In 2015, Microsoft evangelist, Nixon made an astounding announcement "Right now we’re releasing Windows 10, and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we’re all still working on Windows 10." That was the message from Microsoft employee Jerry Nixon, a developer evangelist speaking at the company's Ignite conference. Nixon was explaining how Microsoft was launching Windows 8.1 in 2014, but in the background, it was developing Windows 10. It was all just Windows 10 for the past five years. While it immediately sounded like Microsoft was killing off Windows and not doing future versions, the reality is a little more complex. The future was "Windows as a service."

Fast forward to 2021, Microsoft seems to have changed their plans, a new windows, Windows 11 is here.

Before Windows 11, Microsoft was developing Windows 10X which was to power foldable PCs and dual-screen laptops. It was a promising and exciting project built on new technologies gutting out all legacy design components. It got canceled abruptly and left everyone who was following the project wondering what was going on! Well, it turns out, it got merged into Windows 11, or to put it straight, Windows 11 looks and functions almost like Windows 10X.

Early last year, Feb 2020, Microsoft had a reorganization, and the biggest changes involved the then Surface chief Panos Panay taking over Windows client and hardware.

It is possible that this change of leadership led to the birth of Windows 11 hence merging Windows 10X into the new Windows. One product to rule them all.

What’s New in Windows 11!

Design: User Interface and Start Menu

They’ve simplified the design and user experience. It looks modern and fresh. Tiles are gone, from the new Start button and taskbar, sound, font, and icon. They have put Start Menu at the center and made it easier to quickly find what you need. Start utilizes the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to show your recent files no matter what platform or device you were viewing them on earlier, even if it was on an Android or iOS device.

Adding the cloud is great however, not everyone (globally) has access to good Internet speeds or even Internet at all. A tremendous number of people who use windows especially in the third world still rely on using windows offline, others who may have access to the Internet still have limited metered connections. The cloud search and sync integration are great for those with daily internet connections but useless and cumbersome to those most in the third world with limited internet access. It is yet to be seen how this is going to affect the new features in Windows 11.

There is a new redesign of the settings app

They also still maintain the old Windows 7 look control panel and it is yet to be known whether the old control panel will be completely replaced by the new settings app above.

Snap Layout

Offering the flexibility of multiple windows and the ability to snap apps side by side. New in Windows 11 are Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktops to provide a more powerful way to multitask and stay on top of what you need to get done. These new layout features are designed to help you organize your windows and optimize your screen real estate just the way you want and visually clean. You can create separate Desktops for each part of your life like a Desktop for work, gaming, or school, and customize them to your liking.

Windows Store

The Windows Store has been completely redesigned. It is much smoother and looks modern.

Android Apps.

You'll be able to install android apps on Windows 11 distributed through the Microsoft store. They'll be integrated in the Taskbar. Microsoft is working with Amazon [amazon android app store]. This integration will be made possible by Intel bridge Technology. The ability to run android apps on Windows 11 places Microsoft in a good space to compete in the lower price tier especially in education with Chromebooks which also run android apps.

Android apps cannot replace full desktop apps however they will patch the app problem Microsoft store is currently having. They will be handy on touch devices like Surface Tablets and the 2in1s.

File Explorer

File Explorer is getting a significant overhaul. The old ribbon interface is going away, new folder icons have also been introduced.

Microsoft Teams

Teams branded as “Chat” is front and center in Windows 11, it is integrated into the taskbar. Where you can instantly connect through text, chat, voice, or video with all of your personal contacts, anywhere, no matter the platform or device they’re on, across Windows, Android, or iOS. If the person you’re connecting to on the other end hasn’t downloaded the Teams app, you can still connect with them via two-way SMS.

Teams reached 145 million daily active users back in April. Microsoft launched a free consumer version of Teams in May.

This is not the first time Microsoft tried to integrate such a feature, they tried to do the same with Skype in Windows 10 however the adoption never took off. It also begs another question of what is now going to happen to Skype!

It is not yet known whether this new Team ‘Chat’ integration will also support Office 365 Business or Enterprise.

Widgets

Windows 11 brings you Widgets, – a new personalized news feed powered by AI and Microsoft Edge. You don’t need to pick up your phone to check the news, weather, or notifications anymore. With Windows 11 Widgets, now, you can open a similarly curated view directly from your desktop.

When you open your personalized feed it slides across your screen so it doesn’t disrupt what you’re doing. For creators and publishers, Widgets also opens new real estate within Windows to deliver personalized content. The functionality of Widgets is good but hope it doesn’t turn out to be yet another adware. There also privacy concerns.

Security

Windows 11 is also believed to be secure by design, with new built-in security technologies that will add protection from the chip to the cloud, while enabling productivity and new experiences. Windows 11 will provide a Zero Trust-ready operating system to protect data and access across devices. Microsoft has worked closely with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and silicon partners to raise security baselines to meet the needs of the evolving threat landscape and the new hybrid work world.

Final Verdict

Though the News of Windows 11 is exciting, there is still much to be desired, there is a lot of inconsistencies with design, a need to do more than a cosmetic paint job, there is still a mixture of legacy and modern design elements making some parts of the Operating System an eyesore.

I think Microsoft needs to rebuild Windows from the ground up, a lot has changed since the ‘80s. Tech and design are not static. There still elements of Windows95, Windows 7, Metro design (windows 8), fluent design (windows 10-11) cues. Microsoft is trying to embrace all worlds and not being very good at any. Jack of all trade, master of none. They are still caught between a rock and a hard place, embrace the future and probably lose legacy customers or hold onto the legacy customers and end up losing the newer younger tech-savvy, and tech-native generation of customers. For such a huge, two trillion-dollar company with unthinkable resources, they need to make up their minds or they will be left lagging behind like they did with Windows phone. They should borrow a leaf from Apple and macOS. Hope with Panos Panay at the helm, Windows will get better and better.

System requirements

These are the basic requirements for installing Windows 11 on a PC. If your device does not meet these requirements, you may not be able to install Windows 11 on your device and might want to consider purchasing a new PC. If you are unsure whether your PC meets these requirements, you can check with your PC Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or, if your device is already running Windows 10, you can use the PC Health Check app to assess compatibility.

If you're not paying for the product, you're the product. Basically, that sums up most of the "free" services offered by the majority of big Tech companies. How did Facebook, Google, Twitter, become multi billion dollar companies without ever charging for their services! The answer is simple, they traffic in selling your Data to advertisers for huge profits. Every word you search on Google, every photo you upload on Instagram, everything you put on Facebook, every email you send on Gmail. Even your intimate moments!

The Nefariousness of Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp

This is straight from their Terms of Service

"We analyze how you make use of WhatsApp, in order to improve our Services, including helping businesses who use WhatsApp measure the effectiveness and distribution of their services and messages. WhatsApp uses the information it has and also works with partners, service providers, and affiliated companies to do this.

WhatsApp are part of the Facebook Companies. As part of the Facebook Companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, the Facebook Companies as described in WhatsApp's Privacy Policy, including to provide integrations which enable you to connect your WhatsApp experience with other Facebook Company Products; to ensure security, safety, and integrity across the Facebook Company Products; and to improve your ads and products experience across the Facebook Company Products.

They also Track your every move on the Internet.

Here is what WhatsApp Privacy Policy says;
"We collect device and connection-specific information when you install, access, or use our Services. This includes information such as hardware model, operating system information, battery level, signal strength, app version, browser information, mobile network, connection information (including phone number, mobile operator or ISP), language and time zone, IP address, device operations information, and identifiers (including identifiers unique to Facebook Company Products associated with the same device or account).

We collect and use precise location information from your device with your permission when you choose to use location-related features
Even if you do not use our location-related features, we use IP addresses and other information like phone number area codes to estimate your general location."

How about Signal when it comes to Privacy of user data

Signal does not sell, rent or monetize your personal data or content in any way – ever. From it's founding, Signal is an Independent Non-Profit Charity Foundation (organization). Such a status puts it on solid ground to offer it's services free without a need to sell or monetize users content to make a profit. You may ask, how do they manage to pay their work force! Simple answer, Donations.

No ads. No trackers.

