Crime and Punishment

I am amazed by the way God opens doors unexpectedly.  Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting with three senior chaplains in the NSW police force.  For some time (off and on) I had been praying about how churches or myself could support and encourage our local police, and perhaps this meeting was a first step in God's answer to that question.  As we concluded the meeting with prayer, exchanging details and shaking hands, I was given a Bible printed by the Bible Society Australia tailored for police.  Within the pages (in addition to scripture) are topical articles and prayers.

When I looked closely at the cover, I noticed in the NSW Police Seal a motto written in Latin:  "CULPAM POENA PREMIT COMES."  Since I do not understand Latin I turned to Google for the translation which basically means, "Punishment swiftly follows crime."  I had never considered what a good motto would be for a police force, but I suppose it is a good one because the ideal is biblical.  The wheels of the justice system typically turn slower than victims or cops would like, but the importance of swiftly carrying out punishment on the wicked was not lost on King Solomon.  He wrote of the dangers of ignoring or slowly dealing with wrongdoers in Ecclesiastes 8:11, "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."  Should wickedness go unpunished there is nothing to deter the wicked.  The cliche goes, "If you do the crime you do the time" - but it seems the passage of time does little to change hearts.  We need the transformation and cleansing only God can provide.

Solomon continued in Ecclesiastes 8:12-13, "Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. ¹³ But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God."  People do evade the arm of the police and even "get away with murder," but this avoidance of detection, judgment, and punishment does not apply to God.  He sees the countless times we have sinned and even committed crimes and He is longsuffering, not willing any should perish but desires all to come to repentance.  The wicked man will not live out half his days, and many scriptures plainly say the way we live matters.  The one who slinks in the shadows to cover his crimes will become as a shadow, one who will be exposed before God and lost forever.  Hebrews 9:27 reads, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..." and the soul which sins will surely die.  Good and bad cops are bundled in with the rest of humanity before a Holy and Just God before whom we have to do, and not one of us is without sin.

Praise the LORD for His love and patience toward us, and that He has opened a door to forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ.  Hebrews 9:27-28 says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."  Every mortal man will someday die, and as sure as this is observed and true Jesus Christ was offered to bear the sins of men.  All who repent and trust in Jesus Christ will receive the atonement of His blood and the gift of salvation by His grace.  Death can strike men most unexpectedly:  at a party, driving to work, on the beat, while playing a game, or in our beds.  The only way we can stand justified before a holy God is by trusting in Jesus because He is the One who took our punishment upon Himself.  After death there is no escaping the swift and intense punishment of hell which will last forever should we die in our sins.  How great is our God, that He would wash our sins away at His own expense and provide salvation for guilty sinners! 

God Shows Himself

During a morning walk it was obvious it had rained last night.  The footpaths and streets remained wet, and droplets of water suspended on grass gleamed under a grey sky.  Through the mist I could see two parrots (galahs I think) sitting besides each other on power lines.  I stopped walking to have a better look as they gently preened each other.  It made me think about how strange it is love, affection, and care for others should appear in a world some say relies upon "survival of the fittest."  Life is more than surviving:  love is part of life on earth because God is love and made it so.  In a world saturated with self-love, the sight of two birds loving on each other warmed my heart.

When I saw the birds I thought of my beautiful wife, a precious gift God has given me.  God intended people who are married remain so for life, and it is indeed a blessing to have someone by your side during all seasons of life.  Those bonded birds spoke to an issue greater than companionship or marriage but the relationship God desires to have with all the people He has made - a relationship which transcends and extends infinitely beyond our temporary existence on earth.  Before God created the world, He remained alone.  By the words of His mouth He created the earth, planets, stars, ministering spirits, plants, animals, people, and all living things.  It was mankind He looked upon with keen interest, for into Adam God breathed a living soul.  He gave man spiritual capacity other living creatures do not possess.

In the movie "Toy Story 3" I enjoyed the scene when Barbie and Ken met one another for the first time.  As they are dazzled by each other's lovely appearance, they blurted out in unison:  "It is like we were...made for each other!"  So it is with us and God:  He has created us for Himself and desires to have a close relationship with each person He has made.  If only we would love Him as He loves us!  I hear His voice call out to us as the voice of the beloved in Song of Songs 2:8-10:  "The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he stands behind our wall; he is looking through the windows, gazing through the lattice.  My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."  Do our hearts leap as the Shulamite to hear our Saviour speak?  He has given us ears to hear and eyes to see and He reveals Himself everywhere.  Everything is not God, but much of what we see in nature proclaims the wisdom, goodness, and love of God we ought to take to heart.

How awesome and amazing it is God would love me and you!  All people are born into this world alone and we will die alone.  It's true we have family and friends, yet ultimately all must face death alone and then judgment before God.  We can be surrounded by people and activity and at the same time be struck with a profound sense of loneliness.  But praise the LORD we do not need to ever be alone, because God is close to all who draw near to Him in faith.  He will accompany us during our days on earth and for all eternity because He who has promised is faithful.  Distance, time, and death cannot separate us from Him.  How good it is to be loved and accepted by the great God who reveals Himself.

Love Is Patient

While I was doing yardwork today I saw an older man wearing an Akubra approaching.  I had seen this man walking around on the streets near our home other times before.  I would see him lingering around plants, and once he was crawling around looking for something on the ground.  As I swept, he walked up and introduced himself.

