What Makes a Hero?

Posted on July 26, 2017 by jesustrek

John McCain returns to the Senate

Senator John McCain returned to the Senate yesterday to cast a crucial vote in the on-going process to try to improve our nation’s failing health care system. This was McCain’s first appearance in the Senate since his recent surgery and subsequent diagnosis of brain cancer.

The maverick Senator was given a hero’s welcome when he returned to the Senate floor. Republicans and Democrats alike applauded and whooped as they greeted their ailing colleague. McCain was the recipient of many hugs and handshakes from both sides of the aisle.

What is it about John McCain that could bring the Senators together in such a rare show of unity? In a word—sacrifice. McCain’s well-documented service to his country—which included years of suffering as a prisoner of war—have won the hearts of Americans across the political spectrum. Those who sacrifice so much earn our respect and devotion.

This is the same quality that makes Jesus so beloved by so many people. The fact that Jesus would sacrifice his innocent life to pay for our sins is an attractive story. Jesus himself says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32). The crucified Jesus certainly has drawn a lot of people to himself. That is the power of sacrifice.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”—John 15:13.

 

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Avoiding Conflict

Posted on July 21, 2017 by jesustrek

O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson has just been granted parole by Nevada officials. Simpson has served 9 years in prison for his involvement in an armed heist.

During his parole hearing, Simpson commented that he has lived a “conflict-free life”.

Really? A lot of people have multiple reasons to disagree with that statement! Most of us would like to live a life that surpasses what Mr. Simpson has managed to accomplish in regards to being conflict-free!

The Bible urges us to try to get along with people. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

This acknowledges that some people are impossible to get along with. However, we have the responsibility to do our best to live at peace with those around us. This means avoiding any unnecessary conflict, which requires a lot of effort on our part.

Hopefully, we can be more successful than Mr. Simpson in avoiding conflict!

 

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10 Reasons I Love Jesus

Posted on July 20, 2017 by jesustrek

 

 

 

 

Rex McDonald lists 10 reasons he loves Jesus:

  1. His love for all people.
  2. His selflessness.
  3. His relationship with his Father.
  4. His death for my sins.
  5. His truthfulness.
  6. His power and authority.
  7. He uses ordinary people.
  8. He took time for little things and little ones.
  9. He was normal and abnormal at the same time.
  10. He gives us every reason to be like him.

That’s a pretty good list. What reasons would you add?

“If you love me, keep my commands.”—John 15:15.

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Sweet Words

Posted on July 18, 2017 by jesustrek

Psalm 19:10 says that the word of God is “sweeter than honey”. Just how sweet the Bible is depends on how much you hunger for it.

There was once a Christian man who not only had leprosy, he was also blind. He learned to read Braille so that he could read the Bible. However, his leprosy eventually took away his ability to feel the Braille with his fingers.

Not to be deterred, the man began reading his Braille Bible with his tongue. After a while his tongue became somewhat calloused. A doctor advised him to give up reading so that he could continue to enjoy the taste of food. He answered, “Food will nourish me, even if I can’t taste it; but if I give up reading the Bible, I will have nothing to nourish my soul.”

To this man, the word of God truly was “sweeter than honey”.

May it be so with us also!

 

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Tastes Better

Posted on July 15, 2017 by jesustrek

Sam Elliott

Writing for The Seattle Times, Moira MacDonald said this about a new movie—“The Hero begins with Sam Elliott’s character, a veteran actor, reading a voice-over about barbecue sauce, and that’s when it hit me: Sam Elliott’s voice is barbecue sauce. Pour it on any movie—and oh, that voice does pour, in thick velvety drops—and it tastes better.”

In the same way, our influence should make people’s lives taste better. Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth. In part that means that we add flavor to people’s lives as we permeate the world in which we live.

As wonderful as Sam Elliott’s voice is, it pales in comparison to the voice of Jesus as we speak his truth into the lives of those around us!

“You are the salt of the earth…”—Matthew 5:13.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”—Colossians 4:6.

