Marching Forth!

I was reminded recently of when a friend invited me to go to the San Diego Padres spring training in Yuma, Arizona.  One thing I remember about the hotel we stayed at was how adjoining rooms were connected by two doors.  As we scoped out the room upon arrival, we were surprised how a door led to another door.  If both doors were open guests could pass freely from one room to another.  Because we didn't know who was on the other side of the door the concept was a bit creepy, but we agreed it would be awesome if your neighbour was your best friend. When a person repents and trusts in Jesus, we have unlimited access to the presence of God.  In fact, we are invited into the throne room of God and can have an audience with God at all times.   Hebrews 4:14-16 says of our risen LORD Jesus, " Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15  For we do not have a High...

Paul was a man who seized every opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It didn't matter if he was in a synagogue, the marketplace, Mars Hill with philosophers, or to women washing clothes down by a river.  He was bold to proclaim of God's judgment and the salvation through Jesus even before rulers.  After being arrested and imprisoned  Acts 24:24-25 tells us, " And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you ." Felix trembled as Paul reasoned with him concerning righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come.  Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit has been sent to convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgment ( John 16:7-11 ), and Felix squirmed as judgment according to th...

When I first visited Australia in 2009, some I spoke to lamented there had never been a spiritual revival in Australia.  Since then I have seen that claim was in error.  In fact I am reading a book now by J. Edwin Orr which speaks of revival and the move of the Holy Spirit in New Zealand and Australia.  We cannot muster up revival from our best efforts any more than we can make gale-force winds blow by flapping our arms.  Yet there is a connection between revival and willing and receptive hearts which prayerfully seek the LORD.  There are certainly hindrances to revival and we must be willing to admit them and repent to receive God's blessing.  J. Edwin Orr wrote of his experiences with a reluctant congregation in New Zealand: The way to revival was made very clear - prayer and removal of hindrances.  The main object of the address was to make possible the prayer:  "Lord, send a mighty revival to Wellington, but begin first in me."  But I ...

Human beings naturally seek to benefit ourselves.  We are interested in results.  If we notice someone has lost weight or is packing on muscle, we are keen to know how.  There is often a formulaic approach to action we take or the method we choose because we hope it will work for us as it has worked for others.  Personal trainers and nutritionists are employed to aid us in our struggle for fitness.  Conferences are attended to learn from professionals how to maximise our net worth.  Routine is embraced so we too might have the benefits others boast of.  We read books based on the recommendation of friends and take advice from total strangers who post videos or blogs on the internet to help our cause.  We imagine there must be a formula to obtain our desired end:  if I do the right things, I can have the results I want. We can do the same thing when it comes to Christian ministry.  A true principle of scripture can be distorted into ...

" Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan [2] (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it)... " Judges 3:1-2 Last night at Calvary Chapel Santee the message began with these verses.  They immediately had an impact on me:  God wants His people to know how to fight, how to bravely contend.  God did not want His people ignorant of war when there was a war to be fought.  Though God promised to fight battles for His people, His people who were oppressed and subdued before their enemies needed to learn to fight.  God wanted His people to have practical experience of war and be good at it, to be courageous in battle, men who would surrender only to Him. As Christians we are taught we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, rulers of ...

In Sydney the chill of winter is in the air.  The trees in my front yard have changed colours and been dropping in abundance.  During recent downpours there were times when I noticed the gutters overflowed.  After the storm was over, I could see from the ground how the storm had heaped golden and rusty leaves above the edge of the gutters.  So last weekend I grabbed a ladder, a bucket, and a garden shovel to clear the gutters.  This simple chore provided a useful object lesson from the LORD as well as free-flowing guttering. I don't know about you, but when it comes to cleaning gutters I typically grab the big stuff and call it good.  But this time I decided a more thorough clean was warranted because it had been months since I had cleared them.  I found dry leaves on top and black, rotting leaves underneath.  Once the leaves have compacted into the gutter they act as a filter which traps sediment.  As I used my hands and the shovel to s...

Only God can change the hearts of people, but that doesn't stop people from trying.  Some feel it is their hilarious duty to fire verbal barbs at others and after potentially embarrassing or wounding their target they say with a smile, "I was only joking!' or "Just keeping you humble!"  I have learned there are only two who are capable to humble me:  God and myself.  The scriptures say that God casts down the proud and gives grace to the humble.  It also says to believers, " Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and He shall lift you up ." ( James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:5-7 )  For any who take it upon yourself the task of keeping others humble, good luck.  All the luck in the world will do you no good.  You will discover your most vigilant efforts are futile and in doing so you trespass on God's sovereign territory. The other night I finished reading the book of Job.  It was something God said towards the end of the book which made me consi...