Racism and other forms of prevalent gross discrimination

http://devos20xx.blogspot.com/2017/09/racism-and-other-forms-of-prevalent.html 

Is Life Fair? / Gross Disparities ...

http://devos20xx.blogspot.com/2017/08/is-life-fair-gross-disparities.html 

Rich vs Poor?

The case of Ethan Couch and Jaime Arellano is very worth studying:-http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/affluenza-case-highlights-disparity-sentencing-article-1.2533960 (disclaimer: I have not fact-checked everything in the link)

It opened up a raging debate on whether rich can "game" the legal system in America using their wealth.

Foster Care Awareness

Consider being a Foster Care advocate:-

https://vimeo.com/141287371

Some of the children waiting for adoption:-
 https://www.adoptuskids.org/meet-the-children/search-for-children/state-photolists

(information courtesy:- Jonathan Reid)

Commentaries

Commentaries on the Book of John continue to be uploaded:-
https://sites.google.com/site/biblechaptercommentaries/john/john5v1to14

Financial Partnership with "Kurt and Kathy Ritz" Ministry

A close friend of mine would appreciate financial partnership with his amazing ministry:-
https://give.cru.org/0451302

I strongly support him.

A New Song

A New Song:-
http://devos20xx.blogspot.com/2017/04/new-song.html 

Affordable, Easily-Accessible Career Development Resources

A new project:-
"Affordable, Easily-Accessible Career Development Resources"
https://sites.google.com/view/aacdr

"Unfortunately, very few in this planet have easy access to necessary career development resources. For instance, some communities may lack college-level teachers who have the most "up-to date" knowledge (say, in the field of science & engineering). The goal of this project is to ensure that every individual on this planet has easy access to resources needed to carve out a great career."

An article on "Suffering"

http://devos20xx.blogspot.com/2017/01/on-suffering.html

Other articles:-
- "So, how shall we wait?"
- "How far would God go to love you?"
- "Can one prove that God exists?"

A New Song

A new song that I have written:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9msjXKf7Fo

There is a new article too: "So, how shall we wait?"

How far would God go to love you?

"How far would God go to love you?"

CNN: Two Faces of the Syria Tragedy - Choices for Syrian Children:- "If you stay" / "If you leave"

http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/18/opinions/syria-images-ghitis/
(WARNING:- extreme 'graphic' content)

"A Prison That Offers Hope"

A very interesting article from TIME:
http://time.com/4389086/a-prison-that-offers-hope/

Refugee Crises

I do not know how to describe the depths of this tragedy:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/27/many-more-missing-survivors-warn-after-mediterranean-shipwreck-w/

(WARNING:- extreme 'graphic' content)

One purpose of this post is to spread awareness about the ongoing refugee crises. 

"To be grateful for who we have in our lives"

From Reader's Digest:-

Angel Flight has taught Larry Camerlin
"to be grateful for who we have in our lives as opposed to what we have"

#quote

"What If Teachers Were Treated Just Like Pro Athletes?"

Article to critique:-
http://www.rd.com/funny-stuff/key-peele-teachers-pro-athletes/ 

On "Busyness" and "The Radical Pursuit of Rest"

An article to critique:-
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/march/you-were-never-made-to-be-productive.html 

One of the Greatest Journeys

A new movie on the life of Mother Teresa:
https://youtu.be/C6Z5BGyia58

gives great insights into one of the greatest journeys in history.

Great timing, as news of her to be declared a saint is also up.

"Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power"

In a new book, "Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power", author Lusko challenges one to live everyday not just "to survive" but to live with fire and passion. 

This starts when you go beyond your earthly eyes - learn to look at life and your circumstances through the eyes of Jesus - the eyes of a Lion (but a good / benevolent one,  as in Isaiah 11:6)!


Elsewhere, Lusko preached: "Jesus was crucified on a Friday and rose on a Sunday, and Saturday was the time of trial for His disciples. A promise had been given but not fulfilled yet. The question is, how do we live on "Saturday"?".

Does GOD Speak Today?

"Does God Speak Today?"
http://www.amazon.com/Does-Speak-Today-David-Pytches/dp/1556611498
is a book mentioned in a Dallas Willard writing ... 

Bible Book Commentary

Uploading my past Bible studies these days ...
https://sites.google.com/site/biblechaptercommentaries/ 
(very rough and informal style though)

“Greed and Excesses of Capitalism:- Where do they take us?”

