Marching Forth!

' Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen !' Deuteronomy 27:17 After delivering the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, God delivered His Law to His people.  God was faithful to provide and guide His people through years in the wilderness, and brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey according to His promise.  By lot each tribe and family (save the tribe of Levi) were given land as an inheritance.  The boundaries of the land were ordained and established by God.  It was against the Law to re-locate boundary markers, for they had been laid down by God Himself.  To move a landmark constituted theft and was rebellion against God which brought a curse. The principle of God establishing boundaries extends beyond the borders of land.  Even as God made a division between water and land when He formed the earth, God has clearly set apart right from wrong.  He held forth an absolute rig...

I recently enjoyed an interactive Bible study where the life of Joseph was paralleled with Jesus.  Their lives are not mirror images, yet there are striking, compelling similarities which provide deep wells of understanding and wisdom to drink from.  Joseph was loved by his father, betrayed and sold by his brothers, and later became a saviour to the people of Egypt and all who came during the famine.  Jesus too was loved by His heavenly Father, betrayed by His own disciple for silver, rejected by the Jewish nation He came to save, and died on the cross as a sacrifice for sin so all who repent can be saved.  Joseph was saviour for a season, but Jesus is the Saviour for eternity. We talked about twenty similarities between the lives of Joseph and Jesus, and the brother leading the study said there were no less than 60!  As the study was concluding, it came to mind Joseph was mentioned in the Hall of Faith.  I turned there, wondering if there was a correlati...

News.com.au reported early this morning Australians Chan and Sukumaran were among eight men executed for drug crimes in Indonesia.  Their families, fellow Australians, and the Australian government grimly hoped for an eleventh-hour reprieve, but it was not to be.  Whilst the Indonesian government spared the lone accused woman from the firing squad, the remaining eight men were executed.  Quoting Prime Minister Tony Abbott from the article, “ Whatever people think of the death penalty... the fact is that these two families have suffered an appalling tragedy.  And I’m sure that ever Australians thoughts and prayers will be with those families .”  I agree, and certainly have been praying.  In a land where no crime is punished by death, seeing two young men executed for any drug-related offense committed ten years ago is nigh impossible for many Australians to process. I grew up in the State of California, a place which has maintained the legal right to impo...

During my lifetime there has been much debate and discussion over "climate change."  This is not a reference to the changes in weather throughout a day, but a observable pattern which points to global warming.  It seems to be a consensus these days the world is warming up, and have the science to affirm their position.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is viewed as a the proverbial ostrich with his head in the sand, despite any evidence they interpret to counter the prevailing view. To be honest, I do not see a need to hold tightly any particular view concerning the ever-morphing science of any side.  Since the experts cannot agree, I don't know that even a careful examination of the science behind it can convince me to hold to a rigid view.  Can my opinions outweigh peer-reviewed papers, politicians, or even the man on the street?  Science is a business, and let us not be naive to think the motives of researchers are not without bias or agenda.  Man can ...

" Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD ." Isaiah 52:11 The prophet emphatically reminded those tasked with carrying the sanctified vessels of the LORD's house of their privileged role.  Men born to the tribe of Levi had roles as priests and ministers unto a holy God.  They were God's inheritance, and He was theirs.  Their identity was to be found in the righteous God who had chosen, called, and sanctified them.  They served a holy God who spoke to His people:  " Be ye holy, for I am holy ."  For this reason the priests and Levites were to be consecrated and set apart for the service of the LORD, ensuring they lived a life free of defilement. Under the Law, guidelines were given to ceremonially cleanse and sanctify priests and Levites.  They were to offer sacrifice, wash with clean water, and wear the approved clothing.  Much effort was employe...

During last night's discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we had an interesting conversation about the contrast between the rich young rulers and blind Bartimaeus in Mark chapter 10.  The only similarities between the two is they were both men, and Jesus made an impression on them.  What that impression was and how they responded to Jesus were completely opposite. As Jesus walked, a rich man ran up to Jesus and said, "Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good?  There is none good but one, who is God."  This was a veiled claim to deity:  Jesus is either good and God, or He is not good.  Jesus said, "You know the commandments."  He then proceeded to list five commands which the man claimed to have kept.  Despite having riches and keeping commands, the man still recognised his lack.  Mark 10:21-22 reads, " Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you ...

" All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." Matthew 13:34-35 When Jesus spoke in parables it was to reveal, not conceal.  To the unbelieving and careless the words of Jesus were little more than stories, but to those who trusted in Jesus His parables revealed deep spiritual truths unknown from the beginning.  They have continued to remain an unceasing sources of truths both old and new to this day.  The same thing can be said of the Bible.  Unbelievers without spiritual discernment mock and scorn as they pick it apart, but those who rely upon God find sustenance and balm for their souls. It's amazing how God opens the eyes of believers to discover deep truth in simple things.  As I prepared for teaching scripture ye...

