Marching Forth!

Not everything we do is completely thought through, is it?  Sometimes we do something just to see what will happen or "just because."  When I was a kid visiting my cousin's house in Ramona, large red ants were common.  At my house we only had small black ants, so the red ants were a novelty.  I remember pouring some silty dust on top of their nests and watching them scramble through the surface at a frantic pace.  More and more ants were agitated and mobilised to attack this phantom threat.  Pretty soon I would have to move back from the nest as thousands of ants emerged, jaws and antennae wagging.  I can't explain exactly why summoning those ants to the surface was fun, but it was an amusing pastime.  Perhaps there was a sense of toying with danger, imagining what those insects might be thinking, or maybe just "Let's see what happens when I try to fill the holes of this nest." During our discipleship course we were speaking about how the mind...

" When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite ." Luke 12:58-59 It cannot be emphasised enough the importance of studying the Bible in context.  Reading through a passage in its entirety aids greatly in understanding the meaning behind this statement of Jesus.  Themes woven through this chapter are God's coming judgement, the need of men to prepare and watchful, and to recognise the signs of the times.  With this in mind, the point Jesus made has profound application for everyone. Jesus painted a picture with which we can all identify.  If a man received a subpoena to be judged in a court of law, his innocence or guilt would impact his feelings about going.  If  he is sure of his innocence or is g...

Our family has enjoyed hosting my parents who are visiting from the United States.  It had been a couple years since we have been able to visit in person, and it is a privilege and blessing for which we are most grateful.  We've had great conversations and have had fun praying, working, and driving around town.  Just being together is a treasure money cannot buy. My dad made a great observation over a pair of wire strippers.  The tool was marketed to do it all:  crimp, cut, and strip wire insulation.  Problem was, the claims of the packaging did not match the ability of the tool itself.  In my hand I held a waste of twenty dollars.  "The thing is useless, absolutely hopeless," I said in disgust as I placed the tool back into the plastic to return it.  My dad said something to the effect of, "Isn't it great that God chooses to use us even though we can't accomplish anything good?"  A fair question.  Yep, that is great indeed! Pa...

Heaven is more than a hell-avoidance plan:  it is the privilege of praising, serving, and abiding in the presence of the living God forever.  If your idea of heaven does not involve God at the centre and is more centred around you, something is tragically wrong with that picture.  People talk about being "heaven bound," but only those whose hearts are bound to Christ in faith and obedience will actually go there. If the only reason why you desire to go to heaven when your body goes the way of the earth is to avoid hell, it is likely you are not particularly interested in spending quality time with Jesus today.  And this begs the question:  if it does not please you to invest minutes, hours, days, and years to cultivate a healthy relationship with Jesus, what makes you think you would want to spend forever with Him?  Choosing heaven over hell never saved a person.  That is not the point.  The point is, do you want a life purchased and redeemed b...