On the Move

Posted on August 7, 2017 by jesustrek

A recent Garfield cartoon had the ever optimistic Jon proclaiming, “Nothing can stop me!” To which the lethargic Garfield replied, “Nothing can start me!”

This seems to describe two different types of church members you find in most congregations. On the one hand, you have those whose spirits cannot be broken. They will not be deterred from fulfilling their God-given assignments, no matter how heavily the odds are stacked against them. They persevere through delays and difficulties and get the job done.

On the other hand, there are those who simply refuse to be motivated. They are the sluggards that you read about throughout the book of Proverbs. Not only do they refuse to accept any challenge to perform any meaningful act of service in the kingdom, they show no remorse for their laziness and total lack of productivity.

The Bible clearly and consistently warns against spiritual laziness and urges us to be actively showing our love for God and people with our enthusiastic worship and unselfish service. Let us avoid sloth and be busy about our Father’s business!

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

 

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A Person’s Worth

Posted on August 4, 2017 by jesustrek

Neymar

Soccer star Neymar has just become the most expensive player in the history of the sport. A blockbuster deal that was completed Thursday sent Neymar from the Barcelona team to Paris Saint-Germain. The cost of the transfer? A mere $262 million!

It makes you stop and wonder what the worth of a human being is. Of course, our worth is not derived from our talent. Nor does our value depend on how much money we can earn for ourselves or our employer. A person’s worth ultimately is established by God, and here is what God thinks a person is worth—“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16.

That’s what a person is worth!

 

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Carry on the Tradition

Posted on August 3, 2017 by jesustrek

The upcoming football season at a middle school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, has been cancelled because the school can’t find any coaches. Ironically, the school is named after legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. Administrators at Lombardi Middle School have advertised for coaches since April, but have not received a single application.

Wouldn’t it be terrible if a church couldn’t find enough people to carry on our tradition of making disciples!?

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”—2 Timothy 2:2.

 

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Like an Animal

Posted on August 2, 2017 by jesustrek

Left to right: calf, Gene Simmons

A newborn calf is getting a lot of attention because it bears a striking resemblance to Gene Simmons, front man for the rock group KISS. The calf, which is named Genie, was born Friday on a ranch near Kerrville, Texas, which is about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio. The calf’s black and white face markings are strikingly similar to the face paint Simmons wears when he is performing on stage.

In this case, the fact that a person resembles a farm animal is cute and somewhat amusing. However, the Bible warns that there are times when we do not want to be like farm animals, especially when it comes to being stubborn. Psalm 32:9 says, “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”

Anyone who has worked with farm animals knows that they can be stubborn at times. They often become rebellious, even when their owners are only trying to help them.

In the same way, we humans tend to rebel against our Creator. We don’t want to go in the ways he wants us to go, even though he has our best interests in mind. God says that we shouldn’t be like dumb farm animals! We should heed his instructions and respond positively to his discipline.

 

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Conceal and Carry

Posted on July 31, 2017 by jesustrek

When we hear the phrase “conceal and carry”, we probably think about someone who is practicing their constitutional right to bear arms. However, there is another way we can understand those words. It has to do with the way that people fail to deal with their sins.

Psalm 32:3-5 says: “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

When David tried to conceal his sin, he carried its heavy burden with him and felt the pain and misery that goes along with unforgiven sin. Only when he confessed his sin to the Lord was his burden lifted. Then he experienced the joy of being right with God once again.

Are you concealing and carrying your sin? Why not allow the Lord to take that burden from you today?

 

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Stability at the Top

Posted on July 28, 2017 by jesustrek

Rick Barnes

In a recent sports story he wrote for the Lexington-Herald Leader, Mark Story documented the recent decline in athletic achievements for the University of Tennessee. Story attributes this slide to the instability in the positions of head coach for the UT football team and their men’s basketball team.

Story writes, “Since the start of 2008, Tennessee has had four (head) football coaches. Current UT men’s basketball head man Rick Barnes is the fourth person to hold that job since 2010-11.” He goes on to say, “No organization can endure that much tumult in high-level positions and not eventually pay a bottom-line price.”

Churches also pay the price for instability in leadership. It has been my experience that good, consistent leadership over a period of years is a common denominator in successful churches.

One theme throughout the Bible is that leadership is of the utmost importance in getting God’s people to move from where they are to where God wants them to be. Those who disregard this important principle do so, not only at their own peril, but also to the detriment of the entire church.

Let each one of us, whether called to lead or not, do our best to promote stability among the leadership in our local congregations. We must take this responsibility very seriously! There is far too much at stake for us to neglect it!

“…If your gift is…to lead, do it diligently…”—Romans 12:6-8.

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”—Hebrews 13:17.

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Strange Position

Posted on July 27, 2017 by jesustrek

Pro-life advocates on the front lines

The doctor who owns the only abortion clinic now operating in Kentucky has made some strange comments recently in reference to people who have been protesting outside his clinic. He said that the abortion protesters don’t have a “monopoly on morals”. He considers their tactics harassing and judgmental. He goes on, “Some of the things I see out in front of our clinic, to me, by the pro-life people, don’t represent good Christianity. I just don’t think Jesus would harass people or name-call people or call doctors murderers.”

The man performs abortions, and he has the gall to say that people who point out his crimes against humanity are the ones who don’t represent Christianity! How absurd!

This man says that he attends church every Sunday and is a former Sunday school teacher. You have to wonder what kind of church this is, that a person could attend there every Sunday and then go and do what this man does for a living through the week. What kind of church would allow such a man to teach a Bible class?

This is a strange position, both for the doctor and for the church. The Bible is clearly and consistently pro-life. Anyone who truly follows Jesus will not take the opposite viewpoint.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”—Isaiah 5:20.

 

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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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