Marching Forth!

This morning at Calvary Chapel Sydney we spoke of the danger of apathy and complacency in God's people.  Having the benefit of God's presence, provision, and forgiveness, we can come to a place where our hearts are hard and cease to walk in humility and repentance.  God sent the prophet Isaiah to warn God's people of coming judgment for their sins - though they were God's chosen people established in Jerusalem, had been given His Law, and His presence dwelt in their midst.  They refused to confess their sin and repent so God would chasten them without mercy so a faithful remnant would serve Him forever. In the passage we studied, there was an apt description of the person who remains in their sin without repentance.  It was compared to day after day of bad news.  On top of that, rest and comfort diligently sought would be evasive.  The prophet said in  Isaiah 28:20 , " For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the covering so narrow that...

After church Sunday I had a great conversation I have continued to reflect upon.  I don't know about you, but often in the moment a question is posed my mind can remain "prodigiously empty" like Emmet in the Lego Movie.  For me, my best responses ebb at the beginning and begin to flow freely days later.  In talking of the current state of the world ravaged by conflict and war, it was mused:  "There must be a better way than war.  Why can't we figure something out to avoid the killing of young people and scarring them for life?"  I agree completely with the view.  War is plainly horrific, and I realise my ignorance on the subject - never having personally lived in a war zone, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks, or lost a close friend or family member in combat.  Despite my lack of personal experience, God has provided wisdom and understanding about war, even how God is able to redeem warfare for His redemptive purposes. I h...

As a Christian, I am highly supportive of Christian musicians who include Jesus Christ in their art.  Artists like Lecrae and the metal band "For Today" are a couple of my recent discoveries of musicians who do not shy away from using the name of Jesus in their songs.  I find this very refreshing.  Many Christian artists are content with using vague allusions to Christ in their music rather than coming right out and saying His name.  When I hear a musician, actor, athlete, or person in the public sphere mention the name of Jesus, I rejoice.  I am sure God also rejoices in the boldness of His loyal followers. Professing Christian musicians in the public eye often face harsh criticism from people in the church.  They can be criticised for their music style, dress, piercings, tattoos, the other bands they tour with, their lyrics, record label, for becoming "secular" or "sell-outs."  It is almost safer to shed a "Christian" label to not have to ...

" Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it ." Matthew 16:24-25 Jesus has extended an invitation for anyone to follow Him.  The conditions are simple enough:  desire to be with Jesus, deny self, take up his cross, and follow Jesus obediently.  It is an tragic position when a man desires to follow Jesus but is unwilling to give up his own life.  Jesus talked about many people who would call to Him "Lord!" on the day of judgment, citing their great works for His sake, but Jesus will deny any knowledge of them.  They called Him LORD with their lips, but they never met His conditions of self-denial and faith demonstrated by obedience.  Unwilling to carry their own cross, some wander from Calvary and substitute good works which cannot save.  If I am unwilli...

At camp last week I had the privilege of some lovely conversations with leaders and campers.  One camper in particular had a question to which there seemed no satisfactory answer.  Often this can be the case, where we have a desire to know something definite when God in His wisdom has seen fit to conceal it.  There are many legitimate questions we can ask without a single answer provided satisfying our curiosity.  We want to know how, who, what, when, where, and why, and even if all these were laid out for us it doesn't mean we would agree or be pleased with the answers. I love how Jesus answered questions people asked Him - or how He didn't answer them.  Read through the Gospels and take note of how Jesus dealt with questions.  Sometimes He answered them plainly with an explanation.  Other times He spoke in parables, even linking different parables which on the surface didn't seem to fit together!  Jesus also answered questions with questions....

" Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up ." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 During last week at Camp Kedron, I had the rare task (for me, anyway!) to prepare for, light, and maintain a campfire during two evening activities.  I don't have a fireplace at home and can't remember the last time I actually went camping so it was a fun challenge.  The success of dinner one night and sharing testimonies about how Jesus has saved and is working in our lives depended in part to my preparation and timely stoking of the fire.  The first night a fellow leader, campers, and I was able to gather enough sticks for kindling and wood for the fire.  During the men's night, all the male campers brought a can of food and we mixed it all together and cooked the "bivouac" (affectionately called by some "the biv...

I have just returned home from a wonderful week as speaker at Camp Kedron, a Christian holiday camp.  God truly moved among leaders and campers alike, and over the next few posts I hope to share some observations and things the LORD revealed to me.  It all started with a scuff mark on the ceiling. Lately my right shoulder has been a bit sore from landing on it awkwardly playing baseball a few weeks back.  As I lay down on the floor to stretch and adjust the shoulder back into the correct position, I noticed a small black mark on the ceiling.  Fixing my eyes upon it, a series of questions flooded through my brain, and to them I had no answer. "Do you know who made that scuff mark?"  Nope. "Do you know when that scuff mark occurred?"  No. "Do you know what object made the mark?"  No again. "Do you know how it happened?"  No! Then came the kicker:  "If you don't know anything about a simple black mark on the ceiling, what makes...