j-hope 'on the street (with J. Cole)' Release
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ARMY! Have you listened to j-hope's new album 'HOPE ON THE STREET VOL. 1' yet? Stream it now!
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Matthew 25:45 Then the King will answer, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.'
A Paradigm Shift
Mark 2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins."
The New Testament is a game-changer and paradigm shift. It is like new wine that cannot be contained in old wineskin. Hence, we must refrain from using our old mindset to understand GOD's new teaching, or it will become our stumbling block, a block that will cause us to fall away from our faith. When Jesus first introduced His new teaching, many of His disciples could not accept it, so they turned back and no longer walked with Him. His teaching created resistance then and would also now. Today, if we hear something that goes well with us and does not turn us off, then the teachings are most likely being compromised. If the core of His teaching has not changed, then we should have the same reaction as Jesus's disciples did: rejection. It is like drinking bitter medicine.
However, if the medicine is not bitter but sweet, then we should be wary that something is wrong. GOD's bitter medicine does not go well with our fallen nature, so rejection should be the natural response. If it sounds soothing to our ears and appeases our fallen nature, then most likely, it is an alternate teaching to His. His fake teaching is like entering through a wide gate with a broad path; do not believe it because it leads to destruction. GOD has instructed us to walk through the small gate with the narrow path that few will find, and it leads to life. And any other way is a misdirection. Therefore, do not be misled by hype teachings that are pleasing to the ear but will lead to destruction.
Stop sinning vs forgiveness of sin.
Daniel 4:27 Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed.
If we want to be strong in GOD, we must be able to accept hard truths, things that are hard to the ears but good for our souls. Such a message is a high calling because our fallen nature can do nothing but sin. And GOD's Word bites our fallen nature. Therefore, it does not go well with our ears and is a nail to our flesh. A message that our fallen nature loves is the forgiveness of sin, a message of no condemnation to every action. Then, we are no different from a dog that returns to its vomit as we sinners return to our sin. Thus, many Christians live in the comfort of GOD as Yahweh Hessed, GOD of forgiveness. With that, many live in the impression that they can be who they are as there is nothing they can do that cannot be forgiven under the blood of Christ. If not, His blood is no different from that of sheep, goats, bulls, doves, or pigeons. Therefore, nothing can rock their salvation as it is secured in the blood of Jesus.
The Fallacy
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh, will reap destruction, but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit, will reap eternal life.
If any of us think that the blood of Jesus will keep us away from sin, we are deviating far from the truth. Forgiveness of sin only releases us from the bondage of sin, which has no eternal value. It is like a person being set free from prison. Then, what from then on? It is what we make out of ourselves after being out of prison that matters. Metaphorically speaking, when we sin, we get ourselves into prison, and when GOD forgives us, He releases us from prison. If we keep on sinning and asking for forgiveness, we are repeating the cycle of being in and out of prison. Then what is the purpose of forgiveness if we have no intention of getting out of sin? We are doing nothing but fooling around with GOD, taking Him as a joke. No one ever fools around with the law and gets away. What more, with GOD, the Lawmaker of heaven and earth, and hope nothing will happen?
The all-mighty blood has its limitations.
Matthew 12:31 Therefore, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Jesus's blood is powerful enough to forgive all sins except the sin of unrepentance. For that, His blood has no effect. His blood can cleanse us of all sins but cannot keep us away from sinning. It is written in the Bible that if we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do we think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Therefore, there is a limit to 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. No one in the Bible ever received unconditional and perpetual forgiveness like the way we think, sinning without guilt and remorse. GOD often leaves us case studies to substantiate His Word. If there is none, then most likely, we misconstrue His Word.
What does it mean to stop sinning?
1 John 3:6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.
Many times, we have been told to stop sinning, but many do not understand GOD's expectations. To many, as long as we do not cause anyone any grievous harm by killing, stealing, and destroying, we are not sinning. And as long as we do not violate GOD's commandments, we are not sinning. All these are true in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, definitions become more comprehensive. Anyone angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be subject to the fire of hell. Without physical contact, even looking at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Therefore, to stop sinning is more than not doing evil. We must do good.
The new requirement
John 3:19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
Within our fallen nature is the desire to do evil. Therefore, in the Old Testament, after the fall of Adam and Eve, GOD wanted man to master his evil desires, as He told Cain, who represented the new generation of fallen men. In the New Testament, when GOD became Man, man not only had to master the evil within him but also to overcome evil with good. Only the one who overcomes will Jesus grant him the right to sit with Him on His throne, just as He overcame and sat down with His Father on His throne. The requirement has changed before and after Christ.
Hence, we cannot use old methodology on new theology as we cannot sew a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. The patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result. Jesus's new teaching will stretch us to be more than who we can be. If we cannot be stretched, we will tear in unbelief. Not being able to say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for us. In Christ, we must do more and be better. Nothing will be impossible for us, even to the extent of loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us, that we may be sons of our Father in heaven. We no longer are allowed to stop at 'Love your neighbour' and 'Hate your enemy.' The truth is that many cannot cross this threshold of irrational demand. Then how many can overcome evil with good?
Why must we overcome evil with good?
