33 Reasons to Abstain from Porn
Porn is a REAL struggle for many. Men & Women. Here is a great article I came across, written by Jason George. If you have any temptation to look at porn, read these… Continue reading
Category Archive: Blog
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15 Media tools to use for your church or organizations
While some in the Christian community have declared an all-out war on media tools, many Christian churches and organizations utilize many widely available tools to reach more people, ease planning & enhance communication,… Continue reading
10 Ways to Die Early
There seems to be a small tension in scripture concerning the number of days we will live. From one perspective, we get a picture of God who knows everything about us, the number… Continue reading
Did God cause the tornadoes in Oklahoma? John Piper vs. Greg Boyd
When tragedy strikes a nation, there are those in ministry who like to make it a point to declare that it was God at work, killing babies, murdering mothers, and destroying homes. In… Continue reading
What English Bible translation should I use? Why do I not promote the KJV version? Is the Russian Synodal Translation the only option for Russian language?
One of the most common questions I am asked when I travel and speak at Slavic churches is what English Bible translation I recommend. Most Slavic church leaders and pastors read a Russian… Continue reading
8 People to Not Stereotype
This past weekend, I preached a sermon at City On A Hill, titled “8 people to not stereotype.” Watch it here
Not everyone is happy on Mother’s Day at Church
If you were to ask everyone in the congregation who was born from a mother to stand up – everyone would stand. We all have or had mothers. Someone like me – I… Continue reading
What are the most influential “Slavic” churches in the United States?
There are Russian-speaking congregations in just about every state, and they exist in all shapes and sizes. Most of the churches are connected loosely through different networks. I have traveled all over the… Continue reading
Martin Luther scares me.
No doubt, Martin Luther has played a very significant role in the history of Christianity. The “Ninety-Five Theses” written by him in 1517 are widely regarded as the initial catalyst of the Protestant… Continue reading
Bankruptcies and Christians. Can I file for a bankruptcy as a Christian? Do I still owe someone money, even though I’ve declared a bankruptcy?
As a Christian, can I file for a bankruptcy? If I borrow money from friends and family, since I file for bankruptcy, does that mean I don’t have to return the money? During… Continue reading
Sending text message updates for churches, ministries.
What is the fastest way to get information and updates out to a large number of people? How about this: 90% of text messages are read within the first 3 minutes. Sure, there… Continue reading
Sermon: Maturity through Spiritual Disciplines
Here is a sermon I spoke at City On A Hill this past Sunday on Spiritual Disciplines.
5 ways to Intake the Bible
INSERTION: I believe Bible intake is the most important Spiritual Discipline that all believers in Jesus Christ must exercise. Why so? Why not prayer? Church attendance? Reading the Bible will lead us to… Continue reading
Watch the full movie “The Cross and the Switchblade” here
The movie “The Cross and the Switchblade” is a classic. Certainly, one of my favorite films growing up. It tells the story of Evangelist David Wilkerson, and his attempt to reach the gangs… Continue reading
Is the Bible trustworthy? On the Validity of the Holy Scriptures
Though I was born in a Christian family, there was a season in my life when I questioned my faith and the validity of the Bible. I asked questions such as “Why should… Continue reading
What is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Could I have committed the Unpardonable Sin?
When I was a teenager, at one point, I began to strongly struggle with the fear that I had committed the unforgivable sin of the “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.” Without a true… Continue reading
Can you lose your salvation?
Are you saved? If you are saved, will you always be saved? Can you loose your salvation? Ill attempt to answer these questions. In theology, there are several different views of salvation. Let… Continue reading
Book Recommendation: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Title: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life Author: Donald S Whitney Subject: Spiritual Growth Some books and some movies are only watched once. This book has been one of the few books that… Continue reading
A “prophecy” to stop using Social Media in 3 days or else….
Over the last several days, I have gotten a number of emails & text messages asking questions about a “prophecy” from in one of the largest Pentecostal churches of Belarus. In short, the prophecy… Continue reading
Is using contraceptives a sin? What are the different “Birth Control” methods?
THIS BLOG IS FOR MATURE AUDIENCE ONLY Can we “plan” to have only 4 kids and not 10? Is family planning, using contraceptives sinful? Is a woman saved through child-bearing? The questions of… Continue reading
Dress etiquette for church
One of our youth worship pastors was an intern and part of the worship team at one of the largest and most influential churches in the United States. I will not name the… Continue reading
Jerry Walls’ Lecture “Whats Wrong with Calvinism” at Evangel University
Jerry Walls, author of “Why Im not a Calvinist” recently held a lecture at Evangel University, one of the central Christian colleges of the Assemblies of God. Walls is currently a senior research… Continue reading
Pastor Sunday Adelaja, Kings Capital and Multi-Level Marketing in the church
I dont know much about Sunday Adelaja, pastor of Embassy Church in Kiev, and the whole issue of Kings Capital. But, I do know that this issue is definitely having major impact on… Continue reading
Book Recommendation: A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness
Title: A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness Author: Gene Edwards Topic: Leadership, Relationships Though this is a small and very easy to read book, it is one of those books… Continue reading
12 Dating Traps
12 DATING TRAPS Dating. In some cultures, if you hit a certain age, you are expected to be getting married soon, or at least be dating. And often, that pressure can lead to… Continue reading
Book Recommendation: The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Title: The Meaning of Marriage Author: Timothy Keller Topic: Marriage One of the best marriage books I have read and will recommend is “The Meaning of Marriage” by Tim Keller. In this book,… Continue reading
5 Questions to ask, before dating someone
All marriages, including marriages of Christian couples, are never perfect and need a lot of work to make them work. Getting married will neither make you “complete” nor “whole.” The only thing that… Continue reading
The Christian’s approach to homosexual marriage
The issue of homosexuality has been front cover news for several years now. Many liberals have equaled the rights of homosexuals to get married w/ the great civil rights movement. On the other… Continue reading
Where do black people come from?
I am of Ukrainian descent and in the Slavic circles, because the culture is not very diverse with different races, the question that is often asked is “where do black people come from?”… Continue reading
FORUM on Calvinism and Arminianism with Dr. Roger Olson (Part 1)
City On A Hill hosted Dr. Roger Olson, author of many books (including Against Calvinism, and Arminian Theology: Myth and Realities) and professor at Baylor University (George W. Truett Theological Seminary). In this… Continue reading