Escape Room

Posted on October 31, 2017 by jesustrek

Our church is currently sponsoring an escape room. This is a game where people are given clues to solve in order to be able to gain their freedom. I haven’t tried it yet because I feel stupid enough already. Others seem to enjoy that kind of thing, and several people have come to play the game.

A temporary sign was made to help newcomers know what door to use. It said, “Escape Room”, with an arrow pointing to the church building.

I thought that was appropriate. The church is going to escape the wrath of God that will be poured out on all those who reject Jesus.

Have you made your escape yet?

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—1 Thessalonians 5:9.

 

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Good Support

Posted on October 30, 2017 by jesustrek

Feeling nostalgic, I bought a pair of the old style Converse All-Star basketball shoes. The pair I chose are low-cut and black. I like the retro look of the shoes, but they aren’t as comfortable as the newer styles of athletic shoes they make these days; nor do they offer much support. I think that, as far as support goes, they are just a notch above your average pair of house slippers!

I walk gingerly when I wear my Converse All-Stars, afraid that the next step will result in a sprained ankle. I can’t believe that we used to play basketball in these shoes! It’s a wonder that there weren’t more injuries back in those days, considering the lack of support offered by the shoes back then.

Thank God, we have a good support system in the church! We have brothers and sisters upon whom we can rely to see us through tough times. I don’t know how people outside of Christ go through life without the support of the church. Let us never take this support for granted!

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:2.

 

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Picture Being Born Again

Posted on October 26, 2017 by jesustrek

I just finished reading an article on the subject of being born again. It was based on John 3:1-8, where Jesus teaches Nicodemus that one must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God. Jesus says that one must be born of water and the Spirit.

The author of the article talked at length about the Holy Spirit, but neglected the part about the water, which many take to be a clear reference to baptism. After all, baptism washes away our sins (Acts 22:16), is the point in time where we are united with Christ (Romans 6:3-4) and is an important part of our response to the grace that God has shown us through Jesus (Acts 2:38). Why would we not conclude that Jesus is teaching that baptism is an important part of being born again?

However, the author’s glaring omission was covered, accidentally perhaps, by the illustration that accompanied the article. Someone chose a picture of a pair of hands barely visible through the bubbly water; hands that were obviously connected to someone who was submitting to baptism. What the article failed to convey in words was beautifully communicated with the artwork.

Sometimes it is true—A picture is worth a thousand words!

 

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In His Hands

Posted on October 25, 2017 by jesustrek

I remember speaking with a friend of mine shortly before he went on stage to perform in a talent contest. He was going to play his guitar and sing. He told me that he didn’t remember how long it had been since he had put a new set of strings on his guitar, and he was having trouble getting it to sound right.

Finally, he got the guitar tuned, just in time for him to take the stage. His performance was wonderful! He made those old strings sound fantastic! My friend actually won the contest, even with a guitar that was inferior to those used by others in the competition. In the hands of a lesser musician, the guitar would have sounded terrible. However, my friend’s skill had brought out the best in the instrument.

We Christians need to remember that we are simply instruments in the hands of God. His power can overcome any shortcomings—real or imagined—that might lead to a poor performance. In our own hands, our lives are out of tune. But in the skillful hands of the Master, we can make beautiful music!

“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”—Romans 6:13.

 

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Different Kind of Grief

Posted on October 24, 2017 by jesustrek

A quotation from antiquity tries to explain one of the differences between Christians and non-believers. It says about people of faith: “And if any righteous man among them passes from the world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God; and they escort the body as if he were setting out from one place to another.”

That quote goes a long way to explain the difference between a Christian funeral and a non-Christian funeral.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”

Most of us can attest to the fact that those who do not believe in Jesus usually have a harder time dealing with the loss of a loved one than those who do believe. Grieving is a natural process, but it is much more difficult for those who have no assurance of eternal life. When someone dies in Christ, their loved ones have the assurance that they will see them again.

