Marching Forth!

The world for some time has been operating under the illusion that lasting peace is just beyond our grasp.  The generation which saw the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin wall, and sang along with "We Are the World" had bright hopes for the future.  The self-esteem movement, the tackling of social issues like illiteracy, world hunger, poverty, and campaigns to promote safe-sex, end racism, bullying, drug abuse, human trafficking, and domestic violence worked to make a difference.  In light of the ongoing riots and looting in the United States, from a humanist perspective it seems the hope of a brighter future is in grave doubt. The protests, riots, and looting show a greater and enduring cure is needed for the ills of hearts of men.  As awful as violence and destruction is it can be compared to a sore throat and fever that finally moves a person to seek medical aid.  I pray this is a moment when despairing people turn to God instead of on each oth...

" The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2  shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away ." 1 Peter 5:1-4 Peter exhorted those given oversight in the Body of Christ to volunteer willingly and not to be motivated by financial gain.  It is fitting those who labour in the Word of God and sow spiritual things reap a reward according to God's gracious provision ( 1 Corinthians 9:7-11; 1 Timothy 5:17-18 ).  The opportunity for income should never, however, enter into our motive for Christian service.  If earning money is why we "serve" we are nothing more than hire...

One of the scenes I enjoy in the movie "The Great Race" (of which there are many) is when Max urged Professor Fate to rise from his backseat bed:  "Time to get up.  C'mon Professor, rise and shine!"  The grumpy and likely hungover Professor shouted, "Rise and shine?"  "It's 7:30," Max calmly replied.  "Then you rise and you shine!" bellowed the villain professor to his sidekick.  Though some of us are reluctant to leave the warmth of our beds on a cold morning, God created the sun to faithfully rise and shine.  The sun supplies light and heat according to God's design. The sun shining is a declaration of God's glory as is written in  Psalm 19:4-6 :  " Their line has gone out through all the earth, a nd their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5  which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, a nd rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is fr...

Since my mum taught me to bake as a child, I have enjoyed making tasty treats to share.  With the rise of the internet it has allowed me to branch out from my trusty Betty Crocker Cookbook and learn to make an array of balanced meals and deserts.  My personal method regarding new recipes is two-fold:  the first time follow the recipe as precisely as possible before making any adjustments, and the second is always try out a recipe before serving it to guests.  Even if I suspect there is too much of one ingredient or not enough of another, I find it necessary to establish a baseline according to the actual recipe so I can know if I have found a keeper or should move on. One of the greatest compliments as a casual baker is when someone enjoys my offering enough to ask for the recipe.  I have benefited greatly from people sharing recipes with me so I am happy to freely share the love.  Some of the best recipes I have my mother was given by an old lady down ...