Interesting articles to critique:-

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/world/americas/in-fiery-speeches-francis-excoriates-global-capitalism.html

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/world/pope-mass-ecuador-quito/

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/24/pope-francis-wall-
street-attack-idolatry-money-strikes-chord

A Very Radical Move

A very radical move:-

In 2013, CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors (trillion $s asset) quit to be on "mission" ... now trying to help ex-convicts adjust to life after prison:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ex-wells-fargo-ceo-is-on-mission-to-help-ex/article_804042bd-0936-5fc6-8977-fde8678a62ea.html ("Three out of four people released from prison wind up arrested again within five years ... ")

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ludeman-quits-wells-fargo-to-be-selfless/article_b83e4c4b-3092-54c2-8f7e-f2b502b209cb.html 

"The Ethics of Fair Wage Distribution"

A very interesting case study:-
http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/august/70000-minimum-wage-bible-parable-gravity-payments.html

According to http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/09/news/gravity-payments-dan-price-70k-salary/ :-

"Price decided to hike his employees' pay after he read a study about happiness, which concluded that addtional income up until a salary of $75,000 a year can make a significant difference in a person's emotional well-being."

"No matter the bumps ... No matter the bruises ... No matter the scars ..."

Song of the Month: "No matter the bumps ... No matter the bruises ... No matter the scars ...":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLlLPZderk

Journey of Tim, after given 5 years to live from incurable cancer, 12 yrs ago

Journey of Tim Timmons, after given 5 years to live from incurable cancer, 12 yrs ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3z5lb6PF7o

How did you spend your 18th birthday? ; )

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/malala-yousafzai-celebrates-18th-birthday-opening-school-article-1.2290317

“Mother Nature, Science, and God”

Interesting read:-
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/17/world/pope-climate-change-conversation/

NEPAL RELIEF:- Text BGR to 80888 and donate $10 to BGR's Disastar Response Fund

https://vimeo.com/126526487
https://gobgr.org/

http://un.org.np/ (an idea of current / urgent needs:- http://un.org.np/sites/default/files/OCHANepalEarthquakeSituationReportNo8(1May2015).pdf)

Do you get offended or not?

So, great life coach Brant Hansen continues to impress (at-least with the "title" i believe) with a new book:-

"Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better"

which I am looking forward to read ...

Quote: "It’s a radical, provocative idea: We’re not entitled to get offended or stay angry. The idea of our own “righteous anger” is a myth. It is the number one problem in our societies today and, as Dallas Willard says, Christians have not been taught out of it.... "

"more martyrs today than early centuries ..."

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-calls-world-defend-modern-christian-martyrs-113712900.html

Life Coaching Resources

There will be a new blog for "Life Coaching Resources":- http://lifecoaching20xx.blogspot.com/

"New Google Doodle Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day"

http://time.com/3747117/st-patricks-day-google-doodle-dancing-shamrocks/ 

Interesting read: "Medical Miracles"

http://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/medical-miracles/

Lecrae, John Piper, and John Ensor

Does Research on "MATERIALISM" Point to GOD?

https://sites.google.com/site/thereisagodlectures/does-research-on-materialism-point-to-god

Forbes Article: "Bill Gates Will Try To Save 2 Million Children From Dying This Year"

http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2015/01/22/bill-gates-says-we-can-save-millions-of-children-from-dying-heres-how/

http://www.wired.com/2015/01/bill-gates-annual-report-2015-interview/

God HEALS

Movie "Unbroken" is about the amazing story of Louis Zamperini (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Zamperini) who was able to forgive (by God's grace) his former captors/enemies who gravely tortured him in prison!

http://www.wnd.com/2014/12/gods-forgiveness-stars-in-wwii-heros-story/:

"Zamperini survived the war, married Cynthia Applewhite, but was constantly haunted with nightmares from his time in the prison camp. Falling into alcoholism, his marriage was on the verge of ending, until his wife became a born-again Christian at a Billy Graham crusade. Through her prodding, she convinced Zamperini to attend the crusade where an internal struggle eventually broke him and brought him to his knees at the cross of Christ. Through his relationship with Christ, he was able to forgive his captors and tormentors."

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everybody!!

Pope Francis gave a Christmas message worth reading:-
- http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/pope-francis-there-are-so-many-tears-christmas

- Pope Francis makes phone call to refugees fleeing Isis

What do you want from God?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Eareckson_Tada:

"On July 30, 1967, Joni (http://www.joniandfriends.org/) dove into Chesapeake Bay after misjudging the shallowness of the water. She suffered a fracture between the fourth and fifth cervical levels and became a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the shoulders down. During her rehabilitation, she experienced anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, and religious doubts.

In 2010, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She emerged successfully from cancer surgery and is hopeful of a positive prognosis."  

So, Joni has seen and experienced a lot of sufferings and hardships in life.

