My Journey in Christ

The debate over Noah's Flood and the age of the earth is ultimately about how Christians understand the relationship between Scripture and science. Young-earth creationists begin with the Bible as God's inspired and authoritative Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and believe Genesis records real history. They point to Jesus' references to Adam, Eve, and Noah (Matthew 19:4-6; Matthew 24:37-39), along with Peter's description of the Flood (2 Peter 3:3-7), as evidence that the early chapters of Genesis should be understood historically. Genesis says the Flood came from two sources: "the fountains of the great deep" and "the windows of heaven" (Genesis 7:11). Young-earth creationists believe this was a worldwide catastrophe that reshaped the earth, causing mountains to rise, ocean basins to deepen, and floodwaters to recede. Some suggest mountains like Mount Everest were much lower before the Flood or were uplifted during or shortly after it. One observation ofte...

From a Facebook reel: My Christian response: Doctrinal Claims Deserve More Than Slogans As Christians, we are not free to treat doctrine carelessly. The truth of God is not ours to manipulate, simplify, weaponize, or reduce to whatever fits neatly into a slogan. Scripture is the very Word of God, breathed out by Him, profitable for teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be complete and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). That means theological claims—especially disputed ones—must be handled with reverence, seriousness, humility, and a willingness to submit our assumptions to the authority of God’s Word. This is especially true when discussing issues such as charismatic gifts, women in ministry, and infant baptism. These are not trivial matters, but neither are they matters that can be settled by mere assertion or by pretending that all faithful Christians who disagree are simply ignoring the Bible. A Chris...

While listening to the YouVersion Bible app during my Bible study this morning, I read Leviticus 20:22–27, Leviticus 21, Leviticus 22:1–16, Mark 9:1–29, Psalm 43:1–5, and Proverbs 10:18. At first, they seemed like a random collection of passages, but the more I thought about them, the more I saw how they fit together. The Leviticus passages are really God reminding Israel that they belong to Him. Because they are His people, He wants them to live differently from the nations around them. The strict laws, the standards for priests, and even the severe penalties all point back to God's holiness and the seriousness of sin. God wasn't giving random rules. He was teaching His people who He is and what it means to live in relationship with Him. One question that naturally comes up is this: If God is a loving God, why would He command such severe penalties? As I thought about it, I realized that God's love and God's justice are not opposites. A loving parent sets boundaries an...

Every human being lives by a story. The question is whether that story is true. Many people spend their lives believing narratives that were never written by God. Some see themselves as failures because of past mistakes. Others define themselves by their careers, relationships, achievements, political affiliations, or personal wounds. Still others are trapped by fear, convinced they are unloved, unworthy, or beyond redemption. These stories become lenses through which they interpret reality, often without realizing they are doing so. Modern psychologists and social scientists increasingly recognize that people often construct their identities through personal narratives that shape how they understand themselves and the world around them.¹ Scripture teaches that humanity has struggled with false narratives from the very beginning. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent's temptation was not merely an invitation to disobedience; it was an attack on truth itself. Eve was encouraged to do...

Throughout Christian history, believers have wrestled with questions surrounding death, burial, cremation, and the resurrection of the dead. For many centuries, burial was the nearly universal Christian practice, while cremation was rare and often viewed with suspicion. In modern times, however, cremation has become increasingly common due to financial considerations, changing cultural practices, and practical concerns. This has led many Christians to ask an important question: Does cremation affect a person's ability to be resurrected by God? Both traditional Christianity and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) affirm the reality of bodily resurrection. While they differ in some theological details, both traditions teach that God possesses the power to restore and resurrect the human body regardless of what happens to it after death. Therefore, the central issue is not whether resurrection is possible after cremation, but rather how ...

Matthew chapter 7 has always been one of those passages that makes me stop and think. Jesus says that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven. That's a pretty serious statement because it shows there's a difference between saying you're a Christian and actually living as one. When I read that passage, I don't immediately start thinking about other people. I start thinking about myself. The truth is, I haven't always been true to my faith. There have been times when I let my temper get the best of me. There have been times when I said things I shouldn't have said, held grudges longer than I should have, or focused more on what I wanted than what God wanted. I'm sure if we're all being honest, most Christians could say the same thing. What I've learned over the years is that being a Christian isn't about pretending to be perfect. If perfection were the requirement, none of us would make it. Christianity is about...

When I read 2 Timothy chapter 3, one of the first things that stands out is how relevant it feels. Even though Paul wrote it nearly two thousand years ago, his description of people and society sounds remarkably familiar. He talks about people being lovers of themselves, lovers of money, proud, ungrateful, and more interested in pleasure than in God. It's easy to look around and see those things in the world today, but the chapter also challenges me to look inward and make sure those attitudes aren't finding a home in my own heart. One lesson I take away from this chapter is that spiritual problems are often heart problems. We tend to focus on what's happening around us—politics, culture, social issues, and the latest controversy—but Paul points to something deeper. The real issue is whether people are seeking God or seeking themselves. That includes me. It's a reminder to regularly examine my own attitudes and priorities. Another thing that stands out is Paul's war...