

Faith
How To Live The Best Christian Life
What does it mean to live well in this world? For many, they root the worldly answer to this question in vanity and materialism. Fortunately, the authority of God’s word has an answer for us. Society and sometimes our own ego’s tell us how important it is to be successful. Our modern world usually defines success as earning more money, getting a big house, a nice car, a boat, maybe even an airplane. Success could mean climbing the promotion ladder at your job, or having a very successful business. For many, they define success in how many “followers” or “likes” they have on their social media platform. Yet, as people gain these successes, many of them are searching still for more happiness and meaning.
Americans of all economic backgrounds are left with a void. According to a Time Magazine story, suicide rates are higher than at any other time since World War I. A Harvard report informs us of an “Astounding increase in antidepressant use by Americans.” This type of sad news informs us that even as citizens of the richest nation in the world, more cars, boats, bigger houses, career advances, etc…. are not enough to make us happy. So what can people do to discover fulfillment and success independent of the material? Luckily, God’s word provides us with the answer. The wonderful youtube channel, The Bible Project, does an excellent job of providing succinct overviews of each book of the Bible. Their take on Ecclesiastes is an instructive guide to aid us in how to live the best Christian life.
The Book of Ecclesiastes explains three observations about our world. The first is father time:
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Generations come, and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course…
No one remembers the former generations,
and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow them. – Ecclesiastes 1 ( 4-6, 11) (NIV)
In the grand expanse of the universe, we are just a speck. Everything that is so important to us right now: our careers, our bank accounts, our cars, our “successes” mean nothing in the big picture of God’s eternal plan. Our earthly existence is just a quick flash. A small drop in an enormous ocean of time.
The second observation form Ecclesiastes is that we will all die and return to dust and that our concerns while here on earth are relatively meaningless.
Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. -Ecclesiastes (19-21) (NIV)
The third observation we learn from Ecclesiastes is that life is random. :
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.
Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come. Ecclesiastes 9, 11-12 (NIV)
The lesson here is that life is way too complex for us to try and control and attempting to do so sets us up for failure and disappointment. These three observations can make life seem pretty dark and pointless. The author explains that everything in life is hevel. This is a Hebrew word meaning vapor or smoke. And like smoke, life can look like one thing, but quickly change into another form. You can reach out and try to grab (control) both smoke and life to no avail.
Modern biblical translations miss the smoke metaphor and usually translate hevel to the word meaningless. However, the author of Ecclesiastes isn’t suggesting that life has no meaning, but that instead, life can be unclear (like smoke). Just like standing in a smoky room, life can be confusing, stressful, and it’s difficult to know what lies in front of you. Therefore, while it may not always guarantee short-term success in our time on earth, we should live in fear of the Lord and have faith because his plan is eternal and beyond our comprehension.
The lesson of Ecclesiastes is that since we have no control in life, we should focus on the one thing that we do have control over, our attitude. Real success is accepting this lack of control and appreciating not the material, but the intangible things in life: holding hands with a loved one, sitting out in the sun on a warm day, your bare feet on the beach, a great meal with friends and loved ones. We should learn to enjoy these good simple moments, and the bad, because while they are fleeting, they are all gifts from a loving God.
The good times and the bad, the money, the jobs, our health, our friends, and even our loved one’s will all come and go. If we can teach ourselves to appreciate the ups and the downs of this rollercoaster of life and understand that God is the master of the entire amusement park, then learning to enjoy the ride is the accurate definition of success. This is how we can learn to live our best Christian life.
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Faith
While Biden Insults Israel, Here is Why the US Must Support Our Ally
Israel is a key ally for the United States in the Middle East
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There are several reasons why the United States should support Israel. In this essay, we will explore these reasons in detail and argue for the importance of the United States’ support for Israel.
First, the Bible clearly states that God has chosen Israel as his people. In the book of Genesis, God promises to Abraham that his descendants will become a great nation and that all nations will be blessed through him. This promise is reiterated throughout the Old Testament, with God making a covenant with Israel and promising to bless them if they obey his commands. In Deuteronomy 7:6-8, God says, “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
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Furthermore, in the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the “King of the Jews” and he himself was born in Bethlehem, in Israel. The Apostle Paul also acknowledges the importance of Israel in Romans 11:1-2, “I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.”
Second, throughout history, the Jewish people have faced persecution and discrimination. The Holocaust, where six million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazis, is one of the most well-known examples of this persecution. The State of Israel was established in 1948 as a homeland for the Jewish people, in response to this persecution. Since then, Israel has faced constant threats to its existence, with neighboring countries and terrorist organizations seeking to destroy it. The United States’ support for Israel is a way of standing with the Jewish people and ensuring their safety and security.
Third, Israel is a key ally for the United States in the Middle East. The two countries share similar values, including democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and as such, it is an important partner for the United States in promoting democracy and stability in the region. Additionally, Israel has a strong military and intelligence capabilities, which are important for the United States’ security interests in the region.
Historically, there have been several instances where the United States’ support for Israel has been crucial. For example, during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israel was facing a coordinated attack from Egypt and Syria. The United States provided military assistance to Israel, which helped to turn the tide of the war in Israel’s favor. In 1991, during the Gulf War, Iraq fired missiles at Israel in an attempt to draw Israel into the conflict. However, Israel did not retaliate, thanks in part to the United States’ efforts to convince Israel to remain out of the conflict.
In addition to these historical events, there are also several quotes from biblical scholars, historians, and politicians that support the United States’ support for Israel. For example, in his book The Case for Israel, Alan Dershowitz writes, “The struggle between Israel and its enemies is not simply a dispute over territory, nor is it a religious conflict between Jews and Muslims. It is, rather, a clash between two fundamentally different worldviews: one that values human life and individual freedom, and one that values death and submission to the will of Allah.” Dershowitz’s statement highlights the importance of Israel as a bastion of democracy and individual freedom in a region that is often characterized by authoritarianism and oppression.
