Marching Forth!

In light of a scandalous report aired on national television, a Australian Senate candidate resigned today.  The sordid details recorded in a strip club were so damning his political career was at an obvious end.  In a statement Steve Dickson was quoted as saying, " The footage shown does not reflect the person I am. It shows a person who was drunk and not in control of his actions and I take full responsibility for allowing that to happen ."  It could be easily argued to the contrary:  his actions to become inebriated, to visit such an establishment as a public leader, and to do and say things which were reported portrayed exactly the sort of person he is - whether it fits with his preferred image or not.  To say our actions do not reflect the person we are is true because it is more than a reflection:  it is the real us on display.  Our actions and words paint a far more truthful and informative portrait of who we actually are rather than values we ...

As much as we say we prefer things to be easy, there is part of us which likes a level of difficulty and complexity.  Take puzzles for example:  a 20 piece puzzle is not as satisfying or fun to complete as a 500 piece puzzle.  Board games like "Candyland" or "Snakes and Ladders" are fine for little kids, but there is a point when most people actually want more of a challenge, more strategy with actual decisions which impact the outcome of the game.  Supporters and fans of professional teams and athletes pay money to watch players compete at a high level.  They would not likely pay to watch little children play tee ball but will pay hundreds of dollars for the chance in person to see M.L.B. players compete in the Home Run Derby.  The higher the stakes, the greater the difficulty, the bigger the stakes, the greater the honour and glory man gives and receives. A similar dynamic is found in religious pursuits where great sacrifice and devotion of a person ...

I told the LORD if He would wake me up, I would go to the dawn service on ANZAC day.  I awakened before my alarm and walked to the cenotaph in Riverstone to join the throng which had already filled the square in front of the train station.  This is one of many dawn services I have attended on ANZAC day, commemorated annually on 25 April.  Those who attended the service were treated to a historical occasion - one I did not expect (besides the drone which buzzed around for half the service, a noisy nuisance). The format of the service had a notable addition to hymns, poetry, the LORD's prayer, and the Last Post:  a speech, prayer (in song), and interpretation of a local Muslim imam.  In light of the Christchurch massacre it was decided to extend an invitation for the Imam to address the crowd and pray.  I thought it was a strange thing indeed, to hear prayers in Arabic those Diggers likely heard at a distance from minarets all those years ago at Gallipoli ...

We live in an age of convenience which boasts indoor plumbing, electricity on demand, fast and affordable transportation, and technology which has made instant communication across the globe possible.  Should we find something inconvenient we seek to make to process faster, easier, and more time-efficient.  But there are some things, regardless of innovation or technological advancement, could never be aptly described as "convenient" in an easy or simple sense.  Powdered coffee may be convenient, but it is far from (as we would say in Australia) a proper coffee. According to Webster's 1828 edition, the word "convenient" is defined as, " suitable; proper; adapted to use or to wants; commodious. "  It is evident by reading this definition it is subjective term.  One person might believe powdered coffee is perfectly suitable for a morning cuppa, but others would scoff at even the suggestion.  Suits are intended to be tailored individually to fit each w...

The writers of the Gospels pointed out many times the life of Jesus fulfilled prophecy, like being born by a virgin, His birthplace would be Bethlehem, He would live in Egypt for a season, and be raised in Nazareth.  The odds of just these being true of anyone is beyond reckoning - and these are just a fraction of the prophesies fulfilled by Jesus!  In His death He also fulfilled prophesies:  He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, rejected, pierced, lifted up, lots would be cast for His clothing, not a bone would be broken in death, and He would rise from the dead on the third day.  Again, the miraculous fulfilment of them all was only accomplished in the life of Jesus. One fulfilled prophecy not often referred to is the accusing taunts hurled at Jesus as He hung on the cross.   Matthew 27:39-43 reads, " And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40  and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Y...

" Rest in the LORD , and wait patiently for Him; d o not fret because of him who prospers in his way,  because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; d o not fret--it only causes harm. 9  For evildoers shall be cut off; b ut those who wait on the LORD ,  t hey shall inherit the earth ." Psalm 37:7-9 Three times in the first 8 verses of Psalm 37 David wrote, " Do not fret ."  Instead of fretting, we are called to rest in the LORD, to trust in Him, and wait patiently for Him.  We are to put off anger and wrath, knowing God will provide for us.  "Fret" isn't a word used often, and when I have heard it used it was almost synonymous with worry or anxiety.  As the context shows, fretting is more than worry but when we harbour indignant anger. The Strong's Dictionary defines the Hebrew word translated "fret" as:  " to glow or grow warm; figurative (usually) to blaze up, of a...

When it comes to heaven and the eternal state, not much of the Bible is spent describing it because for us it is beyond description.  Our frame of reference is this world, but the new heavens and earth will be...new.  This is not like Toyota's new Camry which bears a striking resemblance to the previous model:  it will be beyond what our minds can conceive.  It is a world of perpetual day because God supplies the light.  It is difficult for us to imagine the biblical revelation that there is no sea, and New Jerusalem has gates made of a single pearl.  People say "pearly gates" because we cannot imagine an oyster that enormous, but God doesn't need oysters to create exactly what He wants. We are creatures of schedules, routine activities, and special plans so therefore we have great interest in how this will look in heaven:  what will we do, who we will see, and how a daily routine might look.  Very little if anything is mentioned on this subj...