Marching Forth!

While pride is championed according to the wisdom of this world, God exposes it as sin that always leads to more sin--and ultimately severe judgment.  Concerning Sodom and the surrounding cities He destroyed, God identified pride as the first sin on the list through the prophet in  Ezekiel 16:48-50 :  " Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  50  And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit."    One could easily make a case (from a biblical perspective) that pride was a sinful root from which other sins sprang. Pride is insidious, and Webster defined it this way:  "p roperly, lying in wait; hence, watching an opportunity to insnare or entrap; deceitful; sly; treacherous; 2) intended to entrap ."  Pride is a skilled shape-shifter, able to be ...

Scripture shows belief is not a straightforward binary, that you either believe or you do not.  It would be convenient if this were the case, but at the same time any our unbelief would surely doom us!  The truth is, people who believe in God's existence, the truth of God's promises and His power to fulfil them do not always walk by faith in God.  A man who brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples of Jesus exclaimed after they were unable to help him in  Mark 9:24 :  " Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief !"  While all things are possible to him who believes in God, this man recognised nagging doubts and fears within himself he could not shake.  Without God's help, we cannot even believe--for without Him we can do nothing ( John 15:5 ). I read a passage in John 4 today that also illustrates how people can have degrees of belief that fall short of saving faith.  The smallest...

As a kid, I thought there was medicine for every malady.  I didn't realise antibiotics were prescribed for bacterial infections like strep throat and not for viruses like the common cold.  I came to understand taking antibiotics for viral illnesses can lead bacteria to grow resistant against them and be rendered ineffective when needed.  Typical treatments for viruses involve management of symptoms with rest, hydration and pain relief.  In the case of a cold, the nagging cough, runny nose, chills and fever are merely symptoms of a sickness.  These symptoms are not the illness itself, and often it takes the skill of a doctor to identify and treat the root cause of our illness or pain. I remember years ago pointing out an obvious depression and cracked gyprock on a wall.  The response was, "Oh, that was a hole we fixed."  No doubt an attempt was made.  Since I have experience with patching holes in gyprock, however, a closer look revealed cracked gy...

When we observe people making careless, forgetful or foolish choices in the Bible, it means we too could make the same mistakes--likely have already done so.  God's word is able to discern the thoughts and intents of our hearts, clearly identify sin and exposes our fleshly propensity to practice it.  I have learned by experience I can identify with the villains in scripture because all people spiritually share sinfulness in common in its countless forms.  Spiritual maturity enabled Paul to say without exaggeration he was the "chief of sinners," and thus when God's people observe sinfulness in scripture it always hits close to home, having been written for our instruction. Yesterday I read the passage that followed a miraculous victory God provided over the Philistines by Jonathan and his armour bearer who trusted Him.  After King Saul built his first altar to sacrifice unto God, we read in  1 Samuel 14:36-37 , " Now Saul said, "Let us go down after the Phili...

I have been a Los Angeles Chargers supporter from my youth growing up in San Diego through all the ups and downs--and historically there have been many more down seasons than up.  To date they have only been to the Super Bowl once and were completely drubbed by the 49ers on the global stage.  After enduring losing seasons in bunches, I look at early-season losses and injuries as adversity, a crucible which can forge a winning team's identity.  Better to have a heavy dose of reality and the need to work and improve rather than becoming arrogant with pride through easy success.  A team that never gives up and claws back to win games is a side I would rather follow and be a part of than those who give up, stop putting forth effort, and whinge for penalties.  Many teams that start well grow disillusioned and flounder when they begin to fall from the top of the standings and lack character and resiliance to recover.  And if the team turns out to be a cellar dwel...

Over the course of my life I have lost a number of things--and I still scratch my head about some of them.  Years back I lost a pair of sunglasses, and I carefully retraced my steps to various shops where I had run errands that day.  Some of these shops had a "lost and found," but the glasses never turned up.  Once I lost the head cover of my Titleist putter in the parking lot of a golf club, and that was not brought to the pro shop either.  I also lost a new phone in a parking lot while hauling a Christmas tree to my truck.  That also was never returned.  The biggest stumper for me is how I lost a framed keepsake which was a signed bumper sticker from three members of The Specials and the ticket stub from when they played at Soma in San Diego with Buck-O-Nine.  For the life of me I have no idea how I could have lost it or where it ended up. When I reach way back into the archives, I remember losing my wallet on two occasions when I worked in a trade....

The other day I was driving home and I saw an advertisement on an electronic billboard I had never seen before.  Though there were no provocative images displayed, the website name and words employed led me to suspect it was an adult-related site.  Since I have no interest to see ads for adult websites publicly displayed to minors in my neighbourhood and arouse their curiosity, I investigated the standards concerning ads in New South Wales and considered if there was a case to voice my concern.  In the Code of Ethics posted online, I found advertisements deemed misleading and fail to provide the benefits they claim could be reported.  I reached out to Ad Standards and expressed my concerns that the advertisement was not forthright about it potentially directed unwitting people and children to a website with adult content. I was pleased to see my concerns were followed up with a letter from Ad Standards, and I was informed the complaint would not be passed on to the P...

