Marching Forth!

Good Friday and Easter is a great reminder of the death of Jesus on the cross and His subsequent resurrection.  The body of Jesus, marred beyond recognition, would be raised victorious in divine glory. I have heard it said "Time heals all wounds," but even cursory thought reveals this to be a myth.  Not only is time incapable of healing anyone in itself, it offers no hope of genuine comfort.  How did this cliche hold up as stones crushed the skull of Stephen?  What would it profit to wax poetical over the body of Paul as the executioners blade decapitated him?  Say, "Time heals all wounds" to the mother whose infant son was stolen or to the husband whose wife has left him.  Employ this view to the boy or girl who has been raped by a supposed friend.  Go ahead and say it, but it doesn't mean it is true. During His life Jesus Christ healed many people, many of them suffering from incurable conditions and illnesses.  He opened the eyes of men bo...

I was recently made aware of a young woman who needs a heart transplant.  While considering her life-threatening condition, it struck me that for her need for a new heart to be supplied someone else would first need to die.  As we approach Good Friday and Easter, the words of Jesus Christ come to mind in  John 12:24-25 :  " Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life ."  The woman waiting for a heart transplant undoubtedly hopes for a "new lease on life," but only Jesus provides abundant and eternal life without disease, pain, or medication. Jesus did not demand His followers die to prove their loyalty to Him:  He willingly chose to die for those who despised and rejected Him.  Jesus Christ was willing for His blood to be poured out like wa...

Agreeing to disagree is harder said than done.  Tolerance "puts up" with differences without accepting or valuing others as we ought.  Instead of breeding arrogance or indifference, the genuine love of God draws near to those who are misunderstood to convey kindness, compassion, and care.  When I have substituted tolerance for love it is a terrible weight to carry which burdens beyond strength.  When I consider the love of Jesus Christ which was not offered to receive anything good from me but is all of grace, it realigns my perspective with His. I just finished reading Jesus Among Secular Gods by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale.  I would highly recommend it for Christians and all seekers of truth.  I found the book useful, encouraging, and thought provoking.  I believe it would be a compelling read for willing Christians, skeptics, and atheists alike.  It illustrates well how and why the claims and qualities of Jesus Christ are unique and con...

After my car blew a head gasket, I recently purchased a replacement which is much newer.  I would occasionally give the old car a wash and vacuum, but there was little reason to spend much effort or time on detailing.  The paint at some point had been dusted with overspray, and I wasn't willing to invest the time or expense to have the old car professionally detailed.  What happened under the bonnet was more important to me to maintain with regular servicing, and this was done without fail. To preserve the finish of the newer car, a investment of time and money to buy necessary supplies was required.  Maintenance is an expense, but to neglect a vehicle is far more costly in the end.  My experience with owning vehicles over the last twenty plus years is the older the vehicle or the longer I have owned it, the less attention I give to maintain the exterior.  Once the shine starts to wear off, I'm just not as interested to invest the elbow grease required...

I heard a memorable sermon during which the preacher said concerning faith in God, "You better get rid of your Plan B!  Your 'Plan B' is an offence to God."  What He said is true:  if we will not take a step of faith until we have layers of "safety nets" in place, are we really stepping out in faith?  It may take a certain amount of courage to take a leap of faith, but it isn't much of a leap when we are harnessed.  Instead of faith in God we place our confidence in the harness to hold us. There is a example in scripture of a time when God chose not to answer the prayer of one who sought him.  No man is worthy in himself of an audience with the Almighty, and this even goes for kings.   1 Samuel 28:5-6 reads, " When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.  6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD , the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets ."  I am not God ...

Is there anything you find emotionally moving?  The beauty of a song or a scene in film can bring tears to our eyes.  Watching a sports match can bring us to our feet with a joyous shout, and a strange sound in the dark can make our hair stand on end.  Injustice fills us with indignation as our pulse and breathing quicken.  Frustration moves us to raise our voice or withdraw to brood in silence.  Emotions are poor rudders to guide our decisions but good indicators of what is happening in our hearts and heads. Can you recall a time when words from the Bible moved you emotionally?  Today I read of such a moment in the life of king Josiah.  At a young age he began to seek the LORD.  He personally oversaw the destruction of idols and altars throughout the land, and he also repaired the house of the LORD.  During renovations the book of the Law was found in the Temple and was brought to Josiah.  After the Word was read to the king  2 ...

