Practice

Posted on December 29, 2020 by jesustrek
Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry, 32, is one of the best long-distance shooters in the history of basketball. Now entering his 12th season in the NBA, Curry has made 2,500 3-point shots in his career. Only Ray Allen and Reggie Miller have made more.

While natural talent has a lot to do with Curry’s success, you just don’t get to be that good without a lot of practice. This past Saturday, Stephen ended a practice session by shooting some 3-pointers from deep in the corner. Someone started video recording his shooting as he got on a hot streak. When it was all over, Curry made 105 straight shots from 3-point range. That’s right. 105 straight shots from 3-point range.

If you don’t know anything about basketball, trust me, this was an amazing feat! The only way anyone could ever get that good at shooting a basketball is if they practice a lot.

The same principle holds true for Christian living. If you want to be good at it, you have to put it into practice!

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”—Philippians 4:9.

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Blackberry Moments

Posted on December 28, 2020 by jesustrek
Ernie Johnson Jr.

In his book Unscripted, sports commentator Ernie Johnson Jr. talks about something that he calls “blackberry moments”. He tells about playing in a baseball game when he was about eight years old. A player on the opposing team hit a ball that bounced over the fence. The left fielder and center fielder both went to retrieve the ball, but they were gone a long time. When others went to help them find the ball, they found the ball laying in plain sight, but the outfielders had discovered a mother lode of delicious, ripe blackberries, and they were feasting on their newfound treasure. Returning to the ball game was the farthest thing from their minds!

Johnson writes: “That’s what unscripted blackberry moments do. I think God has placed blackberry brambles along the paths we walk every day. We just need the eyes to see them, the ears to hear them, and the hearts to detect them. All that stands in the way is the busyness of life. We’re all so focused on sticking to the script from one day to the next…that we blow right by the unscripted moments that can profoundly impact not just our lives but also the lives of those with whom we share the planet, the workplace, or a home. If there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s not to fear the unscripted but to embrace it.”

Be watching for your next blackberry moment!

“…Make the most of every opportunity.”—Colossians 4:5.

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Give Him Our Attention

Posted on December 23, 2020 by jesustrek

Little Dolly in The Family Circus is always getting her words mixed up. In the cartoon that appeared in the newspaper on December 21, 2020, Dolly was singing a familiar Christmas song in her own unique way—“Oh come let us ignore him…”

Sadly, for many people there is truth in Dolly’s version of the song. Most of them don’t mean to ignore Jesus, they just get so caught up in all the activities of the Christmas season that they forget that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Let’s make sure that we don’t allow ourselves to become distracted from Jesus. Let’s make sure that we are able to sing the song the right way—“Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!”

“…Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”—Matthew 2:2.

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Christmas Star

Posted on December 22, 2020 by jesustrek
The Christmas Star of 2020

Yesterday, December 21, was the winter solstice. Last night was the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere—the longest night of a dark, dark year. But through the darkest of nights shone a brilliant light. Many are calling it the “Christmas Star of 2020”. It was not actually a star, but rather the pairing of Saturn and Jupiter. These two planets aligned in such a way as to appear as one bright light in the sky. This was the first time since the year 1226 that Saturn and Jupiter were paired so closely that they could be observed by the naked eye. The sight could be seen from any position on Earth, if the skies were clear and there was nothing blocking your view.

This event reminded many of the star that guided the wise men to Jesus in Matthew 2.

Of course, we Christians realize that the most important light associated with Christmas is Jesus himself. He came to a dark, dark world and shone so brightly that he showed us the way to God. In fact, he himself is the way to God!

So no matter how dark the world around you may seem, understand that Jesus has the power to overcome that darkness!

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”—John 1:4-5.