So, what does Joni expects from God in heaven? :-

Joni (http://www.joniandfriends.org/nrb-awards-dinner):- "So don’t be thinking that a new body (Joni was left paralyzed from the shoulders down) is what I am looking forward to most in heaven: jumping up, dancing, kicking and doing aerobics. Oh, that’ll be wonderful; it would be a great fringe benefit of being invited to Christ’s coronation party, but that’s not what I am looking forward to. I want a new heart; I want glorified heart that no longer twist the truth or resists God (heart free of selfishness), or looks for an escape, or gets defeated by pain, or becomes anxious or worrisome about the future — no longer trying to justify itself. Oh, that’ll be heaven for me."

This also flies in the face of "health-wealth" / "prosperity" gospels.

God wants us to prosper from inside!

"God loves you. God is for you"

"He holds the stars and He holds my heart ..."

http://www.klove.com/music/artists/chris-tomlin/songs/jesus-loves-me-lyrics.aspx

A Night for the Persecuted!

One of this highlights last summer, in our campus ministry, was "Awareness and Praying for the Persecuted Church", led by Sofia.

"He (GOD) KNOWS" - Jeremy Camp

When 9-year-old Nyabwiri and her family need to wash clothes, cook meals, or drink water, they can’t just turn on a faucet.

Fall 2014 issue of Compassion Magazine is out!

"When 9-year-old Nyabwiri and her family need to wash clothes, cook meals, or drink water, they can’t just turn on a faucet ...  Read more > "

More on EXTREME Poverty:  http://www.compassion.com/poverty/poverty.htm


Join Compassion in fighting global poverty: http://www.compassion.com (Want to Change the World? Sponsor a Child)

“It will be a miracle for me to walk by myself again” - 14-year-old Jamie

Help IJM protect children from violence:
https://www.ijm.org/jamies-story

Yazidis and Persecuted of Iraq Need Your Prayers and Help NOW

http://time.com/3091932/yazidi-iraq-isis-obama/

Quoting from above:-

8Aug14:- "On the peaks of the Sinjar mountains, 50,000 members of the Yazidi people are facing a slow death from dehydration and exposure. Below them waits the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a militant extremist group who will kill any that descend."

Experiencing GOD - guaranteed!

Often people ask "how do I experience God?".

Well, obedience helps.

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”".

So, when we live like that, Jesus assures that we will experience HIM/GOD for sure ("I am with you always") : )

POWER

When GOD speaks, universe/planets/humans/mountains/animals come into being (Book of Genesis)! Eggs unscramble and dead rise too (even from dry bones & ashes)! - Wow that is called POWER! 

Now, GOD's spoken Words are also stored in the Bible. That is why we study Bible regularly - to experience "THE SAME KIND OF" God's power in our life : )

Yes you can do it!

At times you may think it's all over ... You may not have any motivation left to continue ...

Remember, people managed to kill and lay dead GOD (Jesus) too! But then Jesus rose and  Romans 8:11 says: "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.".

So, the same Spirit that RAISED Jesus FROM BEING DEAD, is NOW IN YOU, Christian!! So why are you worrying and stressing out? Your situation cannot be that dead, that the Spirit of GOD, in you, cannot bring it back to life!

WHO is right and who is wrong?

Your friends are telling you one thing, your professor is telling you one thing, your pastor is telling you one thing, your parents are telling you one thing, and your own flesh is telling you one thing ...
And you wonder who is right? Whom do you believe?

Well, that is why GOD has given us His Word - the Bible!

Remember, whenever the devil tempted/provoked Jesus in the dessert (Luke 4), EVERY TIME (note "everytime"), Jesus responded by going to God's Word / Holy Scriptures:- "It is written ...".


Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path". 

Thank God for the Bible : ) So, yes, READ YOUR BIBLE : )

Why Was Judas Carrying the Moneybag?

Why Was Judas Carrying the Moneybag?

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/why-was-judas-carrying-the-moneybag

Fighting Extreme Poverty

Fight Extreme Poverty with Compassion:-
- Want to Change the World? Sponsor a Child
- http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-older-child.htm


http://www.compassion.com/poverty/poverty.htm
 :-

Learn the facts about poverty and how it affects children in need and their families.

