Marching Forth!

Our family has just moved into our new rental home, and so much has been happening both at church and with the moving process.  About 85% of our things have been taken out of boxes, and books primarily remain packed.  Our new house will not have an operational land-line or Internet connection until February 10th, so our daily routine is to go somewhere so we can hurriedly check e-mails, do our banking, etc.  Needless to say, blogging will be nearly impossible for the next couple weeks! Where do I begin in explaining the "hecticity" of our lives right now?  Saturday night we were in a car accident (everyone ok, we were not at fault) so the back of the car is smashed in.  The back window exploded and is now covered with cling wrap and tape (not pretty, but effective!) which greatly limits our carrying capacity!  I am happy to say that the car in front of us which we hit suffered very minor damage, just traded a little paint.  Two of the five cars ...

While driving down Old Windsor Road I saw a company name written on a vehicle which interested me:  it read something to the effect of "Inner Alchemy Massage Therapy."  Alchemy is a fascinating subject because it has never been successful.  Like Rumpelstiltskin turned straw into gold in the fable, people through the ages have tried to use chemical or occultic means to change worthless or cheap metals into valuable ones.  No matter how many chemicals a person adds to lead or tin, it will never become platinum or gold. The company name I read illustrates the fact man thinks that by stimulating the body or mind with religion, philosophy, or exercise, he can purify himself.  Is it possible that a massage of muscles can increase the value of my soul?  This is a far stretch!  And why, if man believes himself naturally good (which he is not - that is why we lock our doors, protect our personal details, and buy pepper-spray), do we need any "inner alchemy" a...

People are dynamic and unique, and no two share the same personality.  To claim to speak for all people is simply impossible, though we all share similar needs and natures.  As I was cleaning a pool this morning, I was thinking about atheism, a belief system that claims "there is no God."  There are some who might claim this is an oversimplification, but the basic premise is the assertion God does not exist. There may be many reasons that brings a person to this stance.  Atheism stands in defiance of God and places self as a substitute.  The allure of atheism for many is there is no right or wrong, no Supreme Being that must be contended with, no judgment, and no hope of life after death.  In this world a man can become like God, doing what is right in his own eyes without eternal consequence.  This was the same advice and argument present by Satan to Eve in the Garden of Eden:  Genesis 3:4-5 reads, ". ..You will not surely die. 5 For God k...

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 describes God's love in this manner:  " Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 4 Love suffers long and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing . and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether ther...

It's been a good experience to have the family with me in Australia.  It has demanded many changes from my normal routine of writing, exercise, and visitation.  Because Laura is not driving yet, it has also meant that all errands have become a family adventure!  We've also been sharing the same computer, so the time that I could spend preparing sermons, communicating with people, and blogging has been adjusted to accommodate us both. Yesterday we were able to spend an afternoon at Featherdale Wildlife Park.  A collection of animals hailing almost exclusively from Australia, this park provides a wonderful opportunity to see, touch, and experience these beautiful creatures up close.  We were able to pet koalas, emus, kangaroos, wallabys, blue-tongued lizards, kookaburras, and tawny frogmouths (both birds, two of my favorites!).  We watched as the penguins were fed (yes, I'm told Sydney is home to penguins which can be seen in the harbour), as well as the d...

I'll be the first to admit that I have a soft spot for Puritain writers.  Very few modern writers or readers, for that matter, can explore the depths or soar to the heights where these men dwelt spiritually.  They are masters of the basic Gospel truths, and explain things with such detail and sound Biblical analysis that it is a breath of fresh air.  A entire book which passes for spiritual meat these days is almost like baby food in a jar compared to the side of beef these divines slap down on a single page.  The book I am enjoying right now has been re-titled Indwelling Sin in Believers by John Own and it very compelling.  He clearly explains the law of sin which works in our members which Paul spoke about in Romans 7:21.  Although I am not finished with the book, I already recommend it.  The wisdom, practical advice, and insights into the dangers of sin which so easily besets us is quite thrilling.  My heart and spirit bear witness that althou...