I have yet to meet a genuine born again Christian who believes and is convinced he is able to save himself from hell by himself.  To become a Christian means we have confessed we are sinners in need of a Saviour, and Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah sent to seek and save the lost we have chosen to follow.  Like the Galatians who began well by receiving the Gospel yet tried to justify themselves by the works of the Law, there can be Christians who receive Christ and then live as if they can sanctify themselves and can overcome sins privately on their own by willpower--without fellowship with the Body of Christ, the church.  Since God has regenerated us with the Holy Spirit and made us members of one another, how can we operate or function if we are effectively cut off from the Body? It is important to remember more than good theology is needed to learn to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Jesus.  If all that was needed after coming to Christ was k...

I was reminded of an illustration in C.H. Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students and enjoyed leafing through a few chapters trying to find what I was looking for.  The Complete and Unabridged version is a brilliant compilation of lectures Spurgeon gave to students at seminary that contain great wisdom, insight, instruction--and even a bit of humour.  Jesus used illustrations and parables in His teaching, and it follows as led by the Holy Spirit we can employ them wisely in our discourses.  One anecdote stood out from the pages I glanced over and reminded me of the importance of including illustrations to shed light on the subjects of our sermons.  Here is an excerpt from the chapter "Uses of Anecdotes and Illustrations:" " What do you remember best in the discourses you heard years ago?  I will venture to say that it is some anecdote that the preacher related.  It may possibly be some pithy sentence; but it is more probable that it is some striking story which...

The Scripture makes plain Jesus had miraculous power to heal in every case.  We read in  Luke 6:17-19:   " And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,  18  as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.  19  And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all ."  When God put on human flesh and dwelt among His people as Jesus, this aligned with what the psalmist sang of the LORD God in  Psalm 103:2-5 :  " Bless the LORD , O my soul, a nd forget not all His benefits:  3 who forgives all your iniquities, w ho heals all your diseases,  4 who redeems your life from destruction, w ho crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,  5 who satisfi...

When strangers I have never met come to the door and feign friendliness, I immediately sense these people are not at my door for the sake of visiting me but want something from me.  It is not a good feeling.  As I read the Gospels, I observe this was a regular experience for Jesus when people came to Him with their needs.  Some brought diseased family or friends for Him to heal, and others requested Jesus to accompany them home to heal a sick daughter or to share a meal--so they could try to find fault with Him.  Even as Jesus walked along random people among them hoped only to touch Him!  After Jesus fed 5,000 men and their families one day, they crossed over the lake in pursuit because they were hungry again.  People always wanted something from Jesus. In Luke 18 , Jesus was walking near Jericho and a blind beggar asked about the commotion.  After he was told Jesus of Nazareth was passing by he began to loudly cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mer...

Of late I have been impressed with the ability of God to do exactly what He says He will do.  You can count on it:  when God says "I will" do something, there is no doubt He will do it in His time.  God is powerful enough to fulfil His word in the lives of flawed, weak people as well, like when He told Abraham that Sarah would have a son though they were both past the age of siring and bearing children.  The angel Gabriel said to the virgin Mary in  Luke 1:30-31 :  " Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS ."  Without sleeping with a man, Mary would conceive the Son of God Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Even when what God says is humanly impossible, He will be faithful to do it. Today I recalled when I first sensed God's call to pastoral ministry.  I never aspired or desired...

It is easy to recognise the great lengths Jesus Christ went to fulfill His divine purpose to seek and save sinners.  The Son of God willingly chose to put on human flesh and became like us, born of a woman.  Saddled in a human body with fleshly needs and desires, God experienced what it is like to not "feel" like doing something you should do.  Jesus is distinct from all other people on our planet because He always did the will of the Father gladly.  Consider what limitations God willingly put upon Himself to be contained in the body of a newborn in the womb of Mary before being born, was raised in a family, and was told what to do by imperfect people! God left His glorious habitation in heaven and came to earth in the person of Jesus.  There are some people who can afford to travel around the globe first class, but they would rather have others attend to such business.  They would rather stay where they are than go through the inconvenience and expense of ...

