Marching Forth!

Our world is filled with complexity.  People, languages, relationships and theology are all complicated.  While there are aspects of all these that remain the same, there are things that change and morph over time.  The use of words can change to the point someone can mean the exact opposite of the word's common definition.  I remember when the Michael Jackson song "Bad" was at the peak of popularity (which meant the best), and other words have taken its place like "sick" or "mean."  When it comes to interpreting the Bible, it can clash with the modern take of the meaning of words.  A recent and useful conversation I had illustrated well the importance to carefully define what we mean when we use a particular word. Because words are complicated and not limited to a single definition, the context helps us determine what people mean and thus the conclusions we draw.  A statement I find challenging to accept at face value without explaination is the claim...

Over the years I have watched shows that chronicle the experiences of people who have sought assistance with a hoarding problem.  Slowly stuff and clutter accumulates in the house to the point the movement and activity of the homeowner is severely restricted.  Rooms become impossible to enter, basements fill, and stuff begins to spill into the yard.  Quite often by the time television crews are on the scene, the house has become dangerous to the occupants and nearly impossible to traverse.  Mould, vermin and spoiled food create an environment that becomes increasingly unpleasant and unhealthy. Another thing I have noticed when a house is full of stuff, maintenance of the house itself become impossible and is neglected.  The desire to acquire, preserve and save things ends up being thwarted by all the things accumulated that are inaccessable and exposed to fouling by pests and water damage.  Leaks in the roof are not able to be fixed, and plumbing repairs ar...

God has given Christians the Bible, the indwelling Holy Spirit and fellowship with other believers to help guide our thinking and conduct.  God does not trample the freedom He has given people with unique personalities to consdier what God has said and express their own convictions.  Looking back, I can say there were times I had very strongly held convictions I do not have any more because studying the Bible and conversations with Christians changed my mind.  I realised there were many considerations I was ignorant of in forming my theology, convictions and personal practices, and fellowship with other Christians is vital to avoid an internal echo chamber that repeats lies and unbalanced views we once believed. I was saddened to hear reports of a man who rushed through security who allegedly intended to assassinate President Trump, joining a growing list of those whose foiled murder plots have come to public light.  Based on current reports, it seems the man was mot...

I enjoyed hearing a speech delivered by Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court at a University of Texas at Austin event.  During his decades on the bench. Justice Thomas has been known as a man of few words during oral arguments, yet when he speaks I have found he has many good things to say as a God-fearing man and American.  His quality of character, faithfulness in labour and devotion to God make him a man I deeply respect and admire.  Those who speak disparaging of him may do so because he is principled and godly like Daniel of old who would not be swayed by commands of a king, the fickle favour of princes or criticism from holding fast to those self-evident truths, that men have been created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. In his speech, Justice Thomas urged regular people of the United States to be courageous to uphold the Constitution as the 56 signers, who with " firm reliance on the protection of divine...

I recently received a large, colour brochure about an upcoming performance of Shen Yun which is an outreach funded by the religious group Falun Gong.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, alarm bells start ringing when I read of this group and how all spiritual authority is vested only in teachings of Falun Gong's founder, Li Hongzhi.  While the dance performance looks to be very colourful, performed by skilled dancers and accompanied by orchestral music, going to a show does not interest me in the slightest because of the clear connection with a group whose teachings are not of Jesus Christ. The flier contained a quote that grabbed my attention more than the vivid colours which encouraged people to see the show:  " Go see it to believe it, because otherwise, you are going to miss the most important thing in your life ."  This is a very interesting thing to say as it runs absolutely contrary to the revelation of Jesus who was born of a virgin, died on the cross, rose from ...

New South Wales has recently introduced legislation to abolish the "good character references" in sentencing for criminal offences.  Previously when someone was found to be guilty of committing a crime by a court, they could supply "good character references" which would be taken into account and likely minimise the punishment doled out by the court.  People could use their prior good social standing or personal connections to reduce their culpability.  Their past good conduct or ability to find others to write positive descriptions of their character in no way lessens the severity of the crime committed and should not remove strong consequences criminal activity deserves.  Our deeds are better indicators of our character than what people say about us. It may be a surprise to some, yet God's word sets a precedent for this positive change.  God said the wicked man who turned from his ways and did good would be pardoned, yet the one who turned from righteousness a...

" The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, a nd saves such as have a contrite spirit ." Psalm 34:18 Contrition for sin is an important facet of genuine repentance.  When we were kids, the snide tone or snarky  way people said sorry were reasons to reject an apology as insincere.  We wanted people to at least act like they cared when they were apologising for doing wrong.  Conviction of having done wrong is not just a thought that passes through our minds but includes a recurring stab of regret or unsettled feeling inside of us.  The Bible says David's "heart smote him" after he cut off the corner of Saul's robe.  Though he did not kill him as was suggested by his men, his guilty conscience would not let the act pass unnoticed and without repentance. Contrition is not beating oneself up for doing wrong, for this can be from pride as much as anything.  Webster defined "contrition" as:  " 1)  The act of grinding or rubbing to powd...

