Every Christian prays, but few can name the different types of prayer. Put simply, prayer is a form of communication with God, and it’s something Christians partake in multiple times a day. There are, in fact, five different types of prayer. These include adoration, petition, expiation, love, and thanksgiving. Adoration is one you, as a Christian, are no doubt familiar with. This type of prayer is said to give praise to God and acknowledge our complete and utter dependence on him. These can take the form of private prayers or church liturgies used in worship service.

Each human being walking the planet has something special they can offer to society. Oftentimes this comes in the form of their particular brand of creativity, which can include anything from musical inclinations to masterpiece painting skills. There are plenty of areas in the church that call for creative Christians, so if you feel you were born with that extra oomph of creativity, you may be wondering how best to express it in a way that makes it valuable to others.

New research from Canada has concluded that there is a link between spanking and psychological problems. Children whose parents spanked them as kids are more likely to develop mental issues as adults, including low self-esteem, depression, bulimia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and even alcoholism. Christianity teaches that to spare the rod is to spoil the child, essentially endorsing corporal punishment, and research like this may have parents thinking twice about their parenting choices. Christians will always vary on the interpretation of this popular verse, from viewing it as referring to literal spanking to seeing it as a shepherd’s rod intended to gently steer a child in the right direction. No matter your personal views on spanking, discipline takes many forms, and it’s important to try a variety of them first before automatically resorting to physical punishment.

It’s not uncommon in today’s churches to hear the idea that following Christ leads to financial prosperity, but is this biblical? 1 Timothy 6:17 says to “instruct those who are rich in this present world no to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” This verse stresses the importance of not getting caught up in finances and points out that what constitutes riches encompasses so much more than money. We can be richly supplied with love, family, good health, kind friends, and a supportive church community. That is nothing to sneeze at.

Most Christians will proudly proclaim their patriotism right along with their Christianity, but what exactly does it mean to be patriotic? Is being patriotic something the Bible condones or has it forced faith to take a back seat? Patriotism is simply devotion to one’s country, and Americans are often viewed among the most patriotic citizens on the planet. Images conjured up by the term “patriotism” include Independence Day barbeques, summer parades, fireworks, and plenty of red, white, and blue to decorate them all. This tradition of celebrating freedom is a vital force in the cultural heritage of the United States. It is the epitome of all things Americana.