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
If we can overcome evil with good, it proves the authenticity of our transformation. We are born again in the Spirit, and we are cleaned on the inside of the cup and dish so that the outside may become clean as well. Remember, we have fallen nature and are incapable of doing good. If we have extreme self-control, we can control the beast within us. To overcome evil with good is beyond the capacity of our fallen nature. It is like asking the lion to eat grass. Therefore, if a lion eats grass, it only proves that it is no longer a beast but has morphed into something else.
In Christ, we are His new creations, meaning we are more than GOD's creation but a new, improved version. We no longer hold the flaws of imperfection but the perfection of GOD. Therefore, what the fallen nature cannot do, the godly-infused nature can.
Hell is prepared for those who do no good.
Matthew 25:45-46 Then the King will answer, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
To illustrate His point, Jesus talked about a time in the future when He would be in His glory, and all the angels would be with Him as He sat on His glorious throne. Then, He would separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. One group would inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. And the other group would be cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. What good did the first group do to deserve heaven, and what bad did the other group do to deserve hell? No one in the heaven group stood out as any hero, nor anyone from the hell group stood out as any villain. The compliment for the righteous was - For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you looked after Me; I was in prison, and you visited Me.'
Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?'
And the King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'
The unrighteous were accused of not performing any acts of kindness as the righteous did, and their punishment was the eternal lake of fire. The King did not accuse them of massacres or blasphemy against GOD that deserved the lake of fire, but their fate was no different from that of the vilest sinners.
The Conclusion
Not doing good is as good as sinning, deserving the lake of fire. Many might view this as perversity, as the deeds do not deserve such punishment. On Judgment Day, many will question God about His justice and fairness, not knowing that sin is sin, regardless of how small or big. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." As long as the Spirit does not transform us, we are not born of the Spirit. We are still sinners destined for hell. However, the issue is not that many do not want to do good, but they do not have the tenacity to do so because of their fallen nature. Many can try, but they do not have the know-how to do it. If we want to know, we need to die to our flesh. Then, the anointing of the Holy Spirit will guide us.
For this reason, our world still feels lonely and cold despite its advancement, vibrancy, and activities. The affluent are highly affluent, and the poor are extremely poor, and the gap is not narrowing. If everyone were anointed with the Holy Spirit and spontaneous in sharing simple essentials such as food, water, and clothing, the world would be a better place. GOD does not require us to save the world by doing great and mighty things because that job belongs to Him. He is our Hero, and we do not need another hero. All He wants us to do is small things with great love. We would have met GOD's expectation of overcoming evil with good.
Prayer: Thank you, GOD, for opening my eyes and ears to your word. Let your word quicken my heart and enlighten my mind that they are alive in me so that I can be alive in your word. Then your word will not return to you empty, but it will accomplish what you please, and I will prosper in it. Amen.
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Finding true success through the Word of GOD
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then, you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
All roads might lead to Rome, but there is only one way that leads to prosperity and success. Some might think it is through hard work, creativity, perseverance or any positive traits. They are definitely good attributes, but they are not the way. As conceited as it may sound, we have only one option to ironclad achievements and successes so that they will be everlasting, not something that comes by day and flies by night. That way is through the Spiritual way of GOD, according to the Book of the Law. In other words, nothing we do is good enough to give us true success unless we follow His way. Only that will make a difference. Unbeknownst to many, this is where many fail. Why?
We do not know the way. Jesus has cautioned us that the way that leads to life is narrow, and the gate to it is small. Unlike the wide is the gate and broad is the way, few will find it. Therefore, we might think we know the way, but we might be wrong. Our failures prove that we do not know the way. Our weakness is we know far too little of the Bible while assuming we know enough to be right with GOD. Once we are not careful, we might end up like the foolish virgins in the parable of the ten virgins, being locked out of the wedding feast. The difference between the wise virgins and the foolish virgins is that one group has more oil-nointing than the other. Presumably, the foolish virgins knew GOD's promises and claimed them in faith without working out their salvation. Unlike the foolish virgins, the wise virgins not only knew GOD's promises but also the terms and conditions to fulfil them. They worked out their salvation. One group fulfilled the requirements and made it to the wedding feast, while the other did not. Therefore, knowing GOD's promises is not enough. We need to meet the conditions. Jesus is no exception, and He met GOD's condition before He was given a name beyond others.
Many of GOD's promises are conditional, meaning we must pay a price for them. In other words, they require sacrifices. Without doing so, we cannot claim the promises. Even though Jesus paid the price for our salvation, it does not mean it is free. To claim it, we must repent from our sins. That is to mean we must sin no more. We are not free to do as we wish but what GOD wants of us. Many know the promise of salvation, but a few are aware of the condition that they have to sin no more. If they had known, many would not have jeopardised their eternal life for eternal condemnation by sinning. Sinning gives us temporary gratifications but eternal sorrows. Therefore, it is not worth the indulgence.
Living in GOD's promises is like enjoying the breathtaking mountain view. However, to enjoy the view, we must scale the mountain. Realistically, without scaling the mountain, there will be no view. If we do not scale, we remain like chickens that peck the ground instead of eagles that soar into heaven. As much as we might be acrophobic, remember, when Adam and Eve fell, GOD cursed the ground, and the consequence of that is we must toil to eat off the ground all the days of our lives. Both thorns and thistles will make the ground yield for us. Instead of eating from the sweetness of the fruits, we eat the blandness and bitterness of the plants of the field. Today, if we think that our lives lack sweetness, we can change it by scaling the mountain of GOD's Word. Only then can we distance ourselves from the cursed ground and soar in the blessings of GOD.
