Marching Forth!

Today I was reminded of a humorous situation years ago.  I met with a lovely family in Australia who was very keen to try some "authentic" American chili.  And when I say "chili" I do not mean capsicum or a type of chili like habanero, but the American dish which is made with chili powder, beef, and beans.  They had never eaten chili before and wanted to see what it tasted like.  I am a bit of a chili enthusiast so I was only too happy to oblige. After I supplied a recipe, we hit upon a few snags.  Some of the ingredients were not on hand and there was no time to go to the shops.  Beans were omitted because it was not a favourite, and the amount of chili powder was reduced because they weren't "into" spice.  When we tucked into the finished product, I was asked how the dish measured up.  My response was something to the effect of, "It's very delicious, but it's just not chili!"  The chef seemed disappointed, but it should not hav...

Elijah was a faithful prophet of God.  After Elijah proclaimed before King Ahab it would not rain until he said so, the Bible says in  1 Kings 17:2-6 :  " Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3 "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook ." It is amazing God would use ravens to be His chosen means of sustaining Elijah with bread and meat, for under the Law they were deemed an unclean animal ( Deut. 14:14 ).  The lack of rain led to famine in the land, and for a season God fed Elijah with the assistance of ravens.  Elijah did not refuse to rece...

I've been reading a book with keen interest, as it presents a biblical view on a subject I had not previously given great thought.  This recent recommendation for me is titled, " Blessing or Curse:  You Can Choose " by Derek Prince.  I am about halfway through the book, and it presents a compelling picture of the reality both of divine blessings and curses.  Admittedly I have given much greater focus on the blessings rather than curses.  But since blessings and curses are often stated in the Bible as opposites of one another, it stands to reason if we will have blessings from God room must be provided for the influence of a curse.  If we desire a blessing we should do what God promises to bless and avoid what brings a curse.  Reading this book has caused me to consider my own life and confess sin before the LORD.  I rejoice that Jesus has become a curse for me He can break the power over every single one. It's a funny thing, that Christians bel...

" Oh, give thanks to the LORD , for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2  Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. 3  Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever. .." Psalm 136:1-3 It is good to give thanks to the LORD for all He has done, to show gratitude by remembrance for all He has provided.  In our giving of thanks let us not forget God is worthy of thanks and praise at all times, in all seasons of life.  The psalmist exhorts us to give thanks to the LORD because of His character, because of who He is.  He is the LORD, He is good, the God of gods, the Lord of lords, and His mercy endures forever. Consider the rather lengthy definition of "mercy" by Webster in his 1828 Dictionary:  " That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces ...

If there is a benefit of forgetting, it is the goodness of God's reminders.  When I feel like I do not need reminders, I do not appreciate them.  I have been guilty in the past of a sigh or an eye-roll after a well-intended reminder of something not yet forgotten.  But we all forget, don't we?  Instead of being annoyed when I am reminded, I aim to be thankful in the future. Today I experienced a good example of the benefit of forgetting.  I had coordinated the installation of a dedicated circuit with an electrician at church.  His card reader wasn't working properly, so he left an invoice with the bank details of the company.  Soon after I began to wrap up a little plumbing project and completely forgot about the invoice I had agreed to pay later in the day.  As I locked up the building, I noticed my watch was missing.  Ah yes, I had removed the watch to finish connecting braided flex lines.  I walked back into the building to see my ...

During my study of the book of Isaiah I have come to a realisation:  there is always hope for individuals in God, even if a nation is "off the rails."  A day came when the northern kingdom of Israel fell and was never rebuilt.  Because Israel rebelled from God, committed abomination, and refused to return, God put the northern kingdom away.  He even allowed Jerusalem to fall at the hands of the Babylonians and temporarily caused Judah to go into captivity.  The seventy years of separation not only worked to purify the land of sin, but to restore a remnant to Himself who would return and remain faithful to Him.  Even in a land riddled with idolatry and abominations, God reserves for Himself loyal people who love Him. Because the people in Jerusalem refused to repent and return to the LORD, ultimately the LORD caused it to fall at the hands of their enemies.  From a wordly vantage point it seems in times of judgment the righteous are made to suffer wi...