There are no ads, no affiliate marketers, and no creepy tracking in Signal. So, focus on sharing the moments that matter with the people who matter to you.

Share text, voice messages, photos, videos, GIFs and files. Signal uses your phone's data connection so you can avoid SMS and MMS fees.

Signal uses an open source state-of-the-art security and end-to-end encryption to provide private messaging and Internet calling services worldwide. Your calls and messages are always encrypted, so they can never be shared or viewed by anyone but yourself and the intended recipients.

Messages.

Signal cannot decrypt or otherwise access the content of your messages or calls. Signal queues end-to-end encrypted messages on its servers for delivery to devices that are temporarily offline (e.g. a phone whose battery has died). Your message history is stored on your own devices.

For your daily messaging needs, I recommend Signal over Facebook messenger and WhatsApp. It handles 1on1, create groups, audio, and video chat without sacrificing your privacy. You can Install Signal on your device here

Welcome to the 21st century, the Meme Century.

Traditional Capitalism

In a capitalistic society, the production and pricing of goods and services are determined by the free market, or supply and demand, however, some government regulation may occur.

Communism ☭

Socialism

Fascism

Bureaucratism

It is the highest impertinence and presumption… in kings and ministers, to pretend to watch over the economy of private people, and to restrain their expense... They are themselves always, and without any exception, the greatest spendthrifts in the society. Let them look well after their own expense, and they may safely trust private people with theirs. If their own extravagance does not ruin the state, that of their subjects never will.

The Wealth Of Nations, Book II, Chapter III, p.346, para. 36.

A British Corporation

VentureCapitalism

Welcome to Silcon Valley, Modern startups

An Italian Corporation

A French Corporation

The land of Liberté, égalité, fraternité - Home of the French Revolution. ?

An American Corporation

The Land of the Free! so, they say ?

A Swiss Corporation

The land of cheese, chocolate and ... 'banks' ?

An Irish Corporation

Down Under - An Australian Corporation ?

Welcome to China! The Dragon of the East ?

? India ?

Honestly, was it because of WMD or Oil! Welcome to Iraq ?️

Fill in the blank, It's more ... in Greece

The desire for the next year to be more fulfilling than the past one is a basic human characteristic. While the human being has many natural needs and desires, both physical and emotional, a feeling of mission and accomplishment is perhaps the most basic human need. Regardless of degree of affluence or social status, a person who feels accomplished is a happy person and a successful person, and vice versa.

Many people normally start a new year with a resolution list. Things they're looking forward to accomplish. But here lies the problem. A resolution which is predicated on satisfying one's own needs will be broken as soon as the person feels another, more pressing, need or desire. Yesterday, I may have decided that the most important thing for me is to wake up early every day for a morning jog, read the word and pray [morning devotional], but as I lie in bed this morning after having gone to sleep at 1:00 a.m., I suddenly feel that my sleep is infinitely more important than the morning jog and devotional! One human need can always cancel out another human need.

If 2020 taught us any lessons, James 4:13 -16, comes to mind.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”  Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring — what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.  Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

It's not that we shouldn't make any new year resolutions but  we should always Trust everything to God and leave some room to expect the unexpected.

It might be a new year but COVID-19 is not over yet. As of this writing (January-Feb 2021), in some countries, the cases are actually getting higher. A second wave.

How to make the best of 2021, New Year resolution Plans....

• Be flexible in your new year plans, leave room for 'sudden' changes

• Concetrate on things and resources within your physical reach. International Travel is still restricted in many countries.

• Don't overextend yourself, The 'Less is more' principle.

• Be inovative [insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results]

• Work on improving your non verbal communication

• Don't aim for perfection but aim for relevancy

• Virtual and remote working is still King. 2021 is still a pandemic year, physical interactions are still minimal and the Vaccine is not yet available for the majority of the general public.
  

• Start Planning for post-Covid.
  How to reintergrate back into society, how you're to move everything you've managed to achieve working remotely, the connections, clients, schedules, etc into the general wider normal society after Covid. Would you still need a brick and mortar workspace or will you carry on working remotely and still achieve the same goals! Personally for example, most of our ministry work has been online, online services, online Bible classes, small groups, outreaches, online prayer meetings. The question we're asking ourselves this Year 2021 as a Ministry is which of those new Ministry avenues are we to keep post Covid. Would people still prefer more online ministry setups even after the pandemic!Should we invest more in a Ministry production studio or in brick and mortar ministry building post covid.

The foundation of any relationship, is a focus on giving: Ask yourself, how can I best contribute to my partner's welfare? If both partners share this attitude, the relationship flows beautifully in both directions hence building connection and a common bond of unity and love.

Giving involves self-sacrifice. You decide to put the needs of your partner before your own, contributing and being a part of their welfare and their success. This may require you to change jobs, move to a new unfamiliar location, adjusting your work schedule, giving up a hobby for the sake of your partner, spending less time with your friends and colleagues and more time with your partner. There will be sacrifices but the benefits are far greater overall, it will strengthen your relationship bond with your partner.

Avoid Taking

When the focus is on taking — “What will s/he do for me?” — the dynamic pulls in the opposite direction, away from the spouse, creating strain and tension. Give up the "Me, Myself and I". A lot of people enter relationships even marriages with a "Taking" mindset. They are looking for something to take out of it rather than something to give into it. Some are looking at taking financial and economic security from their partners, others are looking at taking socio-emotional stability, some are looking at taking social status. If your first impression of a partner is what you might take or gain from a relationship, then you're highly doomed for frustrations and unsatisfaction in such a relationship.

We all have relationships which need some work and need of improvement. Whether at work, friends, family, or marriage. Remember, we all reap what we sow. If we sow kindness, we shall reap kindness if we sow selfishness, we shall reap selfishness. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Put others first then they will put you first in return.

Avoid being Negative if you want fruitful relationships

Human beings are innately selfish. That’s why, in describing kindness, Rabbi Hillel the Great, said:

“What is hateful to you, do not do unto others.” Rabbi Hillel the Great — [Talmud — Shabbat 31a]

This forces us to think how it would feel to be on the receiving end of indignities we’d rather be spared. Once this stage of not harming others [your partner] is instilled in you, for example — “Don’t throw trash anywhere” — then it will automatically and naturally extend to a higher level of ethical living, for example, picking up trash on the street.

Some examples of “What is hateful to you…”:

• Don’t embarrass your partner.
• Don’t gossip or speak negatively about your partner.
• Don’t take revenge against your partner.
• Don’t disturb another person’s concentration or sleep.
• Give people the benefit of the doubt.
• Don’t keep your partner waiting. Always be on time or communicate beforehand.
• Don’t display anger towards your partner. Always Keep Calm.
• Protect your partner from injury or loss.
• Be honest in your business dealings.
• Don't take advantage of your partner.

Each item takes a lifetime to master. And it’s exactly what we’re here for!

We live in a world were rebellion, insurrection, disobedience is celebrated. Disobedience to authority is seen as empowering. Parents are losing control of their own kids, some who try disciplining their children, today face a risk of being sued by your own child and the government can take your child away. When we were growing up, respecting of elders was non-negotiable. We were not even allowed to talk back to our parents or anyone older than you. It was a sign of respect and honor.

The scripture command us to Honor our Parents so all may go well with you. [Ephesians 6:1, Exodus 20:12]

To honor is to assign value. Regardless of the character of the people who brought us into the world. They have value because of their part in our creation. We can honor their roles even if we cannot always honor their behavior. When we couple the idea of honor with that of respect, we have a formula for the treatment of our parents. Because of their assigned value as our mother and father, we give them particular attention and special esteem. Honor and respect are demonstrated by obedience.

People with high esteem for their parents find it easier to listen and obey God.

With which of these two statements do you tend to agree?

A]. Regardless of what the qualities & faults of one’s parents are, one must always love and respect them.

B]. One does not have the duty to respect & love parents who have not earned it by their behavior and attitudes.

— Albert Kents (@AlbertKents) October 15, 2020

And he took the scroll of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will listen.” Exodus 24:7

We will do and we will hear is one of the most important mind-bending life changing phrases in the bible. It characterizes our whole faith. It consists of two Hebrew words: na'aseh venishma, literally, "We will do, and we will hear". Exodus 24:7.

