Tag: spirituality
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Brackish Faith: A Diluted Gospel in a Thirsty World
In the New York City Bay, the Hudson River’s waters are an ever-changing mix. With each tide, Saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean meets the fresh water flowing down from the Adirondacks, creating a muddy brackish blend. This complex, shifting salinity mirrors a spiritual reality in our churches today. As life-giving biblical teachings mix with popular…
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Trading Hustle for Holiness: Seeking True Success in New York’s Hustle Culture
Machiavelli’s principles and philosophy of prioritizing cunning, manipulation, and power over ethics had an enormous influence on New York’s culture beginning with the rise of the Mafia and industrialization in the early 20th century. This way of thinking not only solidified the mafia’s power within the criminal underworld but also introduced a philosophy that would…
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If Not Deep, Then Shallow: The Call to Share Our Faith
For many who grow up in church, faith can feel as routine as attending school or learning basic math. Church becomes just another part of the weekly routine, and faith, unfortunately, gets reduced to knowing the “right answers.” But knowing about Christ and knowing Christ are entirely different. Attending church and hearing sermons may feel…
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True Virtue, True Repentance: Understanding the Heart of Transformation
Virtue can be defined as a quality of moral excellence that shapes a person’s character. It is not simply the occasional performance of good actions but the development of habits and dispositions that lead to consistently good behavior. True virtue goes beyond momentary decisions; it reflects the kind of person one becomes over time through…
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Walking the Tightrope: Balancing Courage and Discernment in Faith
As Christians, we are called to a life of courage and obedience, rooted in our faith in God. However, this call demands a balance—rejecting both cowardice and recklessness as we navigate a world filled with challenges and opportunities to witness for Christ. Courage is one of the most significant virtues in the Christian life, as…
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Beyond Self-Centeredness: Embracing a God-Centered Life
The article explores the pervasive nature of self-centeredness in human beings. It argues that self-centeredness is rooted in our fallen nature and manifests in prioritizing our own needs and desires above others. While often disguised as noble pursuits, self-centeredness can lead to harmful consequences, such as strained relationships and a distorted perception of reality. The…
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Walking the Line: Balancing tendencies,imagination and Reality in a Fallen World
The human mind, a complex organ of thought and consciousness, often operates on autopilot. We perform countless actions daily without conscious deliberation, guided by habits, instincts, and subconscious impulses. One reason we may act without thinking is the force of habit. Over time, we develop patterns of behavior that become deeply ingrained within us. These…
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By Faith series : Hebrews 11:1-3
“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”Hebrews 11:1-3 CSBhttps://bible.com/bible/1713/heb.11.1-3.CSB Faith is…
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jehoshaphat
By human measure, Jehoshaphat’s troops were frail,Against the mighty enemy, their efforts pale. Facing the worst, options few and bleak,Surrender or escape, the future did speak. In the face of doom, with options slim,Surrender or flee, mortal outlook grim. Yet Jehoshaphat, with courage rare, Directed his focus to seek God’s care. Again and again, the…
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Seeds Beneath The Snow
My soul finds peace Lord in Your holy way But my tired body longs for rest each day. It reminds me I’m just dust here for a time Yet Your promise of forever calms my mind. Change, a constant tide, I fight its flow, Yet Your purpose unfolds, seeds You help to grow. Smallest shifts…