Marching Forth!

Today marks the beginning of a new year, a year of vast potential, purpose, and promise.  In His wisdom God designed the earth to orbit the sun and orchestrated the division of seasons, months, weeks, and days.  If all we counted were days without hours, time would hold little promise for the future.  There would be no possibility for a year to hold the potential of being "the year where everything changed for good."  A new year opens countless possibilities, and reminds those whose eyes have been opened to the new life we have granted us through faith in Christ.  Every day is a new day to seek God and worship Him, as we grow in His love and wisdom.  Our God is not one of second chances but new beginnings!  Every new day and every new year is one to take hold of as a gift from God and relish the opportunities and even challenges He places before us. It is now 2014, two-thousand and fourteen years since the birth of Jesus Christ, the One who makes all...

" Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly ." Romans 5:1-6 During a drive last night, part of this passage continued to rattle through my mind:  " Now hope does not disappoint ."  Everyone alive at some time has been disappointed, and for good reason.  In every heart there are dreams and expectations that this ever shifting world has unceremoniously shattered.  In the KJV the word " hope does not ...

How important it is to have a biblical worldview!  God is revealed in scripture as the only true source of wisdom.  If we only see as men see, we are spiritually senseless and without wisdom from above.  Libraries contain a wealth of knowledge, and reading is required for understanding and application.  Without a vantage point provided by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we walk though life like an illiterate man wandering through a library.  He may be familiar with the appearance of books, flip through the pages of large tomes, and admire the pictures, but the captions and text remain unknown to him. We live in a world that largely claims (by whose or what standard I cannot tell) man is inherently good.  Besides, who is permitted to say what is right and wrong anymore with authority?  The Bible has a very different view of things.  It tells us that there is none good, no not one.  When measured against God's righteous standard ther...

It is easy to focus on the symptoms and neglect diagnosing and dealing with the source.  For years I have dealt with a shoulder injury by avoiding actions that cause additional pain.  I take care not to lie directly on my shoulder at night, and ensure I stretch properly and warm up before physical activity.  To this point I have not taken the time to seek a professional opinion or pay for scans.  Instead of having the cause fix, history says I prefer to treat my symptoms through strengthening exercises, avoiding painful activities, applying ice and pain relieving rubs, and using anti-inflammatory medications.  Eventually, I keep telling myself, I will have the shoulder examined and scanned.  But in the meantime, I will keep treating my symptoms rather than seeking out the cure. I do not believe I am alone in this.  Governments, businesses, churches, families, and individuals sometimes see a symptom as a problem rather than ferreting out the cause and...

No one likes the idea of confinement.  No one thinks, "I'd really like to see more restrictions placed upon my life."  But there is one Person who willingly accepted personal restrictions beyond anything we could ever imagine:  the Infinite, Almighty God took the form of a human being in the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was in a human sense free to do anything He wanted, yet He voluntarily chose to take upon Himself the form of a servant and was obedient to His Heavenly Father in everything. Jesus is the Creator of all, for without Him nothing was made that is made ( John 1:1-2 ).  He existed from eternity past and had previously no date of birth.  But all that changed about 2,000 years ago when He was conceived in the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit ( Is. 7:14 ) and was born in the city of Bethlehem ( Matt. 2:5-6 ).  For the first time, God entered the confines of time.  God was also confined within a human body as Immanuel, God with us....

I was riding back from lunch with a couple of mates when the car started making an odd noise.  The sound began a running commentary among all in the vehicle about the source of the sound.  As it persisted and grew worse, a passing driver honked and quickly ended the discussion.  We pulled over and found we had a flat rear tyre.  It turned out that my fellow passenger knew personally a tyre shop owner close by and directed the driver to the entrance.  True to his claims of good service, the process of the inspection and replacement was handled immediately.  This was a case of knowing where to go because you know someone you trust. The situation had me thinking.  My mate who directed us to the tyre shop performed a role similar to that a Christian who leads others to Christ in time of need.  Had we been without his aid, it would have taken us a long while to locate the jack, remove the spare, and possibly find the spare too was flat!  Because...

