Marching Forth!

' Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen !' Deuteronomy 27:17 After delivering the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, God delivered His Law to His people.  God was faithful to provide and guide His people through years in the wilderness, and brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey according to His promise.  By lot each tribe and family (save the tribe of Levi) were given land as an inheritance.  The boundaries of the land were ordained and established by God.  It was against the Law to re-locate boundary markers, for they had been laid down by God Himself.  To move a landmark constituted theft and was rebellion against God which brought a curse. The principle of God establishing boundaries extends beyond the borders of land.  Even as God made a division between water and land when He formed the earth, God has clearly set apart right from wrong.  He held forth an absolute rig...

I recently enjoyed an interactive Bible study where the life of Joseph was paralleled with Jesus.  Their lives are not mirror images, yet there are striking, compelling similarities which provide deep wells of understanding and wisdom to drink from.  Joseph was loved by his father, betrayed and sold by his brothers, and later became a saviour to the people of Egypt and all who came during the famine.  Jesus too was loved by His heavenly Father, betrayed by His own disciple for silver, rejected by the Jewish nation He came to save, and died on the cross as a sacrifice for sin so all who repent can be saved.  Joseph was saviour for a season, but Jesus is the Saviour for eternity. We talked about twenty similarities between the lives of Joseph and Jesus, and the brother leading the study said there were no less than 60!  As the study was concluding, it came to mind Joseph was mentioned in the Hall of Faith.  I turned there, wondering if there was a correlati...

News.com.au reported early this morning Australians Chan and Sukumaran were among eight men executed for drug crimes in Indonesia.  Their families, fellow Australians, and the Australian government grimly hoped for an eleventh-hour reprieve, but it was not to be.  Whilst the Indonesian government spared the lone accused woman from the firing squad, the remaining eight men were executed.  Quoting Prime Minister Tony Abbott from the article, “ Whatever people think of the death penalty... the fact is that these two families have suffered an appalling tragedy.  And I’m sure that ever Australians thoughts and prayers will be with those families .”  I agree, and certainly have been praying.  In a land where no crime is punished by death, seeing two young men executed for any drug-related offense committed ten years ago is nigh impossible for many Australians to process. I grew up in the State of California, a place which has maintained the legal right to impo...

During my lifetime there has been much debate and discussion over "climate change."  This is not a reference to the changes in weather throughout a day, but a observable pattern which points to global warming.  It seems to be a consensus these days the world is warming up, and have the science to affirm their position.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is viewed as a the proverbial ostrich with his head in the sand, despite any evidence they interpret to counter the prevailing view. To be honest, I do not see a need to hold tightly any particular view concerning the ever-morphing science of any side.  Since the experts cannot agree, I don't know that even a careful examination of the science behind it can convince me to hold to a rigid view.  Can my opinions outweigh peer-reviewed papers, politicians, or even the man on the street?  Science is a business, and let us not be naive to think the motives of researchers are not without bias or agenda.  Man can ...

" Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD ." Isaiah 52:11 The prophet emphatically reminded those tasked with carrying the sanctified vessels of the LORD's house of their privileged role.  Men born to the tribe of Levi had roles as priests and ministers unto a holy God.  They were God's inheritance, and He was theirs.  Their identity was to be found in the righteous God who had chosen, called, and sanctified them.  They served a holy God who spoke to His people:  " Be ye holy, for I am holy ."  For this reason the priests and Levites were to be consecrated and set apart for the service of the LORD, ensuring they lived a life free of defilement. Under the Law, guidelines were given to ceremonially cleanse and sanctify priests and Levites.  They were to offer sacrifice, wash with clean water, and wear the approved clothing.  Much effort was employe...

During last night's discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we had an interesting conversation about the contrast between the rich young rulers and blind Bartimaeus in Mark chapter 10.  The only similarities between the two is they were both men, and Jesus made an impression on them.  What that impression was and how they responded to Jesus were completely opposite. As Jesus walked, a rich man ran up to Jesus and said, "Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good?  There is none good but one, who is God."  This was a veiled claim to deity:  Jesus is either good and God, or He is not good.  Jesus said, "You know the commandments."  He then proceeded to list five commands which the man claimed to have kept.  Despite having riches and keeping commands, the man still recognised his lack.  Mark 10:21-22 reads, " Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you ...

" All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." Matthew 13:34-35 When Jesus spoke in parables it was to reveal, not conceal.  To the unbelieving and careless the words of Jesus were little more than stories, but to those who trusted in Jesus His parables revealed deep spiritual truths unknown from the beginning.  They have continued to remain an unceasing sources of truths both old and new to this day.  The same thing can be said of the Bible.  Unbelievers without spiritual discernment mock and scorn as they pick it apart, but those who rely upon God find sustenance and balm for their souls. It's amazing how God opens the eyes of believers to discover deep truth in simple things.  As I prepared for teaching scripture ye...