Marching Forth!

"Hunger strikes" can be employed as non-violent protests to raise awareness of perceived injustice or as a means to achieve a desired purpose.  Youth at our church have participated in World Vision's "40-hour Famine" to raise funds for the hungry or displaced refugees.  Those who deny themselves food or the convenience of furniture or technology for 40 hours receive funds from willing supporters to pass on to people in need.  It is good to bring awareness to the needs of others, but we too can have pressing needs which seem unmet - despite or best efforts or sacrifices. Based upon Isaiah 58 , it seems the children of Israel made fasting and wearing sackcloth a practice as they sought God.  They thrived on seeking after God by observing His ordinances.  But after afflicting themselves - kind of like people on a hunger strike - it didn't seem like God was listening to their prayers.  They weren't receiving the response or reward they felt their sacrific...

Though God has created people to be unique individuals, He also created us for community.  The way human reproduction works it takes a man and a woman to start a family.  As we grow we begin to identify ourselves arbitrarily according to personal views shaped by a number of factors:  our parents, church, society, interests, etc.  We can view ourselves as being a "morning person" or a "night owl," and "introvert" or an "extrovert."  These labels often provide insight more on our personal preferences than our physical needs.  It may be one person can operate well on less sleep than another person, and that is an obvious fact.  But I believe it is possible to bind ourselves to a particular label to justify our decisions, lack of discipline, or even disobedience to God. Allow me to illustrate:  I am sure Moses was one of those people (along with Elijah and Jesus) who enjoyed regular meals.  But a key lesson God taught the children of Israel ...

Motive of the speaker is the primary difference between a genuine compliment and flattery.  A compliment is a polite way to acknowledge quality efforts and accomplishments of others, but flattery is false praise with the aim of gaining advantage for self.  Those who flatter can say the exact same words as the one giving a compliment, but for them those words are sin.  Words of flattery are an indication of a perverse and wicked heart.  Because we do not even know the depths of depravity natural in human hearts, we may not even realise how commonly we employ nuances of flattery.  God knows, and praise the LORD He is gracious to shine His truth to expose our need to repent and guides us in the way of truth. People in positions of power are often targets of flattery, and King David was no exception.  He wrote in  Psalm 5:8-9 , " Lead me, O LORD , in Your righteousness because of my enemies; m ake Your way straight before my face. 9 For there is no ...

Every life is full of contrasts which add to the richness of life.  Many things we deem negative are in light of the positive we once enjoyed.  For instance, we start life young.  It is only as we grow older and experience the effects of age we look back to aspects of youth with longing.  Sickness reminds us of how it once felt to be healthy and well.  Painful joints and injuries are reminders of a time when we never thought about joints, anti-inflammatory medication, or scar tissue.  The negative feelings we have can be useful triggers to remind us of many things we have taken for granted:  we had been richly blessed by God with youthful vigour and health and didn't even notice. My grandpa recently told me because of his physical ailments and compounding limitations a few classic words of wisdom:  " Don't get old !"  The beauty of growing older and even creaking joints is not discovered in supplements, therapy, or miracle cures, but in r...

In Australia we recently had a change in Prime Minister.  Being relatively new to Australian politics, occasionally I will make inquiries with Autralians because they have a wealth of knowledge - especially from a historical perspective I do not possess.  On the ABC website the other day I read an article which seemed to match what I have observed:  leaders in parliament go to great lengths to show they are everyday, ordinary people.  Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke makes an annual appearance at the SCG to scull a beer, and whilst in office Tony Abbott was seen jogging with lifesavers or volunteering with the Fire Brigade.  Malcolm Turnbull would wear an Akubra hat when visiting rural areas.  The new Prime Minister Scott Morrison was pictured in the article tending a BBQ covered with fried eggs.  The title of the article was, " Just a regular Joe (or Bill or ScoMo): How our leaders work hard at being 'ordinary .'" The article took a bizarre turn as...

On the blank pages in the back of my Bible I keep a running list of key verses which emphasise the deity of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and verses which confirm the Trinity.  Though the Bible does not employ the word "trinity," throughout scripture the doctrine of the Triune Godhead shines forth.  I recently came across a couple of great verses which I added to the list from the book of Isaiah. Through the prophet Isaiah, the God who spoke from the beginning addressed the children of Israel.   Isaiah 48:16-17 reads, " Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;  f rom the time that it was, I was there.  A nd now the Lord GOD and His Spirit  h ave sent Me."  17  Thus says the LORD , your Redeemer, t he Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God,  w ho teaches you to profit,  w ho leads you by the way you should go ."  It is evident the prophet Isaiah is not speaking for himself, for he co...

The English language is filled with nuances which impact our perspective.  So many words we commonly use have a range of meaning, and learning the definitions of words enriches our understanding.  It is very possible we limit the meaning of a word to one facet and miss the implications.  Take as an example the word "commit."  The vast majority of times the word is used is in a negative sense, for instance to "commit" murder or adultery.  There are positive uses of the word as well, like in  Psalm 37:5 :  " Commit your way to the LORD , t rust also in Him,  a nd He shall bring it to pass. "  The implication of the word is to roll away, give, or entrust. To illustrate the wide range of meanings of this word "commit," here is the definition from the Webster's Dictionary 1828  edition (punctuation and spacing edited by me to save space): COMMIT , verb transitive literally, to send to or upon; to throw, put or lay upon. Hence, 1. To...