Marching Forth!

During a drive running errands I saw a makeshift memorial by the side of the road with the familiar acronym:  "RIP" or "Rest in Peace."  After a person dies, their body is laid to rest because their lives on earth are over.  The body ceases to function and there remains no more work for them to accomplish.  My mind went to the rest Jesus promised to all who are weary and heavy laden, that He would give rest for our souls.  This is a different kind of rest because it goes beyond the physical realm we can see and we can spiritually experience it before our life on earth is over. Hebrews 4:8-11 reads, " There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  10  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  11  Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. "  The writer of Hebrews makes it clear there was a rest for the chi...

Once a friend of mine showed me a leather strap that was used for corporal discipline in his home.  I couldn't read the writing inscribed in Afrikaans upon it, but he translated it for me:  " I'm done talking ."  The idea conveyed to me was the strap was the last resort after clear communication and warnings were given.  The Bible says parents who love their children will discipline them, and the LORD also corrects His children.  I am grateful for the word of God and the Holy Spirit who communicates God's loving and redemptive purposes even when correction is needed in our lives. This morning I read of Eli's interaction with his sons who were infamous for their wicked conduct that unbecoming of a child of Israel, much less a priest.  Eli verbally rebuked his adult sons for their sinful behaviour which led God's people to trespass, but it did not go beyond speaking.  Eli did not take any action of removing them from their posts or excommunicating them u...

Long before I arrived on this planet and to this day people hold their "rights" dear.  Most people want to have a high degree of autonomy over their lives and the freedom to exercise their right of choice in all areas of life.  What is intriguing about the concept of having rights is there must be governance at some level to authorise and uphold them.  A child has the right to stay up late to watch a movie because permission is granted by mum and dad; an employee has the right for compensation for injury because the government has provided it.  Governments have the right of rule because there is a God who has ordained them to do so, and before Him all men will give an account of the exercise of their rights because He is Creator and supreme.  Without the existence of God who created the universe which remains under His authority, the concept of having "rights" is foreign. There is a right given by God that is greater than the freedom of speech, to assemble or to...

One little word can make a big difference.  I love when I am reading the Bible and I find an unexpected word that makes me consider the implications of it.  A new twist of an old truth can be most invigorating to sedentary faith and provokes us to self examination. I have been reading through the book of Ruth this week and it is a powerful and moving message of devotion, action and faith.  A foreign widow from Moab went to Bethlehem with her bereaved mother-in-law Naomi who was embittered due to personal loss and grief.  She returned from Moab feeling empty when she had a loyal daughter-in-law Ruth who was a hard worker and caring provider.  Ruth "happened" to glean in a field belonging to Boaz who was a near relative.  Over the course of the harvest Naomi directed Ruth to approach Boaz with the request for him to fulfill the duty of a kinsman redeemer, to take her as wife to raise up seed for the dead. After Ruth communicated her desire in a lawful, honour...

During an English class in high school, "KISS" was a principle regularly emphasised:  " Keep It Simple, Stupid !"  It was a funny reminder of our purpose in writing, to clearly and concisely communicate imagery and ideas to a reader.  We were taught to "keep the main thing the main thing" without seeing writing as an opportunity to show how intelligent or clever we were.  For all the great benefits of simplicity, however, we must be aware of the risk of oversimplification.  Stripping away the paint from a framed canvas does not leave a viewer with the impression the painter intended.  Oversimplification can lead to improper emphasis, misunderstandings and even worse--a smug contentment of knowledge founded upon ignorance.  In biblical and spiritual matters the dangers of oversimplification are very real. I have heard it said there are always "two sides to a story" but the truth reaches beyond this assertion:  there is his story, her story, what I...

During a conversation yesterday I received a good reminder I needed.  We need reminders because no matter how well we know something or are familiar with it, it can slip our mind--like the pin number to use a credit card.  When the contactless payment was permitted to reduce people touching the keypad, for months I did not have to enter my pin.  After this season finished, however, I entered a pin incorrectly because I had forgotten the correct order of the numbers.  I was able to use the card in the end but it caused a delay for myself, the cashier, and other customers to have to input the code again.  The implications of forgetting spiritual truth is far more costly than an extra 30 seconds to enter a code because the consequences can be far reaching, even for all eternity. I was reminded of the importance to apply the things we read in the Bible (especially passages some call "stories") personally to our own lives.  We can be so caught up in the practica...