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Too Much Stuff (Part 2)

Posted on July 12, 2017 by jesustrek

Today I came out of Walmart looking for my car. At first I couldn’t find it. Then I realized that I was looking for our Chrysler Van, when in fact I was driving our Honda Accord! Once I set my sights on the right vehicle, I found it right away.

Owning two vehicles and being able to purchase food and clothing makes me feel blessed. I have been on a couple of mission trips to a remote village in northern Thailand where the people don’t have nearly as much material wealth as most of us possess. In this particular village there were no cars—only one truck and a few motorcycles. Very few of the residents had electricity. None of them had running water. The things we take for granted would be unimaginable riches to these people.

Maybe we have too much stuff. It wouldn’t hurt most of us to try to be more generous to those in need.

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.”—2 Corinthians 8:13.

 

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Too Much Stuff?

Posted on July 11, 2017 by jesustrek

I just heard about a lady who befriended a young man from India who was living in the United States. She felt sorry for him since his family was so far away, so she invited him to join her and her husband for dinner one night. When he arrived at their home, the young man asked them if both of the houses belonged to them. They had no idea what he was talking about. Finally they realized that he was referring to the fact that they had a large garage right next to their house. It was awkward for them to explain to this person who had grown up with so little that they found it necessary to build a house for their cars!

We often take for granted all of the luxuries we possess. Sometimes we convince ourselves that these luxuries are actually necessities. Many people in the world live without cell phones, cable television and an automobile for each person in the family who is old enough to drive.

Maybe we have too much stuff. What do you think?

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”—Acts 2:44-45.

 

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Have to Remember

Posted on July 10, 2017 by jesustrek

A friend of mine was recently talking about the terrorist attacks of September, 11, 2001. He said he did not like seeing pictures of those horrible events, but he felt like he had to look at them occasionally so that he would never forget what happened. He has to remember.

When we consider the salvation that we have in Jesus, we don’t like to think about the brutal way Jesus was killed in order that we could receive forgiveness of our sins. It pains us to picture in our minds the wounds that Jesus endured—the pain that he suffered as he hung on the cross to pay the price for our sins.

Yet we must think about it, or else we might forget.

That’s what we do when we take communion. The bread that we eat reminds us of his body that was broken for us. The cup reminds us that his innocent blood was shed so that the sins of humanity could be taken away.

We have to remember.

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”—Luke 22:19-20.

 

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Raising the Roof

Posted on July 7, 2017 by jesustrek

One of my favorite events in the gospels is recorded in Mark 2. There we read the account of four men who carried a paralyzed man to Jesus. They couldn’t get close to Jesus because it was so crowded at the house where Jesus was preaching. Not to be deterred, these men opened up a hole in the roof and lowered their friend on his mat to where Jesus was.

There were probably people in the crowd who wondered, “Who is going to fix the roof? Who is going to pay for that?”

However, Jesus rewarded these men for their faith. He forgave the paralyzed man of his sins and healed him.

There are many lessons to be learned from this episode, but let’s focus on this—Let’s raise the roof for Jesus! Bring a friend to Jesus! Don’t let anyone discourage you. Don’t count the cost. Don’t think that it is too much trouble. Just bring someone to Jesus. When you do, your faith will be rewarded.

 

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Bright Lights

Posted on July 6, 2017 by jesustrek

I live right across the Ohio River from the small town of Rome, Ohio. Last year on the Fourth of July my wife and I heard some noise about 10:00pm and looked outside and discovered that we could view the Rome fireworks celebration. We sat on our front porch and enjoyed the display.

I had forgotten about the Rome fireworks, but we heard them again this year, and once again we stepped outside to check out the fireworks display.

I doubt that anyone in Rome, Ohio even knows that I exist, let alone that I have benefited from their annual fireworks celebration.

This just reminds us that we never know who will see the light of the gospel as we let it shine in our lives. A Christian life can do much more than we ever imagine to spread the good news about the salvation that is offered in Jesus Christ!

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:14-16.

 

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