• Worldwide 600 million children are living in extreme poverty.
• The cost of eradicating world poverty is estimated at 1 percentof global income.
• Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
• The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts forthree-quarters of world income.
• 1.6 billion people — a quarter of humanity — live without electricity.
• 6.9 million children under five years of age died in 2011, nearly 800 every hour.
• The highest rates of child mortality are still in sub-Saharan Africa – where 1 in 9 children dies before age 5.
• The number of under-five deaths worldwide has declined from more than 12 million in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2011.Nearly 19,000 children under five died every day in 2011.
• Globally, the four major killers of children under age 5 are pneumonia (18 percent), diarrheal diseases (15 percent), preterm birth complications (12 percent) and birth asphyxia (9 percent).
• 58 percent of deaths in children under age five are caused by infectious diseases.
• In 1981, 52 percent of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty (defined as living on $1.25 or less a day.) Data from the World Bank released in February 2012 estimates that 22 percent of people live in extreme poverty.
• Country with highest number of under five deaths: India.
• Every day, approximately 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
• 99 percent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries.

Sources: www.unicef.org, www.childinfo.org, www.crin.org, www.who.int,www.globalisses.com

IJM Calls for Help to Fight Child Slavery in Ghana!

https://www.ijm.org/content/urgent-messages-from-the-field

You are a Overcomer!

"You're an overcomer
Stay in the fight ‘til the final round
You're not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now"

Science vs God: Bryan Enderle at TEDxUCDavis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn7YQOzNuSc

- Can GOD be outside time, without defying science?
- Can GOD be omnipresent, without defying science?

Honestly, I am not knowledgeable enough to decide how right Bryan is ...

Pray for the 200+ School Girls Abducted in Nigeria!!

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-worlds-media-have-failed-in-their-response-to-the-kidnap-of-200-nigerian-schoolgirls-9321186.html

http://time.com/84414/how-we-failed-the-lost-girls-kidnapped-by-boko-haram/

http://www.capwiz.com/womenthrive/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=63203141

"Why Science Does Not Disprove God"

http://time.com/77676/why-science-does-not-disprove-god/

The Greatest Turnaround In the History of Humanity! (Happy Easter)

If you are looking for hope then read on ...

If you feel your situation right now is very hopeless then read on ..

BTW, Happy Easter !! : ) Easter is the greatest symbol of hope that I am aware of!

About 2000 years, a guy named Jesus started Christianity. His movement for barely 3-4 years old, when he was unjustly arrested and crucified! And Jesus was given an extremely horrible death  ... Isaiah 57 says: "His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness" ...

The disciples of Jesus who witnessed all this, must have been utterly shaken & shattered to the core and must have thought the "Jesus  movement", which was barely 3-4 years old, is all over ... Things surely looked completely hopeless at that point ...

But, then came the biggest turnaround in the history of humanity ... Jesus rose from the dead in three days (http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html)!! And 2000 years from then, today, ~2 billion people (1 out 3 people in this planet) claim to be Christian!!
Isn't this the biggest turnaround in the history in humanity?!

This is why I am always in so much awe of our GOD ... history shows how GOD can turnaround and bring back to life situations that may look so bad, so dead, so hopeless ...

And, all this makes Easter - the ultimate symbol of hope - So, HAPPY EASTER TO YA'LL!!

Can a dead man rise from grave?

Can a dead man rise from grave?

YES!! : ) Happy Easter!!

Well, you may think it is superstition, unscientific, bla bla ...
But I believe, if you are open minded, it can all seem scientific/logical/etc.

These are some good articles to start with, to understand how a dead man (Jesus ~2000 yrs ago) could have came back to life:-
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/historical-evidence-for-the-resurrection
http://christianity.about.com/od/easter/a/7-Proofs-Of-The-Resurrection.htm
http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html

#FreeSaeed

It was an honor to meet Saeed Abedini's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saeed_Abedini) wife Naghmeh last weekend at the Church! She gave a very powerful testimony:-
http://vimeo.com/channels/724451/91924970

Francis Chan on his downsized lifestyle

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2267196777001/pastor-francis-chan-on-his-downsized-lifestyle/#sp=show-clips

Chan: (~5:45) " ... when I came back from Africa my heart was just broken, I look at all the stuff around (here) ... and I go honey (to wife) it's so hard ... you gotto see these kids they are so beautiful but they are digging through the trashes and you gotto go with me and you gotto see it .. "

(A brief interview on why Francis Chan left his mega Church and moved on to serve in SF ...)

What do you do in your spare time? ;)

A clip from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93hux7vQSyY Francis thinks it's the story of the most interesting man ; ) An incredible, mind-blowing, heart-warming, superbly-inspiring ministry accomplished in spare time! " .. With God all things are possible!" Matthew 19:26

"Overcoming Hopelessness", Nick Vujicic @TEDxNoviSad

Nick Vujicic is an superbly awesome Christian preacher!

