The Magpie Lesson

"Understand, you senseless among the people; and you fools, when will you be wise? ⁹ He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? ¹⁰ He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?"

Psalm 94:8-10

Everything man is capable of doing is a shadow of what God does perfectly without fail or limitation.  Our ability to see and hear clearly fades over time, but God who created and formed the ear can hear everything; He who gave sight to mankind, beasts and birds can see everything at once.  By extension, all the wonders and marvels of creation speak of God's wisdom, abilities and attributes.  From the greatest and mightiest beasts to microscopic organisms, creation declares the glory of God.

Spring in Sydney ushers in a flutter of bird activity, and the mornings are full of singing and squawking from the trees in our area.  Rainbow lorikeets, noisy miners and warbling of magpies announce the rise of the sun from their perches with gusto.  During a walk past a local school recently, I noticed numerous signs posted on the fence that warned of a swooping magpie--a behaviour that is quite sudden and unnerving as males protect their nearby nest with young.  I have observed people bloodied by magpies that tend to swoop from behind, careful to avoid eye contact.  After a while the warning signs ended, and I did not see or hear any evidence of the magpie patrol.

All the signage did not quite prepare me for a sharp call and a wing that brushed the side of my head.  There was that aggressive magpie the signs had warned me about!  He continued to make passes swooping me whether I looked at him over the next couple hundred meters--even after I crossed the street.  It was amazing how quickly when my back was turned the magpie swooped close and snapped his beak right next to my ear, gliding past to another tree.  I read this territorial behaviour of swooping is nearly always done by males to any perceived threat near their young.  The result of the swooping magpie means I will choose to walk in a different area for the next month.

This experience prompted me to consider:  the God who created the magpie to swoop and defend its young--won't He defend and protect His people as well?  If a magpie will guard its little ones by instinct, isn't God more observant to recognise and drive away threats because of His great love for us?  The magpie is an intelligent bird, believed to be able to recognise the faces of 100 different people:  God knows every one of His disciples by name and even the number of hairs on our heads!  Jesus said in John 10:14, "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."  How blessed we are to know God as the sheep of His pasture, and even being swooped by a territorial bird can provide greater understanding of our awesome God, protector and Saviour.

Plumb Line Needed!

A majority of our back yard is supported by a short retaining wall, and my project of late was to repair a portion of it that had been damaged by large trees.  Based upon the location of the wall in relation to the driveway, it seems the lower courses of the wall were set before soil and sand was brought in to ramp up to the garage.  Rather than digging way down to reset the first course--and risk undermining the driveway--I removed enough dirt to grind the lower blocks level.  As a result of allowing the first course to remain, rebuilding the wall required small modifications and adjustments.  The results are not perfect, but it is in far better condition now that it is plumb.

The repair of the retaining wall has been a great illustration of the necessity for a solid, level foundation for our lives.  Because it was only a short section of wall and I lacked necessary stakes for a line, I made the decision to level one block according to the adjacent block, filling in from the exposed corner to the buried side.  What happened was similar to when we played "telephone" as kids, a group activity when one person whispers a phrase or sentence in the ear of the person next to them and the message is repeated down the line.  The best part of the game is when the phrase derails and becomes hilarious with nonsense that is nothing like the original sentence.  While this is a fun party game when the phrase is way off, it is not good when building a wall.  Since the first course was not fully removed, every block needed adjusting.

Looking at the wall from the broad side, it looks quite even and level.  But looking down the wall lengthwise, all the irregularities and imperfections are exposed.  My best efforts on the wall using what I had on hand is an example that without the plumb line of God's word and wisdom, spiritually speaking we all fall woefully short of God's perfection.  God used a plumb line as an illustration in Amos 7:7-9:  "Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. ⁸ And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said: "Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. ⁹ The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam."   A plumb line takes guesswork out of the equation, and it is only a matter of time before a wall out of plumb will fail.  God had given the plumb line of His word and established Israel in righteousness, but judgment was coming because of how crooked God's people had become.

Notice that the LORD stood on a wall made with a plumb line, and because it was built correctly it remained strong, straight and upright.  It could support weight properly and perform the function it was designed to do.  The children of Israel were given the Law of God, yet they were not able to keep it.  God's law is like a perfect straight edge that reveals how crooked we are, and the only way to be made right with God is through repentance for our sin and placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  It does us no good to justify our errors because we were simply following the example of others or the finished results don't matter because of all the effort we put in:  plumb is plumb.  None of us started plumb, and we can't straighten ourselves out no matter how hard we try.  Praise God He is able to save us, to make us new creations built on a level, solid foundation by faith in Jesus through the Gospel.  Those who hear the words of Jesus and heed them He likens to a man who builds his house on a rock that will stand and endure every storm.

Should our lives veer off course, rather than comparing ourselves to one another we do well to look to Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone.  The LORD speaks with absolute authority as one who holds the plumb line in his hand and sees clearly, and by the power of the Holy Spirit He guides us into all truth.  When we resort to copying others or doing what is right in our own eyes, we cannot straighten up.  We can can have confidence we will not be led astray or go crooked when we seek the LORD, humble ourselves before Jesus and obey Him.

God's Unexpected Ways

During a morning walk before dawn I prayed the LORD would speak to me, and He did in a most unexpected way.  Not long after I saw a woman jogging towards me, so I moved to the edge of the footpath to make as much room as possible.  What happened next was in slow motion:  my toe clipped the edge of the slab of concrete (which had heaved from a mature tree) and after a couple of stumbling steps I sprawled onto the footpath in a heap.  I can't remember the last time diving onto concrete, but it was a good reminder to keep stumbles and falls to a minimum.

