The Mighty King of All

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Romans 10:12-13

The might of an earthy king often is measured by the strength of his people.  Without loyal subjects a king is not much of a king.  King Saul understood this and sought valiant and mighty men to attend him (1 Samuel 14:52).  King Nebuchadnezzar was not interested to invest in the poorest and weakest in Israel, but took the best and brightest to be trained as his advisers.  Men are not willing to accept just anyone.  But God is not weak like a king of this earth.  God's strength is absolute, not dependent upon men or anything lesser than Himself.  He has opened His arms in love and the everlasting kingdom of heaven to anyone who will come.

Think of that truth:  whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved!  Concerning salvation there is no difference between Jew or Gentile, man or woman, slave or free.  Even in our age of grace men and women retain their unique roles, but God shows no partiality between those people might deem weak or strong:  He will be LORD over all and rich to all who call upon Him.  God is LORD over all whether men will have Him or not, but those who repent and trust in Him will receive the riches of God's kingdom and the glorious presence of God forever.

God loves all and is willing to receive sinners, outcasts, those considered by the world to be "damaged goods" as His own inheritance.  Eternal citizenship in heaven is available to people who by the world's standards completely without merit.  Governments are not interested to take in immigrants without limit who will be a "drain" to the system.  The richest governments have limited wealth and resources, but not God.  He is able to abundantly supply all the needs of the blind, lame, paralysed, and dead - and has healing and transformation in store for us as well.  Those who have a history of asthma or cannot pass a fitness test can be disqualified from serving in the armed forces today but it is people who are the equivalent of being bedridden in hospice care without hope of recovery God invites to join His righteous side.

Consider God's promises to people often marginalised in Isaiah 56:4-8:  "For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, ⁵ even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. ⁶ "Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants-- everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant-- ⁷ even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." ⁸ The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him."

God does not only care for or make eternal promises to those of Israel but also to eunuchs, sons of foreigners, and the outcasts.  In these people the LORD is glorified and His grace is magnified.  Praise our awesome King for His goodness to all!

Life and Peace

"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

Romans 8:6

After church on Sunday, I spoke with a brother in Christ about the peace God gives.  Some mistakenly have their own idea of "peace" they desire which involves financial prosperity, unfailing good health, ease, a lack of conflict coupled with material blessings.  That all sounds very fine, but that is not the peace God offers those who trust in Him.  Jesus has become for us Peace and as the Prince of Peace He knows all about it.  The peace God gives is not of this world and therefore is not coupled to anything transitory in this world like wealth or health.

Those whose minds are carnal and worldly - fixed solely upon the passing pleasures of this life with no regard for God or living righteously - death will be the result.  Sin brings with it a curse which separates us from God and brings us under His wrath and judgment ending in the death of the body and the eternal death of our souls in hell.  Yet those who are born again through repentance and faith in Jesus are made spiritually minded and receive from God eternal life and peace.  This peace is not an absence of conflict, for Jesus has promised His faithful followers in this world we will have tribulation.  This peace means to join, to bring back together as one again.  It is divine reconciliation, like a estranged son being joyfully and permanently reunited with his loving father.

This peace is well described in Ephesians 2:12-15:  "...that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace..."  The life and peace described here are as inseparable as God the Father and God the Son Jesus Christ.  There can be no peace apart from eternal life, and there can be no eternal life without the peace of God that passes understanding.  It is only through Christ we can experience this life and peace God promises and is not contingent on our circumstances.

This peace with God is experienced through rest and contentment within a person even in the midst of trials.  Yet if we recognise we are conflicted in our mind or heart we are called to seek God's presence once again in humble repentance.  Matthew Henry wrote this concerning the peace of God in his book Experiencing God's Presence:

There is a lesson in all this:  those who have the assurances of God's favour toward them may enjoy, and should labour after, a holy serenity and security of mind.  We have both of these put together in that precious promise, "The work of righteousness shall be peace" (Isaiah 32:17).  There is a present satisfaction in doing good; and in the final outcome, the effect of righteousness will be quietness and assurance forever - quietness in the enjoyment of good, and assurance in a freedom from evil.  A holy serenity is one blessed fruit of God's favour:  "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep."  While we are under God's displeasure, or in doubt concerning His favour, how can we have any enjoyment of ourselves?  While this great concern is unsettled, the soul cannot be satisfied.  Does God have a controversy with you? (Henry, Matthew. Experiencing God's Presence. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1997. 117. Print.)

