Marching Forth!

I recently finished reading Frank Peretti's novel The Prophet .  In the story, a news anchor John Barrett was forced to come to grips with truth.  Is TRUTH important?  How far are we be willing to go to lay our hands on the truth?  Are we willing to boldly stand, holding up the truth for all to see - even if our convictions and principles cost us everything? Opinions are everywhere, but genuine belief is rare.  Like love, belief is a word highly diluted and spread thin.  Jesus made a stand for truth, being ". ..the Way, the Truth, and the Life " (John 14:6).  A proven way to know what you really believe is to ask yourself the question:  are you willing to die for your beliefs or convictions you know are true?  God's eternal, absolute truth is greater than the temporary life of a man.  The truth of the Bible is greater than all the people and nations of the earth.  If we are not prepared to die for Jesus, you do not truly believe i...

Life is unpredictable.  No one can predict when you will meet someone or have an experience which permanently changes your life.  I can testify God is a Master of using my failures to reveal the depravity in my own heart, spurning me to repentance and transformation by His grace. If I asked "Who had the biggest impact upon your life?" I would receive a plethora of answers.  One of the people who changed my life I have never seen since.  I never even learned her name.  I affectionately call her, "The Fish Lady."  Let me lay the groundwork by admitting that when I was a child, youth, and even into adulthood, I was very frugal (selfish even!) with money.  I didn't receive a weekly allowance but could earn money through mowing the lawn, washing the cars, or other household chores - and it wasn't much.  I remember mowing lawns for two years to save up $205 to buy a GT Performer freestyle bike.  My first real job was at McDonald's, "raking" in a ...

Reading the Bible this morning, my eyes came across this exhortation of Christ in Revelation 2:25 :  " But hold fast what you have till I come ."  No matter how difficult or hopeless our situation may appear on the surface, we are to hold fast to what we have.  We may not have much faith, but let us exercise it.  We may not have many talents, but may we use them feverishly for the glory of God.  There may not be much daylight left, but let's work hard until Christ returns.  Our hands may be blistered and sore, our legs almost without strength.  Keep going!  Don't give up!  Don't concede any ground to Satan in your heart or mind!  God has not forgotten us, and nothing is impossible for those who believe.  Be strong in the LORD and the power of His might, having done all to stand! A great example of this holding fast can be seen in the life of Shammah the son of Agee, one of David's mighty men.  When all of his fellow Israelite...

Life on earth is one of pursuit.  Everyone is chasing something:  status, a feeling, career, relationships, sexual conquest, entertainment, riches, security, and on the list goes.  Inigo Montoya in "The Princess Bride" thirsted for revenge, but when his desire was finally obtained he didn't know what to do.  It was anti-climactic and left him empty.  King Solomon explains his many royal pursuits in Ecclesiastes.  His conclusion after following the rabbit trail of alcohol, comedy, women, work, and music to the end?  Vanity of vanities, all is vanity! An example of this human tragedy is seen in the story of Amnon and Tamar.  Amnon was a prince in Israel and loved his half-sister Tamar.  He was so love-struck he became literally ill with desire.  One of his scheming friends concocted a plan so he could have his way with her.  It's an ugly story, but a reality that plays out in unregenerate hearts every day.  The trap was set by ...