Yes, as long as we do everything written in the Book, all His promises are always yes and amen to us because GOD rules heaven and earth according to His Word. As simple as it might sound, many do not know its implications. We must become slaves to the Word or slaves to righteousness, as Apostle Paul phrased it. Ultimately, it means we must, according to the Book of Deuteronomy, faithfully obey the voice of the LORD our God and be careful to follow all His commandments. No matter how we choose to understand it, we must be obedient to His Law 100%. Where He leads, and we must follow. When He says yes, we will not say no. We willingly relinquish our rights to be under His sovereignty as Christ did for the Kingdom of Heaven.
In truth, GOD holds sovereignty over heaven and earth because He is the creator of them. Everything in the universe revolves around Him, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. His kingdom comes, and His will be done on earth as in heaven. As much as we want, nothing revolves around us - our wishes, hopes, or purposes. We are not the centre of anything, not by our will, our might or our strength. Nothing happens unless GOD permits it. If our lives ever turn out well, it is that we first seek the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness because GOD does not bless unrighteous people. For the righteous, He ensures that we are the head and not the tail; we will only move upward and never downward. Only when we recognise we are nothing without Him will we be willing to align ourselves according to His will so that we may bear much fruit. It is not without reason that the Bible writes, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'. Only those who are not blinded by their self-centredness know they are poor in spirit. They recognise their spiritual emptiness and the need for GOD, seeking Him with all their hearts. Only they will find Him.
Be that as it may, many understand that Jesus is the vine, that we are the branch, and that we can do nothing without Him. However, that is not the case when they are in church. Nobody goes to church to pray as the branch for His kingdom to come and His will be done. Few pray to be more like Jesus in obedience to GOD the Father and love others as Jesus has loved us, fulfilling GOD's will on earth. Instead, we pray for ourselves for our kingdom to come so that we can be wealthy and better than most men, winning their admiration. We pray against those who go against us and despise them as they are not like us. We fail to be better persons because we are not like Christ, full of the fruit of the Spirit.
Many times, difficult people are those who are different from us and have different perspectives coming from contracting circumstances. Once we have the patience to understand them, they might not be as obstinate as they seem. Similarly, there are no wayward children, only neglected ones. All we need to do is exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, and many things will change. When we do that, we invite the Holy Spirit to work in our midst. There is no situation that is impossible for GOD to resolve. When a man's ways please Him, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. GOD will fill our shortcomings with His strength to be what He wants us to be: good children, spouses, parents, friends or enemies. If any of them slaps us on our right cheek, we will turn to him the other. If he forces us to go one mile, we will go with them two. And if he wants to take our tunic, we will let him have our cloak as well.
To meet the unreasonable demand of going a mile is stretching beyond human limits. And to go for an additional mile is inhuman; it requires divine empowerment. GOD is not joking when He asks us to go the extra mile. If we cannot, it only means that we are not empowered to do so and are unable to follow instructions. Therefore, we need to go before GOD on our knees, asking for His divine intervention so that we can do what we cannot. If not, we cannot fulfil the will of GOD.
Many might think GOD is teasing for stating such an OMG request, but He is not. He was also not teasing when He asked the Israelites to conquer the promised land dominated by giants. Though time and situation have changed, GOD has not. Even when there are no more giants to fight, His demands are as impossible as ever. To do His will, we need more than human strength; we need divine empowerment to deny our internal resistance, which is called fallen nature. Only then will we be able to carry the cross and follow the path of Jesus. As ugly as it might sound, if we cannot deny our fallen nature, we cannot embrace GOD will and welcome His kingdom. The big question is: are we still GOD's children if we do not do His will? Can we believe in GOD, do whatever we want and still be called children of GOD? Simply put, can we pass a maths test without knowing how to answer the questions and only knowing the English words? The bottom line is if we cannot do everything written in the Book of the Law, how do we qualify as children of GOD?
Many might argue that the rule has changed, and it is no longer by work but by grace through faith that we are saved. It is a gift of GOD. We do not need to work for our salvation but to believe and have faith. Jesus came to settle all the documentation for us so we could have an unconditional visa to heaven. Yes, it is true, but it is not as simple as what we think. Salvation is a gift only by GOD's gracious invitation and not something that we can buy with our work. GOD is magnanimous and has given everyone an invitation to salvation through Jesus Christ without prejudice. However, if we decide to accept the invitation, we need not do anything except attend the wedding banquet where GOD has prepared for His Son. The condition is we need to dress according to the wedding code. If we do not, we will be thrown out, as illustrated in the parable of the wedding banquet. Even though salvation is not by work, it does not mean we do not need to put any effort into it, as some might assume. The only thing free is the invitation. We are not prequalified to be invited, but anything more than that is not. If we are staying for the banquet, we need to change to wedding clothes. There are expectations to be met. Therefore, we cannot oversimplify things or assume wrongly. No work does not mean no expectations.
When GOD promised Joshua success in all that he did as the next leader after Moses's death, the condition was that he must know the Book of the Law by heart by meditating on it day and night and that he be careful to do everything written in it. Only then, figuratively, will whatever he touches turn into gold, implying that all God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen." He understood the gravity of his situation, as no one was fit enough to fight the giants. In other words, they are digging their graves. GOD did not ask Joshua to hope in Him to deliver them but to do everything written in the Book. If GOD were to save the Israelites regardless of whether they adhere to His Word or not, then it would be redundant to instruct Joshua to mediate night and day in His word. Therefore, knowing the Word is paramount to his success. Likewise, it is paramount to our success, and we should put in every effort to seek it.