An odd thing happened to me this morning.  After waking up I recalled to mind an incident which took place a long time ago at work.  I was a foreman in the dockyards and was doing my rounds toward the end of the day to check on the progress of the crew on board.  One of the spaces where work was supposed to be happening was dark, so I investigated further.  I caught my crew doing one of the cardinal sins of workers:  lying down for a nap on the job.  The one in charge was a bit sheepish and laughed it off when I confronted them.  The next day when my fellow foreman and I wrote them up with a formal warning, it was a different story.  The subordinate worker signed the form without hesitation, but the lead man would not:  he attempted to deflect, blame, made excuses and eventually broke down in tears.  It was a stunning scene of someone being called to account for bad behaviour, and he refused to accept it. While memories of this scene swi...

" So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and lived in the house of Micah.  13  Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since I have a Levite as priest !" Judges 17:12-13 The season of the judges in Israel is well-described as a time when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.  Without a godly king to govern people in the ways of God, the children of Israel plunged into idolatry.  Micah was a Hebrew whose house was full of idols, and at one stage even consecrated one of his own sons to be his priest.  When a wandering Levite came looking for a place, Micah was pleased to offer him the position in his home.  He was convinced God would certainly be good to him since he installed a "real" Levite as priest.  Micah hoped to score points with God when his shrines and idolatrous devotion were completely abominable according to God's word. The mentality of Micah is a surprisingly common perspect...

As I grow older it is strange to think how much technology has changed the way people live in the western world.  For all of our advancements in science, medicine and education, however, there is one thing that has remained the same:  people.  The Bible is so relatable because it nails the essence of the human heart perfectly and resonates with our conscience.  It is ironic the many digital devices which allow us to work from home and technology which enable us to do more at once seem to drain our time and can make life more difficult and complex.  I am not interested in throwing away modern technological conveniences which are not sinful in themselves because they are not the problem.  We are the sinners. Though the word of God remains the same, advances in technology and transportation have drastically changed the way Christian and church ministry is done.  We have gone from having one church in a large parish with one preacher to a global deluge of ...

Christians desire blessing from God like people go crazy over free stuff.  Drawings and giveaways keep our attention at the possibility of winning a valuable prize.  I wonder if believers can be like people who hang around an event for the chance of receiving something good from God when He has already blessed us with His presence, grace and love.  The reality is we are more blessed than we realise and comprehend. What does God's "blessing" or "blessings" we ask for look like?  A lot of times our translation can be a bit selfish:  make life easy, remove difficulties, help me or give me what I want.  Last night I read about a blessing God has provided for us we do not always appreciate.  In sharing the Gospel with curious Jews who gathered in Jerusalem, Peter said in  Acts 3:25-26 :  " You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be...

In preparing for Sunday's message at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I was struck how consistently I try to avoid suffering if I can.  If I am experiencing pain or discomfort in my body I do what I can to find relief.  Suffering can seem like an unnecessary part of life as we seek happiness and comfort wherever we can.  We are pleased to avoid suffering, but unbelievably God chose to suffer and die so we could be free of suffering forever. I remember an occasion when I was verbally blasted by an irate parent at a soccer game as the assistant coach.  As his volume grew to a crescendo and the profanity flowed, the parents around me slowly moved away.  I found myself standing face to face with a man who literally trembled with rage.  After the final insult was flung and his sons gathered, he left the soccer field.  Fellow parents slowly meandered back to the sideline.  One man put his hand on my shoulder and said with a smile, "Better you than me!"  Afte...

Discovering a sense of purpose is encouraging for the despondent soul.  Knowing God has a purpose in the trials and difficulties He allows strengthens us to persevere.  I read a message from a pastor recently that suggested if you are on this planet, it means God is not finished with you yet.  I have heard this phrase many times, and for the first time I realised it was only partly true. The implication of the statement "God is not finished with you yet!" is that at some point God will be finished with you.  It implies after God is finished with you, or the job is complete He assigned to you to do, He will bring you home to heaven like a race-horse is turned out to pasture after the racing days are over.  God will never be "finished" with His beloved children He has redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus!  The reality is life on earth is preparation for greater usefulness and service in the kingdom of heaven where we will do His perfect will free from t...