No one enjoys painful trials and difficulties.  If we could do something to avoid them, we most certainly would - and in doing so would cut ourselves off from communion and fellowship with God only obtained in times of suffering.  The reality of God, His guidance, and comfort is personally and profoundly realised when we trust Him in trouble. The first three verses of Psalm 23 reads, " The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness  f or His name's sake ."  David begins the psalm from a third person perspective.  In a few sentences he paints a peaceful scene with a shepherd and sheep who find all their needs bountifully met.  It is easy to imagine sheep contentedly grazing in green pastures and drinking from clear, still water. It is usually poor writing form to switch perspectives, but David masterfully s...

The lyrics of the Chris Tomlin song " Our God " say, " And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?  And if our God is with us, then what can stand against ?"  Like Roman 8:31 , the phrase begins with an "if" which denotes a conditional statement.  The protection, provision, and power of God is not automatically granted to people who have verbally agreed to follow Jesus on the basis of their new birth alone.  When God's people walked wickedly many times He plainly said to them, "I am against you."  In Ezekiel 34 God said He was against the shepherds because they were selfish and neglected their calling. If our theology is no deeper than worship songs, this might be a shocking revelation:  when we sin against God and refuse to repent, He will begin move against us.  We can shout scriptures and songs, claiming them for our benefit, but God will see we reap what we sow.  God is for us, as long as we are for Him.  Praise the LORD H...

Today I noticed an interesting example of the grace of God in the Old Testament.  It is exciting and to discover connections previously unknown by me, and these revelations confirm our deepest studies only scratch the surface of God's Word. Uzziah was king in Jerusalem and was greatly helped by God.  Yet when he was strong his heart was lifted up with pride and he decided to burn incense - a God-given duty only for sanctified priests, not the king.  After he was angry when confronted by a host of godly priests, Uzziah was struck with leprosy.  This event did not go unnoticed by his son Jotham who became king after him. The following chapter makes a key observation concerning king Jotham in  2 Chronicles 27:2 :  " And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD , according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD ). But still the people acted corruptly ."  It seems Jotham did not distinguish...

In many ways the temptation of Jesus Christ was a parallel experience to the children of Israel after the nation was birthed out of Egypt.  They were baptised through the Red Sea, and Jesus was baptised in the Jordan.  They were led by the Spirit of God in the wilderness for 40 years, and Jesus was led by the Spirit into and through the wilderness for 40 days.  Though there were similarities, the contrasts are pronounced because the endurance and righteousness of Christ far exceeded the Israelites.  The children of Israel were fed by manna from heaven, water from the rock, and quail carried on the breeze – yet Jesus did not eat any food.  Days into the wilderness the Hebrews murmured against God and Moses, murmured and complained, doubted God could or would save them, and quickly rebelled against God.  Jesus remained faithful without fail and finished the season in the wilderness victorious. Do you remember the three temptations Jesus was tempted with af...

Imagine if God punished us for our sins with the immediate wrath and judgment we deserve!  If God did so there would be no opportunity for repentance, redemption, or salvation.  In all these things God delights.  It is well observed in  Psalm 103:8-12 , "The LORD is merciful and gracious, s low to anger, and abounding in mercy.  9 He will not always strive with us, n or will He keep His anger forever. 10  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, n or punished us according to our iniquities. 11  For as the heavens are high above the earth, s o great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, s o far has He removed our transgressions from us ." After being severely chastened by the LORD for seven years, a notable king's understanding returned to him.  He had this to say of God and His ways in  Daniel 4:37 :  " Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven...

" Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God ." 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 The ministry of the Word is a sobering, challenging, and rewarding task for those called to it.  Bible teaching and preaching is a responsibility before God and men, for indeed we are handling the words of life.  Nehemiah 8:8 is a good example of what pastors and teachers are to do:  " So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading ."  They read from the book of the Law, explained what it meant, and helped the people to see how it applied personally to their lives. The purpose of studying the Bible is more than gathering information, but i...

I remember at 12 years old walking up to a list posted on the snack bar at Western Little League field in El Cajon.  I was elated to see my name included upon the list of "All-Stars" which would represent the league at upcoming tournaments and (should we prevail) even the Little League World Series!  It was a great honour to be an All-Star because only a select few were chosen out of the whole league.  To see my name among other players renowned for their skills which exceeded my own was humbling and a proud moment at the same time.  In retrospect I'm not exactly sure why donning that All-Star uniform and being part of a great team was so special, but it was. Being chosen by God is a far greater honour than being selected for an All-Star team.  Should our adoption into the family of God and inclusion in His eternal plans stir up even an inkling of pride, something is dreadfully wrong.  We are often wrong and praise the LORD He reveals the truth to us thr...