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The Weary World Rejoices

Posted on December 21, 2020 by jesustrek

Perhaps that line from O Holy Night–“The weary world rejoices”–rings especially true this year. We continually battle the weariness that comes from living in a fallen, sinful world. But 2020 has brought a series of problems that have made life especially difficult for a great number of people all across the globe. There is no need to recite once again the well-rehearsed list of all the terrible things we had to endure this year. But through the darkness of 2020 shines the light of Christmas! Celebrating the arrival of Jesus gives hope to an otherwise hopeless world.

“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…!”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”—Matthew 11:28.

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Healthier

Posted on December 18, 2020 by jesustrek

I just realized that I haven’t had a cold this winter. Usually by this time of year I have suffered through at least two of them. I suppose the reason for my better health is all of the things we are all doing to try to slow the spread of COVID-19. The face covering, social distancing and hand washing has apparently kept me from catching a cold.

Don’t get me wrong. I miss the human contact. I look forward to the day when hugs and handshakes will be the norm again. However, it stands to reason that the more we distance ourselves from germs, the healthier we will be.

The same principle holds true with spiritual disease. The more we distance ourselves from sin and temptation, the less likely we are to engage in improper behavior.

Of course, just like there is no guarantee that we will not get COVID-19, there is no fool-proof way to keep from sinning. But when we Christians do sin, we have forgiveness because our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—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.”—1 John 2:1-2.

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Friends in High Places

Posted on December 17, 2020 by jesustrek

Workers constructing power lines southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska detected a problem as they tightened a stretch of wire. After backtracking they discovered what the problem was. A full-grown bull moose was hanging by his antlers from the power lines 50 feet above the ground! Apparently the trophy-size moose got his antlers tangled in the low-hanging wires and was lifted up by the unsuspecting workers who were too far away to see what was happening. Once they discovered the problem the men quickly worked to lower the bull, who was still alive, back down to the ground.

Usually there is some kind of moral to the stories I share. I am having trouble deciding what lesson is to be learned here. Maybe you can help me choose the best conclusion?

Moral #1—Keep your nose (or antlers) out of other people’s business.

Moral #2—It’s good to have friends in high places.

Moral #3—No matter where you find yourself, take time to enjoy the view.

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Top Shape

Posted on December 16, 2020 by jesustrek
Russell Wilson

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is determined to follow in the footsteps of Tom Brady and play in the NFL until he reaches his mid-forties. Therefore, he employs a full-time “performance team”, uses the best available fitness technology, works out every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas and spends at least $1 million a year on his health—mind and body.

Not everyone has the kind of resources that Russell Wilson has to devote to physical fitness. However, we each should make it a priority to take care of ourselves. We should consider it an issue of stewardship to do what we can to maintain a level of fitness that will enable us to serve the Lord and people to the best of our ability.

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”—1 Timothy 4:8.

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Silver Lining

Posted on December 15, 2020 by jesustrek

Laura Jackson suffered a heart attack this past July 1. Fortunately, something good came out of this event. Jackson said, “What we didn’t know was that the heart attack that almost took my life would be my saving grace.” An x-ray of the stent placement after her heart attack showed a spot on her left lung that turned out to be cancer. Early detection of the cancer and the treatments that followed almost certainly saved Laura’s life.

Sometimes we have to search for it, but there is often a silver lining in even the most serious setbacks in life.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”—Romans 8:28.

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Entitled

Posted on December 14, 2020 by jesustrek
Elon Musk

Elon Musk, the billionaire businessman who founded SpaceX, recently announced that he is moving from California to Texas. Musk has joined the ongoing exodus of successful people who are moving from areas controlled by liberals to places that are more conservative. Musk says that California got to the point where they took winning for granted and then got complacent. He used the word “entitled” to describe the mindset of many Californians.

It seems that many churches have reached a similar mindset. After enjoying years of growth, a congregation can take winning for granted. This leads to complacency and a sense of entitlement. Members are more concerned about what the church can do for them than what they can do for the church. This kind of atmosphere might well lead to an exodus of people who would rather be in a church that was focused on continued growth rather than keeping the current members happy.

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first…”—Revelation 2:4-5.

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