Posted on February 26, 2011 by jesustrek
Wynonna Judd

It happens every now and then. Some superstar singer who makes a fortune singing songs that he or she has memorized gets a chance to sing the National Anthem before an important sporting event—and forgets the words!

As many times as we all have heard and sung that song, you would think that we could remember the words every time we sing it. It’s not that easy, however.

Wynonna Judd had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem before the Napa 300 at Daytona in February of 2006. To make sure that she didn’t forget the words, she wrote them on her hand before she stepped up to the microphone!

Jesus knows how forgetful we tend to be. He knew that we needed something to remind us of even the most important thing that happened for us—his sacrificial death on the cross. So he gave us the command to take communion. “…Do this in remembrance of me”, he said (Luke 22:19).

Regular participation in communion helps us to remember that Jesus loves us so much that he died so that we could live forever with him.

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A Brilliant Idea

Posted on February 25, 2011 by jesustrek

There’s an old fable about a frog and two ducks that lived on the same pond. They were discussing what they should do since the pond was nearly dry because of a prolonged drought. They knew if they didn’t do something soon they wouldn’t survive.

The ducks were considering flying to a larger pond, but the frog couldn’t possibly hop that far. So the frog came up with a brilliant idea. When the ducks flew out, they could each hold one end of a stick in their beaks and the frog could cling onto the middle with his powerful jaws as they flew.

The plan worked perfectly. The ducks took off, and the frog held on for the dramatic flight. But just after they took off, a farmer looked up and saw the unusual sight and mused, “What an ingenious idea! I wonder who thought of that?”

The frog couldn’t resist the opportunity to take the credit, so he opened his mouth and yelled “I did!” as he plummeted back to earth.

Prov.27:2 says, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.”

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What’s Your Story?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by jesustrek
Fred Craddock

Fred Craddock says that his mother took him to church when he was growing up; his father wouldn’t go. When asked about going to church, his father would always say, “Church doesn’t care about me. Church wants another name, another pledge.” That’s what he always said.

Sometimes the preacher would come over, and Mr. Craddock always told him the same thing: “Church doesn’t care about me. Church wants another name, another pledge.”

Occasionally they would have a revival, and when the guest preacher came to call, you know what the response was—“Church doesn’t care about me. Church wants another name, another pledge.” That’s what he always said.

There was one time he didn’t say it. He was in the veteran’s hospital, and he was down to 73 pounds. They had taken out his throat, and said, “It’s too late.”

Fred flew in to see his Dad. Looking around the room, he saw flowers lining every windowsill and a huge stack of cards beside the bed. Every flower and every card was from someone at the church.

His father noticed Fred reading a card. He could not speak, so he took a Kleenex box and wrote on the side of it a line from Shakespeare—“In this harsh world, draw your breath in pain to tell my story.”

Fred asked, “What is your story, Daddy?”

And he wrote, “I was wrong.”

In spite of all of our faults, Christian people are the most loving and caring people on the face of the earth. Don’t wait until your deathbed to be right about Jesus Christ and his church!

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Indispensable

Posted on February 23, 2011 by jesustrek
Nick Zambos

Merle Kidwell, head coach of the Russell High School boys basketball team, had promised that he would try to get Nick Zambos into the game on Senior Night. Nick, who has Down syndrome, had been the team manager for years. His love for the game and his desire to win makes him a favorite among the players. Therefore, they worked hard to get a big enough lead so that Nick could get some playing time.

With four minutes left in the game, Kidwell called on Zambos to check in for the first time ever. His teammates made sure that he got the ball, and when Nick made a difficult shot from the baseline, the crowd roared. Kidwell had never heard Russell’s home gym louder than when Nick scored. “It sounded like a million people were here,” said player Zach Bailey.

When the game ended, Nick was carried off on the shoulders of his teammates. The whole team signed the game ball and gave it to Nick.

“We couldn’t have scripted it any better,” said Kidwell. “I really believe that God puts people in your life that can teach you things,” he said, fighting tears. “Nick has taught our team about unselfishness and humility. Everybody on our team considers Nick a part of the team.”

The Bible says that every member of the church is important. “…Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” (1 Cor.12:22).

Remember that the next time you have the chance to put somebody up on your shoulders.

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