Seat of Humility

Posted on June 12, 2017 by jesustrek

Mike Brown, left; Steve Kerr, right

Mike Brown was hired as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors after last season’s NBA playoffs. When head coach Steve Kerr became unable to perform his duties as he battled extreme back pain, Brown took over the head coaching responsibilities. Brown did quite well, guiding the Warriors to a perfect record in the playoffs until Kerr was able to resume his position on the bench.

Brown has shown a remarkable amount of humility through all this. He was willing to accept an assistant coach’s job even though he had 563 career regular season wins and 47 playoff victories as a head coach. Then, when Kerr was able to come back and coach again, Brown humbly returned to his seat as Kerr’s assistant.

There is a lot to be said for this kind of humility. In a sport where egos are typically inflated to the point of being ridiculous, Brown’s unassuming manner of putting the team first is quite refreshing indeed.

Every church could benefit from this kind of humility.

What kind of a team player are you?

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”—1 Peter 5:6.

 

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Religious Test

Posted on June 10, 2017 by jesustrek

Bernie Sanders

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has recently received some well-deserved criticism over his questioning of President Donald Trump’s nominee for deputy budget director, Russell Vought. Sanders tried to portray Vought, an evangelical Christian, as anti-Islamic because of statements he made regarding his Christian beliefs.

Sanders appeared to be incredulous as he asked Vought if he really believed that Jews and Muslims stand condemned before God because of their refusal to believe in Jesus Christ.

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states that “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” So it is right that Sanders be held accountable for his desire to impose a religious test on Vought because of his Christian beliefs.

However, there is another important issue that comes to light here. Sanders betrays a woeful lack of understanding of the Christian religion. The Christian faith is based on the fact that Jesus Christ is mankind’s only hope of salvation.

Jesus himself says, “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” His followers agreed with his assessment when they continued to proclaim this truth—“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

The idea that “there are many roads to God” may be attractive to many, but it is far from the truth expressed by Jesus Christ and his followers. That truth will not change due to anyone’s unwillingness to accept it.

 

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Not the Real Thing

Posted on June 9, 2017 by jesustrek

As I was driving along the other day, something unusual caught my eye. It was a propane tank beside a house. No, there isn’t anything unusual about a propane tank near someone’s house. It was the fact that this particular propane tank was painted to look like a watermelon!

I don’t think it fooled anyone. Even a raccoon with a below average IQ would realize that this was not a huge watermelon. No amount of paint could make any reasonable person decide that this was anything other than a propane tank.

Some people try to paint themselves up to look like Christians. They might fool some people. They might even fool themselves. Most people are at least somewhat susceptible to self-deception.

However, we can’t fool God. Jesus warns against hypocrisy. Let us always be examining ourselves to see that we aren’t trying to pass ourselves off as something we are not. Let us be honest with ourselves, honest with others and honest to God.

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”—Colossians 3:9-10.

 

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Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood

Posted on June 8, 2017 by jesustrek

Mr. Rogers

“Mr. Rogers did not adequately prepare me for the people in my neighborhood!”—Unknown

Jesus says that we should love our neighbors. He didn’t ever say it would be easy. Neighbors can be loud, obnoxious, rude, cantankerous and difficult to love in many various ways. That does not relieve us of our obligation to show them the love of Jesus.

It is easy to love people who are loveable. Loving the unlovely is a different matter. Only with the help of Jesus can we hope to succeed in this type of radical love. And when we succeed, our neighborhood becomes a much better place in which to live.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”—Romans 12:18.

 

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Storm Awareness

Posted on June 5, 2017 by jesustrek

A Canadian man appeared to be oblivious to the dangerous tornado looming behind him as he mowed his lawn. However, his wife, who took the picture, says that he was fully aware of the storm. He just reasoned that it was far enough away that there was no need for him to be alarmed. He simply went about his business as if it were a normal day.

I think this picture tells the story of what is going on in America regarding the threat of radical Islamic terror. An evil storm touched down in a devastating way on September 11, 2001. Other tornadoes of terror have done major damage to the citizens of this nation. Recent storms have hit in London, bringing great pain and sorrow to many people.

