Marching Forth!

At Bible study last night we read Proverbs 17:28 which says, " Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive ."  As we discussed the meaning and personal application, it dawned on me yet again the common tendency to make Christianity more about behaviour than the condition of our hearts.  A superficial application of this passage would be, "I want to be wise, or at least appear wise to others.  Speaking less is the key to other perceiving me as wise!" The meaning of the phrase "holds his peace" basically means to remain silent.  But there is a deeper meaning revealed in scripture.  Ephesians 2:13-14 says, " But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation... "  Understanding that Jesus IS our peace puts a completely different spin ...

" Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth ." Proverbs 17:24 The book of Proverbs is packed with verses which compare and contrast wise and foolish.  Jesus said a wise man hears His words and puts them into practice, but the foolish man hears His words and ignores them.  A fool says in his heart, "There is not God" and lives accordingly - as if he is god.  According to the biblical description, a wise man is one who has humbled himself before God and has chosen to adopt His ways.  He is circumspect, conscious of God's sovereignty, provision, and love.  He seeks, heeds, and obeys God's guidance.  A fool may be wise in the wisdom of the world, but it is foundation of shifting sand.  Jesus said those who build upon man's "wisdom" embrace certain destruction. Once a person is born again through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence inside them.  An inn...

As we trek along in our walk with Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit our eyes are opened to see aspects of our lives that are contrary to God's ways.  In our flesh dwells no good thing, and it is only natural to persist in fleshly attitudes, thoughts, words, and deeds in varying degrees.  The fact it is natural does not mean it is beneficial or permissible.  In this body of flesh we need to be supernaturally transformed, and only through the Holy Spirit with our full cooperation is it possible. I have been teaching through 1 Corinthians at Calvary Chapel Sydney , and much of the epistle addressed and sought to correct sin in the Corinthian church.  Paul affirmed the Law was written for our sakes as well as the Jews ( 1 Cor. 9:10 ).  He cited many examples of sinful behaviour in the children of Israel that lead to their destruction, despite being blessed and privileged by God.  One of the sins was particularly impressed upon my heart was that of compla...

Whilst driving, I saw the name of a local company written on a truck:  "A Cut Above Constructions."  Immediately I began chewing on an idea:  isn't that what everyone is looking for in anything?  We are always open to a better deal, and nothing is better than the best deal!  We want the best prices, service, quality, and value for money.  This same approach can be brought to the search for a home church.  There are people seemingly doomed to be church vagabonds, never connecting, always open to a better deal.  Wouldn't you want your church to be "a cut above?"  Who wouldn't? I started thinking about my home growing up.  The idea of looking for a better deal doesn't work when it comes to "home."  I didn't have a choice who my parents or siblings were, where we lived, the design of our house, menu, what appliances we owned, or if the lawn mower had a bag attachment.  Now that would have been nice!  But seriously, I never t...

Do you realise God gave the Law to His people and also to you?  Because it is often said "we are not under the Law," a devaluing of it has occurred.  Whilst it is true those who are in Christ Jesus have entered into a New Covenant in Christ's blood through faith, the Law is completely relevant to us today.  We are not obligated to "keep" the letter of the Law, but the principles are just as true and righteous today as ever.  We are no longer under the authority of the "schoolmaster" of the Law ( Galatians 3:24-25 ), but we can still learn much from that teacher.  The Law focused on external righteousness, but Jesus came to establish righteousness within us through faith in Him.  Instead of outward conformity, God desires inner transformation leading to outward godliness through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18 , " Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For ass...

I was raised in a generation of Christian believers who emphasised the grace of God and I am most grateful.  Looking back, perhaps this strong emphasis was in response to legalism and the error of a works-based salvation.  I remember many times being taught the fruit of the Spirit is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit within a born-again follower of Jesus Christ.  This is true.  Whilst it is true that striving to do through the flesh what only God can do through the Spirit is futile, the opposite error can creep into the hearts and minds of Christians:  we do not need to be intentional or sometimes take drastic steps in obedience to the Holy Spirit or God's Word.  Paul subjected his flesh under the Holy Spirit as a slave driver, and then he disciplined himself to live a holy life of obedience to God.  I see in Paul an intentional approach that for much of my early walk might be better described as "passive carelessness."  I suspect I'm not the...