I find the statements and responses of Jesus fascinating because He never did what I would.  Though I have read the biblical accounts numerous times, I constantly re-examine them and think about what could have been said and contrast it with what Jesus actually said.  There are great lessons to be learned even in what Jesus did not say.  Jesus alone has the words of life, and faith in Him marked by obedience enables us to embrace the abundant life He promises. For instance, I was blown away by what Jesus said after He donned a towel and washed the disciple's feet during the Passover meal.   John 13:12-15 states, " So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?  13   You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  14   If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  15 For I have given y...

Once I was driving home from work on Interstate 8 in San Diego when traffic came to a sudden halt because cut logs had fallen out of the back of a truck and skidded across the road.  It happened right in front of me so I stomped hard on the brakes and narrowly missed one.  Once the cars behind me had also stopped, I put on my hazard lights and jumped out to join other motorists to move the stump blockade.   My first instinct after I approached the massive cut off was to lift.  It was instantly clear how foolish and impossible the task before me was.  But because the wood was freshly cut and very wet, this immovable object slid neatly to the shoulder across the concrete surface.  Within minutes with the help of others all the logs were moved to the side, traffic was flowing freely again and I was thankful not to have a hernia from my poor attempt at lifting.  One takeaway from the incident for me is there are things I imagine I can lift that are fa...

Whether gardening, baking a cake, launching a satellite into orbit or doing surgery, an amount of preparation is required.  Before Jesus came to earth God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Him.  Jesus also sent disciples before Him into towns to prepare for Him, and the upper room was prepared by the disciples before Jesus observed the Passover with His disciples.  Preparation is a necessary part of our physical and spiritual lives. A great example of this is seen in Gideon being called to deliver God's people from the oppressive rule of the Midianites.  Most familiar with the biblical account know Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress when an angel revealed God's call upon his life.  What is not often mentioned is prior to Gideon's personal call a prophet spoke to Israel in  Judges 6:7-10 :  " And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD because of the Midianites, 8 that the LORD sent a prophet to the childre...

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to know what we believe and why.  It is also important that we walk according to what we know through God's word.  Because we are finite and flawed it is reasonable that the scripture will expose areas of sin, unbelief and misunderstandings we have.  An ongoing challenge of the Christian experience is to humble ourselves and submit to God as He reveals Himself to us and opens our understanding.  As we mature in faith and our understanding grows, we learn to view and interpret scriptures in the light of other scriptures.  Verses which were problematic and confusing are more illuminated by the power of the Holy Spirit and harmonise with others. It will never do for a child of God to ascribe blindly to a statement of faith or belief system of a sect without carefully considering the theology in light of scripture.  We should not defer to a party line when we have not examined the biblical evidence ourselves.  An...

" A merry heart does good, like medicine, b ut a broken spirit dries the bones ." Proverbs 17:22 Have you ever laughed so hard you cried?  That's what happened to me last night as our family played a board game together.  Something struck me funny and the more I thought about it, the funnier it was.  Later I was reminded of this verse and the tendency is to quote the first part without realising there is a second, contrasting part.  This verse explains the way we feel on the inside has an impact on physical health and vitality.  The way we feel impacts our perspective and response. As a fit of laughter which soon passes shows, humour and merriment are limited in their effects.  Medicine ingested has a temporary effect and must be taken again when needed.  There are maladies, however, no amount of medicine can cure.  Laughter may temporarily lighten the mood, but it is no cure for folly as Solomon wrote in  Ecclesiastes 7:6 , " For like the...

It is amazing how good or bad memories can be triggered by our experiences.  After our boys were grown I held an infant and was surprised how it suddenly took me back in time to when I used to carry them.  Feeling that little life snuggled in my arms, it was like the whole world stopped and I rushed back to a happy place with fond memories.  The smell of bacon being cooked in McDonald's produces a fleeting feeling of anxiety because of the stress I endured day after day at my first job.  Double-cheeseburgers were on the menu that month and during that initial season I cooked up plenty of bacon.  My experiences haven't ruined bacon or double-cheeseburgers for me, and for that I am grateful. :) The reality is, everyone who is living will have positive and negative experiences.  We will experience grief, loss, sorrow and regret; we will also rejoice in happy news, unexpected blessings, fun and friends.  I have discovered the happiness of the good cannot n...