Proper Attire

Posted on January 15, 2011 by jesustrek

Grendon Bailie, a 13-year-old student at Truman Middle School in Tacoma, Washington, was sent home Friday for wearing inappropriate clothing. His school, which has a strict dress code, relaxed the code for one day to allow the students to show their support of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. The students were told they could either wear their school uniforms or wear Seahawks colors or apparel.

It turns out that Grendon prefers to root for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so he wore a Steelers jersey. Grendon said, “Not everyone is a Seahawks fan—and if they got to wear their team stuff then I should too.” School administrators deemed this to be inappropriate, so they sent him home.

It doesn’t seem fair, does it? I remember reading about a similar incident. This dress code violation took place at a wedding. The poor guest was speechless when he was physically thrown out of the wedding banquet simply because he wasn’t dressed properly. (You can read about this incident in Matt.22:1-14).

It violates the world’s sense of fairness when Christians insist that Jesus is the only way to be saved. You can almost hear them say—“Not everybody is a Jesus fan—and if they get to believe their Jesus stuff then I should get to believe my stuff too.”

John 14:6—“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John the apostle saw a vision of a multitude of people from all nations, wearing white robes and worshiping God in heaven. These people are described as those who “…have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev.7:14).

I guess it does matter what you wear after all.

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Outrageous Forgiveness

Posted on January 14, 2011 by jesustrek
Billy the Kid

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico recently considered issuing a pardon to the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid for one of the many murders he committed before he was gunned down in 1881. Descendants of a lawman who pursued him and a victim who was killed by him were outraged that a pardon would even be considered for such a vile offender.

After studying the circumstances of the case, Richardson decided not to pardon Billy the Kid after all. It was simply too radical a move to make.

The mercy that God shows us through his son Jesus Christ is too radical for some to accept. They can’t believe that God would even consider forgiving someone like them. However, Rom.5:6 states, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”

Thank God for his outrageous forgiveness!

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Time Passes Quickly

Posted on January 13, 2011 by jesustrek

I met Scott when we both were preaching in the same area. We found out that we had a lot in common. We were about the same age. We both were called into the ministry a bit later in life. We had earned degrees from the same Bible college.

Scott and I both moved on to preach in different states. We saw each other about once a year at conventions or seminars. My wife and I spent some time last summer talking with Scott and his wife. They were excited about their work for the Lord.

A few days ago I saw Scott’s obituary in the college news magazine. I was shocked to learn that he died suddenly and unexpectedly on his 54th birthday.

I will turn 54 in a few months. I don’t know how much more time I have left on this earth, but I want to spend that time the way Scott did—loving my wife and family, enjoying life as an active member of the family of God and being excited about what the Lord is doing in and around me.

How about you?

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

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It Is Well

Posted on January 12, 2011 by jesustrek

I have been at the Kentucky State Ministers Retreat at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park for the past couple of days. We had a wonderful time, worshiping together and being challenged to get closer to God and to pray for big things to happen in God’s kingdom.

We ended the retreat by having special prayer for a couple of ministers with health concerns. We gathered around these two brothers, laid our hands on them and prayed for their healing.

As soon as the prayers ended, someone spontaneously started singing “It Is Well”. We all joined in, worshiping the God who promises to be with us always. Every voice was acknowledging that God was sufficient for us. It was well with: Ernie, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer; Alan, who was undergoing chemotherapy for a blood disorder; E. Paul, who is in his 80s and is walking now after breaking his hip several months ago. It was well with men who were headed back to minister to churches with reputations for chewing up ministers and spitting them out. It was well with some who were struggling with marital problems. It was well with those who were at their wits end trying to raise rebellious children. It was well with those who were dealing with depression and discouragement. It was well with those who were slowing down and feeling tired after decades of faithfully serving the Lord.

Many of us were wiping away tears and croaking out the words, but we sincerely meant what we were singing. In spite of our struggles, it truly was well with the soul of every man there.

How can that be? How can it be well with your soul in a world filled with so much pain and suffering? It’s difficult to explain. Only those who have experienced God’s grace can fully understand it. You either “get it”, or you don’t. It’s a “God thing”.

I hope that everything is well with your soul today.

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Coping with Change

Posted on January 11, 2011 by jesustrek

Things sure have changed in the church during the course of my lifetime.

When I was growing up, the King James Version was the only translation of the Bible that I knew existed. Now there are all sorts of translations to choose from.

I remember when we used to hold books in our hands when we sang (I think they were called “hymnals”), and we had to turn pages between every song. Now we have the words projected up on a screen.

People used to dress up more on Sunday morning. Now it’s rare to see a man in church wearing a necktie. Jeans are acceptable in most churches.

Preachers used to stay in one place on the platform, mostly hidden behind a huge wooden pulpit. Now, they use see-through pulpits (or no pulpit at all) and they pace back and forth across the stage.