One character I find most interesting in scripture is that of Balaam the prophet.  When King Balak sent prestigious nobles a second time to entreat him to return with them, they promised honour and advancement should he curse Israel.  God told him to go with them if the men came in the morning and called him.  In the morning, the text says Balaam rose, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.  It does not say that Balaam waited to be called, but presumed he was free to go anyway.  Numbers 22:22 reads, " Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him ."  When opposition to God makes Him our adversary, that is a bad thing indeed! As the Angel of the LORD stood in the way with a sword drawn, Balaam was completely clueless to the mortal danger he was in.  The donkey, however, was able to see th...

The following was originally posted on the blog called " The Mustard Seed " by Amy Lambert.  Years ago we attended the same church fellowship.  Amy is currently living and serving the LORD in New Zealand.   The thing about learning to hear the voice of God is that He will often ask you to do some extreme things, things that we wouldn't normally do because they require more faith and trusting in Him alone. Now, before I tell this story, I want you to know that I have been praying for a while about how much detail to share. However, God challenged me to be transparent because people in the western world need to see examples of faith in the areas of materialism and finances. So, please know that my aim is to glorify God, not myself, and hopefully inspire others to surrender all to Jesus and trust in His provision alone. He is worth everything! On a Wednesday night, my sister Anna (her actual name will be kept anonymous) came to me and handed me an envelope conta...

During the drive home from church last night I asked Abel, "So what do you think about the new house?"  After pausing a moment he said, "I really like it - except for the roaches."  I have not discovered any evidence of an infestation, but few mornings begin without me finding a roach or two lying belly up somewhere in the house.  Since recently moving in I have laid down a generous amount of barrier spray around doors, windows, and skirting inside and out.  Some people are fine with a bug here or there, but when I see a roach or evidence of mice I go into warfare mode.  I want to unleash the strongest, industrial strength poison on the unsuspecting squatters - keeping in mind the health and safety of my family!  I spare no pains to do damage on any filthy critter populations that try to move in and establish themselves in my house. Roaches in a house are like sins in the heart.  They can find their way in no matter how vigilant one may be.  The...

I was touched by an effort of generosity and goodwill by WestJet.  Their video of Christmas giving has gone viral, no doubt prompting various responses.  It made me profoundly happy, seeing the shocked faces of people who were happy to receive their gift requests.  Check out the video below. While I was genuinely blessed by the depiction, I realise Christmas and even apparent acts of "goodwill" are viewed these days with increasing cynicism.  For everyone like me there may be a skeptic who humbugs the idea, questioning the motives of a company for giving.  It's nothing more than propaganda, some might say.  It's a glorified commercial.  WestJet did not do this out of the goodness of their hearts because they are in the business of making money.  Think of the business this stunt might net them!  They probably could afford those gifts because they overcharge people with fees and bag restrictions, some might scoff.  The points by the s...

It is natural for our gaze to be drawn away from Christ.  In the midst of the storm the wind-tossed waves look threatening and imposing.  All our senses become focused on escape and self-preservation.  Jesus promised His followers in this world we will face tribulation, but exhorts us to be joyful because He has overcome the world.  God allows pain, trials, satanic assault, and trouble to compass Christians on all sides.  We can be joyful even in the midst of difficulty because Christ has already overcome all.  He is in control.  I am His, and He is mine. When Stephen was brought before the religious leaders falsely accused of blasphemy in Acts 7, his fear of God swallowed up all fear of man.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, the truth he spoke infuriated the chief priests.  Upon hearing his scathing rebuke they were cut to the heart.  There is no doubt in my mind Stephen recognised their murderous intentions.  Instead of focusing on the...

