2024, labeled by some as the “Year of Democracy,” will see more voters globally than ever before. As nearly 64 countries hold elections, democracy’s future is being fiercely debated. Yet, despite its growth, we face significant concerns about its stability. As political leaders like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump warn of democracy’s decline, a crucial question remains: Is democracy worth saving? Historically, democracies have struggled….
Story Category: Human Beings
Ideological Subversion – Marshall Stiver leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
3 months ago in Human Beings
In a 38-year-old interview, former KGB spy Yuri Bezmenov warned that the U.S. could be undermined through a process of ideological subversion. He explained that this method would change Americans’ perception of reality, making them unable to protect their country, families, and communities. Bezmenov outlined four stages: demoralization, destabilization, crisis, and normalization. The demoralization phase separates people from God, leaving them to rely on their…
Integrity youtube.com
The Bible has a lot to say about the impact leaders have on the well-being of their people. In Proverbs 29:4, it says, “By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.” So, looking at the world today, how do our leaders stack up against this standard? Proverbs 6:16-19 spells out seven things that can lead…
A Godly Quest for Pleasure – David F. Maas cgg.org
Ryan Welsh
4 months ago in Human Beings
Throughout creation, God has established patterns that are evident in all living things, including the drive-reduction mechanism—where the body seeks to satisfy needs like hunger and thirst to reduce tension. This concept aligns with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which identifies the fulfillment of basic drives as foundational to human behavior. Philosophies like Epicureanism, which prioritize pleasure, have emerged around these physical needs. However, the Bible…
The Frankfurt School youtu.be
The Frankfurt School was a group of German intellectuals who fled Nazi Germany during World War 2. They brought their radical ideas to America, influencing its institutions, especially education and culture. One key idea was Critical Theory, which emphasizes challenging dominant power structures and cultural norms, valuing individual experiences in shaping social values, and promoting subjective morality. These ideas have greatly impacted modern society, especially…
When Leaders Are Lawbreakers – Brian Orchard leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
5 months ago in Human Beings
The world is a mess. We face a crisis of leadership, with lawbreaking leaders leading nations to self-destruction. Christians must step up as law-abiding leaders. Leaders in denial, aided by complicit citizens, ignore reality, avoiding distressing truths. Denial is a defense mechanism that can blind us. An article, “The World’s Most Dangerous Delusion,” highlights this: America denies China’s declared hostility, preferring false peace. This denial…
The Decline and Fall of the American Empire – Steve McCann leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
9 months ago in Human Beings
In his essay, Sir John Glubb identifies six stages in the rise and fall of empires, drawing from 3,000 years of historical data. These stages offer a lens through which to understand the trajectory of nations, including the United States. The first stage, the Age of Pioneers, parallels the Revolutionary War and the nation’s founding. Following this, the Age of Conquests symbolizes the Western Expansion…
Permission to Fail – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Ryan Welsh
10 months ago in Human Beings
Striving to emulate God in human form inevitably leads to imperfection, and embracing failure is intrinsic to Christian growth. Just as artists discard thousands of subpar creations to refine their skill, our journey involves countless flawed attempts at embodying spiritual virtues. Each failed effort is a step toward mastery. Rather than avoiding situations requiring spiritual fruit, we confront them despite inadequacies. Failure isn’t isolated but…
Am I Really Forgiven? – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Ryan Welsh
11 months ago in Human Beings
Part 1 introduced the subject of Christian impostor syndrome, a topic that resonates with many. Part 2 explores the first of three crucial questions that can help in confronting self-doubt and insecurities. The primary question, ‘Am I really forgiven?’ carries profound weight, manifesting in varied forms. Sometimes it’s, ‘What if I haven’t repented correctly?’ or ‘What if I forgot a sin?’—often leaving us with an…
What Makes You Think You Belong Here? – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Ryan Welsh
11 months ago in Human Beings
Traditionally, the Feast of Tabernacles prompts the question “Why are you here?” However, the author poses a more uncomfortable query: “What makes you think you belong here?” delving into the phenomenon of “Impostor Syndrome.” This pervasive feeling of inadequacy, often discussed in professional contexts, extends into various aspects of life, including Christianity. Emulating Jesus, a perfect being, may evoke a sense of spiritual fraudulence. Acknowledging…
