Marching Forth!

" Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth ." 1 Timothy 2:1-4 The rise of democracy has given common men a say in who holds positions of authority in government.  In the days when kings ruled, men and women did not have such a luxury.  One of the effects of this responsibility is to vocally support those whom you have voted for and approve of and to stand firmly opposed to all others.  Kings had the power to imprison and execute any who spoke or acted against them, and the freedoms afforded by democratic process have eliminated such a threat.  People who would have been branded traitors in the old days can speak their m...

After God revealed Himself to Job, I was blessed by his observation in Job 42:2 :  " I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You ."  Job said, "I know that You can do everything."  This is very different from Job saying, "I know you can do anything."  "Anything" and "everything" are both inclusive words, but there is a huge difference between the two. Let's say I invite you into a shop and say, "You are welcome to take anything you want."  Though you are welcome to anything, it remains limited to a single thing.  It is quite another meaning entirely if I said, "You are welcome to take everything you want."  Not only can you have anything, but you can have everything you desire.  This is an offer without limitation.  Which is a greater claim:  to say you can do anything you want or you can do everything you want?  Everything, of course! We say, "God can do anyt...

According to the God-ordained structure of marriage and family, the husband submitted to Jesus Christ is given authority and responsibility to teach his wife and children to fear and honour God.  When this calling is mixed with pride of the flesh, only disaster can result.  In every way possible, I am called as a husband and dad to love and obey God first, and then to lead the rest of my family to do the same - like a shepherd who leads the flock.  Men can make the mistake of leaving this responsibility of their ministry to others or treat little lambs roughly as men do cattle: goading and driving oxen into confinement in pens with shouts and loud cracks of a whip.  A bruised reed Jesus did not break, and smoking flax He did not quench.  Love permeated all His speech and deeds. It was Joshua who uttered the famous statement in Joshua 24:14-15 , " Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served ...

The Bible is rich with practical examples people who trust in God can identify with.  As I read through the book of Amos the other day, I truly identified with the prophet.  My call to ministry echoed his own, and God's clear involvement helped Amos stay the course despite hardship.  Becoming a pastor and teaching the Bible was never my intended plan for my future, and being a prophet was not the idea of Amos.  He said in Amos 7:14-15 , " I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. 15 Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel .'"  The fact neither Amos nor his father had a background in prophetic ministry was strong evidence of the authenticity of God's call upon his life.  He didn't start prophesying because he had received professional training, but God singled Amos out for His service. As a pastor, I am comforted by the fac...