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then, you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
All roads might lead to Rome, but there is only one way that leads to prosperity and success. Some might think it is through hard work, creativity, perseverance or any positive traits. They are definitely good attributes, but they are not the way. As conceited as it may sound, we have only one option to ironclad achievements and successes so that they will be everlasting, not something that comes by day and flies by night. That way is through the Spiritual way of GOD, according to the Book of the Law. In other words, nothing we do is good enough to give us true success unless we follow His way. Only that will make a difference. Unbeknownst to many, this is where many fail. Why?
We do not know the way. Jesus has cautioned us that the way that leads to life is narrow, and the gate to it is small. Unlike the wide is the gate and broad is the way, few will find it. Therefore, we might think we know the way, but we might be wrong. Our failures prove that we do not know the way. Our weakness is we know far too little of the Bible while assuming we know enough to be right with GOD. Once we are not careful, we might end up like the foolish virgins in the parable of the ten virgins, being locked out of the wedding feast. The difference between the wise virgins and the foolish virgins is that one group has more oil-nointing than the other. Presumably, the foolish virgins knew GOD's promises and claimed them in faith without working out their salvation. Unlike the foolish virgins, the wise virgins not only knew GOD's promises but also the terms and conditions to fulfil them. They worked out their salvation. One group fulfilled the requirements and made it to the wedding feast, while the other did not. Therefore, knowing GOD's promises is not good enough. We need to meet the conditions. Jesus is no exception, and He met GOD's condition before He was given a name beyond others.
Many of GOD's promises are conditional, meaning we must pay a price for them. In other words, they require sacrifices. Without doing so, we cannot claim the promises. Even though Jesus paid the price for our salvation, it does not mean it is free. To claim it, we must repent from our sins. That is to mean we must sin no more. We are not free to do as we wish but what GOD wants of us. Many know the promise of salvation, but a few are aware of the condition that they have to sin no more. If they had known, many would not have jeopardised their eternal life for eternal condemnation by sinning. Sinning gives us temporary gratifications but eternal sorrows. Therefore, it is not worth the indulgence.
Living in GOD's promises is like enjoying the breathtaking mountain view. However, to enjoy the view, we must scale the mountain. Realistically, without scaling the mountain, there will be no view. If we do not scale, we remain like chickens that peck the ground instead of eagles that soar into heaven. As much as we might be acrophobic, remember, when Adam and Eve fell, GOD cursed the ground, and the consequence of that is we must toil to eat off the ground all the days of our lives. Both thorns and thistles will make the ground yield for us. Instead of eating from the sweetness of the fruits, we eat the blandness and bitterness of the plants of the field. Today, if we think that our lives lack sweetness, we can change it by scaling the mountain of GOD's Word. Only then can we distance ourselves from the cursed ground and soar in the blessings of GOD.
Yes, as long as we do everything written in the Book, all His promises are always yes and amen to us because GOD rules heaven and earth according to His Word. As simple as it might sound, many do not know its implications. We must become slaves to the Word or slaves to righteousness, as Apostle Paul phrased it. Ultimately, it means we must, according to the Book of Deuteronomy, faithfully obey the voice of the LORD our God and be careful to follow all His commandments. No matter how we choose to understand it, we must be obedient to His Law 100%. Where He leads, and we must follow. When He says yes, we will not say no. We willingly relinquish our rights to be under His sovereignty as Christ did for the Kingdom of Heaven.
In truth, GOD holds sovereignty over heaven and earth because He is the creator of them. Everything in the universe revolves around Him, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. His kingdom comes, and His will be done on earth as in heaven. As much as we want, nothing revolves around us - our wishes, hopes, or purposes. We are not the centre of anything, not by our will, our might or our strength. Nothing happens unless GOD permits it. If our lives ever turn out well, it is that we first seek the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness because GOD does not bless unrighteous people. For the righteous, He ensures that we are the head and not the tail; we will only move upward and never downward. Only when we recognise we are nothing without Him will we be willing to align ourselves according to His will so that we may bear much fruit. It is not without reason that the Bible writes, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'. Only those who are not blinded by their self-centredness know they are poor in spirit. They recognise their spiritual emptiness and the need for GOD, seeking Him with all their hearts. Only they will find Him.
Be that as it may, many understand that Jesus is the vine, that we are the branch, and that we can do nothing without Him. However, that is not the case when they are in church. Nobody goes to church to pray as the branch for His kingdom to come and His will be done. Few pray to be more like Jesus in obedience to GOD the Father and love others as Jesus has loved us, fulfilling GOD's will on earth. Instead, we pray for ourselves for our kingdom to come so that we can be wealthy and better than most men, winning their admiration. We pray against those who go against us and despise them as they are not like us. We fail to be better persons because we are not like Christ, full of the fruit of the Spirit.
