Marching Forth!

Have you ever had a conversation where you look back with disgust upon yourself?  Many times I have looked back and prayed my foolishness would somehow be forgotten!  When we trust in Christ and repent, God forgives and remembers our sin no more.  But the same cannot be said for most people!  I remember one conversation I had with a friend during my high school days I would love to revise.  I was a professing follower of Jesus Christ, and I knew in my flesh no good thing dwelt.  But during a conversation, she demanded I admit I was a good person.  At first I resisted.  Then she insisted.  "Alright, fine!" I said.  Those are words I would love to take back, being in direct violation of scriptural truth.  Psalm 14:3 reads, " They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one ."  Jesus once told a man, "There is none good but God."  God is right, I was wrong. Compliments...

I spent a portion of Monday on the train to and from the Sydney domestic terminal visiting friends.  As I waited on the platform for the stage to arrive, I surveyed the people to my right and left.  The closest three people on each side of me had their mobile phones in their hands and white earbuds in.  Seemingly without a clue of all around them, these six people were captivated in their own little worlds.  As we entered the train, some people picked up books or newspapers, while the young man who shared my seat played Street Fighter II on his mobile, earbuds blasting.  Taking my cue from my fellow passenger, I pulled out my Kindle to read Bunyan's classic, Pilgrim's Progress . As I read, I came across the passage where Christian and Faithful come to Vanity Fair (not just a magazine!), a place of debauchery and worldliness.  Bunyan describes in the book:  " And, moreover, at this fair there are at all times to be seen juggling, cheats, games, plays...

This morning a group of us from Calvary Chapel Sydney pitched in at the Castle Hill Cemetery "working bee."  Three times a year, a group of volunteers give their Saturday morning to pick up rubbish, toss dead flowers and broken vases, and remove any debris from the turf around the tombstones.  It was wonderful to share the love of Jesus through a simple act of kindness. Long mounds of red dirt heaved from the turf over freshly dug graves.  As I walked down the rows of headstones amid the cackles of kookaburras, I noticed something I have never seen in a cemetery before.  The burial plots were segregated based upon different faiths.  There was a Catholic section, an area for Muslims, Jews, Baptists, and Independents.  Many more groups were represented in this graveyard surrounded by tall gum trees on the edge of Fred Caterson Reserve. The thought occurred to me:  though these deceased folks are in separated in rows according to denominational persua...

Life has been a blur of late.  Between meetings, sermon/study preparation, and the fact that baseball is in full-swing in addition to daily duties and family stuff, time is certainly short!  And then things happen which make the day more interesting, like when Zed's bunny Oreo escaped from our back yard the other day!  As soon as I saw the hole under the fence, I knew finding that rabbit would be an act of God.  There is a large area of bush in front of our house, and greenery all around our neighborhood.  I prayed, "In the name of Jesus Christ, God help me to find that dumb bunny!"  You know what?  Within five minutes, I did! After Laura helped me return the bunny to the confines of her cage, I thought about how dumb that bunny was.  We provide for all her needs, make sure she has good food and clean water, protection from danger, and a secure place to romp around.  Why would she potentially throw away her life by burrowing under the fence...

Last night I saw a portion of a "60 Minutes" segment which detailed the lives of some young girls in the Middle East.  They were shown driving, eating at a restaurant, riding horses, and speeding around on motorboats.  Over and over they were referred to as a "privileged" class based upon their financial wealth.  It is not the first time I have heard the rich referred to as "privileged."  In a worldly sense I understand the point being made.  Those who are wealthy have worldly benefits.  But spiritually speaking, the Bible presents a conflicting perspective.  I would contend that with the privilege of wealth comes the probability of spiritual bankruptcy.  There is nothing wrong with financial wealth, providing it is used for the glory of God.  Many people, however, are driven by strong desires to be wealthy.  1 Timothy 6:6-10 reads, " Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is ...

The length of time we have formally followed Christ is a source of pride for some.  I wonder, dear professing follower of Christ, if you are closer to Him now than you were at the first?  Has your love and passion for Him grown?  Or has your love become familiar and cold?  Are you as excited now to pray as you once were?  Do you have an almost ravenous desire to consume the Word of God like at the beginning when you know you knew nothing?  Have you become cynical about church and Christianity because of some bruises you've experienced over the years?  This line of thought will not apply to all, but it certainly applies to some. Are you willing to admit that up until now you have really played at Christianity?  Are you willing to sacrifice your honorable badge of years following Jesus to say that you have never known Him as you ought?  Are you ready to disown all works previous to now as done in the power of your flesh?  Are you willing...

The earth is abundant with natural resources.  The perfectly tuned atmosphere exists on earth which promotes health of plant, animal, and human life.  Fruits and vegetables are grown in abundance on farms, and living animals both in the sea and on land provide food to support life.  Beneath the surface of the earth, vast reserves of oil and coal are collected to supply fuel for heating, transportation, and manufacturing.  Precious metals and gems are mined throughout the world for both industrial and cosmetic use.  The more plentiful the natural resources, the more profitable the enterprise.  When rarity of a resource is coupled with high demand, the value of that resource skyrockets. From a worldly perspective, limited resources means limited success.  The ultimate resource for business and people is money.  Unfortunately, many churches these days also perceive money to be either the catalyst or great limiter for "ministry."  I recently re...