God's peace is more than prosperity or feelings of contentment but actual union with God.  Because Christ is our life - He in us and we in Him - the peace of God can be ever-present reality in our daily experiences.  How amazing and good God is that He would be our peace!  Praise the LORD His peace is not dependent on this changing world but established on His timeless character and love.  In all situations we can greatly rejoice and experience God's peace through faith in Him

The Latest Craze

Over the past week and a half I have been busy hosting my nephew and niece (teens) visiting from the United States.  We have enjoyed a trek in the Blue Mountains, have eaten some local fare, and even went beach fishing early this morning.  it was cold and windy!  My nephew had the joy of a kookaburra swiping a bit of sandwich from his mouth.  I had one brush my chest as it swooped down to steal my pilchard as I was baiting the hook.  I was very thankful one of big ganged hooks I use didn't catch him!

One thing I have grown familiar with is taking guests to some of the "touristy" spots.  I highly recommend the free walking tour of Sydney and taking the ferry over to Manly for fish and chips.  There aren't many surprises when riding the train or driving around town.  But our walk past the Sydney Opera House was certainly memorable.  Circular Quay is one of the most picturesque areas of Sydney with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, but very few people were taking pictures.  They had phones alright, but they were using them for an entirely different purpose.  Crowds of people were milling around and scanning their phones to find virtual monsters with the app "Pokemon Go."  Hundreds of people in their 20's and 30's were completely engrossed in playing the game alone and others laughed with friends.

This struck me as most bizarre.  There we stood at a world famous site, but it seemed the locals or tourists playing the game never paused to take in the beauty of the scene and the approaching sunset.  The glorious evening didn't make the impact the game seemed to.  In His dealings with human beings, I imagine God sees this sort of thing all the time.  He has given us life, surrounded us with beauty, and speaks to us in many ways.  Yet we can be so taken with a game, technology, a virtual world of social media, passing amusements, that we miss out on so much which would enrich our lives for eternity.  God's grace is revealed that He lavishes beauty on those who are not looking for it and speaks to people who aren't listening.  He continues to reach out to people He loves and provides opportunities for everyone to lift their eyes and see His glory.

It's crazy that "Pokemon Go" will become a "Pokemon god" for some, and like other gods it can never deliver in the end.  Crazes and fads come and go, but God endures forever.  Only God can do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask or think - without server issues, malware, bugs, updates, and ads.  It is ridiculous to compare the Living God to anything, but the truth remains we often settle for infinitely less than spending time with Him.  Let us praise Him for His goodness towards us and the beauty of His holiness.  How might your life change for good if spending time with Jesus became your latest craze?

Saul's Armour Doesn't Fit

Over the life of this blog one post which has garnered the most attention is "Beware of Saul's Armor."  Until now I have not felt led to write of my experience which inspired it.  I believe the post about Saul's Armor strikes a chord in the hearts of all people who long to walk by faith in God and not by sight.  I write of my experience not to be a "rabble-rouser," to be foolhardy, or to justify rebellion against biblical authority.  I feel it necessary as I did those many years ago to exhort Christians to never substitute programs or an arm of flesh to accomplish what only God can do.  We can fall into the trap in looking to others to validate our call to ministry or using worldly methods and safety nets rather than simply following the leading of God.

When I was living in San Diego and on staff as a youth pastor in 2005, I had a clear leading from God to minister in the east side of Australia.  The overwhelming sense of this idea and accompanying desire was so vivid and out of nowhere I waited months before relating the impression to my wife.  This idea of moving to the east coast of Australia was constant and persistent though I was completely satisfied with my life in the U.S.  I was happy and had never aspired to be a pastor, much less immigrate across the world!  I knew no one in Australia, did not know where I was going, when it would happen, or how it would come to pass.  But on March 4th, 2009, God supplied a clear leading to contact a church in Brisbane, Australia.  This date is the background for the name of this blog, being a significant date to my wife and me because it is the only date which can also be stated (albeit American style!) as an action.