The jogger stopped and asked if I was ok, and I said I was fine as I popped up on my feet, relieved no bones were broken.  Apart from grazes on my hand and leg, I jogged away relatively unscathed.  What struck me is that even though I was able to stand up unassisted, it was kind of the woman to pause and ask if I was ok after seeing me fall.  I imagine me falling looked hilarious, but her instinctive inquiry about my wellbeing was a gesture I appreciated.  Then I considered how automatic my response was, that if it was at all possible to stand up without assistance, that was my preference.  My instinct would be to stand on a broken foot or leg if it was at all possible and "walk it off," not even calling for a ride.

What happened on the footpath today was insightful concerning when someone falls spiritually into sin or stumbles into depression.  As an observer we may not want to ask if others are ok lest we embarrass them or draw unwanted attention to the fact we noticed.  The one who falls may be incapable of rising and still wave the observer on, not willing for others to slow down or stop on their account.  The good Samaritan in the parable drew near to the man who was beaten and left for dead, and given the background between Jews and Samaritans perhaps the wounded man only received help because he was physically unable to refuse it.  Speaking for myself, I have room to grow both in expressing care for those who are down and also willingness to receive help after I have fallen down.

Another thought that came from today's incident was how God can use our embarrassing and painful experiences to teach us and others.  There are always good lessons to be learned from our fails, and the fact I am around to speak about it tells me it could have been much worse.  I can praise God for guarding my bones, and the fall prompts me to be seeking God earnestly who can keep me from stumbling--physically and spiritually.  What we learn from a fall can be more valuable for our character and spiritual growth than walking without ever stumbling.  See how God can redeem a painful, awkward situation for good?

The Net Illustration

Today our family spent a good portion of the day moving in the rain, and preparation for this involved buying a tarp and a net to spread over it.  Made of elastic material with plastic clips, this net of bungee cords (octopus or occy straps here in OZ) was quite handy to ensure the tarp was kept from flapping in the breeze as we transported furniture and household goods.  God was gracious to us and helped us move everything we needed, and water damage was kept to a minimum.

Whenever I use a net I am reminded of when I was an apprentice and one journeyman always had a net to cover insulation material that resembled a fishing net.  I was not a fan of the net because it seemed totally unnecessary and it was my job to untangle it.  This fellow used wire to secure ladders on the rack on his truck, and when he cut the wires he habitually allowed the twisted bits of metal to fall into the net which turned it into an unusable, gnarled mess.  I spent more time than I care to remember trying to pick tangled wires free and make the scrap of net usable again.  He once told me, "I used to wonder how anyone in those old TV shows could get tangled up in a net, but now I know."

All that net-untangling flooded back to mind as I tried to untangle the bungee cord net today.  Whenever I successfully untangled a clip, as I moved onto the next one it would fall onto another bit of the net.  As several of us worked together to stretch out the net to prevent it from tangling again a brother mused, "I bet there's a sermon illustration in this."  I admit I am always on the lookout for a good illustration, though they do not always make it into sermons or studies.  A lot of time they are for my own benefit or probably find their way into a blog--like this one.

As I reflected on how I needed help from others to untangle the net so it was useable, it occurred to me if we happen to be the one in the net, we need help from God and even other people to free ourselves.  David sang in Psalm 25:15:  "My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net."  David realised he needed God's help to lead and deliver him out of the net, and this is true whether the net was laid secretly by other people or the enemy of his soul.  David pleaded similarly to God in Psalm 31:4-5:  "Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. ⁵ Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."  It is awesome this would be quoted by Jesus as among His final words before breathing His last on the cross.  Christ's enemies had set a trap for Him, and He willingly went to the cross knowing His heavenly Father would deliver Him from sin, death and Hell.

There have been times I have come across a dog that has been secured to a post that had become all tangled in the lead to the point it might as well have been caught in a net.  As I spoke reassuringly to the dog, asking how it came to be in such a predicament, the dog's answer was often a hesitant tail wag and looking as sheepish as a dog possibly can.  Dogs seem to know when they need help, and they are mostly willing to be turned around as people lift a leg here or there to extricate the pup from his own entanglement.  We like to think of ourselves as the ones who help others out of tough spots when the reality is we need God's help along with fellow believers to walk freely again as a sheep of God's pasture.  We can be easily ensnared by sin and weights that hinder us, and we can also be hemmed in by unbelief and forgetfulness of God's faithfulness.

Because the LORD is our strength and our Redeemer, let us commit ourselves to Him and walk in His ways.  Being caught in a net may be embarrassing, frustrating or a blow to our pride, but the wise submit to God and one another knowing we are not sufficient in ourselves to find freedom.

We Remember Him

"They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning

We will remember them."

Ode of Remembrance

Yesterday I rose early and went with many others throughout Australia, New Zealand and across the globe to an ANZAC dawn service.  There may have been well over a thousand people who lined the streets in front of the cenotaph, standing in the dark chill of the morning for the sober occasion.  25 April is the anniversary of the first military action of Australians and New Zealanders in the first World War on the shores of Gallipoli.  It is also a time to remember those who have served and died in war for our nation.  It is a longstanding tradition to gather at dawn to remember them, lest we forget.

One thing that is always well done at the ANZAC dawn services I have attended is an explanation of what ANZAC Day stands for and why we gather.  The structure to the service is fairly predictable:  a welcome, prayer, hymns (favourites are "Abide with Me" and "Here's to the Heroes"), the recitation of the Ode, wreath laying as bagpipes are played, the Last Post is performed with a bugle, a minute of silence followed by The Rouse on the bugle, and the singing of the Australia and New Zealand national anthems.  A diverse group of people and families, young and old, united together in the street to remember and honour the fallen.  Next to a man standing at attention, his jacket adorned in medals and a sprig of rosemary, a mother tended to an infant in a pram.  It was wonderful to see this meaningful tradition being observed by parents who brought their children along.