He was a soft-spoken man with a friendly, toothy smile.  He wanted to see if I would grant him permission to pluck five small flowers from the bush near the street on my property as had been his custom for many years (unknown to me!).  Apparently the neighbour had told him to move on.  "But she does not own the plant because it is on your property," he said.  "I've no problem with you taking flowers from the bush."  I wasn't planning on using them, and if he had already been doing it what harm would it do?  "I use them for prayers."  Now I wasn't expecting this, a foreign idea to my western mind.

After a pause I asked, "Who do you pray to?"  "I pray to Rama...I'm a Hindu."  Continuing to smile he introduced himself formally, and we shook hands.  "Good to meet you Ben.  I live right around the corner," he said as we parted ways.  The encounter had solved the mystery of what the gentleman had been doing whilst loitering around.  He wasn't loitering:  he was carefully, meticulously gathering flowers to offer to a deity in prayer.  I look forward to meeting up with him again with the aim of speaking of my God and Saviour.

Now I don't know much about Hinduism, but I know devotion when I see it.  From a biblical and Christian perspective I know there is one God, the Creator of this world filled with trees, stones, seas, flowers, animals, and people.  This nice old man from down the street was gathering flowers created by my God to offer to his god, one of many deities served by Hindus.  Strange that Rama would receive a re-purposed gift!  My God does not require an offering of flowers to hear and respond to prayers, and my allegiance ought to be greater than this man - for I know whom I worship, and He knows me.  I grieve that a man would expend such effort to seek the blessings of images and demons who can only destroy and cannot save, but I also rejoice in the opportunity God has provided to share the reality of the Almighty seen in Jesus Christ.

"Land is patient," a mate of mine told me yesterday.  This is true.  God's love is also patient.  There may have been a time in my life I would have blurted out something about my superior God in reply, but I am learning the importance of valuing other people first rather instigating a conversation only to give a message.  The message I have of the Gospel is greater than any man, but it is a message to be delivered according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I trust God will provide me the opportunity to sow the good seed of God's Word, learn something from my neighbour, and perhaps make a friend or even better - a brother in Christ along the way.

The Gold Coin Lesson

During a brisk morning walk today I picked up a $2 coin from the footpath and placed it in my pocket.  It was no chore to pocket the coin because it has value.  Money is intensely practical, and since most people value gold coins it is not often one finds one laying on the ground.  We are discerning about the things we will pick up from the ground and drop into our pockets.  A soggy Kleenex, a cigarette butt, or an empty can of tuna would most likely be avoided, not gladly gathered.

It is a good thing to consider:  how much do we value the Gospel?  Do our lives indicate we view the Gospel as offering a precious, valuable gift or more like worthless junk mail people despise?  In Australia some people are employed as "walkers" to drop advertising leaflets in letter boxes.  Our letter box, like many others, is adorned with a "No Junk Mail" sign on it.  Maybe it works...somehow junk always finds its way into the box.  In a world filled with junk and rubbish, one of our roles as Christians is to raise awareness of how amazing and wonderful the Gospel truly is.  There is nothing more valuable or precious in this life than having a relationship with God, forgiveness of sin, and eternal life.  This is no sales pitch:  salvation is a gift from God only received through faith in Jesus.

The offer of a "free gift" in mailers typically means something I don't want or need.  I realise the item is basically worthless but a calculated and manipulative ploy to set the hook and reel me in.  These tactics lead to distrust and cynical views of others.  When I picked up that $2 coin from the ground, I didn't feel manipulated or pressured.  My eyes were open to recognise an object of value and I was glad to expend the small effort required to lean over and take it for myself.

Do you know there is more to the Gospel than receiving it for yourself?  If we truly value the Gospel as we ought, I believe we will share it with others too.  God was willing to come to earth as the man Jesus Christ and demonstrate His love for us when we were sinners - like rubbish which litters and corrupts the beautiful world He has made.  By His grace He picks us up and treasures us when we repent and trust in Him.  He values us because of His great love for us, not because of our worthiness.  When we see a person loitering on the corner or walking past, do we value them as much as a gold coin to reach out?  Are we happy to interact with them so their eyes might be opened to the glorious Gospel as a valuable gift worthy of receiving?

God has given us an awesome gift in the Gospel worth sharing.  It shouldn't be an embarrassment to brag on our God and Saviour who has done everything for us, but we can be sheepish sometimes.  God knows I fail!  We can be more reluctant to share the Good News than to pick up rubbish by the road.  In context the verses of 2 Corinthians 9 speak of generosity through giving money and resources, but it does no violence to the text to apply 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 to sharing the Gospel:  "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."  Let us be cheerful and generous givers of the Gospel - not grudgingly to acquire treasure in heaven - but because God has already opened heaven to us.  In light of the love we have received from God, let us freely and gladly offer the Gospel to others.

Dying to Self

When we met for group devotions the first morning in Cambodia, we were given a sheet titled, "What is Dying to Self?"  I believe it paints very well the picture of what dying to self is, that it is directly connected to attitude.  As much as dying to self is something Christ enables us to do, it is also a godly response when things are done to us or our expectations are not met.  It's not just on short-term trips we must die to self, but to be the hallmark of our lives as we walk in love.  I have typed out the sheet and hope it is useful to you!

WHAT IS DYING TO SELF?

  When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy for Christ...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When your good is evil spoken of, your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance, when you stand face-to-face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility and endure it as Jesus endured it...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption or change of course by the will of God...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to record your own good works or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you see your brother prosper, and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, or question God when your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

Are you dead yet?

