Marching Forth!

Since Christ has ushered in a New Covenant through His shed blood, the rites and ordinances of temple worship have been fulfilled.  Even if the Temple was rebuilt and the Ark of the Covenant found, it would be an empty exercise.  Instead of the Spirit of God dwelling in the Holy of Holies above the Ark of the Covenant, through the Gospel Christians are made the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Unfathomable access to God and His throne room of grace have been made possible through the indwelling Spirit of God within us through the Gospel.  I am always amazed and grateful we no longer have to follow the letter of the Mosaic law concerning the temple.  God laid down very specific commands and a process of worship that had to be obeyed.  The consequences for disobedience were very severe:  death to the priests who transgressed! Though God is worth all effort and sacrifice, the demands of the law seemed to create an incredible inconvenience to come before the ...

Yesterday I finished the book There Is A God , a book by Anthony Flew.  For fifty years he was a leading atheist and professional philosopher who denied and argued against the existence of God.  He was an adherent to the Socratic principle of "following the evidence wherever it leads."  After half a century of being an atheist, Anthony Flew startled the world by saying he had changed his mind.  The overwhelming array of evidence convinced Flew of the existence of a "God" he describes as " self-existent, immutable, immaterial, omnipotent, and omniscient Being ." (pg. 155) It is a very satisfying thought that Anthony Flew was a man of such distinction and quality in the field of philosophy for fifty years and arrived to a place of believing in God based upon the evidence.  The book primarily interested me because I was curious what earth-shattering evidence would make an atheist change to a deist.  In a way, reading the book was a little anti-climactic....

An article I read the other day still has me thinking.  It was a write-up of a "60 Minute" interview of Tony Abbott, Leader of the Opposition and potential candidate for the Prime Minister role at the next national election.  The article reads, " Mr Abbott, who once trained for the priesthood, said religion would not play a part in how he would govern if he won office.  He said faith was important and had helped shape him as a person.  "But it must never, never dictate my politics,'' he said ."  I frankly admit I struggle with the concept that it is admirable for a man's character and principles not to dictate the decisions he makes in political office.  Looking at the quote from another tack, I wonder if these words can possibly be true.  Politics has the potential to rip the heart and will out of the very people in whose hands rest the power to forge government according to the same faith and values which made that person a fit candidate to lead...

When speaking of Christian ministry I have heard many people say, "God doesn't need us."  I agree with the statement.  He loves us and has chosen to use people as His instruments and vessels - along with angels, storms, plagues, and even donkeys.  It is a good mind set to keep as we abide in Christ:  God doesn't need me, but I really need Him!  He is able to raise up servants of Abraham from stones if need be.  That being said, He has opened the doors of heaven and invited all who will repent, believe the Gospel, and enter by faith.  God has given Himself to those who obey Him in the person of the Holy Spirit.  God is the one who makes us useful and profitable for His glory. As I was reading the scriptures last night, I saw this truth illustrated in wonderful fashion.  Jesus had risen from the dead and Peter announced to fellow followers of Jesus:  "I'm going fishing!"  It sounded like a good idea and they all went along.  Th...