Attending ANZAC Day dawn services is a common tradition for many that has been passed down through generations.  Anyone who goes to a service is reminded why we gather.  No one is there because it is a convenient hour, because of the quality of the amplification system, to be entertained by musicians, the rousing speeches by guest dignitaries or the angelic voices of a choir.  There was no comfortable seating available or air conditioning.  Those who gathered did so to remember the ANZACs and those who died in war and military operations.  When your mind is focused on this meaningful purpose for attending a dawn service, the discomfort of standing still for an hour on cold concrete, auditory pain of feedback through the speakers or the distraction of out-of-sync music and singers will pose no hindrance from returning the following ANZAC Day.

I feel the same concerning regular attendance to church where, with great fondness and admiration, we remember our LORD Jesus Christ who gave His life for us lost sinners.  If going to church is only a tradition and bereft of meaning or purpose, the quality of the sound system, comfort of the seats and air conditioning, and style of the preacher can deter us from continuing to attend.  Whether in church leadership or a parishioner, we can be drawn to focus on style over substance and actually be distracted from our primary focus:  to love, serve and worship God and one another in unity as the Body of Christ.  We gather for prayer, study and to sing praise, choosing to pour out our lives as a living sacrifice to God which is our reasonable service.  As people and families young and old met at the cenotaph at the break of dawn, so believers ought to frequently gather together to remember Him:  our Saviour Jesus.

An Error Code and Divine Intervention

God who created all things is able to do everything, and this includes using a common household appliance to reveal unbelief in a heart and mind.  Allow me to explain. :)

A couple weeks back our condensing dryer stopped working.  I have a systematic approach to such events:  I dig up the manual, look up the error code and see if there is anything I can do about it.  In this case our Electrolux dryer flashed the letters "EHO" which meant there was an electrical fault in the circuit board.  Since the machine is under warranty for another 6 months it was not a repair I was willing to tackle.  And besides, I have never bothered to invest in a soldering gun.  The manual was hardly informative, and from what I gleaned online the only way to reset the machine was to turn it off for a few minutes and turn it on again.  It was the same problem over and over.

When my wife handed me the extended warranty paperwork for the machine, it was evident to me she wanted nothing to do with it.  I also voiced my feelings that I didn't want to handle it either.  But in our household the dryer has plenty of use and it was still under warranty.  The loving thing to do was to make the call.  Since the fault occurred on a weekend I needed to wait until Monday to contact the company.  On several occasions I tried to start the machine again, only to see the same error code.  "LORD," I prayed, "fix this machine so I don't need to organise this repair."  Well, Monday came and the machine was still broken.  I called the company and there was more I needed to do to prove my identity online.  I ended up scanning documents and applying for the repair online, no need to torture you with the details.

Days later I received a call by the service technician who said the soonest they could inspect the machine was 2 weeks later.  Without a choice I agreed to the service and then went back to the machine...which worked perfectly.  I was gobsmacked.  I know machines don't fix themselves!  Again and again the machine turned on, spun and turned off without any trouble.  After all the hassle the machine worked!  I didn't know how to feel about this sudden changed condition.  I didn't want to immediately cancel the service call because what if the persistent fault started again?  But since the machine worked fine having a technician test it was an unnecessary waste of time.  Then I remembered I had prayed for God to fix the machine.  Given the circumstances and how many times I checked the machine, the most rational option was to credit God for fixing the dryer.  It occurred to me my motive for praying was more about my convenience and comfort than it actually be operational, I mean, we have insurance for that.

The fact it was hard for me to accept God had fixed the dryer exposed unbelief secretly nestled in a heart that believes God can do everything.  My reluctance to call and cancel the service call immediately betrayed a mind that did not trust God to enable the machine to keep running, a person who selfishly hoped to receive the benefit of an extended warranty, and disdain to pay to repair or for a new machine if it died 7 months from now.  My troubled feelings were symptomatic of selfish flesh and unbelief.  As I am writing I can hear the machine whirring in the other room like a trooper, all by the grace of God who is faithful to teach us even when I doubted He did anything.  How important it is for us followers of Jesus to credit God for all He does and how much we desperately need Him.

Unlike machines, we don't have the benefit of a touch-screen or user manual that shows our errors plainly for us to see.  But God has given us the light of His word and the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment.  The thoughts and feelings I experienced were a evidence of faults inside me due to selfishness, unbelief in God and lack of love towards others.  Just as God fixed the dryer, He is able to transform us from within when we confess and repent of our sin He brings to light.  If anything goes well in our lives it is by His merciful hand, and when He divinely intervenes to correct and chasten us it is with gentleness.  When things go wrong it would be foolish to assume it is the devil having a go at you when it can be the God-ordained means to draw you to Himself in faith so we might rejoice in Him and proclaim His goodness.

The Gracious Accident

As I tried to manoeuvre all the tools I was carrying into my car, I groaned inwardly as I watched my stud finder clatter to the ground.  Almost in slow motion the plastic cover for the batteries popped off and the batteries released from the housing and rolled away.  I wondered if the device would be broken and hated the thought of needing to purchase another one due to my clumsiness.  It was the most expensive stud finder I ever bought, and the quality of the instrument justified the price.

When I reached down to retrieve the batteries and the finder, I noticed one of the batteries had been heavily corroded.  A stud finder is something I don't use all the time, and leaving batteries inside devices can lead to leakage.  Because the finder worked fine I never thought to open up the case an examine the batteries.  There I was, concerned I had potentially damaged the finder because I dropped it, while all the time it was insidiously being destroyed from within as it sat there in my garage in a safe place.  I am glad to report after removing the corrosion with a wire brush all is working as it should with new batteries.

It is interesting how positive end results can change our perspective of accidents or unexpected problems that trouble us.  A fall and superficial scratch on a stud finder led to the discovery of leaking batteries that ultimately saved the device from being ruined permanently.  In the end I was glad it happened because it provided insight into damage caused by unseen neglect.  Had I discovered the corrosion when it was too late because the stud-finder no longer worked, I would never have thought:  "I wish I had only dropped this stud-finder accidentally at some point so I would have seen the corrosion before it was too late!"  The stud-finder incident is at its core a lesson that reveals the grace of God to redeem something that was troubling at first for good in the end.

