Marching Forth!

" Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence-- 2 as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil-- to make Your name known to Your adversaries,  t hat the nations may tremble at Your presence !" Isaiah 64:1-2 In their present distress the Jews in Jerusalem desired for God to reveal His might to the Syrians, Babylonians, to the ends of the earth as He once did to them on Mt. Sinai.  He appeared with earth-shaking might, flames of fire, thick smoke and darkness, with booming voice and trumpet blast which made man and beast quake in terror.  They wanted the fear of God put into their enemies so they would not be plundered, destroyed, and vanquished. The irony of the situation is God allowed enemies to attack and take captive His people because they (His own people!) did not fear Him as they should.  They pleaded with God to "rend the heavens" and come down in glorious power, but...

I grew up in a time when rock 'n roll was referred to by some as "devil music" because of something obscurely referred to as an "evil beat."  I have heard all sorts of strange ideas, like the rapid drumming places people in a trance-like state or the music had a possessive and controlling capacity.  As a kid I bought music played by Christian artists, or at least tapes supplied in Christian bookstores next to the Chick tracts.  I was particularly fond of metal, much to the chagrin of one of my Sunday School teachers.  I supplied her a cassette complete with lyrics so she could determine for herself if it was sinful or not.  "The lyrics seem fine but I still think it's got that evil beat," was her response. There are no doubt evil musicians in the world whose explicit aim is to make the most evil music they can, and many have succeeded with their blasphemous efforts.  Yet music, in itself, is not and cannot be a bad thing.  People have taken a go...

Kids are impressionable, and things their parents say and do make a significant impact on their behaviour.  It is fun to see the personalities of these little ones begin to emerge, but not all that we see or hear is pleasing because it can be a portrayal of us parents at our worst.  A common tendency in many kids is the ironic and unbecoming attitude I will simply call "bossy."  Watch an older brother or sister for very long and it's likely they will order their sibling around or tattle on them when they are not doing what they think is right.  The demands placed on them are quickly (and in their minds fairly) placed on all others.  It seems for some kids a necessary step in the maturation process, something unfortunately not all grow out of. This kind of  concrete "black and white" thinking pervasive in kids can be maintained in adults who lean towards legalism.  "That's not fair!" or "That's just wrong!" are phrases often through...

Whilst studying in preparation for the sermon last week, I was reminded of an interaction from years ago.  I was working at a church in El Cajon and often people would come to the office seeking assistance of some kind.  "Walk-ins" were common:  people asking for money, homeless people looking for food or clothes, petrol for their cars, and even a medical emergency.  I believe God did a miracle when we prayed for an older man who was overdosing on methamphetamine and instantly set him in his right mind. One man came into the office who had recently been released from prison.  He looked to be a tough character, covered in tattoos - and was inked on his neck and face.  I was asked to speak with him.  during our conversation he confided he had an addiction to alcohol which he saw as deadly.  "If I don't quit drinking, I'm going to die.  I'm desperate to do anything to be clean and sober."  I told him of a local ministry I knew that speci...