END IT MOVEMENT :: FEBRUARY 27TH

http://enditmovement.com/

http://www.youtube.com/enditmovement :
"FEBRUARY 27TH. Will you stand by or will you stand up? Will you join the fight for FREEDOM? #enditmovement"

Pray for North Korea

It's pretty crazy all that has been happening in North Korea:-

"A Dog of a Story: Why Kim Jong Un Probably Did Not Feed His Uncle to 120 Hounds
Read more: North Korea: Did Kim Jong Un Feed His Uncle to the Dogs? | TIME.com http://world.time.com/2014/01/03/a-dog-of-a-story-why-kim-jong-un-probably-did-not-feed-his-uncle-to-120-hounds/#ixzz2pNxTB3oI"

NO to NFL

From Desiring God ("Why Chris Norman Said No to the NFL"  http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/drafted-why-chris-norman-said-no-to-the-nfl#):


Drafted: Why Chris Norman Said No to the NFL from Desiring God on Vimeo.

Rethinking Church

Francis Chan - Rethinking Church from Aron Sakhrani on Vimeo.

Aron: "Francis explains the vision behind our new church planting movement in San Francisco, which is still in its experimental stages. Keep in mind this is just a rough cut and the beginning of an ongoing conversation."

Credibility of Joan of Arc who heard voices

Readers Digest, November 2013:

" ... While a schizophrenic can carry out a plan, a schizophrenic carrying out an elaborate and sustained plan, such as leading a war, is very unlikely."

Miracles happen in medicine | UTMB Newsroom | www.UTMB.edu/Newsroom

Miracles happen in medicine | UTMB Newsroom | www.UTMB.edu/Newsroom

What did Steve Jobs had to say about God?

http://www.christianpost.com/news/steve-jobs-biography-reveals-apple-ceo-struggled-with-beliefs-about-god-meaning-of-life-59119/:

According to Isaacson, Jobs, a self-proclaimed Buddhist, began questioning the meaning of life and God in the past few months before his death.

"I remember sitting in his backyard in his garden one day and he started talking about God," recalled Isaacson. "He said, 'Sometimes I believe in God, sometimes I don't. I think it's 50-50 maybe. But ever since I've had cancer, I've been thinking about it more. And I find myself believing a bit more. I kind of – maybe it's cause I want to believe in an afterlife. That when you die, it doesn't just all disappear. The wisdom you've accumulated. Somehow it lives on.'"

More Choices, Less Commitment

More Choices, Less Commitment

Outreach Month

2013 started for us with a lot of blessings from God! Lots of prayers went out for God to rain salvations in Galveston and nearby counties. People went out in streets, parks, neighborhoods, shopping malls to engage the people in the city in spiritual discussions. Initially we thought that people would just avoid us and not talk to us. But we were surprised that we had a lot of deep conversations about God with people we had never met before! We did see a lot of new people join us in Church this month.

You don’t want to live a life now which will bring a lot of embarrassments latter!

Recently, someone brought to my attention Luke 16:19-31 (parable of the rich man and Lazarus) in a way I never thought about it before! In the parable, the rich man dies and is carried away to Hades where he was in immense torment. In his torment, he cries out to Abraham: “I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’” 

Remember one day a lot of people (with whom you ate, drank, partied, spend a lot of intimate happy times or even those you briefly came across in your life) may think about you, while being in Hades, that you never warned them or told them about Jesus!! So make the best of every opportunity NOW to tell people around you about Jesus! Else, there may be a lot of embarrassments about missed opportunities latter!

"Jesus Understands Our Deepest Sorrow" - DG website

In the "Desiring God" website, Jonathan Parnell talked with Nancy Guthrie, author of Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow, to ask her about what the humanity of Jesus means for us:



Quotes from it:

- The Lord Jesus Christ — the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, the one through whom all things were made — became human like us.

- Jesus is a safe person to draw close to when life is hard. He is not a distant deity who knows nothing about the struggles and pressures of living life in the real world. He knows, He understands. He can relate with us as He himself endured severe hardships. Isaiah (53:3) described Him as a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. In the garden of Gathsemane, His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (Mark 14:35). Hebrews 4:15 says He was tempted in all ways.

Quote of the day!

“The Christian is to be a demonstration of the existence of God”. - FA Schaeffer.

Are you doing that?? :)

Love

From: http://www.ransom.tv/notes/lucinda-shelton

"Lucinda grew up being abused by her dad. Because of that, she hated him, even to the point of wishing he was dead. Watch her ransom note to see how Jesus healed and transformed her, such that she now deeply loves and cares about her dad":



Lucinda reminds at the end: With God all things are possible :) (Matthew 19:26)

Really, life is all about money?