So much of our lives is caught up in framing our identity in relation to others.  Who we truly are reaches far beyond our actions, careers, hobbies, ethnicity, family traditions, and relationships because man was created by God as a spiritual being.  Yet most people are unaware of this spiritual dynamic of their lives and seek to define themselves by why they do or don't do, common interests, or natural abilities and tendencies.  Birds of like feather stick together, the saying goes, and people are much the same.  As long as there are people there will be cliques, clubs, fraternities, and groups where people can relish their identity together. Today I came across a offbeat story which captured my attention.  According to an article on cnn.com, people suffered from an identity crisis when they heard that the dates affixed to astrological signs shift over time.  A quote from the article states, " Our identities are precious.  If someone challenges our...

Jesus says in John 14:1-3: " Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also ."  It's a wonderful thought for consideration, that Jesus is preparing a home of eternal rest for us with Him in the heavens.  It is built not according to our works or worthiness, but out of the riches of God's grace and love toward us.  No human being save Jesus Christ is worthy to dwell in the presence of the Father.  But He has promised us in Revelation 3:21:  " To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne ." A good portion of these past three months have been spent working to secure a rental property for my family and me...

All of Australia it seems is looking with great interest and horror as the flooding continues to increase in Queensland.  During the news telecasts last night, it was repeated over and over that last week it was believed the worst had passed with the flooding of Rockhampton .  A huge flash flood suddenly went through Toowoomba , and the water which surged through the town is now on its way to Brisbane which is expected to flood severely, possibly greater than the massive floods of 1974.  As we watched the continuing coverage last night, Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressed those directly impacted by the floods:  "Our thoughts and sympathies are with you."  As I watched the footage shown again and again, I heard similar statements by journalists and politicians:  "You have our thoughts and best wishes." Coming from the United States, I sensed a cultural difference.  Even non-Christians in America would say, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the f...

During a conversation after the Sunday morning service at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I was asked a pointed question:  "Do you believe that God still speaks to people today, for instance, just like He did to Moses at the burning bush?"  After thinking I replied in the affirmative:  God has not changed, neither is the way He communicates with people.  Though He does use the Holy Spirit to speak to us personally through He Word, He certainly can speak through dreams, visions, or even spoken voice.  God is not limited to speak to us in the ways which we might expect.  It is God's choice how He speaks to us, and most certainly He has spoken to us all through His Son, Jesus Christ.  He is our Mediator, Intercessor, and Savior. How wonderful it is to know that we need not rely on a certain church official, a particular rabbi or priest, or a holy man or woman to decipher and tell us what God is saying to us.  From the very beginning, God spoke directly to A...

This morning during my quiet time with the LORD I read the first chapter of 1 Samuel.  A verse about Hannah the mother of Samuel caught my attention.  1 Samuel 1:6 reads, " And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb ."  The NKJV drives home the effect Peninnah (a rival wife of Hannah's) had upon her:  " And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb ."  Hannah was barren because God had closed her womb.  Though she had a wonderful husband and did greatly desire children, it was the hateful spite from Peninnah that broke Hannah down.  It is amazing to consider the means God employs to foster within His children His heavenly graces as we are refined "as by fire." God did not desire for Hannah to be miserable, to weep and refuse to eat food.  But He intentionally closed Hannah's womb and allowed Peninnah to continue her assault.  ...

When I ran cross country for Grossmont High school, I enjoyed the leadership of Coach Lib.  He did much more than teach us how to run competitively.  He gave us great insight into being part of a team, knew how and when to challenge us to reach our hidden potential, and understood the power of motivation.  During his pep talks, he would talk about how our character was being built by our choices.  When we were faced with obstacles or difficulties he would say, "That's just another potato in the stew of life."  That's a positive way to see our struggles - like a potato that can be swallowed and put away for good. As believers we know God allows things to happen we cannot.  He knows that good will come from circumstances He allows which we never could have imagined.  Unlike the natural process of digestion, God is able to supernaturally make good out of obstacles there's no way we could chew or swallow.  What a comfort this is to us, knowing God r...

The big moment has almost arrived!  Tomorrow my wife and two sons will be boarding a plane bound for Sydney, Australia!  People ask me:  "Are you excited?"  Frankly, I don't know when I wasn't excited.  But at the same time it feels unbelievable, that the day that hardly seemed imaginable will become a soon reality.  One of my sons have not even been out of the state of California, much less off the continent!  A challenge and change awaits us. Thank God that He is LORD of the heavens and the earth.  As the words of David relate in Psalm 139:7-18:  " Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," even t...