In the 1960’s “The Sound of Silence” was written by Simon and Garfunkel and released in the midst of the hot mess of love gone wild. The lyrics are not about silence. They clearly point to disconnection. People talking without meaning. A world full of voices that paint dark visions minus hope. The song does not name a villain, but in the end, it slides in the prophets of old who were woefully disregarded. Reflect.
“Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly creeping, left its seeds while I was sleeping —and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains. Within the sound of silence. In restless dreams I walked alone. Narrow streets of cobblestone. Neath the halo of a street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp. When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light that split the night and touched the sound of silence. In the naked light I saw 10,000 people, maybe more. People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening. People writing songs that voices never share. No one dared disturb the sound of silence. Fools said I, you do not know SILENCE like a CANCER grows?
Hear MY WORDS that I might teach you. Take My arms that I might reach you” But MY words like silent raindrops fell — and echoed in the wells of silence. And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made, and the sign flashed out its WARNING in the WORDS that it was forming. And the sign said, “The words of the PROPHETS are written on the subway walls and tenement halls. And whispered in the sounds of silence.” Identity of Gideon
New lyrics in 2026 penned with the same sound. “Holy Spirit, my constant Friend, I’ve come to talk with You again. Because a vision softly hovers, watered seeds while I’m sleeping. The vision of God’s glory planted firmly in my brain, He still remains, within the sound of His whisper, my heart is pierced in the holy silence.” Amen
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” By the grace of God, our sins have been washed away. All the neon sign distractions, all the speed limits we have broken, and all our endless selfish choices, all forgiven. The grace of God wrecks me as I consider all that Jesus has done and finished for me, a sinner. Science calls it dopamine, but Holy Scripture calls it the desires of the flesh. Our Father gave us His clear instructions. As believers we are to crucify our flesh, and not weakly obey every desire. 1 Cor 9:27 “I discipline my body and I make it my slave.” Is my flesh in charge of my thinking? Does your flesh scream out what it wants? Does it crave things that do not truly satisfy? Does your flesh try to make demands as if you are it’s slave? Do you quickly justify your indulgence with, “Just one bite can’t hurt!” Are we wise to appease an undisciplined child by giving into all it cries out for? Does our Father in heaven give us what He knows will destroy us? In an immature tantrum our flesh may rage in a loud voice to have its way. If we submit, and allow our flesh to lead us, will we please God? Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Our Father asks us to be holy because He is holy, so do we ask Holy Spirit to give us guidance and strength? Without FAITH that Father knows BEST, we cannot please Him. So if we do not ask Him, if we do not deny ourselves, can we please God? Our flesh chases comfort, sugar, more screen time, and more selfish pleasures. The truth: our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and it is our responsibility to make the flesh our slave, not the other way around. “Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends.” 1 Corin 13:6 Encourage one another and build one another up. Sermon Clip
Matthew 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time — For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Avoid deception with divine discernment, knowledge, and vigilance.
1. Study Scripture Regularly and grow in understanding of truth via the Holy Spirit. He will call to mind a word to help discern what aligns with God’s word. Worry Not
2. Ask God for discernment and wisdom. Prayer is a vital tool for seeking guidance and clarity when faced with confusing situations or teachings.
3. Know God by being still away fro noise and distraction. The more you know the truth, the easier it is to spot falsehoods.
4. Be Critical of Sources on any social media. Evaluate the teachings and messages you receive. Look for accuracy, scriptural support, and the integrity of the source. An Ancient Report
5. Seek Accountability with mature and wise believers who can provide support and insight. Discuss your thoughts and concerns with them to gain different perspectives.
6. Examine Experiences with caution. Trust God, not your feelings that seem to contradict Scripture. Emotional or extraordinary experiences can lead to deception if not grounded in biblical truth.
7. Avoid Isolation to ensure your understanding of scripture is not based solely on a personal interpretation. Engage with the broader community to flush out false teaching.
8. Recognize the Nature of Deception. Understand that the Deceiver is cunning, charming, eloquent, and knows Scripture. The deception often appears attractive and plausible. Being aware of common tactics, remain vigilant.
9. Stay Grounded and Participate actively in a faith community. Regular fellowship and teaching can reinforce your understanding and provide support against deception.
10. Be Humble and Open to Correction. A humble soul is open to correction or new understanding when it aligns with scripture and wise counsel. Practice these so you can better protect yourself against the deception that may arise in various forms, whether through false teachings, misleading beliefs, or spiritual confusion.
Living Abroad 