Many times, difficult people are those who are different from us and have different perspectives coming from contracting circumstances. Once we have the patience to understand them, they might not be as obstinate as they seem. Similarly, there are no wayward children, only neglected ones. All we need to do is exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, and many things will change. When we do that, we invite the Holy Spirit to work in our midst. There is no situation that is impossible for GOD to resolve. When a man's ways please Him, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. GOD will fill our shortcomings with His strength to be what He wants us to be: good children, spouses, parents, friends or enemies. If any of them slaps us on our right cheek, we will turn to him the other. If he forces us to go one mile, we will go with them two. And if he wants to take our tunic, we will let him have our cloak as well.
To meet the unreasonable demand of going a mile is stretching beyond human limits. And to go for an additional mile is inhuman; it requires divine empowerment. GOD is not joking when He asks us to go the extra mile. If we cannot, it only means that we are not empowered to do so and are unable to follow instructions. Therefore, we need to go before GOD on our knees, asking for His divine intervention so that we can do what we cannot. If not, we cannot fulfil the will of GOD.
Many might think GOD is teasing for stating such an OMG request, but He is not. He was also not teasing when He asked the Israelites to conquer the promised land dominated by giants. Though time and situation have changed, GOD has not. Even when there are no more giants to fight, His demands are as impossible as ever. To do His will, we need more than human strength; we need divine empowerment to deny our internal resistance, which is called fallen nature. Only then will we be able to carry the cross and follow the path of Jesus. As ugly as it might sound, if we cannot deny our fallen nature, we cannot embrace GOD will and welcome His kingdom. The big question is: are we still GOD's children if we do not do His will? Can we believe in GOD, do whatever we want and still be called children of GOD? Simply put, can we pass a maths test without knowing how to answer the questions and only knowing the English words? The bottom line is if we cannot do everything written in the Book of the Law, how do we qualify as children of GOD?
Many might argue that the rule has changed, and it is no longer by work but by grace through faith that we are saved. It is a gift of GOD. We do not need to work for our salvation but to believe and have faith. Jesus came to settle all the documentation for us so we could have an unconditional visa to heaven. Yes, it is true, but it is not as simple as what we think.
Salvation is a gift only by GOD's gracious invitation and not something that we can buy with our work. GOD is magnanimous and has given everyone an invitation to salvation through Jesus Christ without prejudice. However, if we decide to accept the invitation, we need not do anything except attend the wedding banquet where GOD has prepared for His Son. The condition is we need to dress according to the wedding code. If we do not, we will be thrown out, as illustrated in the parable of the wedding banquet. Even though salvation is not by work, it does not mean we do not need to put any effort into it, as some might assume. The only thing free is the invitation. We are not prequalified to be invited, but anything more than that is not. If we are staying for the banquet, we need to change to wedding clothes. There are expectations to be met. Therefore, we cannot oversimplify things or assume wrongly. No work does not mean no expectations.
When GOD promised Joshua success in all that he did as the next leader after Moses's death, the condition was that he must know the Book of the Law by heart by meditating on it day and night and that he be careful to do everything written in it. Only then, figuratively, whatever he touches will turn into gold, implying that all God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen." He understood the gravity of his situation, as no one was fit enough to fight the giants. In other words, they are digging their graves. GOD did not ask Joshua to hope in Him to deliver them but to do everything written in the Book. If GOD were to save the Israelites regardless of whether they adhere to His Word or not, then it would be redundant to instruct Joshua to mediate night and day in His word. Therefore, knowing the Word is paramount to his success. Likewise, it is paramount to our success, and we should put in every effort to seek it.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to understand more of your Words through the Holy Spirit so we are equipped to do your Will on this earth and to glorify your Name. Amen
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Investing in the Future Maritime Workforce⚓
On March 24,
@SeawayUSDOT visited
@WNY_MaritimeCS. Our Deputy Administrator and Executive Officer spoke with upperclassmen enrolled in the school’s Maritime Careers class—a unique program that introduces students to careers on the water, teaches navigation fundamentals, and even includes hands-on boatbuilding at the Buffalo Maritime Center.
This visit is part of our ongoing commitment to growing the maritime workforce and inspiring the next generation of seafarers, engineers, and innovators. By connecting directly with students, we hope to open eyes to the diverse, rewarding career paths available in the marine transportation sector—and to introduce GLS as an employer of choice in the industry.
The energy, curiosity, and talent we see in these students is a powerful reminder: the future of maritime is bright, and it's being shaped in classrooms and communities across the Great Lakes and around the country.
🌊 Let’s keep building that future—one student, one opportunity, and one conversation at a time.
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MaritimeCareers# #
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MentorshipMatters# #
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Checking in on $SAGA - in case you’re stuck on the
@Sagaxyz__ Airdrop 🪂treadmill
1⃣Massive Unlocks Looming
2⃣Inflation
3⃣Airdrop Treadmill
4⃣Chain Usage
1⃣Massive Unlocks
🔸April 9, 2025: Cliffs end, 133.33M tokens hit (148% of 90M initial supply).
🔸Core Contributors: 66.72M (33.36% of 200M).
🔸Investors: 50.04M (33.36% of 150M).
🔸Rest (16.57M): Likely ecosystem/airdrops, but unclear.
Price impact: Down unless demand magically appears (from where?). I usually don't talk about price action nor am I qualified for it but you can't ignore this.
2⃣Inflation
🔸7% yearly = ~70M new tokens. No burn in sight.
🔸Stakers diluted, chasing more $SAGA rewards.
More tokens ≠ more value.
