Devotional

Be Still and Know God

The other morning while reading and meditating on Psalm 46:10, I caught a glimpse of a large hawk landing on a distant tree. He perched high above on a well camouflaged branch. I decided to see if I could ‘out still’ him as the scripture instructed me. I lost. After a long stare down, returning to my devotion time, leaving and returning an hour later, there he still stood. He won, I conceded. Smiling inside, I picked up the book I’m currently reading by Charlie Kirk, which I highly recommend, and had to chuckle again by its title, ‘Stop, In the name of God.’ It was like God reminding me to just Stop and Be Still.

In reading all of Psalm 46, as I encourage you, you'll notice the instruction to be still is preceded by much calamity.  For example, “The earth gives way”(v2), and the “Nations are in uproar”(v6).   

I'm also reminded in Psalm 23:5, David says, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”

These scriptures show us that in the midst of turmoil, God invites us to sit at His table and enjoy a relaxing meal with Him.  A very counter intuitive idea.

As we watch rioters in our streets, war overseas, turmoil in the financial markets, and extreme weather events, believers have an amazing advantage over the world. We get the privilege to dwell in the peace of God and ‘know’ His eternal presence. The only requirement is to stop and be still.  Let’s practice daily to quiet our soul.

Stories of Faith

Tony’s Story - One Man's Journey from Communist Albania to Campus Ministry

Tony(Anton) Capo grew up in a world where God didn't exist, not by choice, but by government decree.

Born in communist Albania, Tony’s childhood was marked by spiritual silence. The regime had systematically destroyed churches and religion all together, erasing every visible reminder of religion from the landscape. His family, like everyone else, was forced into atheism, not knowing they came from a Greek Orthodox heritage.

"We just lived our life," Tony recalls. "We tried to survive somehow, do our best, grow up, and have family, and continue with life. But with no purpose, no meaning to the things we do. We just lived our life."

When Albania's borders finally opened in 1991 after months of student-led revolution, Tony's world cracked open. His family discovered their Greek Orthodox roots, but decades of communist suppression had left a deep void, no Bibles, no understanding of faith, no connection to what having a relationship with God even meant.

Everything changed when Tony left for college in Albania's capital, Tirana, to pursue his biggest dream: becoming a professional soccer player. Sports, more specifically, Soccer, was his identity, his purpose, the only thing that made sense in a world still reeling from communism's grip. "Everything I knew was around sports, playing soccer, and that's my dream to be a soccer player, a professional," he recalls.

Then, in his second year, due to an injury, he couldn't play with his team anymore.

Devastated and discouraged, Tony found himself drowning in questions that had been buried under years of communist indoctrination: What's my purpose? Who am I if I'm not an athlete?

That's when God intervened, with remarkable precision.

American missionaries from Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) had approached Tony during his freshman year, but he'd been too consumed with soccer to listen. Now, searching desperately for meaning, he discovered he'd been assigned to the only dorm room with two Christian believers, out of fifty rooms in the building.

"God made it possible for me to be in that room with two Christians," Tony says. "They were totally different from other people in my dormitory. They really cared about me, they loved me, they wanted to know my life and how they can help."

Over months of late-night conversations and watching their transformed lives, Tony wrestled with the central question of Christianity: Why did Jesus have to die? "It took a couple of months," he admits. "But at one point I felt like God opened my mind to really understand that it makes sense why God has to come in that way, to come as a man, live our lives, understand our suffering, and take our sin on the cross."

In his second year of college, Tony surrendered his life to Christ. "Jesus brought me hope for my future and brought the purpose that I'm here not just for sport. Life is more than that."

After graduating with a degree in electrical engineering, Tony faced a choice: pursue engineering or full-time ministry. He chose ministry. For twenty-four years now, he's served with Cru, first across Albania, then earning a master's degree from Southeastern Seminary in North Carolina. Since 2023, he's been working with Athletes in Action, reaching college athletes at UNC Chapel Hill and NC State.

Every Wednesday at Action Night, 60 to 80 college athletes gather, many of them believers, some still searching. Tony knows their struggles intimately: the injuries, the identity crises, the pressure, the defeats. He's lived it all.

"Very rarely someone will come to me and ask about Jesus," Tony states… "But every time I have to go and start that conversation. Every time I have to build relationships and find out where people are in their journey and how I can help them to point to Jesus."

His vision drives him forward: to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport, in every nation.

And he's living proof that even under communism's darkest suppression, God's light finds a way through.

Tech Update

Air Taxi Anyone?

You read that correctly.  If you live in Dubai you will soon be able to hail an Uber Air taxi ride on an all electric eVTOL aircraft!

Pictured above, I had the opportunity to sit in an eVTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft a couple years back at a Drone/UAV tradeshow and thought this was way in the future, but here it is.

Firstly, I would describe an eVTOL as a drone sized for humans, or a mini-electric helicopter.

Joby Aviation makes the all-electric commercial VTOL that will be used in Dubai. It is designed to carry up to four passengers plus a pilot with carry-on bags. It is planned to be used as a shuttle between the Dubai airport and the city, cutting the 45-minute ride to about 12 minutes. Its top speed is around 200 mph and it can fly up to 100 miles on a single charge.  Pricing is not set, but for the wealthy that frequent Dubai, an estimated few hundred dollars would be a drop in the bucket for the luxury time saver.

Joby's eVTOL aircraft for Uber Air in Dubai uses a six tilt-propeller system for vertical takeoff and efficient forward flight.  It also features triple-redundant electronics and flight controls in case a motor, battery, or prop fails, to allow for safe landing in an emergency.

So when might we see these in the U.S.? Joby is in the final FAA certification phase after over 50,000 test miles and is starting final FAA TIA tests later this year. It is expected that once approved they would be used for similar shuttle service between airports in dense metro areas like NYC and LA.

So, for now, sit tight and go with the classic Uber services or venture into an autonomous taxi as we described in this past article. 

Health Nuggets

Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are so beneficial to your health. They can improve heart health, blood sugar levels, fertility and sleep quality. They are rich in antioxidants and nutrient content and can improve energy, mood and immune function.

Check out these amazing benefits:

1. The only seed that is alkaline-forming.

2. Reduce levels of LDL cholesterol.

3. 100g seeds provide 30g protein.

4. Used traditionally to kill parasites.

5. Reduce inflammation for arthritis.

6. Prevent kidney stone formation.

7. Good for prostate health.

8. Promote good sleep.

9. Filled with minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and iron.

Keep a jar filled with these amazing seeds for your health.  Try adding walnuts, pistachios, almonds, pecans and cashew nuts to them.  You get a jar filled with good health benefits.

They also taste great on top of Butternut Squash Soup, recipe here!

Note: Health Nuggets are opinions and not medical advice.

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