Yes, there are a lot of people who think life is all about money. I don't know frankly how people come to that conclusion. Just yesterday, I was trying to explain to a friend why this is a prevailing myth, without much success because I am not good at debating ;) Then today I heard this song on KSBJ: http://www.lyricsbox.com/holly-starr-lyrics-dont-have-love-fq657df.html
which gives a good idea why there is much more to life than just money. Maybe God led me to this song today, so that I can better explain to others what life is really about!

Some lines from the song:

"You can have money, and cool friends, a ring on your left hand

But it's never gonna be enough, if you don't have love
You don't have love
You can have a fast car, a mansion, and everyone's attention
But it's never gonna be enough, if you don't have love
You don't have love, you don't have love

If you don't have love
Then you've got to, got to have love"

SO, if you want to be true-ly satisfied in life, you need love. Not just any kind of love, but the kind of love that never fails! And where do you find this kind of love? In God (Father, Son-Jesus, Holy Spirit) alone! :) (Psalm 136, Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 8:35, John 15:13, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:9, Ephesians 1:4).

Please, let me know if you can find unfailing love anywhere else!

Best ever birthday :)

This year, I spent my birthday with my mom in Kolkata, India. And God blessed it as my best ever birthday!

Yesterday night, my mom accepted Christ as her personal Savior!
There could not have been any better birthday gift for me from anyone.

I did not realize the coincidence of the two dates, unless today.

God continues to surprise me with His awesomeness, as always! :)

“Your presence is heaven to me”

“Your presence is heaven to me … ”: heard this song lately?

http://lyrics.wikia.com/Israel:Your_Presence_Is_Heaven_To_Me
Pretty cool, yea?

I used to wonder what it mean’t when people said they were in the presence of God. Does it happen when you go to Church on sunday mornings?

That happens at times when you completely surrender yourself to Father God. That is, when you place yourself in His perfect will. It is then you experience the promised peace (Philippians 4:7), which surpasses all understanding. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is a great example. As long as the younger son lived with his father (lived as per his will, in his presence), he was doing great. When he left his father (against his will and away from his presence) and started living in the world, he started wasting himself away, until he came back.

From the church service in Pune last sunday:
-- to live in complete surrender to Father God means to live in complete obedience.
-- to live in complete surrender is not the best way to live BUT the only way to live.

Lastly remember, Matthew 6:25-33, is an epitome of what it means to live a surrendered life: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ….  33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Christ in Olympics

Gabby Douglas, is the new Olympic All Around Champion. Before she competed, she tweeted this:

"Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me." Amen!

(courtesy : KSBJ)

The state of HIV/AIDS epidemic in United States

Science/AAAS | HIV Slideshow

Quote of the day

"This is God's universe and He does things His way. You may have a better way, but you don't have a universe." J. Vernon McGee

When God's Will Isn't Clear

This is a follow up on an earlier post about Piper's:
"When God's will is not clear" 

Quoting from https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=139989935971 :

When the brilliant ethicist John Kavanaugh went to work for 3 months at “the house of the dying” in Calcutta, he was seeking a clear answer as to how best to spend the rest of his life. On the first morning there he met Mother Teresa. She asked, “And what can I do for you?” Kavanaugh asked her to pray for him. “What do you want me to pray for?” she asked. He voiced the request that he had borne thousands of miles from the United States. “Pray that I have clarity.” She said firmly, “No, I will not do that.” When he asked her why, she said, “Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of.” When Kavanaugh commented that she always seemed to have the clarity he longed for, she laughed and said, “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you will trust God.”

Justin Bieber - Pray

This momentary life

The amazing love story of Ian and Larissa from John Piper's "Desiring God" website:

Life’s a fight of wrong and right

Artist: Chris August lyrics
Title: Battle

http://www.lyricsmania.com/battle_lyrics_chris_august.html
:
"
There’s a battle between good and evil ... And it’s raging inside of me ... There’s a struggle - it’s God and the devil ... It’s Love against the Enemy

Whoa no ... I’m not giving up now ... Whoa

Life’s a fight of wrong and right ... That’s tearing me apart ... Oh but what the cross has done ... Yeah the world will try to battle for my heart ... But the war is already won

There’s a snake that’s hiding in the garden ... There’s a beautiful apple tree ... There is trouble on the horizon ... But I’m claiming victory ... Whoa ... I’m not giving in now ... Whoa

Life’s a fight of wrong and right ... That’s tearing me apart ... Oh but what the ... cross has done ... Yeah the world will try to battle for my heart ... But the war is already won

Whoa ... I’m not giving up now ... Whoa ... I’m not giving in

Life’s a fight of wrong and right ... That’s tearing me apart ... Oh but what the cross has done ... Yeah the world will try to battle for my heart ... But the war is already won
"