Similarly, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said, “The Jews are the most formidable and the most remarkable race that has appeared in the world.” Churchill’s statement acknowledges the resilience and tenacity of the Jewish people, who have faced centuries of persecution and discrimination, yet have managed to thrive and make significant contributions to the world.
Finally, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan once said, “Israel is the only place in the Middle East where Christians, Jews, and Muslims are all free to worship and live in peace.” Reagan’s statement highlights the importance of Israel as a beacon of religious tolerance and coexistence in a region that is often characterized by sectarian conflict.
In conclusion, there are several reasons why the United States should support Israel. Firstl, the Bible clearly states that God has chosen Israel as his people, and as such, Israel holds a special place in the hearts of many Christians. Second, Israel has faced centuries of persecution and discrimination, and the establishment of the State of Israel was a response to this persecution. Supporting Israel is a way of standing with the Jewish people and ensuring their safety and security. Third, Israel is a key ally for the United States in the Middle East, sharing similar values and providing important military and intelligence capabilities. Finally, there are several quotes from biblical scholars, historians, and politicians that support the United States’ support for Israel, highlighting the importance of Israel as a bastion of democracy, religious tolerance, and coexistence in a region that is often characterized by authoritarianism and sectarian conflict. As such, the United States’ support for Israel is not only a moral imperative, but also serves the strategic interests of the United States in the Middle East.
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.” Luke 19:41
I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that Jesus cried on the number of occasions. Particularly this instance, where he wept, when seeing the city of Jerusalem. What was Jesus crying about? In fact, he wasn’t just crying, the Greek word for “wept” in this passage, literally means to well allowed as opposed to the use of the word wept in another passage, that means to “cry quietly.” So Jesus was wailing over the city. But why?
Verse 44 gives us the answer, speaking to the Israelites: “because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
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And therein is the answer. Jesus just wants His people to recognize Him, to come to Him, to receive Him, to give their lives to Him, and to accept the salvation that He brings.
I imagine that Jesus feels the same way today. Jesus is waiting for our world to receive Him. Life would be so much better for everyone if they simply gave their lives to the Lord. Yet in our rebelliousness, we continue to lead our own lives in the way that we want. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
We think that we will be set free yet what we find is bondage.
Free sex! Yet it results in bondage.
Get drunk! Bondage.
Take advantage of others! Bondage.
And on and on.
Proverbs 14:12 warns us that there is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. In our modern world, we are bombarded with various ways and ideologies that promise happiness, success, and fulfillment. However, many of these ways lead to death, both literally and figuratively.
One way that leads to death is the pursuit of wealth and material possessions. Our society places a high value on money and material goods, and many people believe that accumulating wealth will bring them happiness and security. However, the Bible tells us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and that we cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). When we prioritize wealth over God and others, we become selfish and greedy, and this can lead to broken relationships and a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction.
Another way that leads to death is the pursuit of pleasure and instant gratification. Our culture encourages us to seek pleasure in various forms, whether it be through substance abuse, sexual promiscuity, or other vices. However, these pursuits often lead to addiction, brokenness, and ultimately, physical and spiritual death. As the Bible warns us, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
In contrast to the ways of the world, the Bible offers us a different way of life that leads to true and lasting fulfillment. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). When we surrender our lives to Jesus and follow His teachings, we discover a way of life that is marked by love, joy, peace, and eternal life. Let us choose the narrow path that leads to life, rather than the wide path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
Back to Luke 19:41, where we see Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem. He knew that the city would reject him and suffer destruction. Jesus’ tears were a reflection of his deep love and compassion for the people, despite their rejection of him.
Likewise, we live in a world that is broken and hurting. We see the effects of sin all around us, including poverty, injustice, violence, and sickness. It can be easy to become overwhelmed or even desensitized to the pain and suffering in our world. However, we are called to have compassion on the world around us, just as Jesus did.
Compassion means to suffer with or empathize with those who are hurting. When we have compassion, we are moved to action. We seek to alleviate the suffering of others and bring hope and healing to those who are in need. We can do this by serving those who are less fortunate, advocating for justice, and sharing the love of Jesus with those who are lost.
However, true compassion requires more than just a one-time act of service or charity. It requires a lifestyle of love and sacrifice. It means being willing to inconvenience ourselves for the sake of others and to stand up for what is right, even when it is not popular.
As we seek to have compassion on the world around us, we can take comfort in knowing that we are not alone. Jesus himself is with us, weeping over the brokenness of our world and inviting us to join him in bringing healing and hope to all those who are hurting.
Ultimately the goal is salvation for the world. In fact, that is what produces joy in the heart of the Lord. There is no weeping when a sinner repents.
In Luke 15:7, Jesus says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” This passage reveals God’s heart for the lost and His joy when sinners turn to him in repentance.
God is not indifferent or angry towards sinners; rather, He longs for them to come back to Him. When we turn away from sin and towards God, we experience His forgiveness, love, and grace. And when we do, God rejoices over us, just as a shepherd rejoices over a lost sheep that is found.
This passage reminds us that no matter how far we may have strayed from God, there is always hope for restoration and reconciliation. We can never be too far gone for God’s love and grace to reach us. When we turn to God in repentance, we are welcomed with open arms and celebrated by heaven.
Let us take heart in the fact that God rejoices over sinners who repent. Let us be people who are quick to repent and seek God’s forgiveness, knowing that He is always ready and willing to receive us back into his loving embrace.
And let our message to the world be that God loves them and that His plan is a good one for their lives!
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