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

17

Nov

14

Psalm 91

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;

larrydykePsalm91.1_

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.”

Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 91:1 Hebrew Shaddai
  2. Psalm 91:2 Or He says
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
This Psalm can help you with dealing with Anxiety and trouble. Suppose you have not been doing well in college, school or your workplace is going through layoffs, then worrying about it is not going to help either. Instead if you just put your faith in God and then work sincerely, you are more likely to be less anxious and have a greater chance of going through troubled times without a scratch.  At the very minimum this helps to make you calmer, somthing pharmaceutical companies charge by the pill for.
If you have a friend who is anxious, you can pray for them as well.

Nov

12

Nov

4

A psalm of David.

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.

shepherd_judge

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.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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.