As a child I had the impression the church building was an important place.  It was place for keeping your voice down and walking only.  It was a place where it was polite to remove your hat and treat with respect.  It was "God's house," after all.  Thinking back, however, I can't recall a single occasion when I actually met with God by virtue of being in a particular building or room.  Tradition sanctifies a room or location over another when God seeks to meet with people who love and trust Him wherever they might be. The church is God's house in one sense, but not the way you might expect.  When the tabernacle and temples stood in Israel, the presence of God dwelt within the most holy place.  But after the veil was rent, Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit was sent, God makes His dwelling place in each person who comprises the church - the Body of Christ.  The church is not a building but people!  Paul proclaimed to an idolatr...

I've been reading Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness by Jerry Cook and one theme repeated throughout the book is God's love is active and without strings attached.  Jesus did not heal people because their agreed with His doctrine, nor did He die on the cross because people promised to respond positively to that demonstration of love.  Our "love" often has self-serving conditions attached to it.  Consider this excerpt from the beginning of chapter 8: A radio station specializing in rock music offered the local churches in its area an opportunity to present a five-minute daily program.  The pastors could preach as they saw fit, but they were not to plug their own churches or give their church names and addresses.  Not one pastor responded to this opportunity.  Yet three of them bought time on another station so that they could promote their own churches.  I don't understand the mentality of Christians who feel that the interest of their own church mus...

How important it is for Christians to adopt a biblical perspective!  The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God, and when we consider and heed God's Word we walk in His wisdom.  If someone offered you the choice of bars of gold bullion or a painful trial, what would you choose?  Speaking for myself, I would choose the gold because I know it has resale value.  Every ounce of that gold today is valued more than $1,600 Australian dollars.  Gold is considered a wise investment because it has historically held its value, has high demand, and is more stable than currencies.  People hold to the belief money and wealth helps problems disappear, so why choose trials? Consider the surprising things Peter wrote to suffering Christians scattered by persecution in  1 Peter 1:6-9 :  " In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more prec...

While preparing for the discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I was struck by the words of Jesus speaking to His disciples in  Mark 14:27 :   " All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd,  a nd the sheep will be scattered. '"  Consider how Jesus appealed to scripture to confirm what would indeed happen.  His appeal to the truth of scripture shows how powerful and unfailing it truly is.  Being the Son of God Jesus could have appealed to His own prophetic gift or even His judgment of the loyalty and courage of His disciples.  Yet He didn't.  If it is written, it will most certainly be done. Now Peter didn't believe what Jesus said.  He didn't believe the Word of God applied to him given his feelings at the time.   Mark 14:29-30 reads, " Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." 30  Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to ...

God gave me the blessing as a child to be raised by loving parents.  My parents were always there for me, but they raised me in a way looking to a future when I would be required to stand on my own feet.  My mum used to tell us she expected us to be married someday, but she raised us to be bachelors with the ability to cook, clean, and make good financial decisions.  My dad saw to it I knew how to mow the lawn, wash cars, and do an oil change myself.  I don't recall ever asking my parents for money, and it likely is because they taught me if I wanted money there was work I could do to earn it and be disciplined to save it myself. Though my parents taught me to be independent, it was always in the context of being dependent upon God for strength, provision, and wisdom.  My parents continued to be involved in my life as I grew up but never were what I would consider meddlesome.  If I had a conflict with others they did not insert themselves to protect me....

As I drove home from church this afternoon I heard a familiar refrain with a twist:  " You've got the whole world in your hands ."  It was set to the tune I used to sing in Sunday School as a lad proclaiming God has the whole world in His hands and all is under His authority.  It turned out to the be an ad by ABC Radio promoting a new app that puts the " whole world in your hands ." It occurred to me that this perspective has appeal to people from the beginning.  What was the temptation dangled before Eve in the Garden by Satan?  "You will not die but shall be like God, knowing good and evil." ( Gen. 3:4 )  From the beginning man has wanted to be like God.  We have an insatiable appetite for knowledge and the supposed power it brings.  We want to sit in God's judgment seat and do what is right in our own eyes.  The false idol of every age has been self.  It is not self-hatred but the sin of self-love which ensnared men in its tendrils...