What does 'we will do, and we will hear' mean and why does it matter?

There are two famous interpretations, one ancient, the other modern.

The first Interpretation,

It describes the enthusiasm and wholeheartedness with which the people of God accepted the covenant with God at Mount Sinai. When they said to Moses, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do and we will hear", they were saying, in effect: Whatever God asks of us, we will do - saying this before they had even heard any of the commandments.

The words "We will hear", imply that they had not yet heard neither the Ten Commandments, nor the other detailed laws that followed. So keen were they to signal and express their approval and acceptance of God that they agreed to His demands before knowing what the demands were.

The second interpretation

For instance, is not the plain sense of the text but nonetheless important as it has been given often in modern Jewish thought. On this view 'na'aseh venishma' means, "We will do, and we will understand."

From this they derive the conclusion that we can only understand our Faith by doing it, by performing the commands and living a faithful obedient life.

Your works, your actions, your deeds manifest your faith.

Jesus said, "you can tell what they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thornbushes" Matt 7:16. This thought throws a deeper light to also what James meant by "Faith without works is dead" James 2:14-26

In the beginning is the deed and only then comes the grasp, the insight, the comprehension. We will do and eventually through extended practice and prolonged exposure, we will understand.

This is a signal and substantive point. The modern western mind tends to put things in the opposite order. For instance, the western mindset (majority of modern day thought process), seeks to understand what we are committing ourselves to before making the commitment or decision. Though that's fine when what is at stake is signing a simple contract, or buying a new smart phone, or purchasing a subscription, but not when making a deep existential commitment.

Truth is,

The only way to understand leadership is to lead. The way to understand marriage is to get married. The way to understand whether a certain career path is right for you is to try it for an extended period. The way to understand the bible is to read and study it.

The way to understand God's call is by following Him. You cannot hear someone you're not paying attention to. You're not going to hear Him if you're far away from Him. You need to get closer, draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.

Here is something to ponder: Those who hover on the edge of commitment and reluctant to decide until all the facts are in, will eventually find that life has passed them by.

The way to fully understand a way of life is to take the risk of living it. That's why this interpretation of 'Na'aseh Venishma' is very profound: We will do and eventually through extended practice and prolonged exposure, we will understand.

The third point is, I would suggest a quite different interpretation, since the Israelites are described by the word of God as ratifying the covenant three times: Once, before they heard the commandments and twice after they heard the commandments.

There is a fascinating difference between the way the bible describes the first two of these responses and the third:

• The people all responded together, "We will do [na'aseh] everything the LORD has said." Ex. 19:8
• When Moses went and told the people all the LORD's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the LORD has said we will do [na'aseh]." Ex. 24:3
• Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do and hear [na'aseh ve-nishma] everything the LORD has said." (Ex. 24:7)

The first two responses, which refer only to action (na'aseh), are given unanimously. The people respond "together". They do so "with one voice". The third, which refers not only to doing but also to hearing (nishma), involves no unanimity. "Hearing" here means many things:

• Listening,
• Paying attention,
• Understanding,
• Absorbing,
• Internalizing,
• Responding and obeying.

It refers, in other words, to the spiritual, inward dimension of our faith.

Important consequence and lesson.

Believers are supposed to be "a community of doing" rather than of 'hearing'.

There is an authoritative code of God's word [commandments] believers are supposed to live by. ‌By contrast, though there are undoubtedly principles of our faith, when it comes to spirituality, there is no single normative faith approach.

There are norms about how to act as a believer. But there are few about how to think and feel as a believer.

Over the centuries, the body of believers has had its priests and prophets, its Apostles and Evangelists, its rationalists, its philosophers, and poets. The Bible speaks in a multiplicity of voices. Isaiah was not Ezekiel; the book of Proverbs comes from a different mindset than the books of Amos and Hosea. The bible contains law and narrative, history and mysterious visions, rituals, and prayer.

Experiencing God and Hearing His Voice

We experience God in diverse ways. Some find him in creation, others find him in interpersonal emotion, in the experience of loving and being loved, some find God in the prophetic call: "Let justice roll down like a river, and righteousness like a never-failing stream" (Amos 5:24). Others find Him in study, "rejoicing in the words of Your Instructions … for they are our life and the length of our days; on them we will meditate day and night."

Yet others find Him in prayer, discovering that God is close to all who call on him in truth. ‌
There are those who find God in joy, dancing and singing as did King David when he brought the Holy Ark into Jerusalem. Others - or the same people at different points in their life - find Him in the depths, in tears and remorse and a broken heart. Einstein found God in the "fearful symmetry" and ordered complexity of the universe.

There is a normative way of obedience, but there are many ways to hear the holy voice, encountering the sacred presence, feeling at one and the same time how small we are yet how great the universe we inhabit, how insignificant we must seem when set against the vastness of space and the myriads of stars, yet how momentously significant we are, knowing that God has set His image and likeness upon us and placed us here, in this place, at this time, with these gifts, in these circumstances, with a task to perform if we are able to discern it.

We can find God on the heights and in the depths, in loneliness and togetherness, in love and fear, in gratitude and need, in dazzling light and amid deep darkness.

We can find God by seeking Him, but sometimes He finds us when we least expect it. ‌
That is the difference between na'aseh [We will Do] and nishma [ We will Hear]. We do the Godly deeds "together". We respond to His commands "with one voice". But we hear God's presence in many ways, for though God is One, we are all different, and we encounter Him each in our own way.

The life of David is one of the most encouraging and dynamic stories in the Bible. He was known as the man who loved God (1 Sam. 13:14). He began as a lonely boy from a poor family who lived in a small village. It is a story of how a boy who was a “nobody” in people's eyes discovered that he was a “somebody” in God's eyes.

The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart... 1 Samuel 13:14
The Lord “sought” for David and is still seeking for this type of person Today.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and from throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. — 2 Chronicles 16:9a

The true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. — John 4:23

What does it mean to be a person after God’s heart?

1. To commit to obey God’s heart
2. To study the emotions of God’s heart
3. To contend for the purposes of God’s heart.

How David Carried His Heart Before God?

He had an insight into how his love for God moved God's heart. ‌

David found his primary identity in life in his relationship with God instead of with things or people. It was not in who liked him or what he accomplished, He was so focused on pleasing the Lord to the point of attributing every of his success and accomplishments to the Lord. It was God or nothing.

Our identity is the way we measure our success and see ourselves. How do you identify yourself? The way you see yourself determines your priorities, your priorities determine your focus and your focus determines the kind of life you're to live. Our identity is in being loved by God and in loving God.

God doesn't see as Man Sees. ‌

God chooses the weak, meek, and unknown people, who often live in “out of the way” places, the unknown and unnoticed. God doesn't use what the world considers the qualified, but He qualifies those He chooses. ref 1 Samuel 16:1-11

God chooses people that others reject. ‌

David was rejected by his family and friends as one who had not accomplished anything. This is all part of being like a person after God’s heart, like David. David was accomplishing something in God’s sight; he was developing love for God. ‌it's sad but you'll find those who reject you first for following God would be people who are close to you. They could be family members, friends, relatives, and those you thought you trusted. The first people to be Jealousy of David or Joseph, were his family.
‌ “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me” (Psalm. 27:10). “My loved ones and my friends stand aloof...My relatives stand afar off” (Psalm. 38:11). “I am a reproach...Among my neighbors and am repulsive to my acquaintances [friends]; those who see me outside flee from me. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel [I seem useless to them]. For I hear the slander of many... (Psalm. 31:11-13)”. ‌

“Because for Your sake I have borne reproach... I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children: Because zeal for your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that became my reproach... I became a byword to them. — Psalm 69:7-11

Even as a prophet, of God, Samuel made wrong evaluations and missed God’s choice. We often make the same mistake that Samuel made, when we measure ourselves by outward things like our abilities and actions and popularity. God measures us by the inward intentions of our heart to love Him.