3⃣Airdrop Lock-In Trap & Treadmill
🔸Total airdrop allocation: 140M-155M (14%-15.5% of 1B supply).
🔸Genesis: 45M (15M claimed, 30M unclaimed).
🔸Future drops: 95M-110M left (varies by source).
🔸Airdrop Vaults push for max restaking and now shifting slowly to LP.
Keeps you in, but value’s tanking - loyalty’s a leash, not a lifeline.
4⃣Chain Usage? Crickets
🔸 Saga’s “L1 for L1s” sounds slick, but where’s the beef? 350+ testnet projects by April 2024 (80% gaming - Rogue Nation, Generative Dungeon, Vennity), yet mainnet’s quiet a year in.
🔸Partnerships (Avalanche, Polygon) tease potential, but no big names live.
Tech’s unproven without adoption.
tl;dr: Unlocks flood supply, adoption’s MIA, and staking’s a hamster wheel.
➡️The chain’s gotta deliver something real to justify holding.
➡️We are all hungry to hear who is building with $SAGA underneath and I hope the Team account will highlight these partners or provide more directional updates beyond telling us how great the stack is.
DYOR, NFA. Numbers might be off - Happy for $SAGA to drop official stats and I'll post an update.
(just some of the) Sources:
https://t.co/ejAo8NXt0A
https://t.co/vPZAdtagj5
https://t.co/njQpehM4PP
https://t.co/rJHfTVHbO0
https://t.co/cYCp7QrDw4
🫡
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Some thoughts on what is needed for global markets to stabilize. Views welcome.
US market have sold off in a unhinged way ! (over 10% in last 2 days)
Why ?
Because the tariffs imposed were unhinged !
Instead of reciprocal (I do to you what you do to me) they were calculated in a arbitrary manner - based on the total trade imbalance with each country !
And that makes the Trump administration look unhinged. These moves suggest that they want to wipe off deficits meaningfully.. not just tariffs but more structural & non-trade barriers as well..
but eliminating deeply in-built non tariff barriers will take years or may never happen.. so this is just not credible !
basically it has become a credibility issue !
For global markets to stabilize - we need to see credible off ramps for countries with respect to these tariffs.
Basically a message or path forward from Trump or his team - which tells other countries - 'you do this & this and we will bring these tariffs lower'
So all the market may actually need to stabilize may be a headline away !
And I hope it is sooner rather than later !
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stockmarketcrash# #
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BankNifty#
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Understanding the Emptiness within
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body but have not love, I gain nothing.
Do you have a heart? Yes, all of us have a heart, but not many of us have a heart for GOD and others, making us miss out on GOD's goodness for loving Him and others. Our heart is for ourselves, making it the underlying motive for many things we do. GOD understands where He stands in our hearts when He said, "These people honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." No matter how holy our worship may seem, they are frivolous acts if our hearts are not in it. To GOD, our hearts are deceitful above all things and beyond cure. The lips can say one thing, but the heart means another. No one can understand what is in the heart because there is no congruence between what the heart says and what it means. GOD knows that. It is not without reason that Jesus asked us to 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' The emphasis is on the word all. GOD demands that our love for Him should be 100% and nothing less. Without any other love coming in between our love for Him, our love will be genuine and sincere. Nothing will lure our hearts away, and they will forever be for GOD.
Why do we need to have a heart for GOD and others? It is because no man is an island, and GOD has not made man to be an island. In the book of Genesis, even though GOD was with Adam, He still said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper." Therefore, a man is not made to exist alone with GOD. He needs someone to complement him to make him complete. He is a part of the whole of GOD's organisational structure. The Apostle Paul illustrates the structure as: "The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body." Therefore, we are, in Christ, many but are one body, and each member belongs to one another. Even if we exist as individuals, we do not belong to ourselves but to one another for the kingdom of GOD. Therefore, no one exists as a solitary star in the galaxy but as part of a constellation of stars twinkling for GOD.
As individuals, to gel into GOD's structure as an integrated whole, we need love. The Apostle Paul avowed that love is the bond of perfect unity. Love is like gravity, which holds everything together and holds us together with GOD and others. Only when we stay in love with GOD and others will the blood of Christ flow through us to be one body. Only then, we could be as Jesus said, "I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me." This bond of love is so strong that nothing could break it. The Apostle Paul ascertained that when he said, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Many of us cannot comprehend the mystery of being one with GOD. He is spirit, and we are physical. To do that, we need to understand the spiritual realm. The only way we can connect to GOD is through the spirit. 1 Corinthians states, "He who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit." What does that mean? It is similar to what GOD said in Genesis, "For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Both mention being united to become one. The difference is in the realms. Perfect unity in the physical realm is called one flesh, while in the spiritual realm, it is called one spirit. If we can understand the concept of one flesh in the physical dimension, like between Adam and Eve, we should be able to understand the one spirit in the spiritual dimension between Jesus and us. Both are synonymous, and both require the bond of love to be in unity. It is not surprising that the Apostle Paul compares our relationship with Jesus to that of a husband and wife when he said, "Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."
Metaphorically, the superglue that bonds any couple to be united as one is nothing else but love. Therefore, before a couple decides to come together as one, they will confess their love for each other. In the name of love, many are willing to commit their lifetime to one another, demonstrating the magical power of love. However, whether they can achieve it is another question because love is more than an emotion but an attitude. To Jesus, love is a commandment to be with GOD and others, and it ranks above other commandments.
