Marching Forth!

" As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals the man ." Proverbs 27:19 In our social media age, people go to great lengths to craft and polish an online persona.  Mobile phones have cameras ideal for selfies complete with settings to remove blemishes.  Instead of mirrors people use their phones to arrange their hair, apply makeup, and practice their perfect "duck face."  Touching up photos is a common practice in magazines to the point where models claim the image presented in print looks nothing like them in reality.  It's a funny thing that mirrors made of polished metal were dim and cloudy, yet with modern mirrors people don't always like what they see.  We aren't comfortable with reality so we feel an intense need to cover up, augment, or smooth out our blemishes with software. That is the sense of this verse in Proverbs:  the clear reflection of a face in water does not lie.  A mirror image is a true representation of real...

Today's message at Calvary Chapel Sydney was titled, "When it Rains it Pours."  What has become a modern cliche was first coined and copyrighted as a company slogan by the Morton Salt company in 1911.  It carried quite a different connotation than it does today.  Morton Salt was marketed as superior because of an additive which kept the salt pouring freely even in damp weather.  Today people say "when it rains it pours" to convey how bad or trying circumstances seem to come in bunches.  There are plenty of problems in this world and our lives to be sure, but as children of a loving heavenly Father we can turn our focus in all situations Him with joy. A common response of all people in the midst of a trial or unfathomable pain is "Why?"  Often God does not give explanations but responds to the humble seeker with a fresh revelation of Himself.  It is good for us to recall to mind how God has already blessed us with life, love, grace, and mercy. ...

" The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendour of old men is their gray head ." Proverbs 20:29 It was in 1994 when I started shaving my head, and this regular practice has continued until this day.  I never really knew what to do with my hair and for years combed it to the side, but a simple buzz cut answered many of those questions.  It looked decent as well.  I find it amusing people pay money to regrow their own hair and I invest in quality clippers to keep it shaved short!  When my hair grows back after a couple of weeks, I often receive comments from friends about how gray it is.  I don't know if having gray hair makes me feel magnificent, but it is a welcomed mark of maturity for someone who historically has maintained a youthful look. The days of any glory in my strength are near their end, and for me the distinguished splendour of age increases daily with silver bristles.  It is a common practice among many people to dye t...

I am always wary of arbitrary attempts to catagorise people.  When I worked primarily as a youth pastor I grew weary of hearing the phrase "at-risk youth" which was often used to heighten awareness of need.  This arbitrary term was employed most often to describe unchurched youth raised in a single-parent home.  Statistics were shared to prove how this combination led to many social problems, incarceration, drug and alcohol addictions, teen pregnancy, and violence.  How can you argue with statistics, right? Since we all have our lenses through which we view the world, I am aware of another group of people which are equally "at risk" because I have experienced and seen it firsthand myself:  those who have been raised in relative comfort with two parents, who grew up attending church, and grew dull and spiritually proud through knowledge.  Seemingly inoculated to the power of the Gospel by much exposure without true repentance, these "churched" kids often...

" For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence ." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Isn't it amazing the God who created and sustains the universe and all living things would use the weak things of the world to put to shame the mighty?  In the scope of eternity a single man is a little thing indeed, yet the Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.  He was not born into wealth or high social standing, nor was he privileged with private tutors or schooling.  The life afforded Christ from His beginning ...

" Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him ." Romans 14:1-3 The Bible contains wisdom and insight concerning God and men.  After Adam's rebellion against God, sin and death passed to all men.  Adam passed to his progeny his genetic code and also spiritually a constant, consuming, malicious sinfulness.  The Bible aids us in fleshing out what sin looks like, and these verses provide a perfect example.  We can dispute over even the most doubtful things. Do you find it interesting how bothered and offended we can be over things other people do, say, or believe?  It is most remarkable how the beliefs of a person can enrage someone else.  This is a natural tendency of all people.  If a person does o...

Have you ever suffered from insomnia?  It's lousy to feel exhausted and at the same time being unable to fall asleep in bed.  I had one of those nights recently.  I fell asleep almost immediately after prayer, but then I woke up in the middle of the night and trying to go back to sleep seemed a complete waste of effort and time.  I have a comfortable bed but there seemed no way to find comfort.  Ultimately I did drift off but not before hours were spent shifting from side to side without sleep. During last night's evening reading of Psalm 119 I came across a passage which grabbed my attention in verse 62 :  " At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments ."  The Psalmist was not afflicted by insomnia but intentionally rose at midnight to thank and praise God for His righteous judgments.  Now when was the last time any of us did this?  Few if any think there would be value in setting an alarm to rise at...

The world which denies God also infinitely reduces the value God has placed upon human life.  This is revealed in the way we speak.  Saying someone is a "product of their environment" is not true of a person created in the image of God.  It minimises the power of God to transform people by the Holy Spirit.  Many today see humans as primarily sexual beings, but God created men and women to be defined by something far more profound than passing carnal appetites.  The Bible reveals human beings to be primarily spiritual beings who live in a human body for a short period of time on earth.  Since man has been created in the image of God we possess eternal souls which are of great importance to God and men as well. Genesis 1:27-28 reads, " So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have domini...

I've started reading Britt Merrick's book Godspeed and am enjoying it.  He speaks to the heart of God, one of a mission to reach people with His love and salvation.  God desires to work in and through the lives of His followers to engage people with the gospel wherever they are.  The first few chapters in particular are a needful reminder for Christians to serve God faithfully and embrace God's mission right now where they are.  Merrick writes: In order to live at Godspeed, the disciples abandoned everything hindering them from living on mission with Christ.  What is Christ calling you to forsake?  What is hindering His mission from going forward through your life?  It's a mistake to think you calling is going to look just like Peter's, because the call of every person is distinct.  For most of us, Jesus isn't calling us to leave.  Instead He's calling us to stay and be faithful.  Even still, faithfulness often requires us to leave s...