I have always been impressed with pioneers who embraced the risk of the unknown and uprooted their family in the hope of a better life.  Many sold their land, packed everything into a wagon, and started a new living from scratch.  It was a hard life, and many of the early pioneers in the States were on their own.  They faced dangers from wild animals, prairie fires, freezing winters, and hacked an existence out of the bush.  I enjoyed reading the Little House on the Prairie book set as a kid, amazed by the diligence of the hard-working Ingalls family. Something I have been thinking about lately is the relatively recent emphasis on "church planting."  I believe being led by the Spirit is a critical factor in seeking to fulfill your calling.  It is important to examine our personal motives through the lens of scripture.  It is interesting all Christians are called to make disciples, yet I do not see any specific call in the Bible to plant churches....

I worked in mechanical insulation for over a decade and have experience in commercial, marine, and industrial applications.  My career was spread across three San Diego companies, and I enjoyed working with many fine men and women of various backgrounds and skill-sets.  As I continued to mature and develop as a skilled tradesman and began running work as a foreman, there were basic qualities I looked for in my crew.  It was pretty simple:  I wanted people to show up on time ready to work, be teachable, work diligently, and finish each task before moving on to the next one.  One of my "pet peeves" was when people started a job - choosing the exposed, easy parts of the task - and leave the difficult or concealed parts unfinished for others to do.  It was never fun discovering I was given a job to complete where someone only partially completed the chilled water or steam.  The pipes were live and far more difficult (and hot and painful if steam!) than if ...

This morning I read a Bleacher Repor t article about Ken Caminiti, a baseball player I cheered for growing up as a San Diego Padres supporter.  The article spoke of how after finishing his career Ken was transparent and confessed steroid use and drug abuse.  There is little doubt his candor cost him dearly.  Instead of cheers for his honesty, he was ostracised by many both in and outside of baseball circles.  Some of his fellow players felt betrayed, and fans were angry their hero had been a cheat.  The fallout from his admission freely provided created a fire-storm of controversy.  Quoting the article: Two years later, in 2007, Caminiti appeared on the baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first and only time. A record 545 voters cast ballots. Two people voted for Caminiti.  " I took a lot of crap for that vote ," says Gwen Knapp, then a sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle  and, of course, one of the two who voted for him. " I th...

Sometimes the biblical knowledge of a Christian can inhibit growth.  This may seem strange, but it is a common malady.  Our familiarity with a passage may lead us to gloss over key details which could greatly broaden our understanding.  For instance, I have heard people describe God's love with the word "unconditional."  Whilst it is true God's love is freely given according to His grace - no one deserves or could earn such love extended to all - I believe people can love unconditionally without God.  I suggest there are people in the world who are die-hard, loyal until death supporters of sports teams which have never won!  If our understanding of God's love is merely as "unconditional", we miss the richness of the depths of the knowledge of how deep God's love goes.  I remember well my attempts to find the word "unconditional" in the Bible and was surprised I could not.  I discovered God's "agapao" and "agape" lov...

" Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God ."   Psalm 43:5 Have you ever wondered why a good shepherd will leave 99 sheep in the wilderness to seek one sheep that is lost?  In Philip Keller's classic, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 , this is explained in detail.  A sheep missing from the flock could be lost, injured, trapped, or cast.  A cast sheep is one that has fallen over and is unable to stand back up.  All sheep are susceptible to being cast, and factors such as heavy wool, uneven terrain, and pregnancy can play a role.  What looks funny or pathetic to us is a dire condition for a sheep!  When a sheep is cast and wildly struggles to regain its footing, gasses quickly build in the stomach which cuts off the blood supply to the limbs.  A cast sheep can die in a matter of hours. A good shepherd, seeing a sheep he loves is missing ...