Lest We Forget

Of all the days commemorated in Australia, ANZAC Day must be included among the most sacred.  Across the nation, millions rise before the light of day to attend dawn services to remember the landing of Australian and New Zealand diggers on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April, 1915.  Many of these troops would die or be wounded in the following conflict.  The enduring phrase which sums up ANZAC Day is, "Lest We Forget."  It would be a grave tragedy for the bravery, courage, and loss of life to be forgotten.  As I stood yesterday with thousands of fellow countrymen at the Riverstone cenotaph, the ANZACs who served and gave their lives were remembered with honour and respect.  A minister fittingly quoted the words of Jesus in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  He made the point that if the sacrifice of the diggers means anything to us, Jesus laying down His life on Calvary ought to be remembered with utmost honour, for He died so we could live forever.

It is good to remember the sacrifice of those who freely gave their lives in the service of their duty.  Such courage in the face of death is worthy of hounour every day.  It is good to set aside a day for such a purpose because of our tendency to forget.  Jesus instituted Communion so His followers would remember and proclaim His death until He comes.  Last night I read of the universal forgetfulness of men concerning God, especially during hard times in Isaiah 51:12-13:  "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? ¹³ And you forget the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; you have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor?"  When we are afraid because of men or an uncertain future it reveals we are forgetting God, what He has done, and what He has promised to do.  He is our Maker, the One who comforts us, and the one who delivers us from our enemies.  He is not forgetful as we are, and this is good to remember.

Sights of Sydney

One of the privileges and blessings of immigrating to Australia is not only is it a "beautiful part of the world," but we have the opportunity to share it with visitors.  Currently we are hosting a friend from the States and it has been fun to break away from the typical routine and visit some lovely places as a family.  Our travels have taken us to the backyard, beach, and Blue Mountains where we have seen the creation of God beautifully presented.  It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, yet a million words cannot adequately convey experiencing what God has made firsthand.  Enjoy!

 Bronte Beach

 Bondi Beach

 Jamison Valley

Wentworth Falls

 Walking the National Pass

Empress Falls

No Coincidence

During the holidays it is easy to stay up a little later at night and rise a little later in the morning.  I set an alarm on my phone to ensure I do rise at an hour before the house is awake and bustling.  Eliminating these potential distractions is a big help to a sustained and focused time of prayer with God.  The scripture says a man's heart devises his way, but the LORD directs his steps (Prov. 16:9).  One way this works out daily is I set the alarm, but God wakes me up when He wants. :)

Today He woke me minutes before my alarm was to sound, and this is always lovely.  Whenever this happens I am convinced this is no coincidence, for my times are in God's hands.  After I knelt in my customary place it was a sweet time of thinking about God and affirming my appreciation for Him.  Time during prayer can rush by or feel like time stands still as a soul draws near to his Creator.  At one point I opened my eyes and noticed a flash of silver near my knee.  It was a sewing pin!  I was so grateful God caused me to notice the potential hazard and pushed it back into the classic tomato pincushion.

If I did not believe in the existence or providence of God, I could have taken credit for finding the pin myself, even as I could have been proud of my well-tuned body clock.  Yet as a follower of Jesus, it was profoundly satisfying to give all credit to where credit is due:  to the God who Created me, sustains my life in His hands, and protects me from hidden dangers.  Even if the pin pierced my knee, I could maintain confidence in my great God who allows pain.  When all is well it is quite easy to "trust" God, but it is the painful circumstances which provide a clearer indication of our genuine faith and loyalty.  Job refused to curse God and die despite the pains God sovereignty allowed, and God remains praiseworthy in times of plenty and loss, in peace and pain.

Haters of God accuse Him of great evils, but as one who knows God through divine revelation it is clear wickedness has its origin and rabid continuation in man.  Many see the spectre of God as severe, brutal, arbitrary, and delighting in the pain of others, but this reveals they are not able to see clearly.  They do not know God.  Martyrs have intentionally embraced the flames of the stake, knelt without resistance before claws and teeth of wild beasts, willingly faced imprisonment, torture, and the loss of all things rather than deny their good and glorious God.  People were offered life if they would only recant, but they wisely realised their lives were forfeit forever if they did recant.  We follow the God-Man who said on the cross, "Into your hands I commit My Spirit," Jesus Christ who rose from the dead glorified forever.  He is the Resurrection and the Life, and the reality of His life and comforts is more real than burning flame, the crushing of bones, being nailed to a cross, or being sawn in two.

We do not need to suffer as martyrs to prove our resolve, but are called to daily deny ourselves, take up our cross in obedience to Jesus, and follow Him wherever He leads.  Christianity is a continual laying down of a life which urges us to take matters into our own hands again.  God's providence, protection, and even pain He allows are not coincidences but opportunities to thank and trust God more than ever.  God uses wealth and lack to test us, and we can rejoice in our God in every season.  It is written in 1 Peter 1:6-9:  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls."

The Benefit of Forgetting

If there is a benefit of forgetting, it is the goodness of God's reminders.  When I feel like I do not need reminders, I do not appreciate them.  I have been guilty in the past of a sigh or an eye-roll after a well-intended reminder of something not yet forgotten.  But we all forget, don't we?  Instead of being annoyed when I am reminded, I aim to be thankful in the future.