God is faithful to be gracious and merciful to all whether we recognise it or not.  His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and we can be confident in His redemptive power is at work in all situations--whether we recognise it or not.  Instead of beating ourselves up over our failures, accidents we were involved with, or mistakes that have been made, let us believe we will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.  Looking to God and walking in His grace also applies when we see others as responsible for the problem, like if the stud-finder was dropped by someone else and broken on impact beyond repair.  Isn't God able to redeem that too for His good purposes?  This is confirmed beyond doubt (though we often doubt) in Jeremiah 32:27:  "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?"  Since it is not hard for God to redeem, we ought to always trust in our Redeemer of our souls.

The Torch Lesson

Live long enough and you will have experiences that supply beneficial lessons God can use to live wisely.  Today I had one of those moments when a situation provided insight beyond the surface and speaks spiritual truth.

When I went to change the batteries in my favourite torch, I noticed the lack of the familiar rattle of the batteries inside.  To my surprise the alkaline batteries over a year had swollen in size and were stuck fast in the aluminium housing.  Try as I might, I could not make them budge.  Tapping the end of the torch on a piece of wood making use of gravity had no impact, and grabbing the end of the battery with needle-nose pliers popped the circular end off!  I could see the end was blackened and oily, welded tight to the torch all around.  This was not a good sign.

So I did what many people had before me:  look for posts on the internet by people who had the same issue and succeeded in fixing the problem.  This led to me drilling a pilot hole in the battery for a lag bolt to pull it out, using washers as leverage.  All I did was take a core-sample from the stubborn battery.  I warmed the housing with a heat gun:  nothing.  What was very interesting is when I tried to grab the hollowed-out battery with pliers the light flicked on brighter than it had when it was switched on previously.  Ultimately I reached a point where methods of extraction required so much force I ran the very high risk of permanently damaging the torch or injuring myself, so into the bin it went.

Thankfully I had another torch of the same kind stored away that will work nicely for the foreseeable future.  But what occurred to me is the long passage of time I knew the light from the torch was growing more dim and I never bothered to open it up and change the batteries.  I have tons of batteries of the proper size, so that wasn't the issue.  Neglect of doing the simple act of opening up the housing and taking a look when performance began to suffer ended up in the torch being unusable and destroyed.  It reminded me of our need as followers of Jesus to take the time to examine our own hearts.  Just because we are in fine health on the outside does not mean our thoughts or motives are pure or we are free from sin.  Even as the torch was amazingly able to function with a massive hole drilled through the centre of a battery, so we can go through the motions of life, family and ministry when we are in dire need of personal revival and restoration.

The light of a torch shines away from the batteries, and thus it is necessary for someone to use a different light to examine them.  As insightful as we might be concerning ourselves, we are not nearly as discerning as our God who created us.  It is His gaze we must invite and submit to, choosing to heed His voice.  That is why David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  God knows and sees what man cannot, and in love He will point out of sins and worries man tries to justify.  Praise the LORD He knows us and loves us, and the Light of the World Jesus Christ makes us to shine bright by the power of the Holy Spirit according to His grace.  A new heart and a renewed mind is ours when we humble ourselves before the LORD in contrite faith.

Life Out of Death

Today I walked through the Macdonald section of Tamborine Mountain and came across an enormous stump of a tree that fell some time ago.  It was of impressive size and a reminder that even the most seemingly solid, strong and longstanding specimens can only stand for limited time.

The almost solid canopy high overhead was broken where the large tree once stood, and light from above flooded the area.  I was surprised by the many smaller trees that were taken out when the great tree fell, gnarled and uprooted underneath.  The fall of the great tree impacted many other trees, a silent testimony of the damage a fall can have on others that spoke volumes.  As I walked the circuit there were many examples in various stages of decomposition.

But it was not all bad news:  the gap in the canopy allows direct sunlight which quickens other trees to sprout and grow towards the light.  This tree for many years had been likely suffering from an insect infestation that bored holes in the timber and reduced it to mush.  It was only a matter of time before the tree fell and made way for the regeneration of lush foliage that will grow high and strong.

The proof of revival was in the place where the tree fell, for trees large and small have begun to grow.  No tree could be the same one that fell, but the opportunity for others to reach such heights was now afforded all others that for some time had been overshadowed.  What is amazing is how God is able to bring revival to a stump like in the case of king Nebuchadnezzar.  His pride and subsequent fall did not mean he was destined to rot but to realise after 7 years the greatness and majesty of God.  His glory was restored to him.

Praise the LORD God is able to bring life out of death.  Jesus said in John 12:24, "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."  What is seen in the natural realm is true in the spiritual realm as Jesus demonstrated by His death and resurrection.  His temporary death made eternal life possible, for Jesus brought forth new creations redeemed with His own blood.  The Light of the World Jesus has shone forth, and we thus are enabled to grow in grace and the knowledge of God by the Holy Spirit given to us.  Having slain death, Jesus is the Gate to eternal life opened to us.  He bids us to arise and stand by His side now and forever.

Snail Crossing

During an early morning walk it is not uncommon for me to see snails of all sizes crossing the road.  It must take hours for those persistent mollusks to slowly make their way across the bitumen.  People ask why the chicken crossed the road, but I don't have a clever punchline about why snails would cross the road from a green, lush grassland to a construction jobsite filled with bricks, sand and clay, where nothing is able to grow.  It makes no sense to me why a snail would venture across the road towards a location which will only bring certain death.  The saturated clay is covered with puddles that would drown snails that attempted to ford them, and there is no food source for them to eat and survive.

