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…
Story Category: Human Beings
Permission to Fail – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Ryan Welsh
2 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
5 months 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
2 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
2 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
2 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…
Examining Our Assumptions – Tim Vail thefatherscall.org
Brian Orchard
3 years ago in Human Beings, Family
We all have the proclivity to make assumptions. We make them in our relationships with each other and in our relationship with God. An assumption assumes a certain reality that can be very different to the truth of a matter. Assumptions often lead to incorrect conclusions which in turn can lead to building walls and barriers. Satan the Devil is a master at inducing us…
Paths of the Sea, Highways of the Heart – Bryan Fall tomorrowsworld.org
Marshall Stiver
3 years ago in Human Beings
It is hard to look at the ocean up close and personal and not be impressed with the majesty of its unending waves and tides. It’s power, rhythm and beauty is so immense that it beckons millions to come to its shores or out into its depths. Even so, there is far more to it than meets the eye. The Psalmist was inspired to write…
Biblical Principles of Health – Douglas S. Winnail tomorrowsworld.org
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Human Beings
As we face a global pandemic, this article sets out to show, in extensive detail, biblical health principles. It’s not widely understood but the biblical approach to health focuses on education, the prevention of disease and the active promotion of health”. Without ignoring the spiritual implication of many of Gods laws, the health benefits of keeping said laws are undeniable. Overall health benefits, including protection from infectious disease…
Are Humans Good or Evil? – Richard Ritenbaugh cgg.org
John Grabara
3 years ago in Human Beings
Are people good or evil? This question has been debated for thousands of years and still is to this day. Was man created with an evil nature or a good nature? There are many theories supporting both sides. The answer to the question is found in the Bible. After God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day Genesis 1:31 says, “Then God saw everything…
Thinking Well, Part I – Carmine Russo churchofgodnetwork.org
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Human Beings
Most are not taught to freely reason but instead are conditioned. “We are enslaved to the bias, prejudice, anger, envy, and jealousy that have become a large part of our nature.” We, therefore, must work to recognize this habituated mindset. To do this, four “Categories of Awareness” are highlighted: time awareness, task awareness, result awareness and self-awareness. Time awareness refers to our ability to manage…
Drunk With Blood, Part One: The Proper Context sabbaththoughts.com
Julie Modad
3 years ago in Plan of Salvation, Human Beings
Skeptics of the Bible often accuse God of being inconsistent, cruel or unjust. Is He a God of love, or a God wielding harsh punishments sometimes on large swaths of people? The argument stems from some of the more graphic stories of the bible and ask how a “loving God” could do that. The problem is that, almost universally, these stories are presented without any…