God knows us deep and His timing is never late. The Lord made all seven brothers wait until “His David” was in place. God needs no help in locating “His David's.” We don’t have to strive to get attention from the popular people or those in authority. David was out of the sight of men; he was busy serving. He had no seat on the table and he never cared about such things; he would rather be in the fields serving than having a seat on the table. His heart was in the right place and the God who sees deep in the hearts of men knew it. We do not need to push ourselves forward to get attention when we believe that God’s eyes are on us. We can have confidence that God will put us in the right places that He has ordained for us in His perfect way and in His perfect time.

David was a worshiping warrior who longed to encounter God's heart.

David had a warrior spirit to see God’s glory released (Psalm. 27:4; 31:23; 36:8; 145:5). He was fearless before giants (Goliath 1 Sam. 17). David was an extravagant worshiper of God. “One thing I have desired...All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord”. (Psalm. 27:4)

David had great confidence in God’s mercy in the face of his many failures. He saw himself as delighted in and beloved and the apple of God’s eye.

Rebellion and immaturity may outwardly look the same, but the intention of the heart is different. The fact that we are weak does not mean that our love for God is not real. “He delivered me because He delighted in me... Your gentleness has made me great. Psalm. 18:19, 35

David saw God as his source of protection, promotion, provision, and direction. God trained David in the “seminary” of rebellious King Saul (1 Sam. 20-31), in deadly bushes looking after sheep and he settled conflicts in saying, “Let the Lord decide between us” (1 Samuel. 24:12, 15; 26:9-24; 2 Samuel. 15:26; ‌
16:5-14).

The importance of David's story is that it can be our story, simply by making the right choices of enjoying God. It is the story of how God sees our heart and how we move His heart. It is the story of how God uses and even enjoys weak and broken people who set their hearts on Him.

If you want to move into your destiny, you must let go of the past. Burning the bridges that are holding you back is necessary. It is human nature to hold unto some things from our past. We have great memories we hold dear from our past but, there are also some things not worth holding unto. It might be your peers, habits, relationships, mindset, and many other things.

For those who have mastered serenity, fifteen seconds ago is ancient history. They realize that once something is over, it is over regardless of whether it has been over for many years or for a relatively short time. It is understandable that it can take different people varying amounts of time until they are able to let things go. But the goal should be to let go of what is over and done with. In truth it is gone whether or not you let it. It is just a question of the degree of emotional mastery that you will have. Regardless of where you are at this moment, you can always improve on your ability to let things go as soon as they are gone. Rabbi Pliskin, Serenity, p.51

“...God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, because it was near, for God said, 'Perhaps the people will reconsider when they see a war, and they will return to Egypt’.” (Exodus 13:17).

Why did God make it well-near impossible for His People to return to Egypt? After all, the reason He took them out in the first place was because they screamed and cried for Him to take them out, so if in the future they might decide to go back, why not let them?

Each of us is trapped in our own little “Egypt”. The Egypt of materialism, The Egypt of indulgence, The Egypt of doubt, The Egypt of a past relationship you can't get over, The Egypt of drugs, of sex, of lying, of unfaithfulness, of destructive addictions, of depression, of selfishness.

It takes a lot of arduous work to get us out of those prisons. And if we manage to make it out, there will always be a 'good old friend' who will give us a call or send us a text, and say 'Hi, why don't we hang out together tonight!" The only way to make sure that 'good old friend' can't drag you back to old prisons of habits is to burn your bridges so there's no way back.

God knew that the true desire of the His People was – and still is – to be close to Him, but He led them through the sea because He wanted to burn their bridges to make it easier for them to leave Egypt once and for all.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” ‌
― Mother Theresa

“I have learned that if you must leave a place that you have lived in and loved and where all your yesteryears are buried deep, leave it any way except a slow way, leave it the fastest way you can. Never turn back and never believe that an hour you remember is a better hour because it is dead. Passed years seem safe ones, vanquished ones, while the future lives in a cloud, formidable from a distance.” ‌
― Beryl Markham, West with the Night

“We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.” ‌
― Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

Don't look back! Let go.

On their exodus from Egypt, towards Mount Sinai, the people of God (Israelites) arrived at an obstacle—the Red Sea.

They were boxed in, in front of then was the sea, on the sides were mountains, and behind them was Pharaoh and his gigantic army chasing after them. It was indeed a ring of death with zero chance of escape.

Sensing danger ☠️, chaos erupted ?

The people divided into four parties.

1. One group advocated mass suicide.
2. The second faction was willing to surrender to Pharoah and return to Egypt.
3. The third group was prepared to fight. They rather go swinging.
4. And another group began to pray.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Exodus 14:15

Why are you crying out to me? sometimes we spend more time crying than moving forward. Let the past be the past, it is time to move on. Keep going and you will see there is no obstacle!

Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. Exodus 14:16

There is something in your hand, Moses had a staff! what do you have? Yes, you've got something! Don't say I have nothing. To an outsider, Moses' staff looked like any other stick just a piece of wood. What can a single piece of wood do! Well, God used it to make way for more than two million people. A miracle happened.

Raise your staff no matter how small it may look. A little talent, a gift, small savings, 'small' business, an Idea, you know a friend. You have something.

The people kept going and the obstacle became a miracle. Keep going, don't stop. For God is turning that obstacle before you today into a miracle.

What obstacle are you facing today? The solution is not to stop and cry about it. You need to keep going forward because what looks like an obstacle, God is going to turn it into a miracle, He is turning your mess into a message, your test into a testimony. It is time to cross your red sea. ?

Listen to the gospel presentation now days you will hear sinners entreated with words like, 'Accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior', 'Ask Jesus into your heart', 'Invite Christ into your life' or 'Make a decision for Christ'. None of them is based on biblical terminology. The message we must preach is not an ice cream candy gospel

What is The Gospel Jesus Proclaimed?

The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to 'make a decision' or 'pray a prayer'. Jesus’ message liberated people from the bondage of their sin while it confronted and condemned hypocrisy. It was an offer of eternal life in the Kingdom of God, and forgiveness for repentant sinners, but at the same time, it was a rebuke to outwardly religious people whose lives were devoid of true righteousness. It put sinners on notice that they must turn from sin and embrace God’s righteousness.

Jesus’ words about eternal life were invariably accompanied by warnings to those who might be tempted to take salvation lightly. He taught that the cost of following him is high even though were saved by grace, that the way is narrow, and a few find it. Life of obedience is the true evidence of salvation not prophesying or casting out demons. The call to the cross must be recognized for what it is. A call to discipleship under the Lordship of Jesus. To respond to that call is to become a believer. Anything less is simply unbelief.

Defining the Terms

Our English word gospel is from the Old English godspel that is, god = good and spel = tale or talk. The Greek word used in the New Testament is euaggelion which combines the adverb eu = good or well with aggelos = messenger. ( eu is the opposite of kakos = evil).

You could say, from old English Gospel = God/Good Talk/tale

Euaggelion = Good Messenger

What is the content of the gospel?

It is not simply a declaration of who Christ Jesus is, it is also a declaration of what he has done (Atonement). Romans 1:16-17 shows us the key word is gospel. Preaching is “Righteousness”.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

In the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is made clear how humanity may be put right with God. For God himself is Holy and Righteous. People are sinful and deprived. How can people who are sinful and deprived be put in the right relationship with such a righteous and Holy God? The gospel tells us, it is in the gospel that the righteousness of God is revealed. It is not a righteousness which you can earn; it is a righteous which is revealed from faith to faith. It is all about how men may get right with God by means of faith. By faith in whom? In Jesus Christ, God, and man. It is the person who is righteous by faith who will be saved, as even Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:4) in the Old Testament had taught.

In preaching of the gospel, three essential elements must be included.

1. Explanation of the facts concerning salvation.

Anyone who comes to Christ for salvation must have at least a basic understanding of who Christ is and how he meets our needs for salvation. Therefore, an explanation of the facts concerning salvation must include at least the following:

a. All people have sinned (Rom. 3:23)

b. The penalty for our sin is death (Rom. 6:23)

c. Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins (Rom. 5:8)

1. All people have sinned.

Most people know that they are sinners even though they may not realize the seriousness of that accusation.

