Marching Forth!

God has given Christians the Bible, the indwelling Holy Spirit and fellowship with other believers to help guide our thinking and conduct.  God does not trample the freedom He has given people with unique personalities to consdier what God has said and express their own convictions.  Looking back, I can say there were times I had very strongly held convictions I do not have any more because studying the Bible and conversations with Christians changed my mind.  I realised there were many considerations I was ignorant of in forming my theology, convictions and personal practices, and fellowship with other Christians is vital to avoid an internal echo chamber that repeats lies and unbalanced views we once believed. I was saddened to hear reports of a man who rushed through security who allegedly intended to assassinate President Trump, joining a growing list of those whose foiled murder plots have come to public light.  Based on current reports, it seems the man was mot...

This morning I was struck with a phrase I found in the King James Version of  Hosea 12:4-5 that speaks of Jacob wrestling with a Man near the Jabbok river crossing as the day began to break:  " Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;  5 even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial ."  Jacob prevailed over the angel by refusing to let him go, even after his hip was permanently injured by the touch of the Man's hand.  As Jacob wept he begged for a blessing, and the angel (who seems to be much more than an angel) replied in  Genesis 32:28 :  " And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed ."  God changed Jacob's name to "Israel" which includes God's name, meaning "God strives" or "one who struggles with God." Before Jacob...

" He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity ." Ecclesiastes 5:10 Wise king Solomon observed things people love and pursue will not end up satisfying them even when they obtain their desire.  The one who loves money will have an insatiable appetite for it after acquiring it, and those who seek increase are pleased with the prospects of a bit more.  This concept can be widely applied in this world of vanity whether it be tattoos, cosmetic surgery, praise, recognition, likes and acquiring goods.  People can make great personal sacrifices to become famous, and after they acheive their dreams they can hate and love it at the same time. Because we are naturally restless and dissatisfied, we often busy ourselves with fruitless pursuits.  Though we seem to gain ground, our desire remains just beyond our reach.  There are those like Solomon, however, who obtained and achieved more than anyone...

I remember watching a show that interviewed centenarians and to what they credited with their advanced age.  The ironic thing was many of them admitted habits and choices of food and drink that would not be considered healthy--like smoking cigars and cigarettes, eating chocolate, drinking beer, and downing shots of whisky or Worcestershire sauce.  There were some healthier habits credited, like walking, swimming and dancing, but for the large part I doubt there was any medical or scientific evidence to support things people swore by. In God's wisdom, Jesus came to earth and did miraculous works and signs that could not possibly be attributed to anything or anyone other than Him.  When else did mud placed on the eyes cure blindness?  At what point in history did water turn to quality wine in an instant?  There was no formula Jesus followed, no magic incantations, amulets, charms or gathering of obscure items to bring cures.  His power over demons, illnesses,...

Today on a morning walk I saw a German Shepherd at high alert from across the street, staring off into the distance with ears perked up.  He growled as he pulled on the lead that was stretched taut, firmly grasped by his owner.  There was no audible communication from the master who was being dragged along.  The dog's effort to pull on the lead left him breathless and muffled his barking.  It was as if the owner did not exist, so strong was the dog's impulse to follow his natural instincts. As I looked both ways before crossing the street I saw the reason for the German Shepherd's agitation.  In complete contrast, an owner stood on the corner opposite the other pair and his dog--which looked to be part Husky--lay on the ground with his head elevated as he stoically stared straight ahead.  The lead hung limp between owner and dog which was very attentive to every movement and commands of his owner who stood beside him.  There was no growling, barking or...

I enjoyed hearing a speech delivered by Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court at a University of Texas at Austin event.  During his decades on the bench. Justice Thomas has been known as a man of few words during oral arguments, yet when he speaks I have found he has many good things to say as a God-fearing man and American.  His quality of character, faithfulness in labour and devotion to God make him a man I deeply respect and admire.  Those who speak disparaging of him may do so because he is principled and godly like Daniel of old who would not be swayed by commands of a king, the fickle favour of princes or criticism from holding fast to those self-evident truths, that men have been created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. In his speech, Justice Thomas urged regular people of the United States to be courageous to uphold the Constitution as the 56 signers, who with " firm reliance on the protection of divine...

" It is good for me that I have been afflicted, t hat I may learn Your statutes. " Psalm 119:71 I don't think anyone sees affliction as intrinsically good, yet the psalmist affirmed through experience that God was able to use affliction for his good.  If a tree could speak, it might cry out in pain to have branches cut and trimmed by a skilled arborist, but as a result of pruning the tree will be healthier and produce more fruit.  Years ago our family had a lemon tree in the back yard with one large but light lemon on it--and it hung there for months.  I didn't want to trim the neglected tree for the sake of the "fruit" that never seemed to ripen, and when I finally harvested it was dry, woody and inedible.  I trimmed the tree following an online tutorial, and the tree for one year did not produce a single lemon.  The next year, however, we harvested over 80 juicy lemons! When the lemon tree was neglected and left alone, it grew many leaves and branches. ...