If love is a commandment, it will mean we will have to adhere to it as long as we live. It cannot be taken lightly. If we ever break it, as in all commandments, we will have to face the detrimental effects of it. Yes, there are consequences to our unloving actions. Though it might seem harmless as we are not lying, stealing, killing or mass destruction, regardless, the repercussions are significant. Without love, the integrity of the spiritual matrix we are in with GOD and others will be compromised. It is similar to a family without the bond of love will soon break. Anyone who does not love will ultimately leave GOD's matrix for something else. Furthermore, if we have no love or cannot love, we would have failed fundamentally as Christians because GOD is love. It is the uniform we wear that will distinguish us from the world. That is to say, if we do not have love, we do not belong to GOD. As it is written in 1 John, "Beloved, let us love one another because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love."
Love allows us to be with GOD and know Him. But what is so special about knowing GOD? Many people know GOD but do not love Him. Therefore, knowing Him is more than recognition and awareness. In the book of Genesis, the same word is used to describe the relationship between Adam and Eve. It writes, "And Adam knew Eve, his wife, and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." Adam and Eve were of one flesh, and knowing each other meant having an intimate relationship. If we love GOD and are of one spirit with Him, then knowing GOD, naturally, means that we have an intimate spiritual relationship with Him where we will bear much spiritual fruit. That explains why some people are more anointed than others. They love GOD more, so they bear more fruit. This intimate relationship with GOD can only happen if we love Him. Otherwise, we will never know Him and will not bear any fruit.
To a non-Christian, if we leave GOD out of the picture, what is the purpose of love that binds a couple to be one flesh? Against all logic, many couples fall in and out of love, and after much hurt, disappointment and sadness, they still have the stamina to seek love out again and again. Isn't it once bitten, twice shy, but when it comes to love, they are not fearful of trying again and again. What are they looking for? Everyone is looking for completeness. Figuratively, Adam is not a complete man, and neither is Eve a complete woman. Adam has a missing bone that was given to Eve, and Eve is only a bone in need of a body. Only when they come together will there be completeness.
This completeness is GOD ordained as He said, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Without this completeness, a man will experience loneliness, as Adam experienced before he had Eve. GOD understood the no-good effects of loneliness when He said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." This loneliness is man's shortcoming, which is predestined from the beginning in GOD's perfect wisdom. Later, GOD used this shortcoming so that man could find his completeness in Him. This incompleteness could manifest itself in many forms, leading to emptiness, meaningless, unhappiness, depression, hopelessness, worthlessness, frustration, et cetera. Sadly, it cannot be filled with promiscuity, drugs, liquor or any form of destructive behaviours or addictions.
When GOD created man with the capability for loneliness, loneliness became a spiritual issue that requires a spiritual remedy. The only remedy is to love and be loved. The Apostle Paul expresses the condition of being without love as 'I am nothing', denying his worthiness in all the good he did. Love adds warmth and colours to our world, meaning to our lives, purpose to our sacrifices, fulfilment to our achievements, contentment to the little we have, gratitude to goodness, appreciation to beauty, and forgiveness to wrongdoings. Love is so magical that it is the strength in weakness, the determination in hardship, the hope in hopelessness, and the steadfastness in adversity. In short, where there is love, there is GOD and the fruit of the Spirit - joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
As humans, we understand physical unity as one flesh. But then, what is spiritual unity as one spirit with GOD? In short, it is the unity of the heart, mind and soul with GOD. For that, we need to obey the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind because only then will GOD be in perfect unity with us in the heart, mind and soul. When we give our hearts to GOD, we will have the love of GOD and the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). He will become our soulmate, understanding us from the inside out. Then, we will not be alone in our minds, hearts, and souls. We will find our match and never feel alone.
The difference between being one flesh and being one spirit is no matter how close we are to a person as one flesh, the person cannot fully understand us. But GOD as one spirit with us can. The Psalmist expresses it, "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD. You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."
With such understanding of us, how can we ever be lonely or feel no one cares or understands? If anyone ever feels empty, void or lonely, needing to hit the pub or be involved in some frivolous relationships or activities, it might be that he has not loved enough. GOD is waiting for us like the father of the prodigy son. As long as we are willing to walk the one step towards Him, He will run the ninety-nine steps towards us. All we need to do is commit our hearts to Him, and we will never have to feel empty again.
If love is the main reason for a filled and satisfied life, then how can a physical being love a spiritual being, GOD? There are many things we could do to express our love, but only one thing is needed, and that is to keep His command. Jesus said, "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."
Keeping GOD's commandments is the only currency GOD accepts for His love, and anything else is not necessary. It is not what we want to do for GOD that counts; it is what GOD wants of us. Therefore, some people do not experience the love of GOD despite all the things they did because they did it their way and not GOD's way.
In conclusion, GOD in the New Testament is no longer the GOD of the Old Testament. He no longer exists as GOD and us as two separate entities but as GOD in us as one entity. GOD no longer put His law before us to separate us from Him. Instead, He is one spirit with us in heart, mind and soul to fulfil His Law. By loving Him and others, we have a deep spiritual connection with GOD and a strong affinity with others. We become one spirit in the body of Christ. We know, understand and feel for one another through the spirit. As long as we are connected in spirit with GOD, nothing can separate us, not time, not distance or place. With GOD with us and in us, we will not be lonely, isolated, or empty.