Today I experienced a good example of the benefit of forgetting.  I had coordinated the installation of a dedicated circuit with an electrician at church.  His card reader wasn't working properly, so he left an invoice with the bank details of the company.  Soon after I began to wrap up a little plumbing project and completely forgot about the invoice I had agreed to pay later in the day.  As I locked up the building, I noticed my watch was missing.  Ah yes, I had removed the watch to finish connecting braided flex lines.  I walked back into the building to see my watch AND the outstanding invoice laying on the bench.  I was grateful to God I had forgotten to put on my watch, otherwise I would have forgotten about the invoice and driven home - and consequently added an extra trip to and from church.

How thankful I was for the reminder!  We all need reminders of God's love and promises to us, and these often come through the Bible and people.  Just today I received a sweet note someone had remembered me, and it was very special.  To be reminded a person loves you is a priceless gift.  Scripture is full of reminders.  Joshua was overwhelmed at the prospect of leading God's people into the land of promise, and God reminded him during a single conversation in Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  You may have forgotten many things God has said or done for you, but as an obedient child of God today remember this:  be strong and of good courage, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go!

We forget, but God never forgets us.  He never forgets what He has promised.  He is forever faithful and let us bring Him into remembrance.  Many times in scripture people who trusted God prayerfully reminded Him of what He had said and God heard them gladly.  Admitting I forget makes me appreciate reminders more than ever.

Death to Life

Yesterday I walked with a friend through the Arab Market in Jerusalem to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the first time.  Believed by many to be a church built over the place of Christ's crucifixion and where He was entombed, it is a tourist attraction frequented by Catholic pilgrims from all over the world.  A crowd of people filled the courtyard, and it was even more crowded inside.

The first thing which struck me as I entered the building was how crowded and dimly lit it was.  Though I had seen pictures of the interior of the church before, they didn't capture how big and sprawling the place was inside.  Ambiance aside, it was the activities of the visitors which surprised me most.  People were kissing stones, prostrating themselves on the ground in prayer, and crawling under the foot of a cross to kiss and touch a picture.  In a word, I felt it was bizarre.  People queued up before stones and relics like people at Disneyland for rides, venerating the stones which some believed had witnessed Christ's final hours and resting place for days.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a place perpetually focused on the death and burial of Jesus.  Painting and mosaics in the dim atmosphere portray Christ being crucified, mourned, and prepared for burial.  I had the feeling people were paying homage to dead stones in memory of Jesus.  It was a somber veneration of death without remembrance of Christ's resurrection!  It seemed an incongruent assembly, to remember and mourn the Light of the World Jesus Christ among tombs when He is risen and living.  It is good for a man to remember His death, but not to the neglect of the celebration of new life through Him.

There is a massive contrast between the two areas many believe to be where Christ was crucified and buried:  the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb.  The Sepulchre is dark, musty, and filled with relics whilst the Garden tomb is filled with living plants with the bright sky overhead.  Birds can be seen and heard in the trees.  On the door of the tomb it says, "He is risen!"  In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre there was no such light or life, the trappings of religion rather than joyous relationship, veneration of stones rather than praise of the Cornerstone who lives.

I believe everyone should visit both sights to compare and contrast them.  They are both versions of the same story, yet one is focused on death and the other a proclamation of life.  Jesus died and was buried, but He is risen in glorious power and life.  We should proclaim the LORD's death until He comes, the One who has delivered us from idols to serve the living and true God.  Stones are not holy because a dead body laid on them, but we have been made holy living stones by God's grace through faith in our risen Saviour.  Let us walk in newness of life and rejoice in His light!

God Lifts Us Up

Yesterday marked the opening day for the National Football League regular season.  After my sons arrived home from school in the afternoon, we watched the San Diego Chargers lose a game in overtime to the division rival Kansas City Chiefs.  It was more than just a tough loss to a division foe on the road, but far worse than that was our best receiver went down in the first half with a torn ACL.  Having endured that injury myself, I know it will be a long and painful road back for Keenan Allen.

Health is a precarious thing, especially for gridiron players.  There have been at least five or six season-ending injuries for Charger's starting players on offense by the end of the first game!  Players work offseason and training camp to be fit to play in the NFL, and to see it all over in an instant was hard to watch.  Number 13 was firing on all cylinders in the game and was unstoppable.  Move after move, catch after catch, he rose from the turf triumphant, celebrating each first down.  After a spectacular grab he placed his hand to his ear, having silenced the crowd.  He was letting the Kansas City players hear all about it too, charged up over a fast 21-3 advantage.  But suddenly, shockingly, there he was curled up on the ground.  No one had tackled him.  He simply was running and untouched fell to the ground as if a sniper took out his right knee.  For Keenan Allen, one of the best in the business, his game and 2016 season came to a end with six receptions.

My heart went out to the man as I watched him sob uncontrollably as he was carted off the field.  He couldn't hide his disappointment, and he was man enough not to attempt to hide his broken heart behind a stoic facade and a "thumbs up" as the game resumed.  I couldn't help notice the difference between the confident strut after catching a pass and the broken man hauled off the field, his jersey soaked with tears.  It was a contrast as stark as night and day.  I have seen the same thing in MMA fighters who all talk a big game before the fight.  Listening to all the trash talking makes it sound like neither combatant could possibly lose.  But within a matter of seconds, minutes, or a round or two, one of them is bloodied, tapping out, or unconscious on the canvas.  Champions fall.  Dreams are dashed.  Plans change abruptly without warning.  A knee ligament which has been strong for decades suddenly fails.  What then?  How will we respond when it happens to us?

