Life is a Musical

Posted on December 6, 2010 by jesustrek

My wife and I don’t always agree on what makes a great movie. She likes movies where people, for no apparent reason, suddenly burst into song. I keep telling her that these movies don’t portray real life. I’ve never been walking down the street and seen anyone spontaneously start to sing a show tune.

Recent study of the Bible has caused me to re-think my view on this subject. Moses and Miriam burst into song after God miraculously allowed the Israelites to escape from their Egyptian captors (Ex.15). Mary and Zechariah both have songs recorded in Luke 1. King David was known for his prolific song writing and his musical abilities. Even the apostle Paul gets into the act (1 Tim.3:16), although it seems he prefers choruses over hymns.

Realizing all of this, I had to swallow my pride and apologize to my wife. I must admit, life really is like a musical!

So if I see you on the street and you start singing, don’t worry, I won’t make fun of you. I might even start singing along with you!

Posted in Christian Living, Humor | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Payment Due

Posted on December 4, 2010 by jesustrek

Yesterday I drove past a mailbox that was designated for receiving bills. The resident had cleverly put the mailbox on a pole that was about 20 feet tall. The prankster is trying to convey the idea that if the mail carrier can’t deliver a bill, then he is not responsible for paying it.

Many people try to deny any responsibility for the debt of sin that they owe. But the Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom.3:23) and “…the wages of sin is death…” (Rom.6:23).

No one can make it right with God for the sins they have committed. No one, of course, except for Jesus. Rom.5:8-9 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

Have your bills been paid?

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

Different Views of God

Posted on December 2, 2010 by jesustrek

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson dropped a game-winning touchdown pass in the end zone in overtime last Sunday. The wide open Johnson could have sealed a victory for his team by simply holding on to the perfectly delivered pass. Instead, the ball slipped through his fingers and the Pittsburgh Steelers went on to win the game.

After the game, instead of taking responsibility for his mistake, Johnson blamed God for putting him through the ordeal of losing the game for his team.

Later that night, my telephone rang and I received the terrible news that the son of one of my friends had been in a horrible automobile accident. The young man is still in ICU as of today, trying to recover from serious injuries.

The father of this young man could have blamed God for the accident. But he chose to praise God and thank him for comforting him during this awful ordeal. He said that he had never felt a deeper sense of being held in the hands of his heavenly Father.

How could two men have come to such completely different views of God? I don’t suppose we have enough time to cover that topic today, but it’s one we should think about. When something bad happens in your life, what will you do—blame God, or trust him?

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

Music and Praise

Posted on December 1, 2010 by jesustrek

Last night I attended a basketball game at the local high school. Having just moved back to my hometown after being away for 27 years, I shouldn’t have been so surprised at how moved I was when the band played the school fight song. I should have expected to have a lump in my throat when they played “My Old Kentucky Home”. At least I was prepared for the pride that swelled up in my heart when they played the National Anthem. These songs stirred something deep within me. This was my hometown, my state and my country!

 Since music has the ability to move us in a very profound way, it is no wonder that God has given us this gift and that he has incorporated music as part of our praise and worship that we offer to him. When we sing, we are deeply aware that he is our God! In our songs we praise him for who he is and what he does. We tell of his greatness, his love and his mercy. We proclaim him to the world through music, and we will forever praise him in song when we reach heaven.

“Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”—Psalm 150.

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

Livin’ La Vida Local

Posted on November 30, 2010 by jesustrek

 

At the beginning of Mark 5, we read that Jesus healed a man who was demon-possessed. Then in verses 18-20, it says—“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”

If you want to do some amazing things for the Lord, you don’t have to go to a mission field on the other side of the world. God doesn’t call everyone into foreign missions. The majority of people who follow Jesus seem to be called to witness to people locally.

Jesus knew that the man who wanted to travel with him could have a greater influence on people if he witnessed to people in his home town. So the man simply told the local people how much the Lord had done for him and about the mercy that he had received. Isn’t that something that we all could do?

