Marching Forth!

" Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts ." Romans 13:13-14 Our plans for the day have a big impact on what we take off and put on.  If I am going outside to mow the law, I will put shoes on my feet.  If I am going to a meeting or preaching, I take off the comfortable clothes I wear around the house so I can don appropriate attire for going to work.  We take off a wedding ring before changing the oil in the car, and we put on insulated gloves before we pick up a hot glass baking dish.  There is often an intentional reason to make provision for the future, like carrying a water bottle during a long hike so we can remain hydrated. I have heard many teachings on the necessity for us to put on the whole armour of God, and the illustration of Roman armour by Paul gives us understanding...

When I was a kid visiting a friend and having fun, I was always sorry to hear my parent say, "It's time to go home."  I did my best to cram in all the fun I could as I played games, swam in the pool, ate delicious food or explored outside.  I always wanted to catch one more fish, beat one more level in a video game or catch one more pass and do my best to put out of my mind the fun experience must come to an end or that I had to go to school the following day.  Part of the novelty of going to a friend's house was a combination of spending time in the company of someone I enjoyed and the ability to do things not possible at my house.  We didn't have a pool or some of the video games my friends had and it was fun to laugh, compete and enjoy fun times together. What I took for granted in those fun times is I had a home to go with family members who loved me.  I was incredibly blessed as a child, youth and young man to have parents and a brother and sister who truly...

At Bible study last night our group briefly discussed  John 12:1-3 which took place after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead:  " Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.  2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.  3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil ."  People flocked to Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus who had been dead four days before he walked alive out of the tomb at the call of Christ. On His way to Jerusalem Jesus enjoyed a meal at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  Mary shocked many when she went far beyond the usual hospitality in ancient Israel when she anointed the feet of Jesus with spikenard--an oil so precious the value was equal to the wages ...

A familiar plot in many westerns begins with outlaws and anarchy reigning because there is no sheriff in the town, or the sheriff or deputies are unwilling or unable to do anything because of corruption or fear.  It is only after a brave lawman comes to town that order and peace are restored to the community.  This is the plot arc of a movie I watched as a kid called Support Your Local Sheriff , a parody of westerns and a comedy starring James Gardner who was just a guy "on his way to Australia."  His talent with a firearm was only matched by his ingenuity as he made a prison without bars secure with a little red paint.  There was no question having a new sheriff in town meant there were changes in the ways things were done, and for the better. Years ago when I lived in the States my wife and I purchased a house with the aim to completely renovate it.  Over the course of many months the layout was altered significantly as walls were knocked down, the kitchen and...