All strength and success of men comes to an end, yet God's divine strength and resources are without limit.  We will fail others, and our health may fail us, but in all things we are more than conquerors through faith in Jesus Christ.  Life if more than games, health, and winning.  Those who humbly place their faith in Christ have new life and love nothing can ever separate us from.  God reminded His people in Isaiah 40:28-31:  "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. ²⁹  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. ³⁰  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, ³¹  but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."  Keeping your chin up is sometimes impossible, but the LORD is the lifter of our heads.  In looking to God we find ourselves miraculously sustained and can rejoice even when these bodies fail.  When our bodies let us down, God lifts us up.

The SpongeBob Lesson

During scripture class recently I asked a year six boy, "If you could ask for anything in the world, what would it be?"  His eyes looked up at the ceiling as he grinned, thinking it over.  "I know what I would ask for," he said almost bashfully.  "Well, what would it be?"  He replied, "It's about someone who is yellow and square."  "Oh?  Would that be SpongeBob SquarePants!"  "Yes!" he gleefully shouted.  "The SpongeBob SquarePants movie!"  Later I thought to myself the boy had set the bar ridiculously low.  He was given the freedom to ask for anything in the world but chose a DVD.  Imagine being able to supply someone's ultimate dream for $20!

Do you know God once asked Solomon a similar question in 1 Kings 3:5?  In a dream God said to Solomon, "Ask!  What shall I give you?"  God did not include the caveat "up to half of my kingdom" typical of royalty.  Our answer to the question depends on who is asking and what is reasonable.  If my grandmother Gammy had asked me this, I knew she had many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She didn't have an endless supply of resources so a DVD might have been appropriate.  But God's wealth is not spread thin!  There's nothing He cannot give!  Because God is the Creator of everything and all is subject to Him, He could have given Solomon anything he asked for.  Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God's people, and God gave him that and much more besides.

As I thought about the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie answer, I was convicted when the LORD spoke to my heart.  It occurred to me God has everything and yet many of my prayers and requests aim very low.  Before a God who desires to do the impossible and be extravagantly powerful, generous, and gracious to His people, my requests are the equivalent of asking for a DVD.  I sometimes ask for things God has already promised to be doing or for things He has already given!  As children of God through faith in Christ we have complete access to our Father in heaven whose great pleasure is to give us the kingdom, yet we fix our desire on insignificant things.  I imagine for that lad SpongeBob won't seem so wonderful years from now.  How about asking God for things only He can give and do?  Why not ask for the impossible?  We can be silly and shortsighted with lame requests when God offers us His presence, power, and wisdom.  Can you imagine God offering us Himself, forgiveness, and grace and we sigh because it wasn't the DVD equivalent we had our heart set on?  God's wants our hearts set on Him and He is worthy!

How cool is that?  God is so amazing He can use even a SpongeBob DVD to teach valuable life lessons of eternal value!

The God Who Thunders

Whilst driving today I was caught in a massive downpour.  Traffic inched forward with very limited visibility as lightning flashed.  Asaph wrote in Psalm 77:17-18:  "The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound; your arrows also flashed about. ¹⁸ The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook."  There is something awe inspiring in the power of nature, and God put souls in men with the need to worship what is greater than themselves.  For this reason men have worshiped nature, the sun, moon, stars, and things God has made.  Men bow before their human idols in appreciation and admiration.  A violent storm cell brings men uniformly back to those common feelings which can become unfamiliar to us:  awe, fear, and the understanding we are small and our existence is precarious indeed.

As I cheered on God for the powerful display, my mind went to the passage in Psalm 29:1-6, a song of David:  "Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, give unto the LORD glory and strength. ² Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. ³ The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is over many waters. ⁴ The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. ⁵ The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon. ⁶ He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox."  I have seen rain, hail, snow, lightning and heard booming thunder which pumps the adrenaline.  When the power of these elements are unleashed it brings people young and old to windows to admire and causes vehicles to pull off to the side of the road.  It is revelation of power so much greater than a man, and the power of God is far greater than this world.  This recognition of such power drives a man to worship.  It is his only response.  He must worship something; he cannot help himself.

Speaking for myself, I am convinced Asaph and David had it correct.  Skeptics would say those superstitious men of old foolishly attributed natural phenomena which can be explained scientifically to a "god."  But if the God who created and sustains the heavens and earth exists and does all things, couldn't He do a thing and reveal the science behind it to men?  To explain lightning does not mean mastery, and God has no master.  In light of His majesty I cannot just acknowledge Him with a wink or nod:  I must fall down before Him and worship Him as LORD over all.  It is foolish to worship the creature over the creator, and when God's power is displayed through the elements I impulsively worship my Maker.  Every man longs to be part of something bigger and greater than himself, some significant thing that will endure.  This desire is satisfied only in the worship and adoration of the great God of the Jews, the King of kings!  Nature itself bows humbly before Jesus Christ, for the wind and the waves obey Him.  Every man will one day bow the knee before Jesus Christ as well - some in worship and others at the prospect of His justice.  And a God who thunders like that...wow.  And thunder is compared to just His voice!  Think of it!

Holiday in Tasmania

As my lack of recent posting may suggest, I have been away from my desk for a week.  My family and I enjoyed a holiday in Tasmania.  We were blessed with uncharacteristically warm and dry weather during our stay.  As I walked through the beautiful country, I found it impossible to fathom how a person could give glory to dead men who cut a path through a living forest, yet not glorify the God who created the forest and all the animals therein!  Hope you enjoy a sampling of photos!