I imagine a snail crossing the road might say something like this:  "Life had become unbearable for me.  My spouse left me and I have nothing but trouble with my annoying brothers and sisters.  I was in an unfulfilling job, an abusive relationship, and had no direction or motivation to do anything.  I was depressed and had no hope of a better life.  It all changed when I decided to do what's best for me and to hit the open road to find adventure.  My life has been completely transformed for the better and I'm excited about my future.  I'm really living now."  I would say, "Mr. Snail, I'm sorry to paint a bleak picture for you, but from my perspective my eyes can see what you cannot from the ground.  You are leaving a lush paradise for a barren wasteland.  You might be excited about your bright future, but I can tell you beyond any doubt there is nothing but death ahead.  I urge you to turn around and head back to a place where you can live life to the full."

Now Mr. Snail, if he could think and talk, would likely trot out reasons to keep on going.  Having thrown off the shackles of his previous life going back was out of the question, yet I could clearly see it would only be a matter of time before the money was gone, the positive feelings wore off, and his hungry belly would start growling like the prodigal in the parable Jesus told.  I wondered:  would he be able to muster up the energy to make the return trip?  Should I just pick the snail up and throw it back to where there was plenty of food, water and others snails in his native environment?  I decided to let the snail be.  You see, it isn't just a chicken or snails that cross the road because of the hope of greener grass, for people do the same.  They choose to venture away from the presence of God Who has provided all their needs all along and go far from Him to explore, experience and pursue what they have not yet found by His side.  Because Jesus Christ is the Life, to leave Him is to cut ties with Him and head to certain ruin.

Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  It is a challenge to describe what "life" is, and it is found in Jesus who gives eternal life.  Like a branch is connected to the vine or a limb is connected to a human body, life is only found through a personal connection with God through faith in Jesus Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life.  The source of all life is in those who believe, and we in Him.  There is no life beyond Him.  People who say they "hate their life" may not realise they can rejoice in Christ who is our Life at all times.  A better life is not on the other side of the road or at the end of a rainbow:  abundant and eternal life is found in Christ now and forever and nowhere else.  Life is more than activity, a beating heart, breathing lungs, brain activity or thoughts.  All of these are physical signs of life, shadows of the real thing that transcends physical, spiritual and the temporal world we live in currently.  Jesus has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel (2 Tim. 1:10), and in Him we live and have our being.

The incident on the road this morning demonstrated the short-sightedness of snails, and it is good we realise we human beings are much the same.  Snails and men alike find ourselves in ridiculous situations where we need assistance from God and others to help us find our way to the green fields and dewy grass where we can thrive under the protective guidance of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.  Except Jesus called our name and came after us, we would have gone to our doom in search of life found only in Him.  While I pondered these things, this is what I saw:

I was faced with a new question:  how did a snail manage to climb onto this car?  And how would he be able to safely crawl down?  There was nothing on this car the snail could eat:  why would the snail climb the tire?  How long did it take to crawl onto the rim, find the axle, somehow climb into the body of the car from the inside, then crawl outside?  A far easier explanation is the snail was placed there.  What this shows me is it does not matter how the snail ended up on the car or how long it took to navigate to the window:  what matters most is the snail be relocated to a place where it can feed, rest and thrive.  People find themselves in all manner of crazy places and have wild ideas about what an abundant life is, but Jesus Christ alone has the words of life because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  He has come to reveal God's love to sinners and save us by His grace.  The hope of finding true life by crossing the road is a mirage as the prodigal son found out for himself and Mr. Snail would in due time.

Someone Loves Ned

Early this morning during a walk I happened upon an unexpected sight.  It wasn't the sliver of a moon hanging overhead or the mist which couched in the low lying fields that surprised me:  it was repeated declarations of love emblazoned in white and blue chalk all across the bitumen road that read, "I love Ned."

I was amused as I walked over the writing of someone who clearly was smitten by "Ned."  It made me wonder who this "Ned" was, if it was a person, dog, cat or skink.  Was "Ned" aware of this love written so boldly with elaborate lettering, or were these affections still a secret to him?  I considered what Ned must have done to have such devoted persistence to declare this love so willingly and passionately.  The last proclamation was even more personal:  "I love my Ned."  Let's just say these messages made me curious about Ned and his chalky admirer.

As I finished the walk, my thoughts went back to the chalk messages proclaiming to all a love of "Ned."  It gave me pause to consider if my words and deeds are such a bold declaration of love for Jesus.  Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing for lives of Christians to provoke such curiosity about Jesus Christ who loves us, who demonstrated His love for all people on the cross?  His declaration of love was far greater and enduring than messages written in chalk, for Jesus shed His own blood to save us sinners.  As wonderful and worthy as Ned might be to be loved, Jesus Christ is the most worthy of all.

I might never know who Ned is or meet him myself, but the glorious truth is everyone can know Jesus by faith in Him.  We do not need to see Jesus face-to-face, shake His nail-scarred hand or embrace Him to know He is real because He has revealed Himself to all in the word of God and through the love of His disciples.  Because Jesus gives all who trust Him eternal life, we will one day meet and all be together forever.  May people say of us believers, "Boy, they sure do love Jesus."  Oh, how I love Jesus, and I pray you would love Him too.

Moving Day

Over the past week my family and I have moved into a new house down the road.  Our prayers to own a house in Sydney have been answered by our gracious and generous God who has fulfilled His promise to establish us in Australia.  Like Joshua affirmed, not one word has failed from God's promises to His people and we are thankful and grateful for His faithful provision.

The days this week ran together as we rose early and stayed up late packing, moving, arranging, and organising in the new house and cleaning the house we vacated.  My thoughts have been as scattered as the books, boxes, and furniture around the house and the chaotic mess around me.  I have been easily distracted by jobs unfinished and I forgot as soon as I remembered.  A couple of maxims have been confirmed during this move, and one of these is it is better to be done than perfect.  Striving for perfection from the onset leads to analysis paralysis or sets up an impossible standard to meet.  Better to be satisfied with your best effort given the circumstances rather than giving up or procrastinating and accomplishing nothing.

