Jesus, the Alpha & the Omega
Beware of Personal Favouritism James 2:1 James taught the strongest possible connection between faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and impartiality. God does not play favorites, yet we do (cf. 2:9), sinners that we are. The world’s love shows its true nature in its lack of love for the many
Continue readingThe Cure For Brain Diseases Is In Your Gut This interesting article reflects an ongoing research endeavour to establish the effect of our extensive bacterial biome especially in our digestive system, and whether it contributes to various maladies that affects us as humans. Read Article Here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/28/the-cure-for-brain-diseases-is-in-your-gut.html
Continue readingContrary to what we may think and believe, the Bible addresses quite a number of issues that go against the logic of human belief on what it means to follow Jesus and obey God. Often, these principles are not articulated with academic clarity, but couched in stories and parables in
Continue readingPhotography April 2015 Winners and a few shortlisted entries for the 2015 National Geographic Traveller’s Photography Competition in their respective categories are illustrated here. Credit: National Geographic
Continue readingNo Excess in Charity Genesis 3:6; Revelation 12:7–8 The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall. But in charity there is no excess; neither can angel nor man come in danger by it. Francis Bacon (1561 –
Continue readingWhy North Europeans Are The Happiest People A few snippets from the article: Success is more than economic growth and other such statistics. Social support and generosity are relatively independent of economic development or the political system. People are happier when they’re socially fulfilled, perhaps as members of a group.
Continue readingEphesians 4: 28 In this segment of the Ephesian letter (4:17-32), Paul ranges wide in what constitutes a Christian walk. However, we will focus on the issue of work and money. A majority of our worlds spin around the necessity of work, and how it contributes to our self-esteem and
Continue readingTurkish and Armenian Christians Reconcile on Genocide Anniversary “We came to share your pain,” Turkish Christians declared in early April, standing before TV cameras at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan. “We have come here to apologize for what our ancestors did, to ask for your forgiveness,” two spokesmen for the
Continue readingThe word ruby comes from the Latin rubens which means red. Rubies are found in shades of red, from rich darkish red to pigeon blood red and pinkish red. The red hue comes from traces of the mineral chromium. They are extremely strong, registering 9 on the Mohs scale of
Continue readingIn April 1915 the Ottoman government embarked upon the systematic decimation of its civilian Armenian population. The persecutions continued with varying intensity until 1923, when the Ottoman Empire ceased to exist, and was replaced by the Republic of Turkey. The Armenian population of the Ottoman state was reported at about
Continue readingNASA is gearing up to return humans to the moon, but first they’re using their Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) satellite to make incredibly detailed 3-D maps of the lunar surface. The latest map of the moon was released April 13 by the U.S. Geological Survey. The equator runs through the center.
Continue readingMatthew 6: 19 – 20 Completely different are “the treasures in heaven” (cf. 19:21), that is, those blessings that are reserved for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4), that are heavenly in character, but of which we experience a foretaste even now. Beginning, as is proper, with the enumeration of
Continue readingI have started a new Facebook page called ICHTHUS, specifically for those who are burdened to pray for the persecution of Christian minorities worldwide. These atrocities toward believers have been increasing through the years, and if, like me, you are just as saddened and deeply grieved by them, then please
Continue readingThe prestigious annual Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show to be held in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital, will commence on 19 to 23 May 2015. The big announcement so far is that Prince Harry’s charity, Sentebale, will be exhibiting a garden for the second time. The charity is
Continue readingSimple Rules for Healthy Eating Literally, a few simple rules for healthy eating from a pediatrician. With a proliferation of ready-made meals and artificially preserved food, common sense goes a long way contributing towards a healthy lifestyle. Read Article Here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/upshot/simple-rules-for-healthy-eating.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage®ion=CColumn&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&src=me&WT.nav=MostEmailed&_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0
Continue reading1 John 3: 9 – 10 As was pointed out in connection with verse 6, adding such phrases as “continue to” and “go on” to John’s statements about sinning is not justified on the basis of the Greek text. As before, the statements are absolute. One who is born of
Continue readingThe Social Skills You Weren’t Taught in School Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to monitor one’s own and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior. As the term implies, can emotional ‘intelligence’ be a