I grew up in an era where action movie heroes were popular that featured muscled actors like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger who barged into trouble with guns blazing.  For 90 minutes, viewers were treated to stunts, explosions and cringeworthy puns as the body count rapidly multiplied.  Today the ladies have taken centre stage to fill the role of the tough, death-defying and emotionally impotent heroines who take the lives of human beings and aliens as casually as we take a sip of water.  It is exceedingly rare to see a modern film where action heroes betray a shred of what could be considered fear when there is only a step between them and death.  This could be seen as weakness , and we can't have that! In Braveheart (a work of fiction loosely based on history), I found it refreshing for the courageous protagonist William Wallace, on the eve of his execution, to be shown on his knees in prayer to God and confessing he was afraid.  He prayed G...

Recently I watched a couple of films that bore a strong resemblance to one another.  Both had female protagonists who were independent (but had the support and friendship of an animal), were disobedient to authority, and headstrong.  Though the films had different directors, they both emphasised the repeated choices of the heroine in the tales to refuse to do as they were told, to disregard societal norms as despicable constraints, and went on to either kill or become what the masses feared.  Both these girls were visionaries, seeing what other people could not, overcame their naysaying peers, and avoided negative consequences for their rebellious ways.  Following their own hearts and going their own way worked out in the end with their desires being satisfied. The irony in both the stories was the girls who wanted to go alone couldn't succeed alone--not that they ever came to that realisation.  The parallel plot and themes between the films demonstrated how unp...

Recently there has been an uptick in reports of young people riding illegal e-bikes on the street, and it seems the authorities are unsure what to do about it.  On Friday I saw a group of youths riding on the street as they dangerously weaved through traffic.  Youths on motorbikes in NSW have been emboldened of late because the police will not pursue them due to safety concerns.  The problem is, those who are guilty of dangerous, unlawful driving are not caught and believe they are within their rights to hoon around with impunity.  Apparently, this problem will be addressed by new legislation later this year to limit the kind of e-bikes people can buy or operate--and "crush" bikes that exceed the speed limitations--that is, if the authorities can catch them! The problem I see of dealing with hooning by more legislation is that laws on the books are not being presently upheld.  How will more laws do anything to aid the enforcement of current laws?  Adding m...

Sometimes a verse spoken out of context can provide impetus to study and analyse passages of Scripture more carefully.  It seems people are pleased to quote fragments from the Bible to condemn others, justify themselves or to gain credibility--even when they think little of God or the Bible as a whole.  For instance, I read a news article that quoted from John 8:32 where Jesus said, " The truth shall set you free ."  The writer went on to list things the passage did not say.  Infinitely more important than what the Bible does not say is what God does say and the message Jesus intended to convey. In the passage that preceded this well-known quote, Jesus proclaimed He was the light of the world.  The Pharisees opposed Jesus, and they complained He bore witness of Himself and thus His witness was not true.  Later people asked Jesus who He was really in  John 8:25-32 :  " Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, " Just what I ...

" The heavens declare the glory of God;  a nd the firmament shows His handiwork.  2  Day unto day utters speech, a nd night unto night reveals knowledge.  3 There is no speech nor language w here their voice is not heard ." Psalm 19:1-3 The heavens and earth declare the glory of God, and everything that is has been created by God's wisdom and power.  It is remarkable to me people can observe the rising of the sun every day and the phases of the moon, the orderly march of days, weeks, months and years, and not consider this world is more consistent, precise and orderly than we are at our best.  I have never written anything in my diary on a particular date on accident, yet there are intelligent people who assert today is a fortuitous accident--the culmination of billions of years of natural processes that has resulted in things like stable elements, the water cycle, dolphins, rabbits, and human beings. Last night I watched a bad science fiction movie that...

It is wonderful to teach the truth of God's word and for people to receive it gladly and run with it.  Years ago I led a course to equip people to share Christ, and it was great to see people put what they had learned into practice and exert more effort in doing outreach I never thought to do.  The people of Nazareth could have been impressed and pleased to hear the gracious words of Jesus as He read from the scroll of Isaiah and addressed them in the synagogue.  "And to think--this is the son of Mary and Joseph who never went to proper school!"  Sadly for them, blinded by unbelief, they were offended by the Messiah who outshone them and sought to kill Him. Another kind of "running with" suggests something is carried beyond what was originally intended.  I have seen this when Christians embrace a particular doctrine to the point they become divisive and sow discord among the brethren.  Verses out of context can be "run with" to support extreme and even...

