Marching Forth!

Yesterday our family read the passage which spoke of Cain and Abel and their offerings to God.  Cain was a tiller of the ground, and Abel was a keeper of sheep.  These are both useful and worthy occupations, providing great benefits for man and beast.  Out of the bounty God provided them these men chose to present an offering before the LORD.  Until this point in the Bible there had been no mention of offerings and no clear command from God what would be acceptable. Genesis 4:3-5 reads, " And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD . 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell ."  When I heard this passage discussed in my youth there was great emphasis placed on the different offerings themselves.  I have come to beli...

I have been reading through books by A.W. Tozer recently and one thing he strongly recommended was the benefit of old hymnals.  He asserted hymns of old were packed with solid theology and were indispensable in private worship.  I thought about what he said and realised among my books I didn't have a hymnal.  So I checked out a website based in Australia which sells rare or out of print books and came across The Book of Praise, selections of English hymn writers by Roundell Palmer in 1867.  When I opened it I discovered the very first hymn is notable among my all-time favourites:  "How Great Thou Art" by Bishop Reginald Heber penned in 1827. One of the first things I do when I buy a used book is as I flip through to fix all dog-eared pages.  The book is not in the best condition, but it undoubtedly will be a great tool and blessing in drawing near to God.  In the heart of every child of God there is a longing to draw near to the LORD in prayer and p...

While I was doing yardwork today I saw an older man wearing an Akubra approaching.  I had seen this man walking around on the streets near our home other times before.  I would see him lingering around plants, and once he was crawling around looking for something on the ground.  As I swept, he walked up and introduced himself. He was a soft-spoken man with a friendly, toothy smile.  He wanted to see if I would grant him permission to pluck five small flowers from the bush near the street on my property as had been his custom for many years (unknown to me!).  Apparently the neighbour had told him to move on.  "But she does not own the plant because it is on your property," he said.  "I've no problem with you taking flowers from the bush."  I wasn't planning on using them, and if he had already been doing it what harm would it do?  "I use them for prayers."  Now I wasn't expecting this, a foreign idea to my western mind. After a pause...

God is patient and longsuffering.  As God who is omnipotent and almighty He does not need to endure pains or the folly of men, but He chooses to do so because of His loving character.  Kings of earth can easily pass unpleasant tasks to their many servants.  It seems the more power or authority one possesses the less patient he or she needs to be, but God expresses the exact opposite. Consider the gracious love which prompted God not only to bring the nation of Israel out of Egypt but to endure them in the wilderness after they rebelled against Him.  Paul said in  Acts 13:17-18 , " The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18  Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness ."  And what were the ways of the sons of Israel?  Let's see:  murmuring, complaining, disobedience, i...

Reverse engineering is the process of deconstructing a man-made object to observe how it has been designed and operates.  When sophisticated military equipment is stranded in a hostile region it is a standard practice to destroy it so enemies cannot analyse, copy, or obtain good data from it.  Technological secrets are highly guarded, and there are safeguards in the industry to prevent copyright infringement.  Studying a complete and functional product can offer tips and clues to how it was made and possibly improve upon the design whilst reducing cost. When people respond in faith to the Gospel, it is likely they already have established views concerning how the earth or people came to be.  Their worldview has already been established and primarily what has influenced it is secular.  The Bible presents a totally different view concerning our origins and the significance of life.  As children we tended to agree with our parent's views, and as we grew old...

During a prayer meeting at church last night I was reminded of the lame man by the pool of Bethesda.  John 5 relates how a great number of sickly, blind, lame, and withered who waited for the moving of the water.  These were desperate people who hoped for a miracle, and patience alone was not enough to bring healing.  The great irony of the situation is healing came not only to the alert but the fittest among them.  The first one to enter the pool after being stirred by an angel would be the only one healed of any infirmity.  The blind couldn't see the water move and the lame couldn't move to respond fast enough.  For nearly all who languished hope had been swallowed by despair. John 5:5-7 says, " Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" 7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have ...