The oldest bridge in Australia is still in use in Richmond.

The old church at Port Arthur

Scenic view at Donaghys lookout

Dove lake with Cradle Mountain

 

Binalong Bay

The memorial carvings at Legerwood

Montezuma Falls

St. Clair lake

 You know I had to include one of these little devils from Nature World...

Keep Going Deeper!

Years ago a mate of mine led my wife Laura and me on a trek through the National Pass at Wentworth Falls.  This morning I decided I would rise early and have a special morning with Jesus, worshiping and reading the Bible (with a Thermos of coffee!) at the base of the falls.  It was a moving experience.  With the access available to Christians by faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit to the Father, we do not need to rise from our beds to gave the presence of God with and in us.  But it is a profitable and glorious practice to set aside time to sit still before God when it costs something.  Jesus went away for solitary times with the Father, and we do well to follow His example.

At the top of the falls, I was delighted by the crisp air and beautiful scenery.  The volume of water was not as much as I have seen before, but the water happily rushed along.  It was in my mind to head straight for the bottom of the valley, down the "Slacker Stairs."  I do not know the history of the title in context, for it is not for the faint of heart or for those with feeble knees!  Down, down, down I went, waiting for the breathtaking moment when the lower pool of the falls came into view.  I was not disappointed.  It was gorgeous, and the time spent singing, reading, and praying with the LORD was more precious still.

As I trudged back up the steep incline, I passed several groups of tourists.  It was not so long ago I was a tourist in a foreign land, but now I am a citizen!  If I could speak the language of the travelers I would say, "Don't stop at the top - make sure you go all the way to the bottom.  You are in for a real treat!"  People smiled and gasped in amazement at the top of the falls, and others seemed a bit underwhelmed from the lookout points near the carpark with cameras in hand.  Imagine traveling from a faraway country, I thought, and staying in the carpark.  Imagine being content with pictures at the top of the falls because you are unwilling to climb down because of the climb back up.  Some people don't have the time built into their tour schedule to go down to the bottom, and for some it would be unsafe due to physical limitations.  But if you could go deeper into the canyon, the views would blow you away.

I believe many people know and love God, but they are fine with the vistas from the lookout near the carpark and to hear the waterfall in the distance.  Others are content to expend a bit of energy and see the falls from the top, even cooling their tired feet in the clean streams.  But then there are others who have discovered the beauty and grandeur of going deeper still.  Forty years of my life has passed, and I have been happy with a level of commitment of faith and sacrifice unto God which could be much deeper.  It took a friend who cared enough to drive me to Wentworth Falls and took me on the National Pass, but now I have gone beyond where we went before.  The same is true of discipleship and following Jesus.  We need people in the church willing to invest their lives in others, demonstrating a life of faith and love in Christ, so others can learn and go deeper on their own.

Keep going no matter the cost, follower of Jesus Christ!  You are in for a real treat in this life if you press on, and eternity will be even more glorious still.

Called to Serve

When I arrived home this afternoon, I turned the kettle on for a hot drink.  Over the sound of the electric kettle I heard an odd mechanical noise outside.  A quick glance out the window revealed evidence which confirmed my suspicion:  the pool pump!  With all the leaves falling of late, the pool filter basket fills quickly.  The large amount of leaves floating on the surface suggested strongly the basket was packed full and the pump was straining to draw water through.  I quickly went outside, turned off the pump, and discarded the leaves which had collected.

As I used the net to skim off the remaining leaves, my initial thought was:  "How is it no one else seems to notice the basket needed to be emptied?"  But then I caught myself.  What if one of my contributions to a smooth running household is my awareness of the pool's condition and doing something about it?  If I was called to be the pool cleaner, why should I be frustrated or annoyed at other people who aren't doing what I am supposed to do?  I am thankful to have a pool, and grateful for the tools and ability to clean it.

Then it struck me:  how many times in church ministry have I seen people bothered the "church" isn't doing what they think it should be doing?  Could it be those people who are acutely aware of a need are actually the ones who could do something about it?  How sad it would be for me to berate my wife and children for not doing the thing I am called to do myself!  Teaching, training, and delegation all have their place and value in life and ministry.  But too often we notice our "pool" is not clean, it bothers us those choking leaves seem to bother us more than others, and this leads to judgmental, grumbling, and sour believers.  It would seem a bit strange for me to pray God would call someone to clean up these leaves - when I am holding the skim net in my hands.  Huh.  It looks like God already has!

How good it is to know God is in control, and He gives us the ability to rejoice in any situation.  If God has called you to be a pool cleaner, rejoice!  If He has called you to do the washing, clean dishes, or mop floors for the glory of His name, so be it!  In all things may we be thankful, happy to be of service in the simple ways He graciously provides.  Instead of frustration the pool wasn't clean, I can rejoice God led me to notice the condition and clean it myself.  Ah, the bliss of doing what God calls us to do!

Jesus Comes Unexpectedly

One of the things I have been doing for exercise lately is playing golf.  Walking over uneven ground pushing a buggy has helped me with balance and endurance.  Though it is cold and often foggy early at 6:30am, I brave the chill during a weekday to squeeze in a round as early as possible.  It is a blessed time of quiet with the LORD as I take in the beautiful scenery.  Since I typically golf alone, I am often able to be completely finished by 9am and head off to work.