Lately, for whatever reason, it seems people are highly concerned about the hypocrisy of others.  I hear them talk about it. and I see people pointing out the hypocrisy of others on Facebook.  Everyone seems to have burning observations about the recent election which are focused on the behaviour of other people.  I imagine you have seen this phenomenon too so I likely do not need provide examples.  People are boasting, complaining, angry, shocked, mourning, accusing, slanderous, gleeful, resigned, or couldn't care less.  As I observe others I do well to first examine my own heart and motives, knowing what the Bible says about me. After Paul explained how God is holy and we are all under His judgment for sin, Romans 2:1 begins with this zinger aimed at the self-righteous:  " Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things ."  God's ju...

Last night I was reading through Zechariah when Joshua the high priest was standing clothed in filthy garments before the LORD and His angels with Satan opposing him.  Satan is an accuser of the brethren, and likely in his mind he had a valid point given Joshua's filthy appearance.  But God rebuked the devil and did not debate the fact Joshua was indeed filthy.  God compared to Joshua being a " brand plucked out the fire ," and if you have ever touched wood which has been scorched you know soot and ash is nigh impossible to clean.  God knew full well Joshua's condition before He brought Joshua into His presence.  God's grace would prove abundant. Now the part of the story which opened my eyes with excitement is in Zechariah 3:3-4 :  " Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, ...

" Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. 7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit ." Jeremiah 17:5-8 In Australia the upcoming United States presidential election is big news.  People ask me all the time for my thoughts on the election "as an American."  As someone who has called Australia home for six years, I feel a bit distant from the pulse.  But I tell you the truth:  the problems facing the United States are beyond th...

" For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works ." Titus 2:11-14 Grace is a gift of God Christians ought to receive with joy and walk in.  A quick search revealed 17 books in the New Testament begin with a salutation which mentions grace and peace together.  It is only by the grace of God we can have peace with God.  Paul wrote in   Romans 5:1-2 , " 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 Go...

It occurred to me recently how God brings deliverance and salvation in ways we could never expect.  He raised up deliverers for His people from unexpected places, men like Moses who was a Hebrew raised in Pharaoh's house and David whom God prepared as he kept his father's flock.  God also used means seen as unthinkable by God's people to chasten them to repentance and humility.  He is willing to go to lengths what men might consider extreme to revive and restore a faithful remnant before Him. Reading through the prophets there is found a common theme of surprise among devout Jews God would employ King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (whom God called His servant) to bring the nation into captivity.  Habakkuk the prophet of God was left astonished at this revelation.  How could God possibly use a heathen nation who was under God's judgment to chasten God's people?  In the New Testament Peter explained judgment begins at the house of God ( 1 Pet. 4:17 ).  Go...

" Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah ." Psalm 62:8 How good and refreshing it is to pour out our hearts to God!  We are commanded to be casting our cares upon the LORD because He cares for us.  I confess sometimes my prayers better resemble a small trickle than a pouring.  When we are finally content to be empty of self the Holy Spirit floods into our hearts with sustaining power, peace, and joy.  How easily we can hold onto cares when God urges us to trust Him and simply pour out our hearts before Him!  Is He not able to accomplish what concerns us and all others today? It is wonderful we do not need to have answers or even all the information to pour out our hearts before God.  He is not like an earthly judge who requires us to present all our evidence before he will act according to the law, but God knows our needs even before we ask and will supply them by His grace.  We...

After experiencing consecutive sunrises in a plane, my trip to Israel ended safely this morning with my arrival into Sydney.  As I rode on the train home from the airport, I was filled with praise unto God.  He was with me every step of the way.  All unknowns were met by His gracious provision, and He guided and protected me at all times.  His merciful hand coordinated my transportation as well as times of sharing from God's Word.  The time of fellowship with Christians in the Holy Land was sweet indeed.  Despite the lengthy periods of travel and speaking my soul feels refreshed, though the body is weary.  How great God is and worthy to be praised, for He does not grow weary or faint! On the last leg of my journey from Bangkok to Sydney, I watched a BBC television film called "The Dresser" starring Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins.  The story is primarily about two aging men, a renowned actor in ill health and his dresser who labours behind the...