Last night I turned on a random music mix as our family washed up after dinner.  As a song by the band Third Day played, I was reminded of a friend named Mark Peters who has already passed into eternity.  Thinking of Mark caused me to think of Mark Rawn who also has gone been to be with the LORD while I have been living in Australia.  We used to attend Calvary Chapel El Cajon together, and I was always blessed to serve alongside them. It was a unique experience as I washed dishes and listened to the song.  It was like Mark Peters and Mark Rawn were together, and they were laughing.  Try as I might, in my mind I could only see them smiling broadly in supreme comfort.  They were rejoicing!  Could I mourn for them now, seeing they had entered into the presence of the LORD for eternity?  In a strange way I almost envied them.  "You don't need to cry for me when my body dies," I told my son who was in the room.  Thinking about it now, tha...

Jesus told a parable about servants who were given a portion of money by their master before he left on a journey.  They were entrusted to invest and use what their master entrusted to them wisely.  Luke 19:15-17 reads, " And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities ."  Jesus is coming quickly, and His reward is with Him to give to every servant according to their work ( Rev. 22:12 ).  It is God's good pleasure to give us the kingdom, and He graciously has rewards reserved for us.  Should we show ourselves faithful in this life on earth, God has eternal rewards He will de...

During camp last week, I was asked many times about what the Bible says about hell.  There were questions like, "If God is so powerful, why doesn't He destroy hell?"  Well, the Bible says someday He will ( Rev. 20:14 ).  Another question was, "If God loves people so much, why did He create hell?"  The Bible reveals that hell was originally created for the devil and his angels ( Matt. 25:41 ).  When man chooses to be a devil and rebel against God, he chooses his own destruction.  God has demonstrated His love for man by sending Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of all who repent and trust in Him in the world.  God has made a way of escape available to all.  It is folly to blame God for allowing eternal destruction when He has not only warned all, but given us the means to be saved through faith. Hell is a real place of eternal torment, even as heaven is a place where Jesus shall wipe every tear from our eyes.  Hell is described as a place o...

" Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah " Psalm 46:10-11 The world is moving at a frenetic pace.  The advance of technology and transport has changed the way we live, work, and play.  Leisurely trips which at one time took weeks now are finished in hours.  It used to be people could go on a holiday and take a break from the intrusions of the office, but now mobile devices and internet connections carry the office with them.  It profits us nothing to lament the days gone by, wishing we had lived in a simpler, less technologically-savvy day.  What does profit us, however, is to consider the simple command of God today:  " Be still, and know that I am God ." We spend a lot of time pursuing our interests.  For instance, at the moment I am trying to resolve an issue with a local company.  In good faith I pa...

Have you ever faced a "pop quiz" you were unprepared for?  I remember many times groaning inside as my delighted teacher instructed all pupils to stow our books for an unexpected test - without notes.  Even when I had a fair grasp of the material I didn't appreciate "surprise" exams.  I often felt unprepared and anxious because I hadn't carefully studied the material.  As uncomfortable as a surprise quiz made me feel, what relief was mine when we had an "open-book exam."  The freedom to reference all our notes and textbooks was a great consolation.  I cannot remember any nervousness facing an "open book test" because I felt assured of a strong showing. As we live out our days on earth following Jesus Christ, God allows many tests and trials.  Most of these tests come suddenly and unexpectedly.  When tragedy or trials come, it is natural for us to feel uncertain about the future.  We feel uncomfortable because we were not given the oppor...

After a week speaking at a teen camp, I am ready to jump back into the fray of the ever-demanding blog.  I find it is a most useful exercise in better developing thoughts of a spiritual nature I have throughout the day.  The fact others can also benefit from these musings is a wonderful secondary benefit.  I pray that through these musings all who read them may be encouraged, challenged, and seek to apply biblical truth to their personal lives.  Until the LORD directs me to apply my efforts elsewhere for His glory, it is a joy and privilege to continue writing in this format:  free of charge, open and transparent, instructive, and frequent when possible - all to the glory of God! As I spent time becoming acquainted with the teens at camp, many things became apparent.  Kids today are growing up in an era of great confusion, both in society and within themselves.  They have many questions, but most seem to only accept answers which agree with their pri...