Marching Forth!

We humans have a thing about convenience.  If we can find machines and devices to makes life easier, we are all for it.  There was a time when people needed to stand up and turn on the television manually and adjust an antenna for the best reception.  Then came cable TV and remote controls.  We can push a button and recline our seat with minimal effort while experiencing surround sound.  VHS (video home system) tapes gave way to DVDs that do not need to be rewound with superior audio and clarity.  Our penchant for convenience spills over into work and jobs we need to do.  We often have the luxury of waiting for a convenient time because our lives do not depend on it. This same tendency to make plans based upon what is convenient was observed by king Solomon.  He recognised a desire for convenience and minimal risk actually hindered necessary work from being done.  He wrote in  Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 :  " He who observes the wind wil...

How important context is in helping us understand what is being said.  Have you ever come into a conversation "at the wrong time" and what was being discussed by others was bizarre, strange, and required an immediate explanation to keep from walking away?  Having the reason for a topic explained to us clarifies misunderstandings and brings us up to speed with why what was said is appropriate and reasonable.  This situation can be amusing in a friendly conversation, but it can have serious consequences if we approach passages of scripture in similar fashion.  Jumping from book from book, chapter to chapter, and verse to verse means statements used to prop up an interpretation have meaning beyond face value. A very useful book titled Basic Bible Interpretation by Roy B. Zuck is a terrific resource to help readers of scripture to accurately interpret it.  I am convinced the best meals are cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients, and reliance upon Bible co...

Psalm 77  portrays a troubled man during a sleepless night.  Penned by Asaph, this song is relatable to those who feel overwhelmed, filled with complaints, and without comfort.  After examining his heart the author mused in  Psalm 77:7-10 :  " Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?  8 Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?  9  Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah  10  And I said, "This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High ."  In thinking things over Asaph realised God was not the problem or the cause of his anguish.  His troubled feelings and sleeplessness moved him to seek God and remember the great things God had done. What a wise principle this teaches us:  considering the goodness and faithfulness of God in the past strengthens our faith in Him today for the future....

It's amazing how different God makes people in appearance, personality, and preferences.  He has given us all a unique perspective on how we see the world and aspects of life which are important to us.  God has given my wife and I two sons who are quite different from one another yet not as different as Esau and Jacob were.  They were twins but as far from identical as could be:  one was born covered in red hair and the other was smooth skinned.  Esau enjoyed hunting and the great outdoors while Jacob preferred cooking stew and staying home. When God heard the prayer of Isaac He caused Rebekah to conceive.  Undoubtedly she had expectations of what a "normal" pregnancy would be like, having spoken with many mothers with experience, yet these romantic notions were dashed with pain and discomfort.  Genesis 25:22-23 gives us insight into what was happening out of sight before sonograms:  " But the children struggled together within her; and she sa...