" Unless the LORD builds the house,  t hey labour in vain who build it;  u nless the LORD guards the city,  t he watchman stays awake in vain ." Psalm 127:1 I love the unflinching, unapologetic objectivity of God's word.  The almighty God who created all things and stands eternal supreme over all simply says how it is.  People can reject it, scorn or deride it; they can oppose it and rail against what they claim is unfair or incorrect, yet it stands unmoved and in full force.  This verse from Psalm 127  shows how dependant God's people ought to be on Him to help us do things we see as our right and responsibility.  Having purchased land and obtaining permits to build, we view it as our legal right to do.  Because there are thieves and enemies who would do us harm we set a guard over our cities and households.  But unless the LORD does the work and is with us, all our efforts will be in vain.  We won't be capable of perceiving or ...

Growing up and living in San Diego, there was a graphic I saw occasionally on a t-shirt or stickers on the back of a car or van window.  With palm trees in the background, it said:  "No Bad Days."  The vibe reminds me a little of another bumper sticker that basically said, "A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work."  The implication of both these statements is the difference between a good and bad day is  based on geography and activity.  A day at the beach is a good day, while a day in the office is not a good one.  This view on the goodness of days can also be applied to what happens on a given day.  Many times people say they have had a bad day or year because of what transpired during it. Scripture provides a different lens to view days and years--as gifts from God which in themselves are good because He is.   Psalm 118:24 has been made into a song we used to sing in Sunday School:  " This is the day the LORD has ...

" Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil ." Jeremiah 13:23 Through the prophet Jeremiah, God revealed the true condition of His people:  as those who followed the dictates of their own hearts, they were unable to do good.  Their sinful habits were so ingrained in them, such an intrinsic part of their nature, they were incapable of change.  While the world often assumes man is basically good and will make the best choices if given opportunity, the Bible reveals man's natural inclination, preference and custom is to gravitate toward sin and settle down there like a hog in the mire. As I considered this verse, I was reminded of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.  In film adaptations, the grumpy and stingy Ebeneezer Scrooge was particularly surly during Christmas, for he viewed the celebrations, feasts, gifts and extra expense as "humbug."  The night before Christmas, Scroo...

In the first chapter of the Bible in Genesis, we read of God creating the heavens, earth, plants and living creatures.  God created all living things to reproduce after their own kind, and we observe this happening to this day.  Over and over it is repeated that grass and fruit trees produced seeds that yielded according to their kind; birds, fish and living creatures brought forth after their own kind.   Genesis 1:26-27 reads, " Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."  27  So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them ." Mankind is distinct from all other living creatures because we have been created in the image of God who put eternity in our hearts ( Ecc. 3:11 ), breathed into Adam the b...

As one who reads, teaches and loves God's word, I appreciate the precision and impact of words to effectively communicate with others.  For a long time I have made it a regular practice to observe the way people use words and the intended meaning behind them.  During my lifetime I have seen words come and go as they fall out of favour.  I have observed the definitions of words morph and change over time.  While I am all for biblical translations in a modern language people can understand, I am also cognisant simplifying words is like adding water to stew.  At some stage words can be so watered down we can hardly recognise the soupy mixture we are swallowing. God exposed the sins of His people in Zephaniah 3:4 :  " Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; h er priests have polluted the sanctuary,  t hey have done violence to the law ."  The prophets and priests in Jerusalem were guilty of breaking the Law of Moses--doing violence to it by ...

Having watched a lot of sport over the years, Hollywood is notorious for missing the mark completely with the depiction of sport.  At times I have wanted to pull my hair out when I see things allowed to occur in a boxing match that would never fly in a professional bout.  Mistakes in small details betray complete ignorance of the rules, basic physics and technique that in my eyes undermines the believability of a film.  Admittedly I am picky, but while zooming in on the ball on a long drive in golf or while playing baseball a home run is launched or a fastball is pitched, the ball should not have topspin in slow motion.  I tend to steer clear of sport-themed movies because I enjoy watching actual sport--not dramas that use sport thematically but have no resemblance to the real thing.  I do like Hoosiers , though (maybe because I never played organised basketball). The one thing Hollywood historically does as bad or worse than sport is the depiction of pastoral...

Recently I came across an article that focused on "voluntary assisted dying" that seemed to be a propaganda piece that praised those who pursue dying on their "own terms" as having immense courage.  I do not believe suicide--whether medically assisted or not--is in itself a badge of courage.  Greater courage can be shown in choosing to live despite pain and a terminal diagnosis--looking to the LORD who gave us life in the first place. One thing that is often missing when the "taboo" subject of assisted suicide is reported on is any acknowledgement or mention of God.  It is ironic (but not surprising!) God who knit us together in our mother's wombs would be left out of the conversation by those who embrace a humanistic or even a nihilistic perspective.  It wasn't long ago I was given paperwork by my doctor to write down my end of life plan, whether I wanted to be fed by others if I was unable to feed myself, or if I would refuse to be given any nutr...