Be Still, and Know

KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESC, ASB, CSB - There are hundreds of English Bible translations. This is a great blessing, because people from different background and with different levels of understanding will always have a version that resonates with them, that talks to them. But it also is a problem, in the sense that it poses the question "Which one is the best?". Every translation is unique - be it the time it was written or the reason it was made. But all of them will generally lie in a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum we have the Word-for-word philosophy, where words or text are converted from one language to another. So it ends up being a literal equivalent of the original. On the other end is the Thought-for-thought philosophy, where the meaning of a text or passage is expressed using other words. Cultural references and idioms might be smoothed over, and it is worded such that a modern reader can easily understand. This side of the spectrum might be suitable for someone who ...

What one generation deems as an option, the next one deems unnecessary.  Have you prayed today? Is it just an option, or are you spending time every day on your knees? What about Church - Do you say, "I'll go to Church if I don't have anything else to do"? And when you go, do you carry your Bible? Or do you think you can just read out of one of your Bible apps in your phone? Is carrying the actual Bible just an option? Have you read the Bible today? Do you read it every day, or is it just an option to you? Do you say, "I'll read it if I find time", "I'll read it if I wake up early"? What you find as an option, your next generation could find it unnecessary. It could be your kids, grandkids, anyone who keeps you as a role model - they notice whatever you do. So, if you never gave these primary Christian behaviors a priority, you are sending a message that these are not obligations that they need to have. Matthew 6:33  But  seek first  the ki...

Understanding the ACTS of Prayer: A Simple Guide to Deeper Communion with God Did you know that many Christian prayers follow a rhythm that’s been recognized and used for generations? It’s a structure made up of four essential parts - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Together, they form the acronym ACTS , a helpful framework for deepening your prayer life. Let’s break it down. A – Adoration This is where prayer begins: by recognizing and praising God for who He is. Adoration is about worship. It’s not about what God has done for us, but simply about acknowledging His holiness, majesty, and love. Whether it's “Hallowed be Your name” or a quiet moment spent in awe, adoration is our heart looking up. Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. C – Confession Next comes confession - an honest admission of our sins before God. Scripture encourages us to confess so we can receive forgiveness and restor...

They call this place Sin City. But did you know the Bible had its own "Sin Cities" long before Las Vegas? Sodom and Gomorrah — wiped out for pride, injustice, and rampant immorality. Nineveh — the capital of Assyria, known for cruelty and wickedness, yet spared when it repented. Tyre and Sidon — centers of wealth, idol worship, and arrogance. But here's the question… Why does any city become a sin city? Because wherever people gather, power, pleasure, and profit can quickly replace purpose, purity, and peace. Illicit sex, corruption, greed — it’s the same story, just different streets. Yet even here, in the heart of modern-day indulgence, hope remains. The Bible says in Romans 5:20 — "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more." God isn’t afraid of sin cities. He enters them, calls people out of them, and changes them from within. So maybe the question isn't why is this a sin city… But can it become a city of grace? With God — it can. You're absol...

Can a Believer lose his salvation? What if the believer stays sinful and doesn't repent? What if the believer denies Christ and leaves the faith?  In this article, we will break down what salvation means, and also see how safe a believer really is. How exactly is salvation obtained? The short answer is No, a truly born again believer does not lose his salvation. But to really answer that question, let us look at how someone gets saved in the first place. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. So the Bible is clear in how one does receive salvation - and it is evident that it is not by that person's righteous act, or works of faith. It is a gift. As simple as that. A free gift. Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith,...

While we actively pursue a Christian walk, the Bible warns us of the enemies that we must always be on the lookout for. These enemies try to waver our faith, slide us away from our path, basically making it difficult to run the faithful journey. There may be several enemies, but they can be summarized into three main enemies: [1] The Devil, Satan. 1 Peter 5: 8, 9 V8 tells the problem - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  The Bible calls him “the wicked one,” “the devil,” “a murderer,” “a liar, and the father of lies,” “an adversary” who seeks to devour. The moment you accepted Christ as your Savior, Satan has already had a tremendous defeat. As a result, he is going to constantly try and tempt us, leading us to sin. V9 gives the solution - Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. You are not alone in this. When this ha...

"Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them" Have you ever used this verse in a small gathering, or in a prayer meeting? Don't. There is a context for everything, and we sometimes take things out of context for our own comfort. This verse is the last verse of the section Matthew 18: 15 to 20, which specifically talks about disciplining a sinning brother. To such a brother, we are to have a one on one. When that doesn't work, we are to take 1 or 2 with us. When we take 1, we go as 2, and when we take 2, we go as 3. Ergo, 2 or 3 gather. It goes on to say, that when that doesn't work, the whole church needs to be brought into the picture. The goal of all this is to restore the brother and get him out of his sin. As the narrative progresses, Verse 18 then gives assurance that, when this process is followed, God is working in it. Verse 19 says "Again" if 2 of you agree on something, it will be done by My Father. Again denot...