Are you serious, I inwardly groaned.  How many times in baking have I put in tablespoons instead of teaspoons?  I suppose that's not as bad as cups for tablespoons, but it pretty much sabotages whatever is being baked.  This morning I was making crepes for the family and only after piling 4 tablespoons of sugar on 2 cups of white flour did I realised my error.  At that moment I faced a decision bakers and chefs from the beginning of time have been forced to answer:  do I try to salvage the dish or just chuck it all and start over?  Many times I have been able to salvage the dish by carefully removing the extra bi-carb or cream of tartar.  But not this time.  I dumped the lot into the bin and started over. When we make mistakes, that is the right course of action.  If we make a mistake and hope nobody notices, our salvage attempts often produce a poor result.  It is far better to admit our mistakes freely, apologise genuinely, and humbl...

Last night I started thinking about the legal systems of this world.  It seems to me the blindfold has fallen from the eyes of Justice, and her scales are a false balance.  I have not studied law, nor am I a solicitor or judge.  But I have studied the character of God and the divine law He instituted.  When we examine God through scripture, we see Him as the perfect Lawgiver and Judge of all.  He is the ideal.  He is by nature wholly righteous, just, loving, and good.  And this is where the legal systems of the world have lost the plot:  law today has become the means to an end rather than a means to God's end.  Justice according to God's standard is no longer the point.  Legal wranglings are all about knowing the system, interpreting law according to precedent, and at times even using law to legally do what is by nature unlawful.  Courtrooms have become a place of pride-fueled entanglements with the combatants not wielding swords a...

Our recent move has forced me to go through files and paperwork.  Most of what I find is junk, but I did come across notes I took during a session taught by Pastor Bill Wilson of Metro World Child .  He is a dynamic communicator with a heart to reach children with the power of the Gospel all over the world by meeting spiritual and physical needs.  Some might find his style at times a bit gruff or abrasive, but I appreciate his perspective because it comes from a man who loves deeply.  He is a man who has experienced a lot of tough stuff, yet God has brought him through stronger still.  Here are some of thought-provoking proverbs he shared during that fireside chat many years ago: Everybody wants to walk on water but they won't get out of the boat. Whatever it takes! Some preachers love crowds and hate people. Don't wait to get knocked off a donkey. Your commitment must be stronger than your emotions. Happy hinges on what happens. If Jesus shows up and w...

Our attitude is a God-given looking glass into our hearts.  Attitude is an insightful tool, a gauge discerning Christians can utilise to discover whether we are walking in God's truth or according to the flesh.  We use thermostats to regulate the temperature of conditioned air, a thermometer to discern if meat is cooked through, and moisture gauges to measure the dampness of a room.  Our bodies are designed by God to function at an optimal temperature, and it is not difficult to discern if we are sick if we will submit to taking our temperature.  The instrument spells out the proof, whether we think or feel like we have a fever or not.  Yet when it comes to spiritual health, things are not so clear cut.  Many times in my own life I thought I was spiritually healthy and robust when I was suffering from the equivalent of walking pneumonia.  Examining my attitude and motives according to God's Word was the way that God drove home the reality that I was gr...

While driving home after church this morning, I was thinking about how God is faithful to give us what we need.  He provides for all our needs, physical and spiritual.  He also gives us things we don't realise we need.  Sometimes we just need a hug!  How grateful I am for the love and acceptance from our loving Saviour.  Other times God even gives us things we don't want but we do need.  The Good Shepherd may lay His staff across our flanks to grab our attention.  He gives His beloved sleep, yet He also wakes us up when we have become drowsy and listless. How good God is to give us what we need, just at the right time!  My God supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ.

Upon arriving at the baseball field today after two weeks off due to rain, we were met by a member of the opposite side with bad news:  since the other team only had five players available, they had to forfeit the game.  We were all disappointed.  I suppose we would rather play and lose the game then prepare to play, drive out to the field only to be told there was no game.  A win's a win, but that kind of winning isn't much fun. I thought about the five people on the other side who could have played the game but couldn't because they didn't have the support from their teammates.  I felt for them.  I'm sure they all wanted to play, even the people who were unavailable.  Who knows?  Had they been able to field a team - even of seven or eight - they could have won!  To forfeit is to give up without trying.  It's a waste because no effort has been exerted to win. I started thinking about the spiritual implications of forfeiting (I have ...