What is sin: “sin is a transgression of the law”. Sin is the rejection of all authority and the denial of all obligation to God. It is the evil principle, which came into the Garden of Eden when Adam and eve were tempted and fell. Ever since the disaster in Eden has affected all people so that “all have sinned”, and “there is none righteous, no, not one.” Sin has destroyed our relationship with God, and consequently, it had disturbed our relationship with each other, and even ourselves.

We cannot have peace with God or even with each other in the world or even peace within ourselves until something is done about that “abominable thing which God hates”. (Billy Graham)

But understanding those facts and even agreeing that they are true is not enough for a person to be saved. There must also be an invitation for a response on the part of the individual who will repent of their sins and trust in Christ.

2. Invitation to respond to Christ in repentance and faith.

When the New Testament talks about people coming to salvation it speaks in terms of a real response to an invitation from Christ himself. That invitation is beautifully expressed, for example, in the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and burden is light.”

It is important to make clear that these are not just words spoken a long time ago by a religious leader in the past. Every person hearing these words should be encouraged to think of them as words that Jesus Christ is even now, at this very moment, speaking to you personally. Jesus Christ is the savior and alive, think of Jesus as speaking directly to you, saying “come to me…and I will give you rest” This is a genuine invitation that seeks a genuine response from each one who hears it.

John also talks about the need for a genuine response when he says, “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believe in his name, he gave power to become the children of God”. John1:11-12. In emphasizing the need to “Believe” in Christ, John, too, points to the necessity of a genuine response.

But what is involved in coming to Christ?

It is sufficient to note here that if we come to Christ and trust him to save us from our sins and mess; we cannot any longer cling to sin but must willingly renounce it in genuine repentance. In the Bible, both repentance and faith are mentioned together when referring to someone’s initial conversion.

Acts 20:21. Therefore, any genuine gospel proclamation must include an invitation to make a conscious decision to forsake one’s sins and come to Christ in faith, if asking Christ for forgiveness is neglected; there is not a full and true proclamation of the gospel. (Grudem, 694).

Jesus started his ministry by calling people to repentance. Repentance was a recurring motif in all his public sermons.

Repentance means “return", "after thought” or “change of mind”. It always speaks of change of purpose and specifically a turning from sin. Jesus used it, calls for repudiation of the old life and a turning to God for salvation.

Repentance is not merely being ashamed or sorry over sin, although genuine repentance always involves an element of remorse. It is a redirection of the human will, a purposeful decision to forsake all unrighteousness and pursue righteousness instead.

It is a command to recognize one’s unrighteousness turn back and flee to Christ, embracing him with wholehearted devotion.

Repentance has always been the foundation of the biblical call to salvation. When Peter gave the gospel invitation at Pentecost, in the first public evangelism of the church, repentance was at the heart of it. “Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts2:38).

No evangelism that omits the message of repentance can properly be called the gospel; sinners cannot come to Jesus Christ apart from a radical change of heart, mind, and will.

Find out More about repentance

What is Repentance and when is it necessary? Live a guilt free life

How to be free from guilt and shame it’s time to get your life back. Overcome the past and be free today.

KentsdailyAlbert Kents

3. A promise of forgiveness and Eternal Life.

Although the words of Jesus' personal invitation spoken by himself do have promises of rest, and power to become children of God, and partaking of the water of life, it is helpful to make explicit what Christ promises to those who come to him in repentance and faith. The primary thing that is promised in the gospel message is the promise of forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John3:16). And in Peter’s preaching of the gospel he says, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19 cf. 2:38).

Read more on Everlasting Life here

Why the Christian ‘Everlasting Life’ talk never made sense to me!

You’ve heard the words ‘Everlasting Life’ and ‘Going to Heaven’ dished out regularly by Christians, does going to heaven even make sense?

KentsdailyAlbert Kents

Coupled with the promise of forgiveness and eternal life should be an assurance that Christ will accept all who come to him in repentance and faith seeking salvation: “Him who comes to me I will not cast out”. (John6:37).

Based on radio, television, and movies, hardly anyone these days seems to understand or appreciate the message Jesus gave to His disciples to be delivered to all mankind. That message was good news, not sad news. It was the best possible news human ears could ever hope to hear. Counterfeit Christianity is to be found these days on every side but Real life in Jesus is a rare commodity---and sadly the message that goes out under the name of Christ is often blurred, unclear, distorted, or not really heard at all.

The message we must preach is not an ice cream candy gospel. We have got a lot of people in churches, they say they are “saved” or Christians but they got "saved" not because they love Jesus but because they were promised a good life of abundance and suffer no more in this world by a preacher. This has only made them to concentrate on perishable things of this world. Unfortunately, when such people face trials and difficulties in life, they are swept to the ground and run away from the Church and Christ altogether.

I don’t blame them for running away but I blame us the so-called gospel preachers who dilute the message because we care more about numbers in our churches but not discipleship. Some preachers think may be if they to preach the true gospel, people will not accept it. It’s tough, need to water it down to sale.

You think you want people to get saved more than the one who died on the cross for them? We have zero power to save anyone. Only Jesus saves. Therefore, don’t water down His message.

When the Apostle Peter gave the first oracles of the good news on the day of Pentecost, the gospel was super, he did not water it down and because he was true to the message, three thousand people joined the church at day. It was a genuine heart gripping message.

We're going to see God at work when we present who Christ really is.

Summary

The gospel:

(a.) Grace: Eternal Life is a free gift; it is not earned or deserved.

(b). Man [People, humanity]: is a sinner, cannot save ourselves.

(c). God: is merciful- therefore does not want to punish us, is just- therefore must punish sin.

(d). Christ: who he is- the infinite God-man, what he did- he paid for our sins on the cross and purchased us by his blood shed on the cross, he offers everlasting life, a gift, which may be received by…

(e). Faith: which is not- mere intellectual assent nor temporal faith, what it is- “trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

(f). Repentance and Forgiveness: Return to God, walk with God, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins. Made right with God.

Bibliography:

MacArthur John F Jr, The gospel According to Jesus, (P 22-33).

Grand Rapids Michigan: Academic Books, Zondervan publishing House, 1989.

Graham Billy, Peace With God Revised And Expanded, Waco Texas: Word Incorporated, 1984.

Olyott Stuart, The Gospel As It Really Is. Romans Simply Explained, (P 7). Darlington: Evangelical press, 1979.

Grudem Wayne, Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids Michigan: Inter- Varsity press,1994.

It is a sad moment losing someone to suicide. Most people who have committed suicide or those with thoughts of wanting to end their lives, are in need of help.

Instead of Judging them or throwing stones at them, they need comfort, love, and care. Anyone at any moment in life can fall into a depression, develop thoughts of anger, insignificance, feeling unloved, worthless, alone, inferior, unimportant, incompetent, lost, broken and hopelessness. A cloud of negative thoughts can easily overshadow anyone at any moment leading to one wanting to take their lives. It will serve us well, if we first understand whether life is worth living.

Importance of Life

According to the bible, life is extremely precious, and thus one cannot treat matters of life and death lightly. God states clearly in the bible commending us to: “Therefore choose life”.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live — Deuteronomy 30:19

While we have the power to make a choice, God admonishes us to choose life over death. For that reason, God forbids acts that result in “taking of a life” or that grant the “right to end life.” Until the moment of natural death, every second that one is alive is Immeasurably valuable — not just to yourself, but to the world . The mere fact that you’re still alive today, still breathing, your body and soul still together is reason enough to sustain this union by all means possible, regardless of the presumed “quality-of-life” of the person. For life is of infinite, not relative, value, and mathematically any fraction of infinity must also be infinite.

In the Hands of the Maker

Even if a “sword is hanging over a person’s neck,” and death seems certain, one still must not despair. For just as one knows that God created the world and sustains life upon it, one must also know that God can intervene and spare what seems to be a certain fate.
To put it another way, if God did not wish us to be alive right now, we would immediately cease living. This fact alone demonstrates that He wants us to live. If we (or our loved ones) cannot see a reason to stay alive, it does not mean that God does not. God is truly in control and we should draw great strength, courage, and comfort from this.

Life is Always Worth Living

As mentioned above, You being alive today is not by mistake and is extremely valuable. We may not understand what this means in our terms, but one thing is certain: “quality” has to be measured by more than what we see or understand. And for this we have to turn to the Word of God for guidance.

