Singing From the Heart

Posted on October 12, 2017 by jesustrek

Here is a cute story passed along by Barbara McKeever:

As a lady in our church was singing a solo, my four-year-old grandson tugged at my sleeve. “Nana,” he said, “she can’t sing very well, can she?”

Knowing the deep faith of this wonderful lady, I said, “Chandler, she sings from her heart, so it’s good.” He nodded with understanding.

Several days later as we were singing along with the car radio, Chandler interrupted me. “Nana,” he said, “you sing from your heart too, don’t you?”

“…Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Ephesians 5:19-20.

 

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Same Size

Posted on October 7, 2017 by jesustrek

Jose Altuve

At 5-foot-6, Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros is one of the shortest players to ever play major league baseball. However, Altuve showed up big in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox this past Thursday. The Houston slugger knocked 3 home runs out of the ball park to lift the Astros to victory!

After the game, Altuve had this to say: “As soon as I cross the white line, I feel the same size as everyone else.”

When it comes to our standing in the eyes of God, we Christians are all the same. Therefore there is no reason for anyone to feel superior or inferior.

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”—Galatians 3:26-28.

 

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Bad Results

Posted on October 7, 2017 by jesustrek

A recent cartoon of Dennis the Menace pictured the mischievous young fellow kneeing at his bedside for his nightly prayers. As usual, he had some confessing to do—“It was an honest mistake with bad results.”

Some of our sins are honest mistakes. We thought we were doing or saying the right thing, but it turned out that we were wrong.

Quite often our sins are not merely honest mistakes. We deliberately chose to do the wrong thing. Our sinful nature won out, and we acted out in rebellion against God.

All sins, whether honest mistakes or outright rebellion, have bad results. Sometimes we have to suffer the consequences of our sin, even if it is forgiven.

For sin that is not covered by the blood of Jesus, the bad results are almost too terrifying to consider! Thank God that Jesus died on the cross so that we could be saved from the ultimate bad results of our sins!

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”—Romans 8:1.

 

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Just Like a Real Companion

Posted on October 6, 2017 by jesustrek

The Quobo, available in two colors

The Quobo is a new invention introduced by the Japanese company Yukai Engineering. The idea is to give a person the comforting sensation of having a cat sit on your lap, but without the mess and responsibility of having to care for an actual pet.

This device is essentially a pillow with a tail. When you hold it in your lap and pet it, it vibrates to simulate purring, and it even waves its tail.

The invention was recently unveiled at a trade show. It should cost about $100 when it becomes available next year.

Unfortunately, many people have adopted the same approach when it comes to human companionship. Real relationships are too messy and far too much trouble to maintain. It is so much easier to have friends on social media than to have actual friends. Short electronic messages have replaced deep, honest conversations. Many relationships have become quite shallow and fake.

Easier? Yes. Fulfilling? Not really.

Let’s overcome the temptation to be satisfied with shallow relationships. Let’s strive to cultivate the deep, loving fellowship that we see described in the New Testament.

“Above all, love each other deeply…”—1 Peter 4:8.

 

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Better Me

Posted on October 4, 2017 by jesustrek

Troy Gentry

Country music singer Troy Gentry, age 50, was tragically killed in a helicopter crash on September 8, 2017. He and Eddie Montgomery had comprised the popular duo, Montgomery Gentry. The two had achieved quite a bit of success in the music business over the past several years.

One of Montgomery Gentry’s songs is called “Better Me”. It features Gentry singing about putting wilder days behind him to get closer to God and family. This song tells Gentry’s life story. While he hadn’t always lived for God, his last years were spent as a Christian man, devoted to Jesus and to his family.

While his life ended tragically, it could have had a far worse ending. Perhaps his life, and the music he left behind, can inspire others to turn to God like he did.

“…But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”—Luke 13:5.

 

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Real Love

Posted on October 3, 2017 by jesustrek

A certain man was always telling his neighbor how much he loved the children in the neighborhood. One day this man had a new sidewalk poured in front of his house. Before the cement had hardened, some of the neighborhood children ran through it and left their footprints.

The man became extremely angry. Venting to his neighbor, he exclaimed that the offending children should be punished for what they had done.

The neighbor reminded his friend how he often said that he loved children very much.

He replied, “I love children in the abstract—not in the concrete!”

Love is not merely an abstract concept. Real love is expressed in the good deeds that we perform for others.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16.

 

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Amazing Spectacle

Posted on October 2, 2017 by jesustrek

According to some reports, the August 21 total solar eclipse was perhaps the most watched event in American history. A study conducted by the University of Michigan says that about 215 million American adults watched the eclipse, either directly or on video. 88 percent of the population viewed the event—nearly twice as many as the 111 million who watched this year’s Super Bowl.

It is amazing that so many people wanted to watch the sun become hidden by the moon. If only that many would be so excited about the Day when the Son of God will be revealed in all of his splendor and glory!

“…This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”—Acts 1:11.

 

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The Cost of Water

Posted on September 30, 2017 by jesustrek

On Sunday, September 24, the temperature reached 86 degrees in Gillette Stadium for the game between the Patriots and the visiting Houston Texans. This was a bad day for the concession stands to run out of bottled water, but they did.

What happened next really got some people hot. The concession stands started charging fans $4.50 for a cup of tap water!

Needless to say, some people were outraged. Patriots’ spokesperson Stacey James apologized, saying, “That should not have happened!”

No matter what the price of water might be, the spiritual water given by Jesus is always free!

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”—Revelation 22:17.

 

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One Way

Posted on September 29, 2017 by jesustrek

Roy Moore recently won the Republican nomination in the race for the U.S. senate in Alabama. Moore has earned a reputation for being a conservative Christian who consistently takes a stand for biblical values.

This, of course, has won Moore a great number of enemies in the liberal media. They are quick to list Moore’s “sins”. Among their accusations is that Roy Moore has labeled Islam as a false religion.

It is sad that people have such a lack of biblical knowledge that they do not know that all Christians understand that Islam is a false religion. Jesus clearly and consistently claims to be the only true path to salvation. It logically follows that in order to trust Jesus as your Savior, you must believe in what he says about himself and repudiate the false claims of all who contradict him. Christianity is not merely one of many legitimate ways to believe. It is the only true faith.

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

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Bitten

Posted on September 28, 2017 by jesustrek

Virginia resident Rachel Myrick was recently bitten three times by an 8-inch copperhead snake inside a Longhorn Steakhouse. Myrick received the bites before she even made it to her table. She was briefly hospitalized for treatment. Myrick says that it could take three months to fully recover from the incident.

Longhorn spokesperson Hunter Robinson says that the snake may have come in from a nearby retention pond. This is a highly unusual incident, and the management of the steakhouse is evaluating their facilities and taking steps so this doesn’t happen again.

When the Israelites sinned in the desert, the Lord sent venomous snakes among them. Many were bitten. The Lord told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake, they could come and look at the bronze snake, and they would live (Numbers 21:4-9).

The whole human race has in effect been snake bitten. We have all suffered from the consequences of sin. God has given us a remedy. He had his son Jesus hung on a cross. Anyone who comes to Jesus for forgiveness can escape spiritual death.

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”—John 12:32.

 

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