Democracy as a technology doesn't work. I don't believe in "democracy" as a technology. Denominations that want to survive need to abandoned democracy. What do I mean? The way most denominations work is a group of churches have annual or biennial meetings that are in a denomination. The problem with this is that the theological left is relentless on using democracy in various denominations. If most denominations have a Kingship model of the various churches, most of this theological left ward march towards apostasy would never fester. I use to believe in "private" democracy within Christian denominations. I know no longer believe in democracy in any degree. Democracy is fundamentally man center and deeply flawed, which is why I'm very opposed to all forms of democracy both private versions and in governments. It is either Kingships or Anarchism. Of course I'm more in favor of Christian Anarchism over Christian Kingships but I'll take Christian Kingships over any form of Democracy. 

What got me thinking about this was the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) having to keep fighting this 40 plus year war against liberalism in the SBC. In the 80s the theological conservatives won but it is only a matter of time that theological liberalism will take over the SBC. If the SBC votes to radically change the way the denomination is run and have a more of a Kingship model or at least have the president be multi decade reign and actually choose a Biblically solid leader that is in it for decades and can keep liberalism out at least for a while. 

I wasn't happy with the kitchen set up at my place and not happy of how slowly my local church isn't growing; I'm just a regular attender (Lord willing, I'll be a member in due time). So I was seeking about greener places both my living quarters and at my local church to the point where (on paper it had all the things I wanted) I was thinking uprooting my life to go to a different church in a different city and different state (No, I'm not talking about MN).

But I realized after those two things happen, I asked myself, I thought I was in the state of contentment but clearly I'm not. 

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." - 1st Timothy 6:6-8 NASB2020

Being Biblically Content is an extremely hard thing for any person living in a wealthy country like the USA; especially when everyone including most Christians that live in USA would say, pack up and leave and do whatever makes me happy. Yeah, NO that is the wrong answer; the correct answer is "All of Christ for All of Life" a Doug Wilson phrase that I use to often.

I'm romanticizing the time of Joshua, Judges and Ruth, especially in light of 1st Samuel 8. There is a part of me that would like to have lived in the time of Joshua, Judges and Ruth, because it is the "ideal" form of government. This is basically the only form of government that I can endorse. I would like to see across the globe this form of government that mimics the pre 1st Samuel 8 Israel. Sure, it is a bit chaotic at times but it sure beats the extra cost (both financial and moral cost) of having a kingship or in our more modern times democracies which is just a different form of kingship, basically "we" get to choose our kings and queens, then they all get together to make the rules and regulations for the whole nation.

As I was walking in the furnace of Georgia summer (95 degrees Fahrenheit / 35 degrees Celsius), I went to Barns and Noble then decided to purchase a NKJV, I want collect all of the Word for Word translations of the Bible of the English Language. I've noticed in the NKJV (Thomas Nelson publisher). I noticed the bottom "Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic" this nice to know that they actually put in the effort to be transparent. But since the NKJV isn't the most Word for Word translation out there I will not be using it for my day to day Bible, I'm too much of a stickler for the NASB 1995 / 2020; I use the 2020. I'll use for comparing between the translations of the Word for Word.

My personal policy is to stick with the Word for Word translations because of my concern of putting too much emphasis on the human interpretation of the Word of God within the Word of God. I can kind of tolerate the thought for thought but lets say I won't want to be in a church that uses a thought for thought translations on a regular basis. Reason, if I want to start a family in the next few years or so, I would want to make sure that future wife and kids (if the Lord wills it) get a near accurate English translation of the Bible. So the NKJV is how far I'll personally go on the Word for Word; Thought for Thought; and the dumpster fire paraphrase "translations" chart.

Typically I do my Devotions in the morning starting between 5:30 am to 6:00 am, If I missed it, I do them right before bed. I heavily rely on the "Be Thou My Vision A Liturgy for Daily Worship" by Johnathan Gibson. It helps me to stay focused on Christ. Then I typically on my lunch break, I go to a Christian theme coffee shop that is near work and spend my time in the Word of God, via on my cell phone. As much as I don't like the YouVersion name, they make it extraordinarily easy to keep track on what I am doing and the audio is great. 

I hope this helps you and give you a few ideas on what on can do, especially if you live in a westernized nation.