As we moved furniture and boxes into the new house, I learned new doesn't mean perfect.  One might assume a new house is free from defects or flaws but this is an unrealistic expectation.  We have found several flaws in the design and workmanship the professional builders ignored or missed, and this should be expected because no one is perfect.  Our second day of living in the house I dug tools out of boxes to fix a fitting on our rainwater tank that had been dripping for months.  The inspector we hired wrote reports of defects and commented on the poor quality of aspects of construction and thankfully none of them are serious.

The concept of new not being perfect reminds me of our lives after we come to Jesus in faith.  After being born again the Holy Spirit regenerates us through the Gospel and makes us new creations.  Not one person who is made new is instantly made perfect.  As long as we live in these bodies we will fall short of perfection.  We retain deeply flawed in our ways of thinking and feelings can lead us to stray from Christ.  Moving into a new house means carrying a lot of your old stuff (and junk!) from the old house into the new one, and we can bring sinful habits into the new relationship we have with God.  We are wise to make the most of the new start God gives us initially (and every day) to keep our minds and hearts clean of rubbish and filth.

Praise the LORD for the opportunity for relationship God extends by grace to all.  Knowing Him is better than a new house which will grow old, fade, gather dust, and require expensive maintenance.  Even now Jesus is preparing a place for us to live together with Him forever, and as suitable as this new house is I am really looking forward to moving day with Him.

Cleaning Up

Every few months I receive a letter or email that announces an upcoming inspection from the real estate company which manages the property we are renting.  Because of the current quarantine restrictions in NSW they will be conducting them remotely and requested pictures of the exterior and each room.  Usually we have weeks to prepare for an inspection and finish tidying up on the day, but the photos were requested as soon as possible.  We have always found the silver lining in these regular inspections which aid our family to take regular stock in the cleanliness of the place, promotes being tidy and organised, and encourages effort in upkeep of the yard.

Today I learned the difference between tidying up for a physical walkthrough or with photos.  As real estate agents and photographers know, pictures are able to capture and present the most flattering views.  A stack of papers, various dishes or containers, and loose clothing can be moved out of sight rather than being put away.  As I walked through each room and took a picture two things struck me:  I was pleased with the overall appearance and condition of our home, and how different the preparation was for pictures rather than a walkthrough.  During a walkthrough I had no idea where the associate would go or focus on so all needed to be cleaned well.  For pictures, however, I was at the controls and present each room from the best angle.

My mother taught me at a young age the appearance of clean does not mean something has actually been cleaned.  Picking up clothes off the floor and stuffing them into a chest of drawers did not constitute "cleaning" up the room to her satisfaction.  Clothes were to be folded, surfaces wiped, windows cleaned, and dishes washed, dried, and put away.  We naturally put a great deal of emphasis on appearances because that is what we and others can see.  Some people put effort into their physical appearance, and others spend time immaculately landscaping their yards or waxing their cars.  Even the prophet Samuel was impressed by the kingly bearing of men who God refused because He does not see as man sees, for God looks upon the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

How important is it to address what God sees--the issues of our hearts--rather than working to present ourselves as faultless.  Tidying up our appearance by shuffling selfishness into a drawer or hiding our bitterness or lusts from sight of others behind a closet door does nothing to purify our hearts before God.  The light of God's Word and the piercing sharpness of it goes straight to the source of the problem within us.  The Holy Spirit is able to reveal what our flesh hopes to conceal, and God does so because He loves us and can change us.  It is not at a set time but in real time the Spirit of God knows what lies hidden from others in our hearts and minds.  His intent is not for us to try in the flesh to "clean up our act" but to stop acting altogether and begin to live as new creations according to His grace, walking by faith, repenting of sin, holy and governed by His love.

Tempting Thieves

I don't think we can imagine a world where the almighty, living God is not good.  If God was not good, there could be nothing resembling good in the world.  It is only because God is good there are admirable and praiseworthy characteristics in people.  Love, joy, peace, and kindness are a reality to be desired because in God we find all these things.

Today I checked out a new sandy spot to metal detect and I saw a sign which was amusing and confronting at the same time.  The beautiful natural landscape was in stark contrast to the reminder that everything is not right in the world.

The sign read in all caps:  "BEWARE:  DO NOT TEMPT THIEVES, DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN VIEW, LOCK YOUR CAR."  The only reason why these signs were placed throughout the car part was because people do not keep God's 8th commandment which says, "Thou shalt not steal."  The signs warns and urges law-abiding citizens are to take precautions against thieves because only a little temptation is required to bring wickedness to the surface which negatively impacts everyone.  It is a tragedy innocent people need to take responsibility to prevent "tempting" criminals when people shouldn't steal in the first place.  But stealing is what thieves do, always looking for an easy score.  Jesus is the only one who can fundamentally change the hearts and minds of thieves.

How grateful I am for the righteousness and wisdom of God!  Instead of being a thief He is a generous provider of gifts out of His storehouses of grace.  Not only does He provide for our physical needs but through the Gospel makes a provision for corrupt thieves to be given a new heart which desires to please God.  Without God there would be no hope for thieves, liars, fornicators, and idolators--for anyone!  Faith in Jesus Christ as LORD is all He requires for salvation, for Jesus spoke from the cross to the repentant thief:  "Assuredly I say unto you, today you will be with me in Paradise."  Isn't that awesome?  How great is the benefit for all mankind because of the God's goodness.

Though the signs did not instill any confidence in the security of the lot, I did find a handful of items--probably nothing anyone would be interested to steal. :)

Textbook Hypocrisy

God has many lessons to teach us outside of church, practical sermons we can put to personal use.  Yesterday I was gifted one such lesson.  Our church building is located in an industrial park which has unit numbers painted on each space in the carpark in addition to a sign on the kerb.  I removed the signs to prep the concrete to install new signs and placed them on top of the kerb in the meantime due to rain.  When I arrived at church yesterday the signs had been thrown into the planter.  There are almost always people who utilise our parking spaces since we do not keep regular business hours.  Seeing those signs in the planters made me shake my head and smile, imagining people could then justify parking in our spots.  This is a picture of hypocrisy that seeks to justify self.

