Marching Forth!

In Mark Twain's Adventures of Tom Sawyer , Tom and Huck Finn witnessed Injun Joe kill Dr. Robinson.  They decided they would keep the matter secret and made a pact, each signing his name with his own blood.  Though the book was written in the late 19th century, the practice of sealing an agreement with your own blood is not a new concept.  Last night during family Bible reading, we read of circumcision - not your typical after dinner discussion!  The biblical history and significance of circumcision is an interesting study because it points to the new covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ. God appeared to Abram and told him to leave his father's house and land, and go to a land God would show him.  So Abram took all his belongings and embarked on an amazing journey of faith.  God made many promises to Abram.  He told Abram that he would be the father of many nations and give to his descendants the land of Canaan.  Genesis 17:1-11 reads, " When ...

Last week I had a strange dream.  In the dream I found myself in a house that was infested with mice and rats.  Traps littered the ground, all of which had caught multiple rodents in a single snap.  It was a bizarre sight, rats lined up side by side in formation.  I had been called in to deal with the problem and end the infestation.  With determination fueled by disgust of the horrible condition of the home, I set to my task immediately.  In fact, the rats had become so bold and numerous that the people who lived in the house were starving:  the rodents were eating all the food! As I emptied the traps, I began to set them out again.  The most disturbing moment was when an occupant of the home came and asked me not to set out the traps, at least not right away.  Perhaps feeling a bit sorry for the rats and mice the woman said, "I didn't think you would put out the traps again so soon.  Shouldn't we give them a week or two?"  Perha...

As I rode the train yesterday, I paused as I read the Bible to consider the battle between the Holy Spirit and our flesh.  The most common battle we face is resisting or rejecting the desires of the flesh to sin.  Though our hearts have been regenerated and filled with the Holy Spirit, our flesh still longs to satisfy itself apart from the will of God according to holiness and righteousness.  As difficult as it is to always flee from temptation, there is a battle of a different kind which can be more difficult to recognize.  Sometimes we feel led to do or say something for God and we are not sure if it is a work of the flesh or the Spirit.  We struggle and choose not to act because we would not want our efforts to be a work of the flesh.  Many times, I am realizing, this in itself allows the flesh to claim another victory. The thought occurred to me as I sat surrounded by silent people on the train.  Everyone was reading the paper, using mobile phone...

Our family enjoyed a beautiful walk at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains this morning.  We started early, beat the traffic, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the sights and sounds of the National Pass .  The waterfalls, lush green ferns and gums, gorgeous panoramic views, majestic rock formations, and squawks of sulfur-crested cockatoos made it an amazing setting I heartily recommend and never grow weary of.  Not to say it was an easy walk, though:  by the end of the walking track we were all ready for a well-deserved rest and light lunch at the Conservation Hut. As we walked along the National Pass, I frequently observed gum trees which appeared to be growing out of the rock and sandstone.  Gnarled roots heaved across dry stone, seeking after a water source.  It reminded me of a scripture which speaks of the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ.  Isaiah 53:1-2 reads, " Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 ...