Marching Forth!

After Joab and David's men routed Absalom and his army, the biblical narrative shares an insightful interaction between the general and Ahimaaz.   2 Samuel 18:19-21 reads, " Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies."  20  And Joab said to him, "You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead."  21  Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran ."  Ahimaaz was keen to run to the king with news, but Joab sent a Cushite (a man of Ethiopia) who was an eyewitness of the events of the day.  The Cushite was obviously a trustworthy man and well-spoken, for Joab did not put words in his mouth or coach him at all. Ahimaaz, however, would not be deterred.   2 Samuel 18:22-23 says, " And A...

During my time working as a union mechanical insulator, our industry expanded to include firestopping.  This had nothing to do with fighting fires but was intended to contain fires and prevent them from spreading--especially in commercial buildings.  Wherever ducts, pipes and electrical conduit penetrate concrete floors and walls, fire and toxic fumes could potentially spread and endanger the lives of people trying to evacuate.  Most applications required packing the penetration with rock wool and then adding a layer of firestop caulking that, when heated, would expand and fill the gap left by melted pipes or wiring.  Stopping the spread of fire allows more time for people to escape and for firefighters to extinguish the blaze. While not everyone is trained to install firestopping, it is everyone's calling as children of God to be one who takes action to ensure the fires caused by lies, boasting or gossip stop with us.  As fire is contained by a fire-rated corri...

Filled with the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist was a man who demonstrated humility.  He was a man who had understanding of God's calling and purpose in his life, one crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the LORD Jesus Christ.  His sanctified life in the fear of God led people to follow him, and he was faithful to lead his disciples to follow Jesus.  John embraced turnover in his ministry, for as he said to his disciples who were concerned about the notoriety, attention and followers Jesus had that seemed to detract from John's efforts:  " He must increase, but I must decrease ." ( John 3:30 )  John knew his ministry was to point people to Jesus so they might follow him instead, and he was content to continue baptising people to proclaim Jesus as the One who baptises with the Holy Spirit and fire. As a parent, it is good to know our children are gifts from God we are called to love, provide for, guide in godliness by example and faithfully discipline....

When it comes to surrender, not all surrendering is the same.  There is a surrender that is forced upon others by brute force.  A proud fighter taps out because he is losing consciousness while in a choke hold, and a nation surrenders during war when it is clear surrender is necessary for their survival.  There remains animosity and the desire to fight on, but it simply isn't possible.  There is another version of surrender, when someone is so beaten down and detached they simply do not care what happens.  The duration of the fight and inability to overcome leads to surrender that gives up from utter hopelessness. These kinds of surrender motivated by circumstances out of our control and hopelessness are of little value in the Christian life because it is not according to faith in God as revealed in Scripture.  When we sing, "I surrender all" it ought to be a surrender that is glad submission, a joyful resignation of ourselves and situation into the hands o...