My family and I have been very busy lately since moving to a new house - new to us, that is.  We've made some improvements already with better lighting in most rooms, installed new spout on the kitchen sink, and systematically moving the dehumidifier through the rooms.  The handyman has come through and fixed up some things as well, like screen doors, bathroom taps, exhaust fans, and re-attached an air conditioning unit to the wall.  Laura still isn't able to park in the garage yet, but I hope to have that remedied within the next week. As we are reading through the book of Numbers as a family, it has become clear it doesn't always sit well with God's people to go where He leads.  Perhaps you can relate!  During decades in the wilderness, God taught His people to rely upon Him for everything:  food, water, meat, protection, and direction.  He led them to places like Marah, a place where He made the bitter water sweet and made a covenant with them....

" My son, keep your father's command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. 22 When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you ." Proverbs 6:20-22   We've been studying through Proverbs on Friday nights at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  It's been a terrific time of in depth exploration and discussion.  The preceding verses have been on my mind and heart of late.  Adherence to the Law was focused on external conformity under the Old Covenant.  People could fulfill the demands of the letter of the Law without inner transformation.  The Pharisees were outwardly holy men, but were filthy within.  They kept the Sabbath according to the Law and the oral traditions, but they nursed envy and murderous intentions in their hearts.  After Christ established the New Covenant of His blood, we are no longer govern...

Mephibosheth is a compelling figure in scripture.  He was the son of a prince, crippled from a young age when his nurse dropped him upon hearing the news of the deaths of his grandfather King Saul and his own father, Jonathan.  From the moment of the fall, his life and future was uncertain at best.  When David became king in Judah and later over all Israel, Mephibosheth's life seemed to be in jeopardy.  Whenever a new king reigned apart from the line of the prior king, all the descendants of the previous king were executed to eliminate divided loyalty.  Into adulthood, lame Mephibosheth dwelt in Lodebar on the other side of the Jordan river.  He lived far from the lands given as an inheritance to his fathers, isolated, alone - and still lame in his feet, a haunting reminder of his fall from grace. But if Mephibosheth feared for his life, it would prove unwarranted.  David had made a covenant with Jonathan, Mephibosheth's father, that they would show ...

For the past week my family and I have been in the throes of moving.  We are most thankful for the help we have received from church family as we packed, hired a truck, loaded and unloaded our belongings at the new residence.  We were also able to do most of the cleaning of the old house in a single day, thanks to many people pitching in.  Now that the internet is up and running along with changing our phone and electricity providers, and most of the change of address notifications done, things are almost beginning to seem normal.  But not really.  Despite all the work done, there is much more to do! After a trip to Bunnings today for the necessities - more roach spray and to cut new keys for a new deadbolt I installed - I went by the old house to better clean the oven, range hood, dishwasher, exhaust fans, and shower doors.  When Laura went on the final walkthrough with the agent, he was ridiculously thorough - as I expected.  The list of demands se...

During my time at the Calvary Chapel Bible Institute in Rotorua, New Zealand, a point often discussed was the need for our minds to be changed.  In our sinful, natural condition our minds are completely opposed and actually hostile to God.  The first part of Proverbs 23:7 says, " For as he thinks in his heart, so is he ."  Jesus taught that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Consider a man who smashes his finger with a hammer and curses in pain.  Is the hammer to blame for the cursing?  One man will curse in his pain, and another will praise God despite suffering.  Pain was the mechanism to bring to the surface what already festered in the heart of the man.  As a man thinks, so he is.  Thoughts precede action, and even our automatic reactions are good indicators of what hides within. The sinful nature of a man works to corrupt his mind.  Even those who have been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit must contend...