Because the course I typically play had a competition going this week, I played at another course in the area.  I called in a couple days in advance and was assured I could tee off by 7am.  As is my custom I arrived twenty minutes early, just in case I would be able to tee off earlier.  As I waited by the locked pro shop an elderly member pushed his buggy near mine.  "Still isn't here," the old man said.  "Usually he turns up early, but since the boss is out of town he's taking advantage of it."  We continued chatting for a few minutes.  Ten minutes after 7 he arrived and I headed out into the fog.

The man's words had me thinking.  How typical it is of human nature to take advantage of someone's absence to be slack concerning our responsibilities!  Jesus told several parables which warned against the folly of this approach to life.  Luke 12:42-46 states, "And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."  By his wicked deeds the "servant" was proved no servant of Christ at all, but lived to please himself.  Thus exposed as a false believer, such a one faces eternity separate from God in Hell.  This is a warning all people who profess Christ do well to consider.

Many times in scripture we are told no man knows the day or the hour of Christ's return, but only the Father in heaven knows.  But in another sense, we can know for certain exactly when Jesus will come:  He will come for those unfaithful servants in the hour when they least expect it!  If I was the owner of the golf course and I wanted to see how things truly run in my absence, perhaps I would cut a holiday short and show up unannounced early in the morning when it would be least expected.  The employees who are faithful would be prepared for my arrival, but those who took the opportunity to sleep in and arrive late would face stern consequences.  Jesus is coming back, and His reward is with Him.  All Christians must give account of their stewardship to the One who has committed all things unto them.  Our faithfulness to Christ's call to obedience, our gifts, talents, and resources will all be judged by Jesus to see if we have measured up to His standard of faithfulness.

Let's keep looking to Jesus, knowing the time is short.  Blessed is that wise and faithful servant whom our Master discovers has been obedient to His will.  Jesus is coming at a time we do not expect!

Love is Not Inconvenienced

I have lived my life in an age of convenience.  Some of the definitions of "convenient" found in the Merriam Webster dictionary are, "suited to personal comfort or to easy performance; suited to a particular situation; affording accommodation or advantage."  The world panders to our natural selfishness.  We want things to be easy, comfortable, and advantageous.  Most people are happy to pay more for greater convenience.  We complain when the seal on the tomato sauce or the peanut butter doesn't have suitable sized tabs for easy removal.  We avoid peak-hour traffic when we can because it is a great inconvenience.  Today was a lesson in convenience I won't soon forget.

My eldest son began his work experience today at Macquarie University.  My wife had planned on accompanying him on the bus and making sure he arrived at his destination.  Riding the bus in Sydney can be tricky because there are no announcements of an upcoming stop or what stop it is!  You need to know where you are going and push the "stop" button and the driver will stop at the next scheduled stop on the route.  I already had the day planned, and hoped to accomplish some important preparation for the week.  It turned out Laura woke up with a terrific migraine.  I would have to drive to the station, take the bus to Macquarie University, and turn right around and come home.  I was not happy.  My plans were shot, and it was most inconvenient.

As the bus rumbled along at a snail's pace, I thought about feeling inconvenienced.  What I saw in my heart was not pretty.  If I could boil it down to the most fundamental aspect, it is inherently selfish.  It is placing your own ease and comfort above everything else.  I thought about how Jesus left the glory of heaven, entered time, inhabited a human body for decades, only to be rejected and die a brutal death on the cross.  Jesus knew this faced Him, but He gladly did it anyway.  "Inconvenient" does not begin to sum up His sacrifice.  There I was, annoyed about a modified schedule which would cost me a few hours, when Jesus joyfully went to the cross for my sins.  I was convicted by my selfishness.  And then a thought came:  "Love is not inconvenienced."  Jesus did not see it as "inconvenient" to leave heaven and become a man.  He did not come to earth for convenience:  Jesus came because He loved lost souls He wanted to save.

Isn't it true when you walk in love, nothing is too hard or difficult?  No sacrifice is too great for your beloved, and even great personal cost is as nothing.  I was once invited to be a groomsman at a close friend's wedding.  It was a day of great rejoicing.  It didn't matter it was quite a long drive to the church.  It didn't matter the tux rental cost me more than a day's wages!  I didn't care how long the wedding lasted.  I loved my friend, his bride, and family, and just being there with him on his wedding day was a treasured joy.  But I honestly have not always felt this way about every wedding.  Some weddings I have been invited to seemed a bit inconvenient because of location, duration, or many other factors.  It was because I was not viewing that person through the lens of Christ's giving, unchanging, unrelenting love.  Love is never inconvenienced because it is wholly focused on others and saturated with grace and mercy.  This morning I repented because my feelings of being inconvenienced proved I was not abiding in Christ's love.  My early morning perspective was all about me when it should have been about loving God and others.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 provides a tidy description of God's love:  "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  God's love is infinite, and there is no description adequate to sum it up.  Today God gave me a practical application in my own life by allowing my feelings to alert me to a problem in my heart.  Thankfully God forgives all who repent.  This morning I had my own plans, but God's plans included teaching me a lesson I will benefit from for eternity.  How good and gracious the LORD is to not only give awareness of sin, but the righteous path leading to joy and gladness!

