STEPPING FORWARD

By Gavin Aleogho

Every step a man takes in life either gets him closer or farther away from his destiny. It’s just like a man who is destined to be an engineer, if he takes steps toward studying business courses, he is likely to experience delay in fulfilling destiny, though the knowledge gained might be helpful to him in life.

Every normal person in life sincerely desires speed and progress, but it can only come when the right step is taken. All things remain stagnant unless force is applied to make it act otherwise (Newton Law of motion). What is deduced from this is that your life will remain the way it is if you keep doing the same thing you have been doing. You have to do extra-things to be extraordinary.

The place, position and state you are now is as a result of the decision and steps you made or refused to make before now. That is why I strongly believe you should take a break to ponder and ask yourself if the steps you are taking now will lead you to your desired end.

A man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps and makes it sure. Proverb 16:9.

God the Father sincerely desires that you know exactly how to get and achieve His plan for you. He doesn’t want you to stumble around. He wants you to have a spiritual hearing so that you can receive specific instruction per seconds concerning the steps you must take in life, ministry, your journey, marriage, business etc.

As Pastor Austin Imhanlu will always say; “God is still in the business of talking”. He still gives direction. When you don’t have a relationship with Him, you will only become somebody who has no direction in life. You will only be a victim of accidental happening, who anything (positive or negative) can happen to anytime.

The step of a good man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way. Psalms 37:23.

To really be a “good man” in the eyes of God, you will have to move to the level where God delights in you; then will God be committed to ensure that the steps you take will lead you to your God’s given destiny.

A lifestyle that is pleasing to God can be actualized by faith not works. Faith in his only begotten Son, Jesus, and also by sincerely desiring to know His plan and direction for every step you would want to take in life.

MySword Bible App Tutorials

How to download MySword Bible Modules

Using MySword App To Search For Bible Verse

Tutorial on using MySword Bible app

SOFT COPY BIBLE vs. HARD COPY BIBLE

8 REASONS WHY E-BIBLE MAY NOT BE OKAY FOR YOU IN CHURCH SERVICES

10 REASONS TO USE HARD-COPY BIBLE AND NOT E-BIBLE APPS IN CHURCH

11 ADVANTAGES OF USING E-BIBLE APPS

SOFT COPY BIBLE vs. HARD COPY BIBLE

By Gavin Aleogho

Change in life is inevitable. As believers, I believe we shouldn’t be afraid of change. We must learn to embrace change as it comes and use it to our advantage. One of the fears of most believers and church leaders in particular is, “if worldliness is not being introduced into the Church of Christ with the way many are abandoning their hard-copy (bound) Bible for digital (soft) Bible which comes as applications in computer, Smart phones and mobile devices?”

I understand their concern but I must quickly state just like my Pastor, Emmanuel Ekoja once said in his response to such a question. He tends to say that, if you insist that we abandon e-Bible (soft copy Bible), if you say it's sinful, worldly or carnality as, some suppose. If you say the print Bible is what God approves, then you must remember that the Bible was first in parchment and scrolls. That means if we really want to go back to the foundation, then we have to go back and start using scrolls and parchment Scriptures. Although, he strongly advises that Christians should go to church with hard-copy Bible.

God wrote the Ten Commandment on stones, other parts of the Scriptures were written on scrolls and parchments. The earlier Christians from the days of the Apostles never had the Scripture bounded, which is known today as the Bible. But that didn’t make them more or less a Christian than the generations that strictly uses hard-copy Bible.

Why I am saying this is because, whether you accept it or not, the e-Bible (Bible in mobile devices, computers, smart phones etc.) has come to stay. As a matter of fact, the usage is fast on the increase because of its numerous benefits which you can’t just overlook. Fighting it won’t stop its increase and usage. Besides, what do you think 20 years from now will look like concerning this issue?

I personally realize that, the e-Bible has brought studying of the Scripture to my finger tip. This is because of its numerous features like Bible commentaries, numerous versions of the Bible, the Bible dictionary, Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, Bible concordance, interlinear Bible, Topical guide, Cross reference guide, maps, devotionals etc, all in one device and at a go! Unlike before, when, if I needed to study the Bible, I had to be at home where my hard-copy Scriptural study materials were available. But now, I can study my Bible when I am on transit, work and anywhere I find myself.

But the question is, “Should I abandon my bounded Bible because I now have numerous translations in my mobile devices”? My answer is NO, and my reason is, just because there are many advantages in using the e-Bible; it also comes with some disadvantages too, especially when we are often tempted to use other of the device’s features during Church Services. This disadvantage is held by the advocates of hard-copy Bibles. Honestly, this temptation is less or non with the hard-copy Bible usage.

Like Pastor Ekoja, I personally advise bringing and using the hard-copy Bible in church. Not just in Church only; I also believe that the hard-copy Bibles and Scriptural Study materials are still very much relevant in our personal study time.

I tend to hold the opinion that carrying the hard-copy Bible shows your level of commitment, seriousness and dedication to your faith, especially in such a time when many so called Christians are ashamed of carrying their Bible in the public, so as not to be tagged religious and zealous.

Additionally, I believe there are ways to curb some of the excesses and disadvantages of the e-Bible. One of such is to put the mobile device on AIRPLANE MODE with ALL ALERTS OFF when in church or when you want to do serious studies.

8 REASONS WHY E-BIBLE MAY NOT BE OKAY FOR YOU IN CHURCH SERVICES

10 REASONS TO USE HARD-COPY BIBLE AND NOT E-BIBLE APPS IN CHURCH

11 ADVANTAGES OF USING E-BIBLE APPS

8 REASONS WHY E-BIBLE MAY NOT BE OKAY FOR YOU IN CHURCH SERVICES

By Gavin Aleogho

1. Distractions by other applications. You might have applications like SMS and social network messages popping in.

2. It can cause distraction to your neighbour who is trying to take a glimpse of the type and model of devices you are using.

3. It can be viewed in some congregation as oppression and show-off.

4. It can hinder you from taking notes in church if you are not determined to do so.

5. Battery issue can be a distraction.

6. Marking, underlining or highlighting of a verse might not be as easy as the hard-copy Bible.

7. You are more protective of your mobile devices from thief than your hard-copy Bible. That can hinder flexibility in going through your e-Bible in unsecured places.

8.You might be looked down on in some congregation, as someone might think you are “playing” with your phone during the service. If the culture of your church doesn’t permit using e-Bible, it will be cool for you to play along.

SOFT COPY BIBLE vs. HARD COPY BIBLE

10 REASONS TO USE HARD-COPY BIBLE AND NOT E-BIBLE APPSIN CHURCH

11 ADVANTAGES OF USING E-BIBLE APPS