I was suddenly reminded of an event which unfolded over 15 years ago when I worked in the shipyard at NASSCO.  One of my work mates came into the shack before work absolutely beaming, and this was out of the ordinary because of his usual sullen disposition.  He couldn't contain his excitement as he gleefully produced a one hundred dollar bill:  "Look what I found!"  Then he proceeded to tell the story.  As he was walking in the gate he noticed what looked to be money "working its way out" of another worker's pocket.  When the bill fell out of the pocket he quickly pounced on the cash and pocketed it.  "Finders keepers!" he said triumphantly.  I was aghast.  "You know who dropped the money?  You saw it fall?  That's stealing!" I asserted.  He did not feel guilty in the least:  he justified keeping the money because he didn't take it out of the man's pocket but picked it up off the ground.

Now as I considered these two sets of experiences I was driving to an appointment.  50 metres ahead of me a large bus suddenly indicated to merge into my lane.  Not content to dawdle behind a bus I sped up beyond the speed limit rather than slowing down.  There was plenty of room behind me anyway.  Then it struck me:  what if that bus had been a police car?  I can say without question I would have slowed down and welcomed the police car to take a position in front of me.  I don't know anyone who enjoys being tailed by police.  What did my actions demonstrate?  Textbook human hypocrisy!  It is the same folly that justifies parking in reserved spot because there wasn't a permanent sign affixed; it is the same hypocrisy which justifies stealing because someone else's money touched the ground without their knowledge.  Me speeding up to pass the bus gave me insight into my own heart and my need to confess and repent of my sin.

It is one thing to recognise hypocrisy in others or to freely admit we are hypocritical too, but to take the lesson to heart is to repent of our own hypocrisy and walk uprightly in the future.  So the next time there is a bus or anyone else indicating to merge, I ought to treat them with the same care as a police cruiser I have no intent to offend.  This "respecting of persons" (or vehicles!) is not potentially in play only when driving but in all interactions.  As a child of God it is my calling to walk in love towards all whether behind the wheel or picking up after vandals.  Praise the LORD He is patient, gracious, and forgiving because without Him I would be adrift and lost forever.

A Glorified Body

Today I officiated a funeral for a much loved mum, nana, and friend.  It was an emotional time for all to hear touching tributes that conveyed the depth of love and gratitude coupled with mourning great personal loss.  Saying goodbye to a loved one is always hard, and it is a great blessing when grief can be tempered with the knowledge of a future reunion in heaven through faith in Jesus Christ.

During the service attendees were invited to place a flower on the casket adorned with a lovely bouquet, Scottish tartan, and smiling portrait to the sound of bagpipes.  All the flowers provided were ultimately laid on the closed casket soberly and with tears.  It occurred to me after the service how the person we honoured and remembered was no longer with us, though the deceased body remains.  The real person created in the image of God, the soul of the departed, had already gone to God.  What remained in that casket could be compared to a seed, a husk that bears no resemblance to the plant that springs from it.  A living plant, flower, or tree looks nothing like the seed.

Paul employed this example speaking of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:35-44:  "But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" ³⁶ Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. ³⁷ And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. ⁴⁰ There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."  Our physical bodies will one day die and decay, but Jesus is the Resurrection and Life who gives eternal to all who trust in Him.

The glory of the terrestrial body bears no resemblance to the glory yet to be revealed.  The death of the body is the gate through which Christians pass into eternal life in the presence of God forever free from pains, sorrow, sickness, suffering, and regret.  The natural processes of the body like the conversion of oxygen into carbon dioxide or the pumping of blood through veins and arteries is unseen but it is happens in living people continuously.  God has put eternity in our hearts and explained in the Bible not only how to live in this life but how to have assurance of eternal life in heaven instead of perishing in hell.  In rising from the dead glorified Jesus gave certainty to the resurrection, forgiveness, and eternal life available through faith in Him.

Praise the LORD for the living hope we have through Jesus Christ.  Farmers do not weep over the seed they sow because the planted seed is the source of hope for plenty.  It is fitting we weep over the passing of our loved ones into eternity, but we can rejoice knowing the planting of the seed of our bodies in death instantly triggers a glorious, everlasting future in the presence of God--the almighty God and Saviour we can know and rejoice in today.  What consolation and comfort God gives by His grace. 

The Price of Neglect

God can use things like simple yardwork to convey spiritual truth.  I spent the morning chopping down a rogue jasmine vine which had taken over several plants in the vicinity.  I realised the lush green which blanketed the area was a jasmine vine which quickly spread.  Most likely it wasn't that the vine that grew so quickly, but a demonstration of the high price of neglect.

Truth be told, I am a low-maintenance gardener.  My focus had been on the turf while the vine slowly crept, twisting around other plants, choking out light and nutrients.  The result of passing glances without closer inspection resulted in not realising how prolific the jasmine vine had become:  the fresh green looked healthy but hid problems.  Attacking the jasmine brought my attention to a hollowed out bottle-brush tree and a bush which was also overgrown.  It was easy to chop off the shoots but the root stock is a solid mass.  Because of the limited size of my bin trimming and removal of the plants and roots will take weeks.

The high price of neglect doesn't only present itself in a garden but in the health of our body, soul, and relationships with God and others.  The dangerous thing about neglecting these attributes of life is how subtle they can be and how extensive the damage can be when all seems well.  It is good for us to realise regular effort of maintenance is far less costly and labour intensive than working to overcome neglect.  And sometimes neglect can inflict damage so severe no amount of work can reverse it.  Neglected homes, marriages, and physical health can be ruined beyond repair.