God gives every person the freedom to go their own way.  It's not just a refrain from a catchy Fleetwood Mac song, but a gift of God provided for every person who lives on this planet.  The way we live our lives has a clear correlation with where we are headed for eternity:  heaven or hell. Sorrow, pain, sickness, and death are all products of sin's presence in the world.  Adam's rebellion caused separation from God, and every human being save Jesus Christ who has walked in this world has contributed to the miserable consequences of it.  God is the only one who can set things right again, and this was clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ. As Jesus left Jericho, there was a blind man named Bartimaeus who sat by the way, begging.  When he heard it was Jesus who passed by that way, he cried out with a loud voice "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  The more people "shushed" him the louder he screamed for mercy from the Son of God, the M...

" So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich ." 2 Corinthians 8:6-9   At Calvary Chapel Sydney we are studying through 2 Corinthians on Sunday mornings.  Paul reminded the Corinthians of their initial desire and interest to give to others in need.  Despite their willingness to give, their good intentions for a year had not been acted upon.  Paul commended them for their great faith, speech, knowledge, all diligence, and love, yet they stopped short of excelling in the grace of giving.  ...

Our introduction to Jephthah in scripture is he was a mighty man of valour, but this fact is largely overlooked.   He was a son of a harlot, and for a season was cast out of his family but later asked to return.  Like the elders of his hometown, it is high time for the church to receive Jephthah back again as the man of faith he was.   It seems most references to him in sermons are negative, and he is touted as the poster boy of rashness, a power-hungry or even ignorant man whose folly outweighs any virtue.   It is ironic God does not say one negative thing about Jephthah in the Bible.   In fact, the exact opposite is true.   After discussing the faith of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab, the writer of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 11:32-34 :   “ And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, ...

This week at Camp Kedron we will be exploring our own identity with the question:   “Who am I?”   Ultimately the only way people can know themselves in truth is by first knowing the God who created them.   I am more than a name, a body, a mass of cells without meaning, but an eternal soul breathed into a body God knit together in the womb.   Since God created man He alone supplies the wisdom and power to be the man He created me to be.   God said to His chosen people in Jeremiah 29:11 :   “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope .” Knowing we belong to God is fundamental in understanding our identity as Christians.   The reality is, however, we can try to find a sense of belonging in far less than God Himself.   We can substitute our accomplishments, goals, relationships, our job, or even being a member of a church.   I recently came across a Script...

How good it is for young people to embrace their duty to love and obey God early in life!  The bar is set very low in general these days when it comes to devotion to God, worship, growing in discipleship, evangelism, and service unto the LORD.  For children and youth the bar is lower still.  Just physically attending a church or youth group is seen as a massive victory in itself.  But God deserves that all His people would be active in seeking Him and engaging in His business interests on earth.  We only have a limited amount of time.  Those who make the most of the time and talents given them by God will certainly not lose their reward. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 , " Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them": 2 while the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain; 3 in...

In preparation for my citizenship test, I learned several significant dates in Australian history.  Different countries, cultures, and people tend to distinguish some days over others.  There are traditions, accomplishments, and milestones remembered and celebrated.  There are days of national, personal, and even religious significance.  Having just celebrated Good Friday and Easter (which many Christians have termed "Resurrection Sunday"), I was reminded of a statement by a colleague:  "To me, Easter is the most holy day in the year."  This statement caused me to think.  Is one day "holier" than another? To be "holy" means to be "dedicated, consecrated, or sacred."  God set aside many days and feasts as "holy convocations," gathering of His people for a prescribed purpose.  These references seen in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers are translated a "holy assembly" in the NIV.  Though God saw it important to set aside...

" Moreover I saw under the sun: in the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there. 17 I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work ." Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 King Solomon recognised the irony of wickedness is a place of judgment, and iniquity in the place of righteousness.  In the face of injustice or wickedness Solomon did not charge God with wrong or doubt God's existence as many do.  He saw hypocrisy and evil as contrary to God and His righteous judgment, and ultimately the holy God of all will hold accountable those responsible.  During our short time on earth, the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are heard and seen clearly by God.  The fact evil exists is not an indictment against the goodness of God, but rather confirms His righteousness. A good judge will not allow guilty lawbreakers to escape pu...

Times change, but people manage to stay the same.  The way people responded to the Gospel in Paul's day is strikingly similar to how people do today.  Acts 17:32-34 records the response of listeners to the doctrine of Christ's resurrection, " And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed ..."  To this day some mock in unbelief, others are temporarily intrigued but ignore the implications of Christ's resurrection, and there are a few who believe. I read through Luke 23 this week and was struck by King Herod's response to Jesus.   A passage describes the occasion when Jesus was sent by Pilate to Herod Antipas in Jerusalem before His crucifixion.  Luke 23:8-11 says, " Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had ...