The Cake Cycle

Motive often determines outcome.  Even in something like exercise, our motives for why we spend time and effort to intentionally exercise shapes our results - for good or bad.  I have been cycling a bit of late to rehabilitate my surgically repaired right knee.  As an added bonus it has improved my cardiovascular fitness, as well as being a fun challenge to tackle new routes.  The other day I offered the mum of one of my son's friends a slice of carrot cake I had baked.  She had just walked in after a long ride.  "Oh no, but thank you," she said.  "You see, I'm riding my bike to be fit and so I really shouldn't eat any cake today."  I quickly retorted, "Well, I cycle so I can eat cake!"

Do you see the difference?  Because Sally (not her real name) rides her bike to be fit, she viewed eating cake as inconsistent with that activity.  Her concern was indulging her taste buds would "undo" all the benefits she laboured to gain.  In the interaction with Sally I discovered my desire is to eat cake, and so my motive for exercise is primarily to work off any bonus calories I put in.  In thinking this over, I see my way of thinking is problematic - problematic that is, if my primary motive for riding my bike is to be fit.  If I want to be fit, why would I hinder my progress by eating too much dessert?  Why would I make riding harder for myself by putting junk in my tank?

It occurred to me the same issue with motive can play out concerning our spiritual walk with Jesus Christ.  Are spiritual disciplines something we do so we can justify doing what we want when we want?  After of long day of Bible study, a counseling session, meetings, teaching, writing, and prayer, I can feel very much like numbing myself with some television, gaming, scrolling, or swiping.  But wouldn't it be better that we limit or cease certain activities because our lives are so caught up in loving and seeking God?  Because we are seeking God, we refuse to give into the demands of the flesh.  Obeying God, denying self, and serving others shouldn't become a justification for "me time."  The result is spiritual stagnation and a cycle of works, labouring to "earn" the right to a reward we have picked out for ourselves - which isn't always good for us.

Now don't misunderstand:  God has given us hobbies, interests, and everything to richly enjoy.  We do have freedom in Christ, yet not everything we can do is helpful or beneficial.  It's a good thing to consider our motive concerning why we read our Bibles, go to church, or pray.  Is it something to "get out of the way" so we can do the thing we are really looking forward to - like working hard on that bike to earn a frosty root beer float after dinner?  When it comes to the deeds of the flesh Sally's perspective is best:  "I'm not going to indulge the flesh because I have sought, am seeking, and will continue to seek God today."  The flesh is happy to make deals to indulge itself, but our new lives given us by faith in Christ ought to be invested to please God.  By God's grace, by the Holy Spirit, according to His Word we can!

Divine Flashbangs

I love it when God blows my mind through His Word.  Have you ever seen a war movie when flashbangs are thrown into bunkers to disorient the enemy?  It's like I'm down in the dark bunker, and God just drops a single verse which explodes with light that dazzles and amazes.  Instead of displacing dirt or confusing me, God's Word brings clarity as He continues to erode the natural way I think and gives me God's perspective on practical matters.  God's wisdom is so foreign, but my soul cheers to own and live it out myself.  Keep 'em coming, LORD Jesus!

Last night I read 1 Chronicles 12:16-17 and all I could say was "Wow!"  The verse reads, "Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. ¹⁷ And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment."  Like most people familiar with a language, halfway through a sentence most of the time our brains can complete the rest of the sentence with a fair amount of accuracy.  I am reminded I wrote once of this in a previous post about the danger of finishing God's sentences.  As I read David's words, it was easy for me to know what flesh would want to say.  "If you are my friend, I will be yours.  But if you choose to be my enemy, I..."  You can fill in the blanks.

David, however, didn't finish his sentence the way I expected.  He said, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment."  David affirmed he would be united to those who genuinely, peaceably came to him.  Should they betray or seek to hurt him, David looked to God alone to sort that out.  David trusted his God would see any evil and mete out judgment according to His righteousness.  David was a man of faith, and this statement reveals how David committed his hurts and those who hurt Him to God - without feeling the need to retaliate.  This perspective of trust in God is amazingly practical and a key to avoiding bitterness and walking in love towards all.

Today I had the very rare opportunity to play golf.  I am pleased to report my knee held up very well, even having to walk the 18-hole course whilst carrying my clubs.  The only blemish on a fantastic day was that somewhere between holes 9 and 10, I inexplicably lost the cover to my putter.  I was bummed for a couple reasons.  It was the special cover which came with my putter, and it would be hilariously expensive for me to replace it.  As I continued the final holes, I prayed someone would turn in my putter cover to the pro shop where I could reclaim my lost property.  Unfortunately, no one turned it in.  Because there were many golfers following our group, I am certain that bright red cover would contrast nicely with the green grass!  Oh well.

It would be easy for me to be angry someone has claimed my valuable property as their own.  But I was reminded by the scriptures to maintain the God-honouring perspective David demonstrated.  I can commit all my stuff and those who decide to keep it for themselves to God without a shred of anger or frustration.  God knows all about it, and God will sort it out.  I don't need to avenge myself or even beat myself up over my mistake of dropping the cover somewhere.  God has given me an opportunity to trust and honour His Word:  will I follow David's good example with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, or will I become bitter and angry?  Praise the LORD not only for His wisdom, but opportunities to put His wisdom into practice.  Then we can say with David, "As the LORD lives, He has redeemed my soul out of all distress" (1 Kings 1:29).  When we apply God's Word by living it out, it starts becoming a practical and powerful witness of God's undimmed truth.  God gave me that divine flashbang verse yesterday to teach me how to deal with difficulty today.  How glorious is our God!