The 2024 Relationship Challenges – Brian Orchard leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
11 months ago in Human Beings
In today’s world, a focus on self is causing the deterioration of relationships at various levels, with nations and communities turning inward due to the rise of “Identity Politics” and “New Tribalism.” Cancel culture, defined as publicly rejecting or boycotting individuals for perceived unacceptable views, intensifies this trend at a personal level, contributing to relationship breakdowns. This emphasizes the importance of concern for relationships within…
Thanksgiving Day: More Than Just Being Thankful – Don Hooser ucg.org
Ryan Welsh
1 year ago in Human Beings
Thank you—two simple yet profound words that hold immense value in any language. The satisfaction of doing a good deed often lies in hearing those two words as a reward. Unfortunately, gratitude seems underused. Gratitude is the foundation of virtue, inspiring positive attitudes. It’s challenging to maintain a bad attitude when feeling grateful. Ingratitude, on the other hand, is a prevalent sin, easier to criticize…
Post-modernism: Marxism in Disguise – Tomorrow’s World youtube.com
Postmodernism is a movement that came out of the 20th century. It is one of the Neo-Marxist philosophies that came about as a result of the utter failure of Marxism or Socialism over the course of that century. It’s often characterized by relativism or skepticism – having a healthy suspicion of reason and known truth. Marxism views all history as the struggle between classes. This,…
Is It Wrong for a Man to Have Long Hair? – Erik Jones lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
2 years ago in Human Beings
Most today are guided merely by fashion and desire in how they wear their hair – this includes men. To consider a hair style for reasons outside of yourself will seem foreign and archaic to most. For Christian men (subject of this article), being called to a life of service is the point. A calling that is to represent God, His authority, His designed and…
Bring Every Thought Into Captivity – Jeremy Lallier lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Human Beings
This article addresses an interesting principle that cuts contrary to modern belief – bringing every thought into captivity. An idea that we are not subject to whatever enters our mind, instead we can rule over and control what we think about. Like the trick in trying to remove air from a cup the only way to remove unwanted thoughts is to fill the mind with…
What Does It Mean to Turn the Other Cheek? – Jeremy Lallier lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Human Beings
The concept broached here, like so many, gain depth with a little clarification and understanding. To “turn the other cheek” is less about making yourself a doormat just like an “eye for an eye” was not about vengeance but more about legal protections. The best way to understand Christ, who sometimes spoke in hyperbole for emphasis, is to look at His and other examples. In…
The Secret Is Showing Up – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Human Beings
For readers of this article the title sums it up quite nicely. The overarching theme is something we each face in one way or another. Life happens and the struggles there of, we become overwhelmed, and our spiritual obligations are neglected. We often justify the lapse because we can’t give it our best effort. What we fail to see is so often those times we…
Are People Lost Because of Adam’s Sin? – Herbert Armstrong hwalibrary.com
Steven Orchard
3 years ago in Sin, Creation, Human Beings
Christian teachings concerning the “fall of man” hold that God made man complete, perfect, with an immortal spirit soul. Further, that this creation was then corrupted by Satan, forever condemning humanity to hell, and that God has ever since been trying to “save” men in a contest with Satan for these fallen souls. That’s not what the Bible says. Man is mortal. He does not…
Remember Your Creator – Ulysses Ronquillo thefatherscall.org
Brian Orchard
3 years ago in Human Beings
King Solomon’s depth of experience – good and bad – allowed him to accumulate (with God’s help), a great deal of wisdom. Toward the end of his life he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes in order to leave a legacy of his wise conclusions. The final chapter of the book pulls together his powerful observations regarding life and life’s priorities. It begins with an admonition…
Original Sin – Sam Sweat ucg.org
Steven Orchard
3 years ago in Sin, Creation, Human Beings
Original Sin is a cornerstone of popular Christianity that claims human beings are born evil; i.e. Adam transmitted guilt for his sin to each of us by virtue of simple heredity. This is a fundamentally wrong premise with far reaching bad consequences throughout modern history for both Christians and non-Christians. The doctrine was championed by St. Augustine, who was a Gnostic blending paganism and Greek…