Dec
10
People have a need to unwind their worldly worries and daily troubles. Some people prefer going to a pub. Some people read the Bible or their own holy Book at home. Some people go to a Church or a Mosque or a Temple.
Guess which group of people in the above are the happiest.
Dec
7
The headline is a trick question. There are no major religions founded in the Western Hemisphere. Jesus was born a Jew in Asia, remember.
As Gandhi said “I like your Christ but not your Christians. Your Christ was full of love. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ”
The Buddha who was on Earth during 2-3 Century AD (Note NO two major Gods/ Founders have been on earth on the same time) preached chanting to reinforce personal faith-
Buddham Sharanam Gashami, Dharamam Gashami, Samgham Dharaman Ghashami
That religion helped pacify a restless Emepror Ashok of India whose banner is still on the Flag of India. and Buddhism inspired
China all the way to Indonesia till Islam and Communism took their stance there.
6 Centuries After the Birth of Christ
Prophet Muhammad (Blessed be HIS name) won his victories in the Battlefield by motivating his soldiers (like the remarkable Battle of Badr), by personal example, by self sacrifice- AND also by forgiving his former enemies and by TACT
Saladin, A KURD himself and adopted son of NOOR-UD-DIN won Jerusalem by tact,cunning and by permitting his enemies time to bring out the worst behaviour in them so he could rally his half hearted allies together.
Jews and Arabs lived peacefully for the next 800 years- They were both sons of Abraham after all.
The Moral of the Story-
You should research your opponent ’s religion before you criticize it. Maybe he and she and they AND YOU have much more things in common.
We are ALL saved by God’s Grace and HIS love. You can choose which name you want to call God- a loving God has given you these choices.
ps-
Incidentally Noah’s Ark in the Old Testament has a similarity in the Matsayapurana where Vishnu comes down on Earth as a whale and leads an ark onto safety. Funny isn’t it.
Nov
19
Elisha A. Hoffman, 1839-1929
What a fellowship , what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, Leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Nov
15
A Prayer of the Apostle Paul
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
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This is one of the most powerful and stirring prayers in the Bible. Here Paul prays for the people who have received Jesus Christ as Savior as a result of his ministry. He asks God to strengthen these young Christians with His Spirit and keep them from falling into the temptations of the devil.
He also prays that they will grow into strong Christians and love the Lord with their whole heart, that they may understand how great a God they serve.
Nov
14
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]
2 I will say [b] of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Nov
4
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
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During times of anxiety and personal and health troubles, I read this prayer to make sure that I know I am not lonely and re assure myself that someone is there. Regardless of your faith and religious beliefs, every one likes to believe there is someone out there for them waiting and hoping for them.
Ask yourself this question?
Who is your shephard in life? Is it your kids? Your parents? Your financial commitments?
Your friends?
Pray for your friends— It takes 10 secs to say
” God (as your personal religious belief is)
Please bless my friend……….(fill in the blank) ”
Amen.