On the Sunday morning Jesus rose from the dead, Luke 24 introduces us to two disciples who trudged along the road to the village of Emmaus, some 7 miles (11 kms) northwest from Jerusalem.  Cleopas and his companion were sad as they walked along the road when they were met by the risen LORD Jesus Christ Himself.  Jesus asked what sort of conversation they were having with one another, and Cleopas was incredulous this stranger would be ignorant of the recent developments in Jerusalem that dashed their expectations of redemption. Cleopas explained their conversation concerned Jesus Christ who was a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people.  The Jewish rulers had condemned Jesus to death, and this resulted in His execution by crucifixion.  Cleopas and other disciples of Jesus believed He would redeem Israel, and with Jesus dead it seemed their faith had been misplaced.  They were also confused and astonished by reports of women (who also follow...

I came across a wonderful verse that expressed the confidence of God's people due to the sovereignty and power of God.  The reader was directed to look to Jerusalem, their quiet home, and were assured it would be God's enduring dwelling place.  In the New King James Version,  Isaiah 33:22 is rendered as a parenthetical phrase:  "... (For the LORD is our Judge, t he LORD is our Lawgiver,  t he LORD is our King; He will save us) ...".  Again and again the prophet emphasised the God of Israel is the LORD, the most High God who has no equal or rival.  It is ironic people these days do not like the idea of being ruled by anyone, yet it was God's majesty and power to rule which assured God's people of His salvation. The children of Israel acknowledged the LORD as their Judge, one who presides over a court with authority to hear and determine civil and criminal cases.  People generally are not pleased to be judged, to be in a position where the d...

I followed the advice of a good friend and went to an AA meeting yesterday as an observer.  About 30 of us sat around a table and the moderator asked questions to people known to her, and they shared from their experiences concerning alcoholism and sobriety.  Everyone was very friendly and without judgment as everyone called upon honestly spoke about their own defects of character and how meeting together and having a sponsor made a positive impact on their lives.  All attendees were able to benefit by hearing and identifying with the experiences of others and the wisdom gained at great cost over time through failure and success.  The high level of self-awareness and insight people had into their own patterns of thinking and motives was impressive--as well as their willingness to share freely with other like-minded people who desire sobriety. After the meeting, I was approached by a kind woman who inquired about what motivated me to come along--seeing I have not stru...

Over the years, it has been interesting to observe the different ways people utilise social media.  Our family once hosted an exchange student who spent a great deal of time taking selfies while pulling faces with silly expressions that were popular at the time.  Some people sit in their car and film themselves weighing in on topics of interest, and others record their reactions and angry tirades for others to see.  People have gone from posting family photos, food pictures and memes to using social media as a means of building a brand and becoming influencers.  They travel to exotic locations for idyllic pictures, review products and are paid to create content to promote anything and everything under the sun. Having friends and followers online gives people the sense of personal connection to the point posting a reaction or update seemingly becomes habitual.  Instead of calling people on the phone to ask for advice or driving to someone's house to talk, people ...

The concluding portion of Luke 9  illustrates well how those Jesus calls to follow Him can easily find obstacles to simple obedience.  This is ironic because Jesus is God who knows the hearts and thoughts of all people, has given us all things--including every day on earth which is a gift from His hand--and those He called to immediate obedience excused themselves from this duty because of personal, more pressing concerns.  Is there any being more personal than our God, since He created us according to His divine plans and purposes?  Is He unaware of our responsibilities, seeing every one of them was ordained by Him? People with genuine faith in God do not always immediately yield their will to His.  When God called Moses to go to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh, Moses was 80 years old and full of reasons seen in  Exodus 3-4 it was not a good plan to involve him.  His response to God's revelation in the burning bush was to uncomfortably squirm in doubt an...

In a conversation recently it was brought up how well-meaning people have the idea they must do something to earn God's favour.  At a fundamental level, mankind assumes it falls to us to save ourselves, and our actions carry the most weight of importance.  Because God has created us with the ability to do many things, we naturally rely on ourselves and our own understanding to solve problems and work out a solution.  We imagine we must start doing something, stop doing something or give something to be blessed by God.  We can be depressed by feelings when we fail, and we can be so impressed with our efforts we think God must feel proud of us too. While there are legitimate, big problems in the world, one of the biggest foes a child of God will face in their Christian life is self.  The devil himself pales in comparison to the negative impact of our constantly present, naturally selfish, proud, worldly thinking, habit forming, and insatiable body of flesh we dwel...

Years ago I recall going to an event put on by a parachurch organisation because our church was provided complimentary tickets.  The high cost of the tickets was a concern.  I had never heard of the group before and wanted to investigate personally before considering it for a viable youth event.  A few of us ended up going, and we were not impressed.  What was hailed as a conference to help youth grow in their faith in Jesus turned out to be an extended infomercial.  Instead of praying with youth who went forward to profess faith in Christ, ministry leaders were directed to another room where we were inundated with advertisements and hype videos about upcoming events.  During the final session, buckets to collect offerings were sent around--twice. Despite the focus on marketing and fundraising efforts, ironically this parachurch organisation was declared bankrupt not long after.  The ministry engine that was running on youthful exuberance, volunteers w...