Continue readingAn aurora is a natural light display in the sky (from the Latin word aurora, “sunrise” or the Roman goddess of dawn), predominantly seen in the high latitude (Arctic and Antarctic) regions. Auroras are caused by charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, entering the atmosphere from above causing ionisation and
Continue reading2 Peter 1: 3 – 12 The second letter of Peter was the final book to be admitted into the New Testament canon, and it was written to believers who were simultaneously being persecuted from without, and coping with heresy within the church. In those contexts, it is an exacting
Continue readingOur brain learns quickly to adjust to differing levels of stress, despite the body’s limited capacities to cope with increasing degrees of it. Different individuals possess varying levels of stress thresholds under diverse circumstances. We all need some stress to effectively do a job well, but what is harmful is
Continue readingLengthening Patience Shortens Troubles Numbers 21:4–6; Proverbs 14:29; 19:11; Isaiah 8:17; Galatians 5:22 To lengthen my patience is the best way to shorten my troubles; and to lessen my patience is the speediest way to lengthen my pain. George Swinnock (1627 -1673)
Continue readingDo Not Build A Community Tim Gaydos flipped the coin over to show us the blind spot of much of our existing church emphases. Building and maintaining large congregations seemed to be the unspoken desire of many church leaders, and it is not unusual that they also possess a certain
Continue readingNASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has photographed a set of wispy, goblin-green objects that are the ephemeral ghosts of quasars that flickered to life and then faded. The glowing structures have looping, helical, and braided shapes. “They don’t fit a single pattern,” said Bill Keel of the University of Alabama in
Continue readingThe Blue Zones Secrets to a Long and Healthy Life In 2004, Dan Buettner teamed up with National Geographic and the world’s best longevity researchers to identify pockets around the world where people live measurably longer better. In these “Blue Zones” they found that people reach age 100 at rates
Continue readingRomans 8: 23 – 25 We Christians share creation’s groaning and hope (23), for we possess the Spirit as the firstfruits, the downpayment and pledge of our final redemption, and this causes us all the more to long for the finishing of God’s work in us. What is often called
Continue readingIt seems inevitable that a book that handles such a topic will prove controversial and have some difficulties in recommending a way forward. But Wittmer tries his best to parse out the ‘logic’ of his proposal. The dichotomy is obvious, and the tensions attempting to balance it in this life
Continue readingTerrariums are usually sealable glass containers that can be opened for maintenance and to access the plants inside. However, this is not essential, and some are open to the atmosphere rather than being sealed. Terrariums are often kept as decorative or ornamental items. Closed terrariums create a unique environment for
Continue readingGenesis 3: 8 A general term for the various snakelike creatures found in the ancient Near East (Heb. nāḥāš, kārāp̱; Gk. óphis). Representations of serpents in literature and other media (chiefly clay and bronze) occur throughout the ancient Near East. Serpents functioned largely as objects of worship or charms against evil,
Continue readingA huge effort to map dark matter across the cosmos has released its first data. Dark matter is the invisible “web” that holds galaxies together; by watching how clumps of it shift over time, scientists hope eventually to quantify dark energy – the even more mysterious force that is pushing
Continue readingA good nap is like taking a little time out of your day and just rebooting your brain. Aside from that, napping has far-reaching effects on your health. Shorter naps give you the best bang for your buck, according to experts, but longer naps are good for you too. Taking
Continue readingMost Visited Palaces and Castles in 2014 Travel & Leisure’s top ten of the most visited palaces and castles are: 1. The Forbidden City, Beijing 2. The Louvre, Paris 3. The Grand Palace, Bangkok 4. Palace of Versailles, France 5. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul 6. The Winter Palace, St. Petersburg 7.
Continue readingJohn 20: 11 – 21: 25; Luke 24: 13 – 53; Acts 1: 1 – 11. This exclusive respite with His disciples on the shores of Galilee or Tiberias, about a day and a half’s journey north of Jerusalem, was deliberate (Matt 28:10). Forty days was no mean stretch of
Continue readingThe Deeper the Affliction and Sorrow the Greater the Wisdom Affliction and sorrow do strange things to individuals. They either entrap us in a spiral of despondency, which inevitably drags us into self-indulgence or depression, or we bounce back and rise above its swirling emotions. Differing personalities view these events
Continue readingTim Jeffs Artwork Tim Jeffs is an illustrator who studied at Parsons School of Design, and have spent the last 25 years of his life working in New York City as a Creative Director in publishing: designing websites, books, logos, and all kinds of electronic and printed material. His artwork
Continue readingSaturn, the sixth planet from the sun, is one of the most easily identified targets for astronomers, largely due to its large and distinct ring system. However, Saturn is not the only planet in the solar system to have rings — Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune also contain faint ring systems.