When God endows a person with life, the person becomes a guardian who must look after his “gift of life.”

According to the bible, we do not “own” ourselves, nor are we free to end life when we want. Life and death have always been, and remain, the realm of God and the Heavenly Court.

Any Suicide Cases in the Bible?

We find three prominent suicide cases in the bible,

1. King Saul’s suicide (I Samuel 31: 4–5) as he feared torture if he were captured by the Philistines and would have died in any event as a result of the torture and he therefore decided to take his own life.

2. Samson’s suicide (Judges 16: 30), where he destroyed himself together with his Philistine tormentors.

3. Judas Iscariot’s suicide (Matthew 27:3–5) after he betrayed Jesus.

The Reality about Suicide

The reality is, very few people of sound mind would be inclined to commit suicide in any event. There are those who commit suicide out of extreme distress and emotional agony. They lose the battle and a will to live. The thing is, we cannot absolutely be sure whether the person who committed suicide was of sound mind or not. The Ultimate judge of a suicide is God alone. It’s left up to The “Knower of All Souls”, The “Giver of Life“, God to know whether this person really had any free choice left in his soul.

You have got Work to do

Instead of sitting in the corner, Judging who goes to heaven and who doesn’t, we should spend that time and energy helping people who are facing life end crises.

Encourage them that there is a light after the tunnel and show them mercy. The decision to Judge who makes it to heaven and who doesn’t is left ONLY to the creator (God). It is not our duty and place to Judge on such matters.

Our duty is to bring hope and reconciliation into the world. Be a light, and agent of Hope, Love, and mercy in your community, workplace, and home. Reach out and help those who are going through tough times. If you know anyone who lost a loved one to suicide, encourage and comfort them.

We read several prophecies of one who is to prepare the way for the Lord. Isaiah tells us.

“A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:30

A very provocative statement indeed. There are a few introductory remarks about some of the language in this text that I would like to address first.

Meaning of the Words

The word translated as ‘prepare’ here is not the most common Hebrew word for this action. The Hebrew word ‘kun’ is primarily used to ‘express the idea of preparation or making ready for something’. The word in our text is ‘panu’. This word (‘panu’) means “to turn toward something or to turn your face back to someone.” In fact, the origin root of this word is the Hebrew word for face or countenance (panah).

There is a specific prophetic reason this word is used instead of the common word for preparation. The reason is that the ministry of John the Baptist and Elijah are the ones being referred to here. This verse continues to be quite provocative because the word for ‘straight’ here is ‘yashar’, Yashar means straight, upright, right… which is related (family word) of Yeshua

Yeshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus, meaning Salvation

Now it gets more interesting in the word for ‘desert’. We are told that the Messiah (Christ) is to come as lightning out of the east to the west (Matthew 24:27). The west is where the scattered sheep of the house of Israel are. This is where the multitudes are found. All the words in context with those in the west and the multitudes are associated with the words for mixing and scattering. One of these words is the word translated as ‘Arab’ in the Old Testament. This word ‘Arab’ means to mix or to mingle, which was the result of the house of Israel being scattered and mixed with the nations (Hosea 7:8). It comes from the root ‘arav’ which first appears as the word ‘evening’ in Genesis 1:5. This is because the evening is a mixture of light and darkness.

It is a word that represents the direction that God’s people will go, and the word used in Aramaic to describe the feet and toes of the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2:41­43. The word translated as desert in our text is ‘arabah’, referring to the people who lived there. In Exodus 12:38, “arabah” is the word used to describe the ‘mixed multitude’ that came out of Egypt in the Exodus.

“And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A 'mixed multitude’ also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. Exodus 12:37–38

There is an interesting combination of words used here that provide the background for the ministry of John the Baptist of which is the testimony for WHOM John the Baptist is preparing the way.

Baptism of what?

In all four gospels we are given details of the ministry of John the baptizer. We are informed that John’s baptism was the baptism of repentance in Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:4, Luke 3:8, and John 1:26. In Mark, we are told that John’s baptism was for the ‘remission of sins’. When one agrees to come to the mikveh (Baptism), this tells us that God has already done a work in their heart and coming to Baptism is the fruit of that faith. We are informed in the gospels and in the book of Romans that the good news came first to the Jew, then to the Gentiles.

John’s primary audience was Jewish, including Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew3:7). His baptism was the baptism of repentance. In Hebrew, the act of repentance is employed in the word ‘shuv’. ‘Shuv’ means to ‘turn back to where you came from’, and first appears in Genesis 3:19 when God tells Adam that he will return (shuv) to the dust of the ground from where he was taken. This concept was seen in the word for ‘prepare’ in Isaiah 40:3 that we discussed earlier.

It was not the gentiles who needed to repent. The gentiles first had to believe before they could repent. This was directed toward His own, the house of Judah, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees, for they had turned away from the Torah (Instructions of God) and taught others to do so as well.

Why Repentance?

“REPENT! For the kingdom of God is at hand” cried both John and Jesus. How had they turned away from God? By turning away from the Torah (Instructions of God), the Word of God, which is God Himself. John’s immersion into the living Jordan River was after they had turned their hearts toward God and repented.

Water does not cause repentance. Repentance comes from the heart. It is also the fulfilling of righteousness that John was the witness of this cleansing, for John was a priest. It was the work and duty of the priests to ‘inspect’ the cleanness or continued uncleanness of an individual. John’s baptism was a picture of repentance, which only prepares the way for God.

This preparation is also seen in the Exodus from Egypt. Before the Passover (the lamb), Pharaoh had to ‘let go’ of the people. He had to turn them loose, so they could begin the journey back to the land that Abraham had crossed over to as well.

The baptism of repentance was for the turning of a straying heart back to the word of God.

Jesus tells us that HE is in the Word.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” John 5:39

“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44

When His own people hear of the Messiah, they have had their hearts already prepared for such a revelation by John’s baptism of repentance. Trusting God and obeying Him is the fruit of repentance. If the Jewish leaders of the time were really seeking God and following His word, then they would have seen and received Christ (the Messiah). They were not following the Torah (word) and so did not bear the fruit of the word (Torah) and welcome the prophesied Messiah.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matt 3:7-8

We know from the record of the New Testament, that John did not baptize a large majority of Jesus’ followers. However, many of the disciples of John were prepared and readily accepted Jesus Christ later.

“And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.” Acts 19:1-6

Vision is key to achieving anything of significance. If you don’t know where you are going, it doesn’t matter which way you go. You need to know your starting point and your end point (goal).

Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find a way. Abraham Lincoln US former President (1809-65)

Every person is either a creator of fact or a creature of circumstance. You either put color into your environment, or, like a chameleon, takes color from your environment.

People fall into one of three groups:

• The few who make things happen,
• The many who watch things happen,
• The majority who have no idea of what is happening.

Regardless, of the category you fall in, every human heart cry and yearn for the same thing: ‘A chance to fulfill one’s dreams and passions. Even the poorest, illiterate person has a dream at one time.

But why many don’t see their Vision and dreams become a reality?

The wealthiest places in the world are not gold mines, oil fields, diamond mines or banks. The wealthiest place is the cemetery. There lie companies that were never started, masterpieces that were never painted, and all Ideas that never came into reality. In the cemetery there is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential.

There is a treasure within you that must come out. Don’t go to the grave with your treasure still within YOU.

For your vision and dream to happen, you need to see it first.

The greatest gift God ever gave man is not the gift of physical sight but the gift of vision.

Sight depends on the condition of your eyes whereas Vision depends on the condition of your heart.

You may not have a good eyesight but that does not mean you cannot have a good vision sight.

a. Our eyes cannot be trusted: See with Vision Sight

If you’re to live your life with what you see with your eyes then you’re in for a big ride of nothingness, depression, and a life without purpose.

b. Eyes can be deceptive.

All that glitters is not gold.

God told Samuel (I Samuel 16:7) But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” Psalm 119:37

Note to singles: Never choose a partner because of their looks. You might be looking at makeup

“For we live (walk) by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor 5:7

If we’re to trust our eyes, then we will come to work and lament on how small the business or company is with sales not improving, come home and get reminded of the mortgage or the small apartment you’re in, come to church and look at the empty chairs how few you are in number. You’ll only see obstacle after obstacle. Eyes show you only two employees, failing business, no savings, how a loser you are, one small studio unit apartment, fifty people in church.

On the other hand, Vision shows us 10,000 employees, multiple locations, a fully functional livable home and family, hundreds of thousands reached for Christ.

c. Eyes show you limitations, Vision shows you possibilities

Sight is a function of the eyes, but vision is a function of the heart. When a person doesn’t have a vision, they live by their eyes. Your eyesight changes depending on what is before you. Living by what you see (eyes) has a big effect on your emotions and feelings and this can easily affect your state of mind. One of the reasons why people are so stressed and depressed. It is difficult making right decisions and long-term planning when you’re in such a state of seeing limitations. No wonder why the future never becomes a reality.

God sees with Vision not eyesight.

The power of ‘Let there be’

Before God made the heavens and the earth, he first envisioned it in his mind. He knew exactly how he wanted it to be, look and have. He had a mental picture of what he wanted to create. In short, he created the heavens and the earth before they even physically existed. No wonder, nothing He made surprised him. He wasn’t like, ‘OMG look what has happened, I didn’t see that coming, see this little cute thing, where has it come from! I had no idea but anyway, I’ll take the credit.’

Things didn’t just happen, he made them according to His Vision and purposes.

Genesis 1:26: Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness (VISION), so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (PURPOSE)

Isaiah 46:10: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”

“Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” NLT

• God is not a fortune teller but a vision teller.
• Fortune tellers predicts, Vision tellers demonstrate, carry out and make sure.
• God functions and sees with Vision what He wants to happen before it happens.

The power of vision

• You can only seize what you see (Vision)
• What do you see? (inner eyes/heart)
• You need to see beyond your present circumstances and situation.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV Translation: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

NLT Translation: So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Hebrews 11:1 NLT: Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

NIV Translation: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance (conviction, evidence, certainty, proof) about what we do not see.

WHAT PREVENTS US TO SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING!

1. Dwelling on the past failures and success

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah 43:18

Before we can see the new thing, God is doing, we need to “FORGET” and stop thinking about our past failures, mistakes, and past success.

Sometimes we suffer from what I call “Past syndrome”. Past syndrome makes us myopic (short sighted). We can’t see (Vision) what God is doing right now. Sometimes, we focus on our past success, past failures, or past nothingness. Thinking things will still work as they did yesterday. This happens to the most of us. Traditions develop from our inability to change. I am not saying you should follow every new fad out there, what I’m saying; whatever the past brought you, it's time to move on.

Make every disaster an opportunity for learning.

There are many stories of success built on failure. No one succeeds without failing first. Big companies even have divisions dedicated to this. They test, prototypes. Before a product sees a light of day on consumer shelves, it would have gone through several tests, failures, prototyping, betas, changes, and refinements. Even when it is released, they keep on refining it. version 1, version 2, etc. Turning every disaster, failure into an opportunity for learning.

Focusing on vision leads to innovation. You can’t see the future or see the now if your eyes are too focused on the past. MOVE ON, see the world with a new pair of eyes.

Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

2. We Doubt our Ideas

• There is nothing as powerful as an IDEA.
• Everything created began as an idea.
• Ideas created and controls the world.
• Pursue godly and divine ideas.

Two important points to note.

1. What you see (vision) shapes your world and your world shapes your reality.
2. What you see (vision) affects your input and your input affects your output (productivity).

You cannot escape the consequences of one’s actions.

Whatever you are to sow is going to be determined by what you see (your vision) Abraham saw the sand of the sea and the multitudes like the stars.

Gen 15:5 - He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

• He saw a nation before the birth of a nation.
• He saw it happening before it happened
• He believed God not because it was convenient but because he saw in himself giving birth to a nation even before he had a child.

The odds were against both Abraham and his wife Sarah, she had past menopause — a child birthing age. Imagine a 90-year-old wife, and 100-year-old husband. Not a kind of a couple you’ll bet on having a child. 90 and 100 is not a baby birthing age but a grave ready age. Statistically, a 45-year-old woman these days is more likely to stay unmarried since most men view her as passed childbearing age. Your fertility naturally declines as you get older, which could make it harder to conceive plus greater risks for pregnancy complications. “Experts” say the best age to get pregnant is between your twenty’s and early thirty’s. Sarah got pregnant at ninety and her husband was one hundred years old. Now, that is what we call faith, and it takes a greater vision to see it through.

God gave Abraham a revelation, but it was upon Abraham to carry out that revelation and vision into reality. Abraham had to carry out his marital duties — sexually intimate with his wife for him to have a child, well, the child was not going to fall from heaven. Abraham also had to leave his home country — leading to the birth of a nation God had promised him.

Vision without application equals to nothingness.

The child was not going to come from thin air, Abraham and Sarah had to carry out their marital duties (sexual intercourse = application) in order to see the vision, and revelation become a reality. The act of him being intimate with Sarah at their age is an act of faith. For faith without works is dead. You must take a step forward, you need to wake up and do something, launch out or your vision will only remain a ‘dream’.

It takes a vision to turn a dream into reality.

The question for you right now is, what do you see (Vision)?

You cannot guide a ship or drive a car that’s parked.

In Proverbs, chapter 16:9, a remarkably interesting statement made by God. It says, “The heart of man makes his plans, and the Lord directs the steps of the plan.’ and the NIV translates it as ‘In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.’

You need to have a Vision, a Goal, then the LORD guides you towards achieving that Vision.

We love saying, ‘I’m waiting on God.’ But the truth is, God is simply saying, ‘I’m really waiting on you. Why don’t you tell Me what you want to do with your life? Show Me what’s in your heart and I will guide your path. God needs something to work with, He needs something He can Bless. Praying for God’s blessings or promises when you’re doing nothing won’t bring any blessing. For God blesses the ‘works of our hands ‘. Have a Vision, then pray.

Dreams only remain dreams until we take a step forward and make them into reality. Have a Vision.

A lot of people are looking for love these days, just look at how many thousands of dating websites with millions of singles searching for love, or the hundreds of dating apps like Tinder cropping up every single day. Millions of singles are looking for that special someone, caught in wonder of ‘Is there someone meant for Me!’.

If you happen to read dating profiles, you’ll find a similar trend: - ‘Looking for someone smart, funny, loves to travel, and has a great sense of humor.’ They are looking for someone to make them happy.

Is it true that being in a relationship will bring you joy and happy ever after?

If it were true, we wouldn’t have had such a huge exodus of Divorces today. Just look at these overwhelming divorce statistics.

More people are either divorcing or separating than those getting married. If more are divorcing and separating, then being in a relationship is not the answer to unhappiness as some commonly perceive.

OK. we’re not here to talk about Marriage neither divorce. Let’s save that for another time.

How To be Single and Happy

1. The Problem is Deeper than You Think

If you’re longing for a relationship to cure your unhappiness, then you might be disappointed. Unhappiness is a symptom of something deeper a boyfriend or a girlfriend can’t fix.

It is true that one of the greatest needs for Humanity is “Love”. To love and to be loved. We are social beings. We don’t function well alone. Loneliness drives us to look for love, community, friendships, and relationships.

The companionship you’re craving for, can be got through surrounding yourself with great people who care about you. People you can build a sense of belonging and community with. A boyfriend or girlfriend cannot provide you with this kind of community only likeminded people can.

2. Set Your Priorities Right

Priorities are important and the clearer you are in your priorities and goals, the better your life will be. Know what you want, set up steps how to achieve your goals. Know what is most important in your life and make a list from the most important to the least important and lastly, pursue those priorities. Set every day to work towards those priorities and don’t let anything distract you ‘Be Focused’.

If your priorities are set right, your life is going to be satisfying even when you’re single. You have a rare opportunity of achieving your goals when you’re still single. Married people have a lot of responsibilities on their plate and this ‘sometimes’ can be a distraction. Use your time wisely while still single.