God is gracious to teach us lessons through overgrown vines to work on marriage or physical fitness.  Assuming green growth was a healthy signal caused neglect of what needed serious attention underneath.  Our intentions and habits need to be cleared away often to examine the condition of our hearts.  Thankfulness to God for all He has provided directs us to best maintain the things of life which matter most.

Jesus is the Worthy One

This past week I traveled to New Zealand with a fellow pastor who flies much more than me.  Because of the millions of miles he has logged he has earned status I have not:  free entrance to the Air New Zealand lounge and the ability to bring a guest.  On my own I would be denied access to the comfort of the lounge:  comfortable seats, free food and drink, well-maintained toilets, and internet access.  Bronze status certainly doesn't provide the benefits diamond or gold status does!

I admit that when I follow my friend into the lounge, there is a sneaking feeling of unworthiness because I haven't earned or paid for the right to enter on my own.  What I was struck with today is in a similar sense I will only be able to enter heaven one day because of what Jesus has done.  It is because He has paid for us and is good and gracious to invite us we can become children of God and gain access into the presence of God.  We are all unworthy, but it is our worthy LORD and Saviour who has made us accepted in the beloved.

Instead of feeling guilty we are in ourselves unworthy, how much better it is for us to express our thanks and gratefulness to God for all He has accomplished on our behalf.  It denies our God glory for us to be self-focused when Jesus denied Himself to save us by grace through faith.  We are easily self-conscious, but we ought to humble ourselves so Jesus Christ might be glorified.  We can even be bold in belonging because Jesus has purchased us with His own blood.  Embarrassment and shame evaporates in the presence of our almighty King and any who might criticise us because we don't measure up.

The Prime Mover

I benefited greatly from a message I heard last night on the value of a healthy mind.  The speaker defined the mind as the "prime mover" in our lives, like the engine of a train.  Pastor Steve Jones said, "The mind will always take us somewhere."  Our train of thought does not stop in the mind but greatly impacts our desires and actions.  Just like a moving engine pulls or pushes additional carriages in whatever direction it drives them, our bodies follow the leading of our minds.  If our minds are in the gutter, we will act out on our sinful impulses.  On the other hand when our minds esteem God and His Word we will walk in godliness.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-8:  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."  Just like God gives us the ability to decide what we will eat and drink and how much, we are given the ability to choose to focus our thoughts on what is right.  When our train of thought is sinful it always leads to a destination of sinful conduct, by the power of Jesus Christ we can derail that train, taking those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.  But much of the time once the engine starts moving in a sinful direction we habitually stoke the engines red hot with worry, selfishness, and lust.

Pastor Steve provided a negative and positive example of how the mind impacted the behaviour of people in scripture.  David has a man after God's own heart but he was not immune to sinful thoughts in his mind that moved him to choose sinful conduct.  When David saw Bathsheba from his rooftop, his prime mover started pulling his train of thought in an adulterous direction:  he decided to inquire concerning her, decided to send messengers to bring her to the palace, and ultimately slept with her.  Sinful thoughts led to sinful actions.  The life of Daniel provides an example of how good thoughts kept him from sin.  He was offered the luxurious foods of the king, but Daniel had already purposed to not defile himself with the king's food.  In his mind he had already established what was right, that the king's food was not kosher, and because his mind was made up the power of temptation was disarmed.

Before our train of thought heads nowhere good, let us purpose to heed the exhortation of God's Word to cease from anxious thoughts and pray with thanksgiving, making our requests to God.  Our flesh is at the mercy of our feelings and circumstances, but when we are obedient to trust God and direct our focus on Him He will guard our minds and hearts through Jesus.  Praise the LORD He has provided no shortage of true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy things to consider because He is all these things and more.  More than "bad thought avoidance" we are to head in the opposite direction by derailing anxious or sinful thoughts and by fixing our minds on God with thanksgiving and praise.

The Enduring Word

Well, it's official:  Google hates me.  I probably shouldn't say anything because Google is always listening and recording (perhaps even hiding from plain sight) what I write.  Over the years I have wondered if changing algorithms negatively affected search traffic to the blog, but recently I discovered something which leaves little doubt.  Occasionally I will look up a keyword of an old post as a point of reference.  I was pretty sure I've mentioned MacGuffin on the blog before" and tried to search it with the blog address.  By the way, anyone who has watched movies would be familiar with MacGuffins (but maybe not the name), a device in film that drives the plot but has little significance otherwise.

When I searched on Google Chrome I was surprised to see only one page of results and none from marchforth2oz.blogspot.com.  After navigating to the blog in the search bar I typed "MacGuffin" and bingo:  the single mention of "MacGuffin" from 2017 was revealed!  On a hunch I loaded the Bing search engine, typed in the same query as I first had in Chrome, and the first page was flooded with successful results.  I'm not much of a conspiracy theory person, but the disparity between the Chrome and Bing search was notable.  It's all a bit fishy, and this isn't the first time I have been unable to find blog posts outside the blog itself (using Google, that is).  It leads me to conclude one does not need to live in a strict Communist regime to have Christian content quietly disappear.

The glorious truth for Christians is even IF all our words are suppressed or obscured, the Word of God endures forever.  It is God's Word and will which drive the plot of our lives according to the Holy Spirit, and we do not need to fear anything.  Worrying about declining traffic or algorithmic censorship is only one of many real-life MacGuffins people can obsess over and lose sight of the awesome God this blog is intended to glorify.  God knows if a person does a good deed with the hope of being seen by men, and that person has their reward whatever the opinions may be.  Those who do things with intent to glorify God, whether or not seen by men, will receive a reward from the LORD which cannot be corrupted or stolen.  Praise the LORD!

1 Peter 1:22-25 provides a fitting conclusion:  "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ²⁴ because "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, ²⁵ but the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."