Keep The Faith

Why We All Need Yeshua (Jesus): Understanding Sin and the Kingdom of God Sin is more than breaking rules — it is stepping outside the life God designed for us. The Ten Commandments reveal God’s heart, but they also reveal our failure to live as we should. Scripture tells us that the law exposes our sin, not to condemn us forever, but to lead us to the One who can heal us. Through Jesus, God opens the way back into His Kingdom, where repentance becomes transformation, and faith becomes unity with the Father, the Son, and one another. What Is Sin? At its core, sin is disobeying God’s precepts — turning away from the way of life He set before us. God gave humanity ten foundational commandments, ten principles meant to shape how we live with Him and with one another. In Exodus 20 , He speaks directly to His people, revealing His heart, His holiness, and His expectations. But Scripture also tells us something sobering: The law doesn’t make us righteous—...

Edited 1/2/2026 I have been thinking about this post. I am getting lazy and have been looking for AI to create my final post, correct my mistakes, and make it look pretty, but I am noticing that it is taking me away from my original thoughts.  Back to my original thoughts:  I think we can glean important concepts from the Acts church that we can use in our communities, but I think some things should be different.  When the Acts church started, it consisted of the apostles and followers of Jesus during his public ministry of about three to three and a half years. They heard his teachings, saw with their own eyes' the miracles he performed. They were all witnesses to the prophecies, verifying that he WAS/IS the Messiah. They were, in essence, all in the kingdom of God, Father God's kingdom.  We no longer have these people with us, but their stories were passed on in writings and by word of mouth. The Bible is a collection of sacred texts for Christianity and Judaism. T...

  How Can You Know You're Listening to the Right Lord? As I reflect on this question, it becomes clear that true discernment begins with being part of God's kingdom. According to John 17:2 , entrance into that kingdom comes through eternal life—a gift given by Jesus Christ. But what is eternal life? Jesus defines it in John 17:3 : it is the sure and intimate knowledge of the Father, the one true God, and of Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent. This isn't just intellectual assent; it's relational certainty. So how can you know you're in the kingdom of God—and thus listening to the right Lord? Your life will reflect the character and example of Jesus. The way He lived on earth becomes the blueprint for those who truly follow Him. His compassion, truth, humility, and obedience to the Father are not just admirable traits—they're signs of kingdom citizenship.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the state of our United States of America. Under the leadership of Donald J. Trump, I fear we are drifting away from the democratic ideals enshrined in our Constitution and inching toward an autocracy—one increasingly shaped by the will of a single man. I keep asking myself: Is there anything we can do to halt this progression—or at least slow it down? One word keeps rising to the surface: prayer. Prayer is powerful. What if we began praying—not just for ourselves, but for one another? For our leaders, even those who seem to be leading us down dark and uncertain paths. For people across the globe, especially those caught in the devastation of war. What if we prayed without ceasing? Jesus said: John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Let us pray that we all find the way—the truth about ourselves that leads to repentance and ultimately to eternal life . Imagine what et...

🌿 Eternal Life: Beyond Time and Into God's Kingdom What Is Eternal Life? I’ve often wondered why the Bible calls it eternal life . Jesus defines it in John 17:3 as knowing the Father, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent. In the original Greek, the word translated “know” is ginosko —meaning to know absolutely, to be sure, to understand deeply. So, what is eternal life? Is it simply living forever, or is it the fullness of knowing God? That question has lingered in my heart. Time and the Human Condition This morning, I was talking with my wife, and she offered a profound insight: it has to do with time . We live in a world governed by time. We’re born, we live for a finite span, and then we die. But in God’s realm, time doesn’t exist. He always was, and He always will be. Because of sin, God set a limit on human life. Today, 120 years seems to be the outer boundary—a reflection, perhaps, of the declaration in Genesis 6:3 . But this limit is not imposed on God. He exis...

Why the Gospel of John Matters Most ( Yochanan 1  Orthodox Jewish Bible ) Introduction The Gospel of John may be the most important book in the Bible to read and study. Its unique perspective, deep spiritual truths, and eyewitness testimony make it essential for anyone seeking to understand Jesus more fully. John: The Beloved Disciple John, the apostle, is widely believed to be the author. He was among the first disciples Jesus called, alongside his brother James. John was an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, miracles, and glory. He was one of the three chosen to witness the transfiguration ( Luke 9:28–36 ) ( Lukas 9:28-36  Orthodox Jewish Bible ) Known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” John stood at the cross with Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus Entrusts Mary to John When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her int...

Posted July 7, 2025 Why Would God Want to Help Us? A Nation in Mourning Over the July 4th holiday, devastating flooding swept through the Texas Hill Country. More than 100 people have lost their lives—many of them children. Dozens are still missing. The sorrow is almost too much to bear. And so, the familiar question arises: “Why did God let this happen?” A Harder Question But maybe we need to ask a deeper question: “What do we expect from God when we disregard the world He entrusted to us?” For decades, scientists have sounded the alarm that human activity—especially the burning of fossil fuels—is disrupting Earth’s climate. Many in power still resist change. Comfort outweighs conscience. Short-term gain silences long-term wisdom. So again: Why would God want to help us if we refuse to help ourselves? Scripture and Stewardship “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” — Psalm 24:1 (NIV) God gave humanity dom...