3. Surround Yourself with Positive People

When you surround yourself with positive people, you won’t have time to think of thoughts of loneliness in return you will live a happy life. I have found the happiest people are those who surround themselves with positive people.

Positive people help you tap into their energy. They encourage you to dream big and see the world in a new dimension. Such high energy makes you want to move mountains. The more time you spend with positive people, the more satisfying your life will become.

Negative people on the other hand, suck the energy and life out of you. They suck you dry to the point of developing stress, depression, and feelings of loneliness. Avoid people who add no value into your life. I mean value in terms of energy and optimism. Have a small group of friends who are positive and optimistic than a big crowd which pulls you down.

4. Happiness is a Mind Set

There’s a big deception that happiness comes from owning or having things. The grass looks greener on the other side but don’t be fooled. The grass is always greener on the other side, until you jump the fence and see the weeds up close.

The thing is, Happiness is a result of your attitude, and your attitude is a mindset. You can choose to either be happy or be miserable. No one is going to make you happy; your boyfriend or girlfriend is not going to make you happy. The relationship can even make your life miserable.

Every day you must make a choice to be Happy, for no one is going to make that choice for you.

Always have a positive attitude no matter the situation.
Start each day with a declaration; “I choose this day to be Happy. I’m not going to give in to negativity, I’m not going to focus on my limitations, I’m not going to focus on the things I don’t have or things I can’t do.
Today I choose to focus on the good, on the beautiful, on the noble, on things propelling me towards my destiny. I choose to be Happy Today.”

Your attitude determines your altitude.

5. Believe in Yourself

Self-belief is an important key component to happiness. There is a common factor in people who are suffering with depression. They have exceptionally low self-esteem. It causes you to have thoughts of “no one loves me, cares about me, no one could ever love me, I’m ugly, useless, I will never make it,”. You feel small inside, bitten, tired, and worthless.

Such demeaning confidence crushing thoughts are a lie and they are straight from the pit of hell. That’s not who you truly are.
For your wonderfully and fearfully made, You’re special, You’re unique, You’re beautiful, You’re handsome, You’re capable, and you’re utterly amazing. Believe in yourself, always.

Be Happy, Smile.

Today, we live in a culture and society where anything can be debatable. A society with crumbling fundamental principles and standards. It is hard for an average Joe to keep up with all the ever-changing ethics. What was standard yesterday is no longer standard today. It’s a world of unpredictability with less clear lasting set standards. Whether in the Political arena, the public community, or religious circles. Progressive pundits say we’re living in a progressive world, a world where you can do whatever you want if you can justify it.

This has led to Ideological wars between progressives and conservatives in areas like sexuality, race, economy, gender, rights. oh, guess what! Even on what bathrooms to use. Each group is fighting for what they consider to be the ‘supposed’ acceptable norms. Gone are the days of fundamental ethical standards.

If people can’t agree on simple things like who uses which bathrooms, can they really agree on bigger issues like ethics, morality, right and wrong, good, and evil?

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20

A question we need to ask ourselves is, Is truth, right and wrong, good, and evil absolute or relative?

Our worldviews, Character traits, and behavioral patterns are all molded by our understanding of two important things. Good and Evil. What is good (What is acceptable) or What is evil (What is not acceptable). Does good exist? Does wrong exist?

If right and wrong exists, then, who determines what is right and what is wrong?

Do we look to politicians, or the government to define for us what is acceptable and what not? Is it the constitution, or the supreme court? Whose rules are we to follow anyway? Who even makes these rules in the first place to define right and wrong? What measuring rod do we use to determine which is which?

‘The God Effect’

I do not believe things just happen randomly. I believe for something to happen there must be a cause. A car to have all its functionality must have a manufacturer, functions cannot happen randomly. Things don’t just design themselves and appear from nowhere. The people at Tesla had to think (idea), design, model and engineer a wonderful electric car. Electric Auto pilot Teslas didn't happen randomly, they had to be made.

The first thing is to be aware and to know that there is a Root Cause, a Being whose existence is absolute, complete, pure, perfect and from Him alone all things come from. He (God) alone and only He is Independent. His existence has no cause. There is nothing that supports Him. There is nothing that maintains Him.

There is nothing through which He came into being. In contrast, everything else that exists is dependent and subject upon His existence. Nothing else exists in and of itself and independent of Him. Everything else exists only because He wills its existence. He gives everything else its existence and He maintains everything.

The question we must now address is why this seemingly obscure, difficult, complex, perplexing and abstract point, an affirmation of God’s absolute existence and creation’s absolute dependency, should determine one’s ability to understand the subject of right and wrong.

The reason an appreciation of God’s unchanging existence and of creation’s absolute dependency is so important is that only through His absolute existence can there exist an absolute unchanging Truth.

If the Creator is not absolute but dependent upon something else, He could not claim absolute Truth. Instead, only truth based upon the Creator’s source could exist as absolute.

Truth depends upon it being a derivative of the Unchanging Creator.

If one is unaware of the Creator’s absoluteness, then a world with absolute values cannot exist for such a person and cannot bind them. Instead, a world with concepts relative to one’s situation would exist.

Concepts of good and bad can only be absolute and outright only when derived from an unchanging source.

If derived from unpredictable and random source, they will be seen relative and parallel to the situation through the individual’s immediate, subjective perception.

What is Relativism?

Relativism is the concept that all points of view have no absolute truth or validity within themselves, but rather only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration.

It can also be defined as the belief that all points of view are equally valid, and that all truth is relative to the individual. This means all moral positions, all religious systems, all art forms, all political movements, are truths that are relative to the individual and exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.

Relativism perspectives can be categorized.

• Cognitive Relativism [truth] — It affirms that all truth is relative. This would mean that no system of truth is more valid than another one, and that there is no objective standard of truth. It would, naturally, deny that there is a God of absolute truth.
• Moral/Ethical Relativism — All morals are relative to the social group within which they are constructed.
• Situational Relativism — Ethics (right and wrong) are dependent upon the situation.

Dangers of Relativism

Ethical relativism holds that morality is relative to the norms of one’s culture. That is, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of the society in which it is practiced. The same action may be morally right in one society but be morally wrong in another. With this line of thinking, there are no universal moral standards — standards that can always be universally applied to all peoples. The only moral standards against which a society’s practices can be judged are its own. This kind of thinking is total depravation and corruption. If culture A condones rape, and culture B condemns rape, should we just give a pass to the rapist because he grew up with culture A! How will you minister justice to the victim?

Relativism is a Cancer. It eats societies alive and slowly brings destruction under a false pretense of Freedom.

If relativism mindset is correct, then, there can be no common structure for resolving moral disputes or for reaching agreement on social, moral, and behavioral matters among members of different societies.

Relativism creates an opportunity in which one does what he wants then creates the justification for it.

If one wants to kill unborn children, they may use the justification that the quality of life is more important than life itself or the Mother’s feelings and desires are more important than the unborn fetus. Thus, murder becomes an act of loving-kindness, in which the murderer is viewed as a sensitive individual who wants to relieve a poor sufferer of a life without quality. They may first rationalize that it isn’t yet alive to rationalize and normalize the acceptability of abortion.

Today, those who are concerned with being moral are forced to embrace humanism. Humanism is an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems and relative morality.

They begin searching for the words to justify what they would like to do. The process is not that difficult; the right words or expression can always be found. People like Hitler who killed millions of people could justify their actions. This perfectly demonstrates that there is no action which a human being cannot justify, to himself and even to others.

Are All Moral Views Equally Valid?

If all moral views are equally valid, then do we have the right to punish anyone for anything?

Can we ever say that something is wrong? To say that something is wrong, we must first have a standard by which we weigh right and wrong to make a judgment. If that standard of right and wrong is based on relativism, then it is not a standard at all. Since society changes, the norms would change and so would right and wrong. If right and wrong change, then how can anyone be rightly judged for something he did wrong if that wrong might become right in the future?

The Big Idea

The possibility of right and wrong, good, and evil, depends upon the existence of an unchanging truth. But truth can be unchanging only if the Creator (God) is unchanging since that which He creates and that which is derived from Him can only then reflect the absolute truth of His Being. All the world, all morality, and all ethics are dependent upon this principle of God’s unchangingness.