We all should be very supportive of foreign missions. However, let’s not underestimate the impact we can have for God’s kingdom by witnessing for Jesus locally. 

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

This Little Light of Mine

Posted on November 27, 2010 by jesustrek

A small light bulb in the dashboard of our car apparently burned out a few years ago. I never bothered to get it replaced because its only function was to light up the digital clock so you could see what time it was while you were driving after dark.

Then a few months ago I noticed that the bulb was shining again. No one had even looked at the problem, let alone tried to fix anything. It was a mystery why the bulb had stopped burning, and why it suddenly began to shine again.

A few days after that, the bulb went dark once more. Then a couple of nights ago, it was shining again. Last night, the clock was dark. You just never know if that little light is going to shine or not.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”—Matt.5:14-16.

You are far more important than any light bulb in the world. Don’t be inconsistent. Let your light shine for God all the time.

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

Holiday Advice

Posted on November 26, 2010 by jesustrek

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with your loved ones yesterday. I also want to encourage you not to overdo it at the dinner table. I have a friend who ate way too much last holiday season. He realized that he had over-indulged when he cut himself shaving and gravy trickled down his chin!

I have decided to make a diligent attempt to cut down on my food intake. Therefore, I am not eating any leftovers from holiday meals. You heard right—I’m quitting cold turkey!

OK, I hear you groaning out there.

Try to find a reason to smile today, and keep on having a Happy Thanksgiving, even on the day after!

Prov.17:22—“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

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

What Are You Supposed to Say?

Posted on November 25, 2010 by jesustrek

A few years ago, a friend of ours brought her young boys to our house, all dressed up for Halloween. After we gave them some candy, their mother asked them, “What are you supposed to say?” The 3-year-old responded with a loud “Boo!”

Of course she was trying to get him to say, “Thank you.”

Even when we are older, we sometimes struggle to express our gratitude when someone gives us something. We may even forget to thank God, who gives us every good thing that we have.

1 Thess.5:16-18—“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

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

Assignment from God

Posted on November 24, 2010 by jesustrek

God told Noah to build an ark about the size of a football field. He had Abraham move without giving him a forwarding address. The Lord gave Moses the thankless 40-year job of leading the unappreciative Israelites to the Promised Land. Hosea’s assignment was to marry a woman who was known to be very promiscuous. Ezekiel was told not to mourn when his wife died. Esther’s task was to risk her life by going to the king to plead for the Jewish people to be spared. God gave Daniel the chore of spending a night in a den of hungry lions. Nehemiah’s duty was to rebuild a huge wall out of rubble. The Lord told Isaiah to preach to people who were too stubborn to listen. Jonah’s God-given task was to take the “Big Fish Luxury Cruise” to Nineveh. Mary accepted her assignment to bear a child that was conceived out of wedlock, even though she was a virgin. Paul’s work for the Lord was primarily to suffer for the name of Jesus. And Jesus, well, his work wasn’t finished until he was hanging on a cross.

Now I don’t feel so overwhelmed by what God has given me to do today. How about you?

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

Remember Your Baptism

Posted on November 23, 2010 by jesustrek

I think that it is much more than a fortunate coincidence that I am now preaching in my hometown. Surely the hand of God had to be in this opportunity to preach here. I have the amazing privilege of preaching the Word of God just a few feet away from where I was baptized into Christ about 40 years ago. Every time I stand up to preach, I can think back to my baptism, and it gives me strength and inspiration.

There must be times when you also could benefit from remembering your baptism. When Satan points an accusing finger at you because of past sins and failures, remember your baptism. When you feel so tired and weary that you are tempted to give up, remember your baptism. When the world around you seems so determined to continue down the path toward destruction, remember your baptism. When doubts and fears threaten to overwhelm you, remember your baptism. When life’s unfortunate circumstances stare you in the face, remember your baptism.

 Rom.6:3-4—“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Live a powerful life, today and every day! Remember your baptism!

Posted in Christian Living | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment