Obvious Advice

Posted on October 14, 2010 by jesustrek

A newspaper headline says that the Utah Poison Control Center advises people not to take poison. Do we really need people giving out such obvious advice? We would hope not, but perhaps we do.

 Just think about the common-sense “Do” and “Don’t” List found in the Bible. For example: Don’t eat the forbidden fruit. Be generous. Don’t be greedy. Love your neighbor. Don’t commit adultery. Go to church. Don’t lie. Pray continually. Don’t steal. Love God. Don’t be self-righteous.

The list could go on and on. When you think about the way we humans often behave, I suppose we really do need to be told what to do, even when the answer is quite obvious.

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Back Home Again

Posted on October 13, 2010 by jesustrek

Thomas Wolfe wrote, “All things point home in old October; sailors to sea, travelers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken.”

It’s October, and I’m going home.

Vanceburg Christian Church in Vanceburg, Kentucky just asked me to be their preaching minister, and I jumped at the chance to go back to my hometown.

27 years ago, I left Vanceburg to live in Lexington, Kentucky. There I earned a college degree, got a job and found a wife. After I began preaching, the trail led to Junction City and then Science Hill. Then we left the bluegrass state for the flatlands of Indiana, where we have been for 8 years.

Along the way we found gladness and heartaches, friends and foes, victories and defeats. I have come to understand why someone once called full-time Christian ministry a “joyful burden”.

Last year the winds of change began to blow in our lives. My wife and I both sensed very clearly that God was moving us in a different direction. We were so sure of this that I resigned my ministry before we had been given our next assignment. We waited 10 months for God’s leading to take us in any specific direction. We were rewarded greatly for our patience.

Now, I’m going home. We will be close to family, and I have already begun to renew old friendships and acquaintances. We are excited about this new chapter in our lives. I am well-rested and ready to get back to preaching on a regular basis.

It will be difficult to say “Goodbye” to our dear friends in Indiana. Perhaps God left us here for nearly a year in between ministries because he knew it would not be easy for us to leave.

But now I feel like singing along with John Denver, “Hey, it’s good to be back home again!”

It’s October, and I’m going home.

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The Original Real Thing

Posted on October 12, 2010 by jesustrek

I just read that Coca-Cola was originally intended for medicinal purposes. It was claimed that the beverage would stop headaches, cure neuralgia, hysteria and melancholy.

The original Coca-Cola came in green bottles, usually a pint, and the directions said that you were to mix it with water. It was only later that a much more watered-down version became the billion dollar business that it is today. It has been said that Coke is now 99 percent water and sugar.

The Bible is intended to be used for healing purposes, not just a recreational drink to fulfill our wants and desires. But many people tend to water it down to the point where it can no longer serve its purpose. Instead of gathering to worship weekly (Heb.10:25), people attend church much less frequently. Sacrificial living (Mk.8:34) is replaced with an occasional good deed. Tithing (Matt.23:23) somehow becomes 2 percent of our income. Proclaiming the gospel message to the world (Mk.16:15) is reduced to an infrequent and half-hearted invitation to come to church. Making disciples (Matt.28:19-20) is no longer the mission of the church, but we do still talk about it from time to time. Love for God and people (Matt.22:37-40) is not a priority any more, but it does get some lip service.

Let’s take our medicine and stop watering down the Bible. Let’s get back to the original real thing!

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Imitators

Posted on October 11, 2010 by jesustrek

I wonder how many Elvis impersonators there are in the world? I suppose they make a pretty good living. Or how about those entertainers who are talented enough to do impressions of several famous people? I enjoy having a few laughs watching impersonators imitate politicians, Hollywood celebrities and other well-known people.

I even like trying to imitate celebrities myself, although I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give up my day job. I do a pretty good Bob Dylan, John Wayne, Bullwinkle Moose and Ronald Reagan. I must admit I need some work on my Bill Cosby, Popeye and Homer Simpson. I practice my impressions all the time, and my wife loves it. (Not really!)

Eph.5:1-2 says, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Maybe I should spend more time trying to imitate God. My wife would really love that!

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Perfection

Posted on October 10, 2010 by jesustrek

Today is an unusual date, 10-10-10. A lot of people planned their wedding for today. I suppose they saw some significance in those numbers. Or maybe they just wanted to make it easy to remember their anniversary!

Sometimes we rate things on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being perfect. I think that today’s date is an example of the gospel. In order for a perfect God to view us as perfect, it took a perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins. Jesus Christ is that perfect sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 5:21 points it out quite well—“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Others may give you a lower rating, but thanks to Jesus, God sees you as a perfect 10!

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One Rescue Plan

Posted on October 9, 2010 by jesustrek
Chile miners

Rescue seems imminent for the 33 miners who have been trapped in a Chilean mine for over 2 months. A drill has just broken through to the chamber where they have been trapped, and the men should be brought safely to the surface soon. The whole nation of Chile is jubilant over the progress that has been made in the rescue effort.

Because the rescue of the men was so critical, more than one plan was put into place to save them. 3 different drills were employed to try to reach the men. “Plan A”, “Plan B” and “Plan C” were all put into effect, just in case the first efforts were not successful.

God has a plan to save mankind. All people become helplessly trapped in sin, with no way of rescuing themselves. But God loves the world so much that he sent his son Jesus to die for us so that we wouldn’t have to perish, but could enjoy everlasting life.

God has so much confidence in the power of the gospel that he has no backup plan for our salvation. Jesus says, “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

I predict that all 33 of the trapped miners will accept the rescue option that is offered to them. It’s too bad that a higher percentage of people don’t accept the rescue plan that God offers them through Jesus.   

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Unlikely Fruit

Posted on October 9, 2010 by jesustrek

Our neighbor’s pear tree is loaded with fruit. Normally this wouldn’t be a surprise. This time of year you expect pear trees to bear fruit. But this tree looks like it should be dead. The trunk is hollow, and you can see right through to the other side of it. I’m amazed that there is as much as a green leaf on the tree, or that the tree is even standing. Yet this unlikely producer has an abundance of fruit.

The Bible is filled with examples of people who attained unexpected success. Moses, a hot-tempered murderer with a speech impediment led God’s people to the Promised Land. The prostitute Rahab was ultimately listed in the lineage of Christ. Gideon came out of hiding and, against all odds, led a ridiculously outnumbered army to victory. A young shepherd boy named David killed the giant who opposed the Israelites. A seemingly ordinary young lady named Mary became the mother of Christ. A group of ordinary fisherman changed the world.

So the next time you feel discouraged about your chances of making a difference in this world, just think about a pear tree that exceeded all expectations, and consider what God can do with someone who remains firmly planted in his will.

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Our Best Defense

Posted on October 8, 2010 by jesustrek

 

Judgment Day

The Bible portrays Satan as one who stands before the Lord to bring accusations against God’s people (Zechariah 3:1). We certainly give him plenty of opportunities to charge us with all kinds of sins. Without the blood of Jesus Christ, we would have no defense whatsoever.

1 John 2:1-2 says, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

One day each of us will have to stand before God. Judgment Day will be the ultimate trial. You will be the defendant. Satan will be the prosecutor arguing the case against you. Jesus will be the attorney defending you, and God will be the Judge. You might describe the action with these words:

I hear the accuser roar

Of sins that I have done.

I know them well, and thousands more

Jehovah findeth none.

Still the restless foe accuses,

Sins recounting like a flood.

Every charge our God refuses,

Christ has answered with his blood!

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Giving It Your Best Shot

Posted on October 7, 2010 by jesustrek

Brenner and Me

My 14-month-old friend Brenner recently came over for a play date. At one point, Brenner picked up my basketball and marched resolutely to the 10 foot high goal that is nailed to the side of the barn behind our house. Looking up at the goal, he took aim and tossed the ball. His shot ended up going about 2 inches beyond his fingertips, nearly 8 feet short of the goal. In the process of his effort, Brenner also fell to the ground. Later he tried it while perched on my shoulders, but the little guy’s toss still didn’t come close to the goal.

You have to admire Brenner’s attitude. He knew what was supposed to be done, and even though he fell short of succeeding, he gave it his best shot.

Sometimes we feel quite small and ineffective when trying to serve the Lord. But Ephesians 4:12-16 talks about how God’s people mature as they receive training and as they work together in love. The promise in verse 15 is that “…We will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

Someday I hope to see a bigger, stronger Brenner effortlessly swishing 3-pointers from all over the basketball court. And someday I hope to be more mature in my faith as I try to serve Jesus. All any of us can do in the meantime is give it our best shot.

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Noticing the Needy

Posted on October 6, 2010 by jesustrek

The young lady I saw at the gym yesterday seemed to be enjoying a routine workout. I smiled at her and said “Hi” as our paths crossed moving from one exercise machine to another. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as I saw her a couple of minutes later sitting at a machine and staring at the floor. “She’s just resting”, I thought. “People do it all the time.”

The next thing I knew, a trainer was running toward her. The young lady was having some sort of physical difficulty. The staff questioned her about what she had for breakfast, and they brought her some juice to drink. After just a few minutes, she was feeling much better, and said she was going to get something to eat.

I apologized to her as she left, explaining that I didn’t notice she was having trouble.

It seems that we all too often fail to notice those who are hurting, suffering from some kind of physical, spiritual or emotional need. It’s easy to become like the priest and Levite of Luke 10, rather than the Good Samaritan. Let’s all try to do a better job of noticing the needy.

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