Sin by nature is insidious, and it always leads to death.  The way which feels so right leads to destruction.  The soul that sins will surely die, and like the presence of fatal disease often produces severe symptoms in the living, sin brings suffering and misery.  God is gracious and merciful to warn of the dangers of sins and instructs us to walk uprightly. Solomon taught his son to fear the LORD and keep the commands near to his heart because seducers and flatterers who induce us to sin are everywhere.  Read for yourself the consequences one faces when they yield to sin in  Proverbs 7:21-23 :  " With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, w ith her flattering lips she seduced him. 22  Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, o r as a fool to the correction of the stocks, 23  till an arrow struck his liver. a s a bird hastens to the snare,  h e did not know it would cost his life ."  All these exampl...

Amos the prophet asked a series of rhetorical questions to illustrate inseparable links in ordinary life with an aim to show judgment was coming from God for their sin.  He asked in  Amos 3:3-6 , " Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? 4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? 5 Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all? 6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?"   If two people were seen walking along the road together, onlookers would assume they were content to do so.  They may not agree on musical taste, political views, or theology but since they walked at the same pace and direction they were in agreement to walk together.  When a lion roared people would say, "Ah, sounds ...

During her talks Corrie ten Boom used to employ a handful of simple object lessons.  One of my favourites is when she illustrated our need to be filled with the Holy Spirit with a flashlight or torch which required two batteries.  The torch didn't work because it only had one battery and the spot where the other battery should have been was filled with rags.  On the rags were written particular sins which kept the second battery from being properly inserted.  Remove the rags - confess sin and repent - and then the Holy Spirit would have the room to fill and shine through our lives. Another example she used was an empty glove.  On its own the glove had no power to do anything, but when a hand was placed within it became useful.  We are like gloves which alone are useless, but when God fills us we can labour for the LORD.  A glove can also be filled with objects or items which prevent a hand from putting on a glove.  It is in putting on the LORD ...

During a brisk morning walk today I picked up a $2 coin from the footpath and placed it in my pocket.  It was no chore to pocket the coin because it has value.  Money is intensely practical, and since most people value gold coins it is not often one finds one laying on the ground.  We are discerning about the things we will pick up from the ground and drop into our pockets.  A soggy Kleenex, a cigarette butt, or an empty can of tuna would most likely be avoided, not gladly gathered. It is a good thing to consider:  how much do we value the Gospel?  Do our lives indicate we view the Gospel as offering a precious, valuable gift or more like worthless junk mail people despise?  In Australia some people are employed as "walkers" to drop advertising leaflets in letter boxes.  Our letter box, like many others, is adorned with a "No Junk Mail" sign on it.  Maybe it works...somehow junk always finds its way into the box.  In a world filled ...

I began reading through an old A.W. Tozer classic The Purpose of Man and found it refreshingly packed with thought-provoking and enlightening content.  There are useful books beyond number, and it is a shame any which adorn our shelves should collect dust.  In lieu of buying new books it is a good practice to reacquaint yourself with quality books which already line your shelves.  And when you have read them, have you taken to heart and put into practice the good points personally?  My, there is much work to be done! Allow me to treat you with a few paragraphs from a man who met with God, A.W. Tozer concerning worship: I believe in justification by faith as strongly as Martin Luther ever did.  I believe that we are only saved by faith in the Son of God as Lord and Savior.  But what concerns me is an automatic quality about being saved nowadays.  It works something like this: simply put a nickel of faith in the slot, pull down a lever and take out...

" Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:4-5 These verses came up in our Friday night Bible study yesterday, and they provide insight how covetousness can mar relationships with God and others.  The writer of Hebrews commends the honour of biblical marriage as defined by God from the beginning.  Fornicators and adulterers are those who scoff at His marital and monogamous design through their sexual misconduct.  One involves sexual activity outside of the marriage bed, and adultery is lust and unlawful conduct involving a married party.  Though the world pushes back against the boundaries God has set concerning sexual sin, God remains their righteous judge. This passage shows at the core of both fornication and adultery is the sin o...