According to his website , Tony Robbins is described as a " World Authority on Leadership Psychology" and the "#1 Life and Business Strategist ."  An article on his site says, " Whether you lead a Fortune 500 company or simply lead yourself as you strive to attain your goals, leadership qualities are absolutely essential to your success. It helps you surmount obstacles, take risks, and find ways to live joyfully and thrive even during the most challenging times ."  The article lists six qualities to cultivate in the lives of leaders:  confidence, focus, honesty, being positive, decisive, and inspirational.  Whilst the qualities of good leaders are subjective and this is hardly an exhaustive list, they illustrate well the point:  man's concepts of leadership differ greatly from God's ways. Allow me to illustrate from a passage of scripture when King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were threatened by a great army.  Based upon the aforement...

The Bible often makes me think.  Whilst thinking was allegedly "a dangerous pastime" for Gaston in Disney's " Beauty in the Beast ," careful thought is most necessary to read the Bible with understanding.  The Christian life often today is tragically whittled down to catch-phrases and cliches which are totally inadequate to convey God's truth contained throughout scripture.  The strides taken in producing translations for modern readers cannot reduce the complexity and necessity of sound theology.  The Bible is comprised of 66 books, and we need every single one of them for the full revelation God has provided. I have heard people say many times "Christians are not under God's wrath," and this is true - but this hackneyed cliche doesn't tell the whole story.  It is true we are no longer under wrath because Jesus took our punishment on Calvary.  As followers of Jesus Christ through faith, we have been saved by eternal wrath by Him.  We al...

Following Jesus is a personal choice, and those who make the decision discover it can be a wild ride.  I remember very well as a teen my first visit to Magic Mountain, a theme-park filled with roller coasters in Valencia California.  The wildest rides I had ever ridden to that point were in Disneyland, but the Matterhorn had nothing on Revolution or Viper!  When I balked and told my friend I would rather sit a ride out, he said something to me like this:  "You're going on every single ride.  You don't have a choice.  It's going to be awesome."  I did have a choice, but his encouragement was what I needed to discover I loved roller coasters.  I had the greatest time and when new rides were built I was all in. Roller coasters are specially engineered to safely utilise the force of gravity to thrill.  As you are secured in your seat anticipation builds as the ride slowly clinks up to the highest point.  Some find this slow ascent terrif...

The apostle Paul spoke of God's glorious nature in 1 Timothy 6:15-16 :  "... He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16  who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honour and everlasting power. Amen ."  God is from everlasting and His power is infinite.  We cannot stare into the brightness of the sun for long without damaging our eyes, and if we attempted to draw near to this great star the heat would consume our bodies long before our feet ever touched upon the surface.  God is even more inapproachable, and though we cannot see Him the power of what He has made by the words of His mouth causes our hearts to fail. To be summoned to appear in the court of a king would be a fearful proposition.  I was never comfortable to be called into the office by my boss when potentially my job hung in the balance:  how much more disconcerting to be called befo...

" Ponder the path of your feet, a nd let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; r emove your foot from evil. " Proverbs 4:26-27 In this crooked generation God's people ought to be brave pioneers of righteousness and purity, and our path is the one Jesus Christ has already established us to walk in.  In every circumstance we are directed by God to go the righteous way, for even in temptation God provides a way of escape. We wander into trouble when we are aimless and are not circumspect concerning 1 ) where we have been, 2 ) the direction our lives are heading, and 3 ) our intended destination.  For this reason the wise Solomon urges those who fear the LORD and have ears to hear to ponder the path of their feet.  Mountain climbers do not reach majestic summits without a clear plan and specialised equipment.  If we do not do the equivalent of climbers who prepare their bodies for altitude and ready gear to traverse known r...

"The Karate Kid" (1984) movie was an instant classic.  I remember my brother and cousin rehearsing the final "crane kick" over and over, trying to make it look as real as possible without making contact.  The film had a bit of everything people like in movies:  classic lines, funny moments, and the underdog winning. My favourite character in the film was Mr. Miyagi, the gruff custodian who had an amazing house, sprawling deck, car collection, and taught karate like a boss.  By looking at him you just knew Mr. Miyagi was a stud and was not to be messed with.  Who sits around trying to catch flies with chopsticks?  When whingy Daniel complained about all the chores Miyagi told him to do after agreeing to teach him karate, he was as surprised of the plot twist as I was - he had unwittingly been doing karate drills all day and into the night when he was waxing cars, sanding floors, and painting the fence.  Miyagi was wise, though Daniel didn't think so ...