Marching Forth!

Many people come to Christ as one decides to go to the doctor.  The only relationship most people have with their doctor is not a personal relationship at all.  When a man feels sick enough, he makes an appointment and goes to the doctor for an exam or prescription of medication.  Once out of the office and feeling better, most will never even think of their doctor again until the next time they are ill.  When people's lives are out of order, they decide to give Christ a try - they attend a service, see a pastor for counsel, or something along those lines.  If things improve, they will likely never think about God until the next time their lives unravel.  On the other hand, if things don't improve quickly they will be hardened towards God and Christianity, now convinced it is all rubbish. It is a simple thing to realize other people are messed up.  It is also easy to notice when things are not going smoothly in our personal lives.  But because o...

" It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat ." Theodore Roosevelt, words from a speech delivered on April 23rd, 1910 From the moment these words were spoken, they have been unsurpassed on this point:  it would be better to try and fail than do nothing.  A prime obstacle which s...

It's neat when object lessons appear outside your window.  I was working last week in Building 6 of Balboa Hospital and looked out the second floor window.  Dry brown grass and coastal sage scrub stretched over the hills.  But right in front of the window a large waterfall had been constructed, a huge contrast to the deadness all around.  Because of the life-sustaining water, about a dozen little birds were chirping and swooping from the chain link fence onto the river rocks.  They gathered together and splashed around in the water until they looked fuzzy and damp.  Then they flew back to the fence to sun themselves.  The scene brought a smile to my face.  Even birds love a refreshing bath. In a way that noisy little oasis reminded me of what Christ is for believers.  In a lifeless world consumed by sin, Christ provides a way to be cleansed, refreshed, and sustained.  There were a handful of birds utilizing the fresh flow of water, and...

Today I worked at San Diego State University and insulated a chilled water pump and piping.  The Peterson Gym is in the process of being upgraded.  On my way to wash my hands I walked through an impressive new lecture hall.  The sound-absorbing panels were being installed in a modern, bright, immaculate room.  The flooring was a mix of light hardwood and carpet, with maple wood and laminate accenting the decor.  The room sloped down like a small amphitheater with descending stairs.  There was a large area down front where the professor would stand and lecture with enormous boards set up to accommodate Power Point.  Rows and rows of long desks stretched across the room, and evenly-spaced black chairs sat vacant.  It smelled like money.  Even in a recession, business is booming. It is like no classroom I have ever seen.  It looked more like a place the leaders of the United Nations would meet, without the microphones, pitchers of water, ...