The call came though I did not know where, when I would be going, or how I would be serving.  I believed it would be wise to begin preparations before actually leaving for Australia.  Since my current fellowship at the time was not set up to manage donations, health care, and provide accountability for foreign missionaries, I began looking into ministries which did.  I made an appointment to interview with such a ministry, took a day off work, and went early to the interview.  After excitedly telling my story to the staff which assembled around a table of God's miraculous call to minister in Australia, the confirmation He had provided through God's Word and my wife, I was not prepared for their response.

What I remember more than what they said is the smugness in which it was said.  After exchanging knowing looks with each other and turning me me with eyes of sympathy, I can sum up what they said like this:  "We get a lot of people like you - thinking God has called them to overseas ministry.  But many times people aren't prepared for the rigours of being a missionary.  They end up coming back, sitting in that chair crying and wanting to come home."  Then they proceeded to tell me that before they would take me on as a partner missionary I needed to go through their program, my family would have to spend several weeks in a local mission, and raise at least 70% financial support before I would have their blessing to go.  I imagine I felt like David when Saul said, "Alright, I give you permission to fight Goliath.  But before you go you need to try on my armour for size."  Now don't misunderstand:  there is nothing wrong with training for missionaries and wisely planning ahead.  There must be nothing worse for mission sending agencies who have to deal with flaky people who have romantic notions of the mission field or are trying to run from unresolved issues they lug with them wherever they go.

As I sat in that chair listening to the bleak picture they painted of my future I thought within myself, "We'll see about that."  Speaking for myself, the concept of requiring me to go through a program before I stepped out in faith in God was disgraceful.  I was indignant.  Through God I had already experienced His deliverance from lions and bears:  why would a giant be any harder for God to bring down?  It turned out I wasn't a good fit for them and what I saw as the equivalent of Saul's Armour was not a good fit for me.  Submission to authority was not the problem for me, but to substitute a program in place of faith was.  Praise the LORD, for by Friday that week God connected me with Shepherd's Staff.  I submitted my application and my relationship with them has proved to be a brilliant fit.  Instead of questioning or doubting God's call upon my life there was genuine excitement and interest demonstrated by the pastor who interviewed me.

So where am I now?  Since 2009 much has happened.  My family and I have moved to Sydney, Australia - one of the most expensive places in the world to live.  God has continued to provide for all our needs without us directly asking anyone for money.  We prayed to God and made known how people can give if they are so led. I even told people years ago in a special email not to feel obligated to give, yet we have been so blessed how people continue to give.  I am the pastor of Calvary Chapel Sydney in Castle Hill with the most lovely people.  I have been given the opportunity to read with foster kids, speak at Christian holiday camps and Bible Institutes, to go on mission trips, to teach God's Word multiple times at church every week, lead discipleship courses, and to teach scripture in a public school.  And this is the kicker:  last year my family and I became dual citizens!  Guess what?  God has done exactly as He promised us through His Word.  Where there was uncertainty God brought clarity, and what was absolutely impossible God has done.  I give all glory to God for doing His wonders and I can personally testify of His faithfulness and provision.  I look back upon all God has done and realise in myself I am nothing and have accomplished nothing:  God has done it all without needing Saul's ill-fitting armour.

Sometimes this walk of faith in Jesus Christ looks foolish to people in the world and even to some in the church.  What some see as necessary based upon their own experience might indeed by folly - a worthless substitute for spiritual power and simple obedience to God's leading which will only encumber.  Again, there is value and wisdom in training and preparation for ministry as a Christian and God's ways are often quite unorthodox.  God saw fit for my training for ministry to take place on construction jobsites for over a decade.  Instead of seminary He put me through over 10 years of teaching Sunday school, 6 years teaching a home fellowship, and 4 years of being a youth pastor and building-maintenance-man at a church.  God is the One who calls, sends, provides for and establishes His people all over the globe for His glory.  There is no substitute for the leading of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God's Word.  What I wrote many years ago I still find true:  why not go with Who brought us here?  If it is a step of faith to enter into a program or school, good!  If the Spirit of God has you do something which has never been done before, do it with all your might.  Those who trust God will see His glory.  When God's work is ours He will see it done in His time and way.