Marching Forth!

" As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals the man ." Proverbs 27:19 In our social media age, people go to great lengths to craft and polish an online persona.  Mobile phones have cameras ideal for selfies complete with settings to remove blemishes.  Instead of mirrors people use their phones to arrange their hair, apply makeup, and practice their perfect "duck face."  Touching up photos is a common practice in magazines to the point where models claim the image presented in print looks nothing like them in reality.  It's a funny thing that mirrors made of polished metal were dim and cloudy, yet with modern mirrors people don't always like what they see.  We aren't comfortable with reality so we feel an intense need to cover up, augment, or smooth out our blemishes with software. That is the sense of this verse in Proverbs:  the clear reflection of a face in water does not lie.  A mirror image is a true representation of real...

Today's message at Calvary Chapel Sydney was titled, "When it Rains it Pours."  What has become a modern cliche was first coined and copyrighted as a company slogan by the Morton Salt company in 1911.  It carried quite a different connotation than it does today.  Morton Salt was marketed as superior because of an additive which kept the salt pouring freely even in damp weather.  Today people say "when it rains it pours" to convey how bad or trying circumstances seem to come in bunches.  There are plenty of problems in this world and our lives to be sure, but as children of a loving heavenly Father we can turn our focus in all situations Him with joy. A common response of all people in the midst of a trial or unfathomable pain is "Why?"  Often God does not give explanations but responds to the humble seeker with a fresh revelation of Himself.  It is good for us to recall to mind how God has already blessed us with life, love, grace, and mercy. ...

" The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendour of old men is their gray head ." Proverbs 20:29 It was in 1994 when I started shaving my head, and this regular practice has continued until this day.  I never really knew what to do with my hair and for years combed it to the side, but a simple buzz cut answered many of those questions.  It looked decent as well.  I find it amusing people pay money to regrow their own hair and I invest in quality clippers to keep it shaved short!  When my hair grows back after a couple of weeks, I often receive comments from friends about how gray it is.  I don't know if having gray hair makes me feel magnificent, but it is a welcomed mark of maturity for someone who historically has maintained a youthful look. The days of any glory in my strength are near their end, and for me the distinguished splendour of age increases daily with silver bristles.  It is a common practice among many people to dye t...

I am always wary of arbitrary attempts to catagorise people.  When I worked primarily as a youth pastor I grew weary of hearing the phrase "at-risk youth" which was often used to heighten awareness of need.  This arbitrary term was employed most often to describe unchurched youth raised in a single-parent home.  Statistics were shared to prove how this combination led to many social problems, incarceration, drug and alcohol addictions, teen pregnancy, and violence.  How can you argue with statistics, right? Since we all have our lenses through which we view the world, I am aware of another group of people which are equally "at risk" because I have experienced and seen it firsthand myself:  those who have been raised in relative comfort with two parents, who grew up attending church, and grew dull and spiritually proud through knowledge.  Seemingly inoculated to the power of the Gospel by much exposure without true repentance, these "churched" kids often...

" For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence ." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Isn't it amazing the God who created and sustains the universe and all living things would use the weak things of the world to put to shame the mighty?  In the scope of eternity a single man is a little thing indeed, yet the Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.  He was not born into wealth or high social standing, nor was he privileged with private tutors or schooling.  The life afforded Christ from His beginning ...

" Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him ." Romans 14:1-3 The Bible contains wisdom and insight concerning God and men.  After Adam's rebellion against God, sin and death passed to all men.  Adam passed to his progeny his genetic code and also spiritually a constant, consuming, malicious sinfulness.  The Bible aids us in fleshing out what sin looks like, and these verses provide a perfect example.  We can dispute over even the most doubtful things. Do you find it interesting how bothered and offended we can be over things other people do, say, or believe?  It is most remarkable how the beliefs of a person can enrage someone else.  This is a natural tendency of all people.  If a person does o...

Have you ever suffered from insomnia?  It's lousy to feel exhausted and at the same time being unable to fall asleep in bed.  I had one of those nights recently.  I fell asleep almost immediately after prayer, but then I woke up in the middle of the night and trying to go back to sleep seemed a complete waste of effort and time.  I have a comfortable bed but there seemed no way to find comfort.  Ultimately I did drift off but not before hours were spent shifting from side to side without sleep. During last night's evening reading of Psalm 119 I came across a passage which grabbed my attention in verse 62 :  " At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments ."  The Psalmist was not afflicted by insomnia but intentionally rose at midnight to thank and praise God for His righteous judgments.  Now when was the last time any of us did this?  Few if any think there would be value in setting an alarm to rise at...