" For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Romans 10:12-13 The might of an earthy king often is measured by the strength of his people.  Without loyal subjects a king is not much of a king.  King Saul understood this and sought valiant and mighty men to attend him ( 1 Samuel 14:52 ).  King Nebuchadnezzar was not interested to invest in the poorest and weakest in Israel, but took the best and brightest to be trained as his advisers.  Men are not willing to accept just anyone.  But God is not weak like a king of this earth.  God's strength is absolute, not dependent upon men or anything lesser than Himself.  He has opened His arms in love and the everlasting kingdom of heaven to anyone who will come. Think of that truth:  whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved!  Concerning salvation there i...

" For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace ." Romans 8:6 After church on Sunday, I spoke with a brother in Christ about the peace God gives.  Some mistakenly have their own idea of "peace" they desire which involves financial prosperity, unfailing good health, ease, a lack of conflict coupled with material blessings.  That all sounds very fine, but that is not the peace God offers those who trust in Him.  Jesus has become for us Peace and as the Prince of Peace He knows all about it.  The peace God gives is not of this world and therefore is not coupled to anything transitory in this world like wealth or health. Those whose minds are carnal and worldly - fixed solely upon the passing pleasures of this life with no regard for God or living righteously - death will be the result.  Sin brings with it a curse which separates us from God and brings us under His wrath and judgment ending in the death of the body an...

Over the past week and a half I have been busy hosting my nephew and niece (teens) visiting from the United States.  We have enjoyed a trek in the Blue Mountains, have eaten some local fare, and even went beach fishing early this morning.  it was cold and windy!  My nephew had the joy of a kookaburra swiping a bit of sandwich from his mouth.  I had one brush my chest as it swooped down to steal my pilchard as I was baiting the hook.  I was very thankful one of big ganged hooks I use didn't catch him! One thing I have grown familiar with is taking guests to some of the "touristy" spots.  I highly recommend the free walking tour of Sydney and taking the ferry over to Manly for fish and chips.  There aren't many surprises when riding the train or driving around town.  But our walk past the Sydney Opera House was certainly memorable.  Circular Quay is one of the most picturesque areas of Sydney with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, but very...

Over the life of this blog one post which has garnered the most attention is " Beware of Saul's Armor ."  Until now I have not felt led to write of my experience which inspired it.  I believe the post about Saul's Armor strikes a chord in the hearts of all people who long to walk by faith in God and not by sight.  I write of my experience not to be a "rabble-rouser," to be foolhardy, or to justify rebellion against biblical authority.  I feel it necessary as I did those many years ago to exhort Christians to never substitute programs or an arm of flesh to accomplish what only God can do.  We can fall into the trap in looking to others to validate our call to ministry or using worldly methods and safety nets rather than simply following the leading of God. When I was living in San Diego and on staff as a youth pastor in 2005, I had a clear leading from God to minister in the east side of Australia.  The overwhelming sense of this idea and accompanying des...

During my recent visit to the United States, I had the opportunity to meet with family, friends, and speak at churches concerning my family's move to Australia.  I was able to meet with friends I have had since high school and reflected on my Australian adventure from the very beginning.  It is a story I do not tell very often since we are now dual-citizens and the tale is a rather involved one which began over a decade ago.  It was good to testify of God's faithfulness of His word to me, and I personally identify with the truth of  Joshua 21:45 which reads, " Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass ."  This is true for the house of Israel and true for me too.  I hope through the story God has written in my life others are encouraged to take steps of faith in obedience to God as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Joshua did. One of the great benefits of a walk of faith in God is how the Bible becomes...

I recently read a very useful book by Sam Allberry titled, Is God anti-gay ?  He is a Christian pastor who with clarity and grace systematically holds forth a solid biblical perspective concerning those who struggle with same-sex attraction.  He speaks from a place of personal experience and victory through Jesus.  For much of my life homosexuality was seldom discussed in secular or church circles, and it is good to see that changing.  People have questions and these can be engaged graciously with biblical truth.  Besides the relevance and scriptural accuracy, what I like most about this book is the compassionate tone.  There is a balance Allberry expertly maintains to answer pertinent questions about sexuality with the message of hope Christians have through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Often at youth camps I am faced with loaded questions by skeptics like:  "Do you agree with homosexuality?" or "Is being gay a sin?"  Though many questions I ...

" Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint ." Isaiah 40:30-31 These verses are a great encouragement to all of God's people who grow weary.  All people on earth have limited stores of energy and enthusiasm.  Being weak, faint, and even falling are common to our human condition.  God promises to renew the strength of all who wait on the LORD, to grant spiritual vitality to those who seek and fix their eyes upon Him. This order of renewal for a born-again Christian is significant:  mounting up with wings like eagles, running without weariness, and walking without fainting.  When a person repents and trusts in Jesus Christ as Saviour, we are spiritually born again as children of God.  Our bodies remain on earth but in the spiritual realm we are se...

Reading scriptures in context aids greatly in understanding and personal application.  Here are two examples of verses which the interpretation and application is unclear when read alone.  Jesus said in Mark 11:23 , " For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says ."  Immediately preceding this passage, Jesus had been talking about the hindrance of unbelief in the heart - which is the equivalent to an immovable mountain.  The God who created the world shakes the earth as He wills can remove unbelief from the hearts of men.  Nothing is impossible for God.  It is easier to remove mountains than to changes hearts, but God does both without effort. In Luke 17 , Jesus began the chapter speaking of offenses and how it is impossible for them not to occur.  He pronounced woe on those who caus...