"More Beautiful You" - Diaz, York

Artist: Jonny Diaz
Album: More Beautiful You
Genre: Christian
Songwriters: Jonny Diaz, Kate York

http://www.songlyrics.com/jonny-diaz/more-beautiful-you-lyrics/:
"
Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are

So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away

By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl

That there could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
There could never be a more beautiful you
"

IJM Chennai: A Dozen Slaves Rescued from a Rice Mill

Quoting from:
http://www.ijm.org/news/ijm-chennai-dozen-slaves-rescued-rice-mill
:

"Tags: Forced Labor Slavery Rescue South Asia

CHENNAI, INDIA – A dozen men and women and their children were freed from slavery in a rice mill over the weekend. Local authorities partnered with IJM to rescue the families and restore them to freedom.

One of the men who was rescued said he had not been allowed to leave the rice mill to visit his home for almost four years – even though his home is five minutes from the mill.

The government officials granted twelve of the individuals release certificates, emancipating them from slavery and cancelling any outstanding debt the owner may have claimed they owed him. The certificates also entitle each freed person to government-allocated funds that will help them build sustainable lives in freedom. "

Can you believe how many crazy things happen around us? Yes, we live in a world which is so broken. Kudos to Christ led IJM for their amazing works. Please check out http://www.ijm.org/ to become a part of slavery rescue efforts worldwide!!

Why Jesus Creates Sex - Mark Driscoll

How is your relationship with God going?

Voice of Martyrs (VOM) published a news about Asia, a Christian imprisoned in Pakistan, highlighting her daily relationship with God in prison. This is what Asia said to a VOM representative:

"
(1 Kings 17:6a): 'The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening ...'. There is a beautiful thing that happens every day in my cell. Two days after they announced my death penalty, I was brought into [death row]. Every morning around 3:30 or 4, a brown bird with a long beak appears and sits on the boundary wall. This bird also comes every evening around 5. He sits there for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening. Later on he became my friend. I talk to him and he also talks to me.

As I watched this bird every day, I tried to understand the meaning of him coming day after day. I think this is a messenger from God giving me His message. When the bird comes, I feel encouraged and peaceful. I feel comforted after his visit. I think this is a very significant sign from God.
"

Asia also reported that she spends much of her time in prayer, including prayer for those around the world who pray for her and speak out on her behalf.

(Quoted from VOM news)

"Parents, Beware: Proverbs Are Not Promises" - from Piper's 'Desiring God'

Parents, Beware: Proverbs Are Not Promises

-David from Piper's "Desiring God" ... a very nice clarification!

The Great Debate: Does God Exist?

http://theresurgence.com/2012/01/17/the-great-debate-does-god-exist

Spend less and give more this Christmas (Advent Conspiracy)

Advent Conspiracy from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

Famine in Africa

"Every life has a story.. if we only bother to read it"

When God's Will Isn't Clear

When God's Will Isn't Clear

State of Religion in America today

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/figuring-faith/post/why-religion-will-matter-in-2012/2011/08/04/gIQAVGCiuI_blog.html
: quoting:

"Consider these findings from the 2010 American Values Survey, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute:

· Nearly six-in-ten (57 percent) Americans say religion is very important or the most important thing in their lives.

· A majority (51 percent) of Americans report attending religious services at least a few times per month.

· Nine-in-ten Americans report that they believe in God. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) believe that God is a person with whom one can have a relationship.

· Nearly seven-in-ten (69 percent) Americans believe that the Bible is the word of God, and nearly half of this group (33 percent) believe that the Bible should also be taken literally, word for word.

Moreover, religion is not only a personal matter for many Americans, but it is also something they see as important in evaluating political leaders."

Dilbert's take on Freewill ;)

God's plan for your life

This is an interesting article on Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"):

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/21141-the-most-misused-verse-in-the-bible?

Indeed, this is how God loves us!

Quote from the video: "Have you encountered the love of God? If yes, then you will never be the same!"

Do you want to change the world?

I often meet people who say they don't need Jesus. How can that be possible?

Like, don't we all of want to change the world? (like, Obama's mantra during the elections was "change") There is so much darkness and chaos in this world. Like, it is estimated that some 800 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition, about 100 times as many as those who actually die from it each year. Some say 20% of 20 million of children in India alone are part of the commercial sexual exploitation network. In 2000, nearly 88,000 children in the United States experienced sexual abuse. Intense human oppressions occurring now in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, etc. Then there are happenings like 9/11 terrorism, Nazi oppression, etc. The list of crazy dark things happening in this world goes on and on.. we read it in daily news all the time.

So what is the best way to deal with the darknesses and chaos in the world? Bible points to Jesus as the solution. Jesus said in John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.". Jesus uses darkness as a metaphor for the sins in this world because sin is in total opposition to God/light (The book of Genesis says that God created light and he separated it from darkness). In a nutshell, as per Bible, Jesus is the best answer to all the chaos and darkness in this world. So, if you want to change this world and get rid of the bad stuff, you need to be that change first (as Gandhi said: "be the change you want to see in this world") by becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. So you do need Jesus (and so does your neighbor)!

References:
- lives of Martin Luther King, Jr; Mother Teresa; etc.
- http://my.auburnjournal.com/detail/150148.html

What has been the most peaceful moment of your life?

I met this woman at the UTMB Jail hospital. She is under custody and also suffering from cancer. She is probably in her forties. She said that right then at jail, as she is going through her cancer treatment, she has been most peaceful in her life. She has found her peace in eternal God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

Hmm, so essentially she testified, what King Soloman said in the book of Ecclesiastes that our pursuits in this world is not going to give us everlasting peace/contentment/joy, if they are not centered around God.

It also reminded me of Apostle Paul: "I can rejoice at all times and I can be content in whatsoever state I am in, even when I am in prison" (Philippians 4:4,11). "Christ is everything I need! Christ is my Life!" (Colossians 2:10; 3:3). That is, our joy does not depend on circumstances, but on the eternal God.

This is also what Jesus said, in John 4, about the "living water" He gives: "Whosoever drinketh of this water (i.e., things of the world) shall thirst again.But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.".

God's timing

Yesterday I watched Spielberg's eye-opening movie "Schindler's list". It was pretty amazing that right when Schindler was about to finish up all his money (which he was using to protect the Jews in his factory and also towards non-cooperation of Nazi war efforts by not producing a single weapon that could be fired), Germany surrendered. Any delay of German surrender could have been catastrophic for all the Jews in Schindler's factory.

I was also wondering how much did the growing resentment of the weapon manufacturers, like Schindler, towards inhumane killings contributed to Nazi defeat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Schindler

Depending on God on a daily basis and GENEROSITY/laying_up_treasures_on_earth

Quoting from:
http://www.centralpc.org/sermons/2005/s050206.htm
http://www.urbana.org/articles/what-wesley-practiced-and-preached-about-money

In 1731 John Wesley made 30 pounds. He lived on 28 of them and he gave away 2. It's less than a tithe. The following year he made 60 pounds. He lived on 28 and he gave away 32. In the fourth year he made 120 pounds. He lived on 28 and he gave away 92 pounds. And finally, later in his career John Wesley became one of the best paid preachers in all of history. He made the modern equivalent of $1.4 million dollars in one year. Now that is without CDs, that's without TV. You know we think the TV evangelists are making it. This is on penny tracks and preaching engagements. $1.4 millon dollars. That year he lived on the equivalent of $30,000 and gave away all the rest.

He was afraid of laying up treasures on earth, so the money went out in charity as quickly as it came in. He reports that he never had 100 pounds at any one time. He was concerned about the gospel and the needs around him. He was content to live at some level that wasn't 100% of what he owned. And he really believed that it was worth it to live in light of eternity. He really believed that God was going to credit this to his account, just like Paul says to the Philippians.

You are what you eat

Yesterday, Gideon Stanley rightly pointed out "you are what you eat". And, Gideon said, this is exactly true with the Word of God, on which we need to feast on frequently, so that we can be more and more like Jesus... John said Word became Flesh (Jesus) and Jesus talked of eating His flesh...His body was broken for us, and we do communion to remember that (bread we eat reminds of His body and is analogous to in-taking Word that became flesh)...

More passages from Bible on the importance of regular feasting on God's Word (courtesy MIKE Cleveland):
- Not only were the Israelites told to put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, they were also instructed to eat the Passover lamb (now Jesus/Word). (Exodus 12:11)
- Psalm 1:2, 3: "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law He meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither."
- Deuteronomy 8:3: "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
- John 6:48-51: "I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
- Jeremiah 15:16: "When your words came, I ate them. They were my joy and my heart's delight."
- John 17:17: "Sanctify them [set them apart from sin] by the truth: your Word is truth!"
- Joshua 1:8: "Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

God is proposing to you right now

In the second video of his book "Crazy Love", Chan does a great job in explaining what a Christian life is about and about how God went crazy to pursue a deep,intimate relationship with each one of us. He uses the analogy of God as a bridegroom who is proposing to you to spend eternity with Him ...