Author: editors

If you want to be in leadership you have to be honest and tell the truth.

Proverbs 17:7 (NLT)

Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;

even less are lies fitting for a ruler.

“Unbelief cannot pray; it can only utter words.”

E. W. Kenyon

James 2:26

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

If you want your faith to work, you have to put it to work. Believing is not just saying, which is important first step, but believing is doing.

Believe in faith. Say it out loud. Then do it.

Matthew 5:20 (NKJV)

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

-Jesus The Messiah

The new audio Bible formats from OliveTree.com are fantastic. At VWC.jp, we read the Word every day. However, it’s not always easy as we get tired or distracted and sometimes can have a hard time concentrating on what we are reading. That can make it difficult to soak in what we need to refresh spiritually.

The new audio Bibles are something Olivetree.com is selling. So even if you already bought the New King James Version Bible translation, you’re still going to need to buy the audio version separately. From our experience, worth the $20+ dollars. With the audio Bible you get

• The app reading the translation you have out loud to you while displaying the text.

• Something you can just listen to when you’re tired or don’t have free hands (such as driving)

• You can still highlight, book mark and make other notes on your audio version just like the written translations of the Bible you already have on your OliveTree.com Bible study app.

Great new idea for how to keep yourself strong spiritually through hearing the Word.

PS if you can’t afford to pay for an audio Bible, there is one other option we know of. For the iPhone you can find it here. It’s called the Youversion Bible App.

Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,

but dwelling on it separates close friends.

It is important to quit talking about past things that someone did to you. If you forgave them, don’t bring it up every time something you don’t like happens.

With forgiveness, the statute of limitations is the minute you forgive. You cannot keep talking about what happened last year, last week, or even yesterday. Forgiveness is YOUR decision, whether the person you forgave asked for it or not. The condition of your soul (mind, will, and emotions) is up to you.

And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

–Ephesians 2:17 (NKJV)

The good news that Jesus died and resurrected from the dead to bring us eternal life is undeniable. We teach peace but it comes through a spiritual sword. That sword is the word of God and it is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).

The Holy Spirit speaks through the Word of God.

Wine is a mocker,

Strong drink is a brawler,

And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

–Proverbs 20:1 (NKJV)

There is a lot of pressure to drink booze. Recently, some churches give their approval, or even push drinking. This is the formula for causing believers to stumble.

Aside from Paul telling one of his struggling pastors a little wine is good for the stomach, the Bible is very negative about drinking. Find out for yourself by looking up words like wine, drinks, and drunk in your concordance.

If you don’t drink, you’re saving money and potential embarrassment for doing something you’ll regret later. If you’re a Christian and you do drink, remember your actions may cause others to stumble.

If you truly want to know what God thinks about drinking alcohol, ask God. You’ll find out what He has to say about it from His Word.

Be an encouragement to the lost and dying world around us… not a part of it.

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

–1 Corinthians 15:21 (NKJV)

God (Jesus) had to come as a man to get us out of the trouble mankind got us in to.

Thank you Lord Jesus!