To say that music has changed in the church would be a great understatement.

I thought that I had seen every kind of change imaginable. Then I saw something I had never seen before—I attended a church service where the preacher read the Scripture from his cell phone. His cell phone!

Now I can put up with a lot. I can get accept new translations and off-the-wall singing accompanied by every instrument known to man. I can tolerate a more casual dress code and the absence of a pulpit. But you can’t preach to me from your cell phone! A guy has to draw the line somewhere!

OK, I’m kidding. I understand that God is still “making all things new”.  I’m thankful to be living in a time when exciting things are happening in the kingdom. As long as we stay true to the Word, we can survive—and perhaps even embrace—the changes that come our way.

Let’s remember the Beatitude that isn’t in the Bible, but perhaps should be: Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape!

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Holding them Accountable

Posted on January 10, 2011 by jesustrek

Coach John Calipari of the University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team has found an unusual way to motivate his players to give their best in practice. If they commit a serious basketball transgression, he makes them get on a treadmill that is located in the corner of their practice facility. The treadmill is set at 16 mph, and the offending player must stay on the treadmill for 30 seconds.

Player Josh Harrellson plans to avoid this punishment at all costs. He says, “I mean, it’s terrible…I’m not getting on that treadmill. I know that.”

Calipari said his job is to bring the best out of all his players. “Sometimes you hug them,” he said. “Other times you say, “Unacceptable.” That is the purpose of the treadmill. “We’re just holding them accountable,” the coach explains.

I think it’s helpful to see the leaders of the church as the coaching staff of the team. They need to bring out the best in their members. Paul told Titus to “…Encourage and rebuke with all authority…” (Titus 2:25). Sometimes you hug them; sometimes you let them know that their performance is unacceptable.

Christians sometimes willingly accept harsh constructive criticism from coaches and bosses, but usually chafe at the slightest correction from church leaders. My opinion is that accountability is lacking in the kingdom today.

Am I suggesting that leaders in every church install a treadmill for offending members?

Hmmmm…

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Death Remembered

Posted on January 9, 2011 by jesustrek

Syndicated newspaper columnist Leonard Pitts visited Auschwitz a few years ago. He says that he was surprised at the number of Israeli school groups there. Some of the children were actually wrapped in their national flag.

The Jewish people have made a point of educating their children about the Holocaust. They want them to understand the horrible death that so many of their people suffered. There is no better way to stress the significance of this event than to visit the place where it occurred.

Jesus encourages us to mentally visit the place of his death every Sunday. When he instituted the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said, “…Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19).

Unlike the senseless genocide perpetrated by the Nazis, the death of Jesus has a purpose. It takes away the sins of repentant, baptized believers. His death saves us from a Godless eternity and enables us to become children of God.

No wonder Jesus wants us to remember his death!

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Where’s the Love?

Posted on January 8, 2011 by jesustrek

Marvin Morgan, an English soccer player, was booed by the fans of his Aldershot team when he came out for a substitute during a 2-1 loss to Hereford. Morgan responded on Twitter with the following: “Like to thank the fans who booed me off the pitch. Where’s that going to get you! I hope you all die.”

It’s a part of our sinful human nature to wish harm upon those who mistreat us. However, Jesus teaches that we must show love to our enemies by forgiving them. He says, “You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt.5:43-44). Later he says, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matt.6:14-15).

Our receiving forgiveness from God is directly related to our willingness to extend forgiveness to those who mistreat us. Remember that the next time you get booed off the soccer field!

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Wonderful Words

Posted on January 7, 2011 by jesustrek

Someone once compiled a list of some of the best-loved words and phrases in the English language. Among those phrases making the list are: I love you, I forgive you and Supper’s ready!

Those three phrases are implied, if not explicitly spoken in some way, every time Christians come together for communion. As we take communion, we should always be reminded of God’s great love for us, a love that sent his son Jesus to the cross. We should also think about how our sins, all of them, have been washed away by the blood of Jesus. And we should rejoice that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, giving us a perfect way to reflect on God’s love and forgiveness.

I love you! I forgive you! Supper’s ready!

Celebrate those wonderful words every chance you get!

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Successful Donor

Posted on January 6, 2011 by jesustrek

Ronald Lee Herrick, who is recognized as the world’s first successful organ donor, recently died at the age of 79. Herrick donated a kidney to his dying twin brother on December 23, 1954. The operation kept his brother alive for another 8 years, and it proved that successful transplants were possible.

Herrick’s widow, Cynthia Herrick, said, “He was the only one in the world who could save his brother’s life, so he was going to do it.”

The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the only one who can save our souls. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

The Bible also says that Jesus was glad to do what was necessary to save us. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross…” (Heb.12:2).

Let us be eternally grateful for Jesus, the ultimate successful donor!

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