 

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Close Bond

Posted on October 23, 2017 by jesustrek

Two ministers who were good friends had a habit of giving each other a good-natured ribbing. They were always comparing churches, trying to prove that their congregation was the best. One day, one of them said, “I have to admit that your people will get to heaven before mine will.” “Why do you say that?” the other one asked. “Because the Bible says that the dead in Christ will rise first!”

1 Thessalonians 4:16 does indeed say, “…the dead in Christ will rise first.” However, I think that, in addition to giving the order of those who will meet the Lord, there is significance in the fact that Christians who are dead are still in Christ. Not even death can sever the bond that exists between believers and their Lord! Death is no match for the power of Jesus Christ to keep us safe for all of eternity!

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”—John 11:25-26.

 

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Devastating Fire

Posted on October 20, 2017 by jesustrek

A fire that was started on September 2 has burned 76 square miles of forest land, including scenic land along hiking trails near Portland, Oregon. The fire has removed so much vegetation that authorities expect landslides and rockslides to come with the next significant rainfall. The Historic Columbia River Highway and State Trail was damaged by the fire and remains closed.

All of this devastation was apparently caused by a 15-year-old boy who allegedly tossed fireworks along a hiking trail in Oregon’s scenic Columbia River Gorge. The boy has been charged with multiple crimes.

The Bible warns that, just as a small spark can cause great damage, so the human tongue can inflict much harm if it is used carelessly. Gossip, lies, mean comments, etc. can result in a lot of human suffering.

As the children’s song reminds us, “Be careful little tongue, what you say!”

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”—James 3:5-6.

 

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May I Speak with the Owner?

Posted on October 19, 2017 by jesustrek

Churches are not exempt from getting telephone calls from solicitors. These callers often do not know that they have dialed the number of a church, and their standard sales pitch does not quite fit the situation.

Just the other day, the church phone rang, and I did not recognize the out of town number. Suspecting it was an unsolicited sales call, I answered the phone anyway, giving the caller my name and the name of the church. The background chatter I heard and the fact that the person on the other end of the line didn’t respond immediately to my voice deepened my suspicions that I was talking to someone who would try to sell me something.

The salesman obviously didn’t hear my initial greeting, which, once again, contained my name and the name of the church. His first question was, “May I speak with the owner”?

I have a sarcastic streak, so I almost replied, “Sure, you can speak to the owner any time you want!” However, my nice side won out, and I explained that he was talking to someone at a church. After assuring him that I would not be making any financial decisions at that time, we pleasantly ended the phone call.

However, you can talk to the owner of the church any time you choose. If you know him.

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”—John 16:23.

 

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Surprise Reunion

Posted on October 18, 2017 by jesustrek

I enjoy watching those surprise reunions between military personnel and their family members after they have been separated for a long time. A typical scheme is to have the returning enlisted person pretend to be the catcher at a baseball game where the unsuspecting spouse or child is asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. When the catcher takes his mask off and reveals his identity, the joyful surprise is always heart-warming.

As I watch the videos of these reunions, I know what is coming. Yet my reaction is always the same—I am elated that the loved ones have been reunited.

The Bible says that Jesus will return for his church. The One who loves us more than anyone else ever could is coming back for us someday. That truth is not hidden from us. But the fact that we know that it is coming will not lessen the joy that we will feel when our reunion with Jesus is ultimately realized!

Communion is a wonderful preview of the joy believers will experience when Jesus returns for us.

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”—1 Corinthians 11:26.

 

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Powerful Performance

Posted on October 16, 2017 by jesustrek

Last week my elbow suddenly swelled, and I was diagnosed with bursitis. My doctor prescribed a round of steroids, and the swelling soon subsided.

This is just background information that leads me to say this: Yesterday was the first Sunday I ever preached under the influence of performance-enhancing drugs. The elders of our church have been suggesting for years that I try something like this. After my effort yesterday, the congregation unanimously wants me to stay on steroids. However, I don’t think my doctor will go along with it.

Seriously, the only thing we Christians need to enable a powerful performance is the Holy Spirit of God working in us!

“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”—Colossians 1:29.

 

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