Eugenics is a theme repeated in science fiction utilised with the aim to produce an ideal society.  Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a good example of using scientific means to manufacture people who will conform to their role in society through indoctrination, drugs, and conditioning.  Whatever was deemed "ugly" had no place in utopia, and people were placed in pre-determined castes where they were prepared for particular roles (Alphas, Betas, Gammas, etc.).  The heart of eugenics is not life but death, the culling of any embryos deemed unsuitable.  It is a godless approach , a "self direction of human evolution."  Many atrocities have been carried out upon fellow humans guided by eugenics.  Today selective breeding is typically not mandated by government but largely sanctioned, as unwanted unborn children can be legally aborted. What if God employed this approach, to kill any creatures which fell short of His absolute standard of goodness?  T...

Australia takes border security and immigration seriously.  Our country takes full advantage of our isolated geography and natural oceanic moat to prevent undocumented immigrants from arriving at our shores.  Immigration, refugees, and asylum seekers have been big news since I moved to Australia many years ago, and how to best manage immigration had been a political talking point for decades prior to my arrival.  There have been many difference approaches utilised in managing immigration "problems" with a variety of outcomes.  Whenever flaws are exposed or it is reported people lost their lives attempting to reach Australia by boat, political parties vying for power claim to have a better plan. Though I am far from an expert on the subject, I can suggest an immigration policy which would not be popular in Australia or probably anywhere.  Let's say it was suggested an "open border" policy be adopted which included everyone from anywhere on the globe, even for...

Recently I read an article in which the author stated why he is a cessationist.  Cessationism is the doctrine certain spiritual gifts and the calling of an apostle ceased with the early church.  I suppose if labels must be used (and I try to avoid them personally) I would then be a "continuationist" - news to me.  This isn't a name I would use to classify my beliefs, but one others have made for me.  It is not surprising gifts have ceased if people do not believe they are in operation and do not ask for them according to scripture. I do not want to lump all cessationists together as if they all agree theologically, for I am convinced there is a variety of beliefs represented by them.  I know there is also a wide breadth of beliefs, convictions, and practices between so-called "continuationists," and it is troubling to be lumped in with others who support and encourage unbiblical practices.  And this is the rub:  the cessationist view is always put f...

" I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish ." Galatians 5:16-17 During the lives of Christians on earth there will be tension between the the desires of the flesh and walking as led by the Holy Spirit.  The efforts of the flesh are not sufficient to enable us to desire, think, speak or do righteously.  The Spirit of God and the sinful flesh are ever at odds, and it is only after we are born again and walk in the Spirit we are divinely enabled to do what is right.  We are born into the bondage of sin, and we are thus natural slaves of the flesh.  Praise be to God Jesus Christ has been sent to set us free and has provided the Holy Spirit to help us overcome the tyranny of the flesh. Though we realise to a degree our natural limitations, spiritua...

We are studying through the book of Acts at Calvary Chapel Sydney and on a couple of occasions I have flipped to the back of my Thompson Chain Reference Bible to follow Paul's missionary journeys.  Though we are currently in the midst of Paul's first missionary journey, my eyes drifted to Paul's fourth and last journey, the one which ended at Rome.  In his travels there was often a circular, leaving and returning flow to them.  The final trip to Rome was a one-way trip:  it was there his earthly pilgrimage and service to the LORD would end. When Paul set out on a journey or voyage, I don't know he was ever certain where God would take him.  Being arrested and incarcerated and transported has a way of changing plans!  When we plan mission trips today, typically we know beforehand if it will be a "short term" or more permanent move because of the transportation we have available to us.  The first time I came to Australia I had a return ticket so th...

David wrote Psalm 142 when he was at a low point, and many believe it was penned when he hid in the cave Adullam.  He had been anointed by the prophet Samuel as king, had experienced the victory and fame over the giant Goliath, yet danger dogged him at every turn.  King Saul (his father-in-law) sought to murder him, Doeg the chief herdsman was glad to betray him, and there was no help to be found from Philistines who remembered him.  The threat upon David's life drove him to leave his home, the company of his wife (who was given to another), and his best friend Jonathan.  During this season of David's life he undoubtedly felt alone, and in his distress he may not have had even the company of sheep. Here are the words of Psalm 142 : " I cry out to the LORD with my voice;  w ith my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. 2  I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. 3  When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, ...