Marching Forth!

Our family has just moved into our new rental home, and so much has been happening both at church and with the moving process.  About 85% of our things have been taken out of boxes, and books primarily remain packed.  Our new house will not have an operational land-line or Internet connection until February 10th, so our daily routine is to go somewhere so we can hurriedly check e-mails, do our banking, etc.  Needless to say, blogging will be nearly impossible for the next couple weeks! Where do I begin in explaining the "hecticity" of our lives right now?  Saturday night we were in a car accident (everyone ok, we were not at fault) so the back of the car is smashed in.  The back window exploded and is now covered with cling wrap and tape (not pretty, but effective!) which greatly limits our carrying capacity!  I am happy to say that the car in front of us which we hit suffered very minor damage, just traded a little paint.  Two of the five cars ...

While driving down Old Windsor Road I saw a company name written on a vehicle which interested me:  it read something to the effect of "Inner Alchemy Massage Therapy."  Alchemy is a fascinating subject because it has never been successful.  Like Rumpelstiltskin turned straw into gold in the fable, people through the ages have tried to use chemical or occultic means to change worthless or cheap metals into valuable ones.  No matter how many chemicals a person adds to lead or tin, it will never become platinum or gold. The company name I read illustrates the fact man thinks that by stimulating the body or mind with religion, philosophy, or exercise, he can purify himself.  Is it possible that a massage of muscles can increase the value of my soul?  This is a far stretch!  And why, if man believes himself naturally good (which he is not - that is why we lock our doors, protect our personal details, and buy pepper-spray), do we need any "inner alchemy" a...

People are dynamic and unique, and no two share the same personality.  To claim to speak for all people is simply impossible, though we all share similar needs and natures.  As I was cleaning a pool this morning, I was thinking about atheism, a belief system that claims "there is no God."  There are some who might claim this is an oversimplification, but the basic premise is the assertion God does not exist. There may be many reasons that brings a person to this stance.  Atheism stands in defiance of God and places self as a substitute.  The allure of atheism for many is there is no right or wrong, no Supreme Being that must be contended with, no judgment, and no hope of life after death.  In this world a man can become like God, doing what is right in his own eyes without eternal consequence.  This was the same advice and argument present by Satan to Eve in the Garden of Eden:  Genesis 3:4-5 reads, ". ..You will not surely die. 5 For God k...

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 describes God's love in this manner:  " Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 4 Love suffers long and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing . and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether ther...

It's been a good experience to have the family with me in Australia.  It has demanded many changes from my normal routine of writing, exercise, and visitation.  Because Laura is not driving yet, it has also meant that all errands have become a family adventure!  We've also been sharing the same computer, so the time that I could spend preparing sermons, communicating with people, and blogging has been adjusted to accommodate us both. Yesterday we were able to spend an afternoon at Featherdale Wildlife Park.  A collection of animals hailing almost exclusively from Australia, this park provides a wonderful opportunity to see, touch, and experience these beautiful creatures up close.  We were able to pet koalas, emus, kangaroos, wallabys, blue-tongued lizards, kookaburras, and tawny frogmouths (both birds, two of my favorites!).  We watched as the penguins were fed (yes, I'm told Sydney is home to penguins which can be seen in the harbour), as well as the d...

I'll be the first to admit that I have a soft spot for Puritain writers.  Very few modern writers or readers, for that matter, can explore the depths or soar to the heights where these men dwelt spiritually.  They are masters of the basic Gospel truths, and explain things with such detail and sound Biblical analysis that it is a breath of fresh air.  A entire book which passes for spiritual meat these days is almost like baby food in a jar compared to the side of beef these divines slap down on a single page.  The book I am enjoying right now has been re-titled Indwelling Sin in Believers by John Own and it very compelling.  He clearly explains the law of sin which works in our members which Paul spoke about in Romans 7:21.  Although I am not finished with the book, I already recommend it.  The wisdom, practical advice, and insights into the dangers of sin which so easily besets us is quite thrilling.  My heart and spirit bear witness that althou...

So much of our lives is caught up in framing our identity in relation to others.  Who we truly are reaches far beyond our actions, careers, hobbies, ethnicity, family traditions, and relationships because man was created by God as a spiritual being.  Yet most people are unaware of this spiritual dynamic of their lives and seek to define themselves by why they do or don't do, common interests, or natural abilities and tendencies.  Birds of like feather stick together, the saying goes, and people are much the same.  As long as there are people there will be cliques, clubs, fraternities, and groups where people can relish their identity together. Today I came across a offbeat story which captured my attention.  According to an article on cnn.com, people suffered from an identity crisis when they heard that the dates affixed to astrological signs shift over time.  A quote from the article states, " Our identities are precious.  If someone challenges our...