Life's Inanities and Ironies

 Hello, fellow believers! As we navigate the complexities of faith in our modern times, it's sometimes helpful to draw from ancient stories that, while not part of our core Scriptures, can illuminate timeless truths. Today, I'd like to share insights from the apocryphal tale of " Bel and the Dragon ." Let me emphasize upfront: this story is from the Apocrypha , a collection not recognized as canonical by the majority of fundamentalist Christian churches, including our Protestant tradition . We hold firmly to the 66 books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. However, like a historical parable, this narrative can serve as a lens to view biblical principles on idolatry, faith, and God's sovereignty. I'll weave in references from the true Scriptures to ground our discussion. T he Story of Bel and the Dragon: A Quick Recap In this apocryphal extension to the Book of Daniel , the prophet finds himself in Babylon under King Cyrus . The Babylonians worship Bel...

In a world filled with distractions, where everything from social media notifications to career ambitions vies for our attention, it's easy to lose sight of what's truly important. But as believers grounded in the unchanging truth of Scripture, we know there's only one rightful occupant for the throne of our hearts: the Lord God Almighty. This blog post expands on a recent homily inspired by Exodus 20:1-3 , reminding us of the foundational command that shapes our faith and lives. Let's dive deeper into why God must be first—and what happens when He's not. The Divine Declaration: Who God Is Exodus 20:1-3 thunders from the pages of the Bible: "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God , which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." This isn't just ancient history; it's a living mandate for every Christian today. God isn't introducing Himself as one optio...