Continue readingWhen one refers to meditation, a vast majority of believers visualize a non-Christian system, with accompanying chanting and repetitive vocalizations. This misrepresentation casts an indelible poverty over our self-awareness, or mindfulness of oneself and his surroundings, and far removes us from our spirituality in thinking deeply on the Word of
Continue reading2 Corinthians 5:18 “Who reconciled us to himself through Christ.” This astounding statement reveals God’s infinite love. We offended God by breaking his commands and sinning against him. Therefore, the initiative for reconciliation should have come from us, for we are the offending party. Instead we read that God, as
Continue readingUntested Stimulant Found to Persist in Some Supplements A couple of weeks ago, the USA’s Food & Drugs Administration warned that supplements currently sold, from vitamins to body-building nutrients, cannot be verified with its labeled specifications. In fact, tests revealed that some companies have been misleading the public as to the
Continue readingThe nautilus is a marine mollusc of the cephalopod family nautilidae, the sole extant family of the superfamily nautilaceae and of its smaller but near equal suborder, nautilina. It comprises six living species in two genera, the type of which is the genus Nautilus. Having survived relatively unchanged for millennia,
Continue readingHow Not to Talk to Someone with Depression A bare bones and down-to-earth article on a topic that most normal people find difficulty in understanding nor can they empathize effectively. Its complexity and chronicity would most certainly disorientate and frustrate anyone. But if you know someone who is depressed, Smith
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Bible Verse for Today 
There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Cosmic Collision Forges Galactic Ring.
Image Credit: X-ray: Chandra (NASA, CXC, INAF, A. Wolter et al.); Optical: Hubble (NASA, STScI). The rim of the blue galaxy on the right is an immense ring-like structure 150,000 light years in diameter composed of newly formed, extremely bright, massive stars. AM 0644-741 was caused by an immense galaxy collision. When galaxies collide, they pass through each other - their individual stars rarely come into contact. The ring-like shape is the result of the gravitational disruption caused by an entire small intruder galaxy passing through a large one. When this happens, interstellar gas and dust become condensed, causing a wave of star formation to move out from the impact point like a ripple across the surface of a pond. The likely intruder galaxy is on the left of this image. X-ray light is shown in pink and depicts places where energetic black holes or neutron stars, likely formed shortly after the galaxy collision, reside.
NASA Mars Exploration Programme 
Insulin while regulating blood sugar in the human body is also responsible for better memory.
American Psychological Association Conservation International 
The Khasi people (Children of the Seven Huts) are an indigenous ethnic group of Meghalaya in north-eastern India, with a significant population in the bordering state of Assam, and in certain parts of Bangladesh. They are the native people of Meghalaya and are the largest ethnic group in the state. Their language, Khasi, is categorised as the northernmost Austroasiatic language. The main crops produced by the Khasi people are betel leaf, areca nut, oranges, local rice and vegetables.
CDC Travellers’ Health Notices Relief Web 
The national flag of Monaco has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white, both of which have been the heraldic colours of the House of Grimaldi since at least 1339. The present bicolour design was adopted on April 4, 1881, under Prince Charles III. The flag of Monaco is graphically identical to the flag of Indonesia, with a slight difference only in its dimension ratio. The Flag of Poland has similar dimensions but has the colours reversed: white on top and red on the bottom.
The U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings The UK Foreign Service Travel Advice 
Designed by Alma Pihl, the only female and one of the best known Fabergé workmasters, as a gift to Maria Feodorovna by her son, Tsar Nicholas II, in 1913. The exterior of the egg resembles frost and ice crystals formed on clear glass. It is studded with 1,660 diamonds and is made from quartz, platinum, and orthoclase. The surprise is a miniature flower basket studded with 1,378 diamonds and is made from platinum and gold, while the flowers are made of white quartz and the leaves are made of demantoid. The flowers lie in gold moss. The egg is 102 millimetres high. It was reported that the buyer was Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, who paid $9.6 million in 2002.
Idiom of the Day 
AL-SHABAAB EXECUTED TWO BUS PASSENGERS WHO WERE BELIEVERS. Click on the image to read more.