Yet the reaction from too many people is to ignore the danger and to go on as if it will not happen in my back yard.

It is time to stop mowing and face the storm.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”—Romans 12:21.

 

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Going Straight

Posted on June 3, 2017 by jesustrek

As soon as my wife and I turned into our lane late last night we saw a skunk making its way up the driveway. We slowly followed it, our headlights illuminating the way for the little fellow.

We didn’t get too close, for obvious reasons. The skunk kept a steady pace and never swerved to the left or right, like other small animals tend to do when they move away from humans.

In my few experiences with skunks, I have noticed that they tend to move in a straight line. They pick out a direction and do not deviate from it.

I guess we should do the same.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”—Matthew 7:13-14.

 

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Good Parenting

Posted on May 31, 2017 by jesustrek

I had to stop for some puppies on the highway a couple of days ago. The three pups were right in the middle of the road, completely oblivious to the dangerous threat of the traffic. One reason that they were unafraid was the fact that their mother was standing in the road also!

The Bible says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).

Parents are responsible to teach their children the right ways to go, and the importance of avoiding the spiritual dangers we encounter on the highway of life. Those who heed this call to duty will be blessed. Those who don’t heed it will bring much sadness into their own lives and the lives of their children.

“He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents…”—Malachi 4:6.

 

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Lights

Posted on May 25, 2017 by jesustrek

As I was driving today, the driver of an on-coming car flashed his lights at me. I thought that he might be warning me about a policeman looking for speeders. Or perhaps he was letting me know that there was some kind of road hazard or an accident up ahead. I intently watched for anything out of the ordinary.

Then I noticed that I didn’t have my headlights on. I always turn my headlights on when I drive, for safety purposes. But this time I had forgotten. It happened to be a dark and dreary day. Rain was steadily falling, and here I was driving without my headlights on. I quickly remedied the situation, thankful for the friendly reminder from a fellow traveler.

Sometimes as we are travelling along life’s highway, we forget to turn on our spiritual headlights. We occasionally need a friendly reminder of what Jesus says—“You are the light of the world…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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That’s Commitment!

Posted on May 24, 2017 by jesustrek

Brad Pitt

Actors and actresses will sometimes go to extreme measures to prepare for an upcoming role. Some have either gained or lost a tremendous amount of weight, putting their health at risk in the process. Others have learned a new language, taken singing lessons or become proficient on a musical instrument.

I recently read that Brad Pitt went to a dentist to have his front teeth chipped in order to prepare for his role in the movie Fight Club. Say what you want about that decision, it does show a huge commitment on his part!

The Bible encourages us to be committed to the cause of Jesus Christ. Sometimes this commitment requires sacrifice.

In 2 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul lists some of the sacrifices he has made for the kingdom, including: floggings, whippings, imprisonment, being pelted with stones and being shipwrecked.

Any sacrifice I may have made for Jesus looks very minor in comparison!

Maybe it would do us good to step back occasionally and reflect on what kind of sacrifice we are willing to make for Jesus Christ.

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There’s Something About That Name

Posted on May 18, 2017 by jesustrek

Ernie Johnson

The studio commentators covering the NBA Playoffs for TNT have been using comments they receive from viewers via Twitter to spark some witty conversations. Before the Monday, May 15 Game 7 between Boston and Washington, one viewer comment started off by using the name “Jesus” as a swear word. Remarkably, no one on the TNT crew edited the tweet, and it appeared in its entirety on the television screen.

Ernie Johnson, the studio host, was given the task of reading the tweets on air. To his credit, Johnson, a devout Christian, omitted the offensive use of the Lord’s name as he read the message.

What do we take away from this?

First, we see how far our culture has fallen morally—to see that someone would send such a message to be read on the air, and that the message would actually make it to our television screen. That never would have happened in years past.

Second, we notice that some people, like Johnson, still revere the name of Jesus and refuse to misuse it in any way. (See the Third Commandment for more on this.)

Finally, those who do misuse the name of Jesus in this manner inadvertently point out his Deity. No one swears by the name of Buddha or Mohammed or any other religious leader. It is the name of Jesus that has the power.

There truly is something about that name!

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”—Exodus 20:7.

 

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