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We were thrilled to present the A3 Robot Safety Award at the VEX Ohio Championship, hosted at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. This was our fourth time piloting this award, and the level of student talent made it one of the most competitive judging processes yet!
👏 Congratulations to Team #
7316V# - VOLTAGE! from Firestone High School of Akron Public Schools! Their deep understanding of safety standards like ANSI R15.06 and R15.08, as well as their commitment to risk assessment, set them apart. One team member even dug up old manuals—completely unprompted—showing just how dedicated these students are!
💡 A3 is committed to workforce development and STEM education. That’s why we’re excited to invite teams and educators to Automate 2025 (May 12-15 in Detroit)—the world’s largest automation trade show! This year, we’re introducing the Automate Student Challenge, where VEX teams will compete on the trade show floor in front of industry leaders and automation experts.
Thanks to everyone who participated and we hope to see you at Automate 2025!
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It is truly ridiculous to blame
@alluarjun for the unfortunate death of a woman in a stampede outside a theatre playing #
Pushpa2#
Celebrities by their very appeal draw huge crowds whether they are Film Stars , Rock stars and even Gods for that matter
And stampedes happen very commonly when there are huge crowds and this is not the 1st time a stampede happened
Check this list of stampedes which caused deaths from a few people to thousands of people over the last few decades and also check out the possible reasons what caused those stampedes https://t.co/qwKqPRqydi
So whether a stampede is caused by accident or by negligence or by incompetence or even by intent , that can only be known from an investigation perspective on a case to case basis
And many times even when the deaths are in thousands , no body could place the blame on anybody because of the random causes
So banning BENEFIT SHOWS due to the incident cannot be an answer
To start with a BENEFIT SHOW shouldn’t be called that
There was a time when Benefit shows were put for the purpose of charity towards some cause like flood victims etc
The real purpose of these so called benefit shows is to cash on the hype and craze in the audience to make them feel the thrill of seeing it first , before anyone else
But that anyway is the purpose of any entertainment or populist event and so if to make the people feel special is the purpose , BENEFIT SHOWS then they should be called SPECIAL SHOWS and then nobody will ask “ For whose Benefit?
SPECIAL SHOW is the right name...like how Special Coffee and Special Meals are more expensive than the normal ones, SPECIAL SHOW Tickets will be expensive
Like appropriate permissions are given for a election meeting , rallies , concerts etc , the theatre also is given permission to screen a film by the various concerned authorities
On one hand if Allu Arjun or his team , if they themselves publicised his upcoming visit , then that information is public and isn’t it then the police’s responsibility to ask him not to come
If they did not do it, it means that they too dint anticipate which makes the incident an accident
Stars visiting theatres has been happening since years and crowds throng all the time and this is just a rare unfortunate incident
So even if one wants to take action either the police or theatre management should be made responsible for whether a star should be given permission to come but why ban BENEFIT SHOWS?
Also there were hundreds of BENEFIT SHOWS all over the state and #
alluarjun# just came to one theatre and so instead of putting restrictions on a star attending a theatre , to ban BENEFIT SHOWS is like BANNING TRAFFIC because of an ACCIDENT
So the knee jerk action of banning the so called benefit shows is a highly misplaced understanding of the issue
When people die in the political meeting stampedes or Mela ‘s stampedes , are the meetings or mela’s being banned ?
So I hope that all the powers concerned will think on this in a rational way and take a logical decision instead of reacting for the purpose of emotional pacification .
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We're hosting a pilot "Protocol research call" next week, Wed. April 2nd at 14 UTC, on the topic of protocol roles and node duties.
Long-term, we hope that this can be a good venue for research, core devs and the community to discuss some of the many questions facing Ethereum. https://t.co/wqaMbsyhdB
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Forget Tōtaranui, Hot Water Beach or Glendhu Bay. How about camping on the sea ice near Scott Base?
We hope everyone has had a relaxing summer break.
📸 Anthony Powell https://t.co/An8TMHduXJ
Good morning, everyone!
Happy Sunday, hope you’re all getting to enjoy a little peace and sunshine today.
I just finished prepping my first personal package for shipment to the Fanable vault! In this batch, I’m sending in one of my absolute favorites, Ultimate Fallout #
4#, signed and remarked by Sara Pichelli, the co-creator of Miles Morales.
I actually had the chance to meet her at New York Comic Con this past October, and she was such a down-to-earth, awesome person. Felt like the perfect book to kick off my personal collection on Fanable.
During preproduction, I ran five or six test shipments from Fanable’s internal inventory to help validate the end-to-end journey. That included printing labels, using the QR codes, and testing the entire flow through USPS. Honestly, scanning the QR code at my local kiosk was a game changer: no home printer needed, it was quick, seamless, and best of all, no waiting in line.
But tomorrow will be the first time I get to go through that same process as a collector, not just as someone testing the system. It’s been on my to-do list for weeks, but other priorities related to Fanable’s launch took precedence. I’m finally making time for it, and it feels great.
All that to say, I hope you see yourselves as pioneers on this journey with us. There will be unexpected surprises along the way, with some challenges, some wins, but what matters most is who you’re on the journey with. And I can say with full confidence, this is the right group of people.
So buckle up. We’re headed somewhere completely new, and that’s what makes it so exciting.
Who’s hopping aboard?
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