Sunday, November 20, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
On which does our life is centered?
('http://www.youtube.com/p/9488FED2E6705BC8?version=3&hl=en_US',)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
NIGERIA: Terrorist Group Kills Christians, Destroys Churches
Attacks by Islamic extremists in northeast
Nigeria left over 100 dead and at least six
churches destroyed.
Terrorist Muslim organization Boko Haram
committed the attacks on Nov. 4 and 5.
Most of the attacks were suicide bombings,
but the group also bombed a government
building and shot 63 people.
Christians in the region are concerned
about future violence and damage, and
many are upset at the lack of law
enforcement to protect them from Boko
Haram's attacks. The group has killed more
than 240 people this year, including 100
Christians.
The attacks come on the immediate heels
of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
urging members to increase violence. Boko
Haram roughly translates to "Western
education is sacrilege." The group's aim is
to spread radical Islamic fundamentalism
throughout Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Christian community to pray for peace in the embattled region.
Source: Christian Post
Please Pray!
Please pray for the peace of Nigeria and for Boko Haram's demise. Pray that believers will not be overcome with fear, but
that they will sense God's presence and peace. Pray for wisdom for President Goodluck Jonathan, and that he will take
measures to ensure the safety of Nigeria's Christians.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet
in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:35-37
Nigeria left over 100 dead and at least six
churches destroyed.
Terrorist Muslim organization Boko Haram
committed the attacks on Nov. 4 and 5.
Most of the attacks were suicide bombings,
but the group also bombed a government
building and shot 63 people.
Christians in the region are concerned
about future violence and damage, and
many are upset at the lack of law
enforcement to protect them from Boko
Haram's attacks. The group has killed more
than 240 people this year, including 100
Christians.
The attacks come on the immediate heels
of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
urging members to increase violence. Boko
Haram roughly translates to "Western
education is sacrilege." The group's aim is
to spread radical Islamic fundamentalism
throughout Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Christian community to pray for peace in the embattled region.
Source: Christian Post
Please Pray!
Please pray for the peace of Nigeria and for Boko Haram's demise. Pray that believers will not be overcome with fear, but
that they will sense God's presence and peace. Pray for wisdom for President Goodluck Jonathan, and that he will take
measures to ensure the safety of Nigeria's Christians.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet
in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:35-37
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
where goes Catholic church?
We the Christians are called to suffer for Christ and for His greatest commission to us. The Vatican begs Hindus to go in peace with Christians and in order to make them cool releases a letter of wishes for the Deepavali festival. What a shame? to support paganism? where is the burning fire to live and die for Christ?
read the article and comment:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1104131.htm
read the article and comment:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1104131.htm
Friday, October 21, 2011
useful for catholics: 40 questions asked about catholics by non-catholics
http://www.stjohn17v20-21.com/que4029.htm
Church in Kerala is rocked by sex scandals
** In 1995, Father Cyriac Karthikapally, a parish priest of Kurumbanadam church in the Changanacherry archdiocese, lured a 15-year old school-going girl to his bedroom. For the next two years, the priest entered into a sexual relationship with the minor girl that she gave birth to a female child on September 15, 1998.
The Changacherry police on Tuesday registered a case against Father Karthikapally for raping, abducting and compelling the victim for abortion. The police has submitted before the local judicial court a first information report against the priest under sections 315, 316 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code that deal with provisions on rape and abduction.
** In 1993, the dead body of 21-year old Sister Abhaya was flushed out from the well of St Pious X Convent, Kottayam. Six years of police investigations reached nowhere and in July this year the Central Bureau of Investigation closed the sensitive case as it failed to fix the liability of the young nun's murder. Church critics circulate two theories for Sr Abhaya's death. One, she was murdered when she refused the sexual advances of a priest or a bishop. Second, she was killed because she knew that some of her colleague nuns had sexual relationships with two Catholic priests -- Fr Jose Putrukayal and Fr Thomas Kattoor.
While the Sister Abhaya case is closed forever, a popular Malayalam movie was released three weeks back on the incident. Titled Crime File and starring superstar Suresh Gopi, the film depicts the Church in bad light by portraying what many say "the real story" behind Sister Abhaya's murder.
** In 1998, Sr Jyothis of Sacred Heart Convent at Mukkom in Kozhikode district was found murdered in the convent's well. Investigations so far have made no headway, but the police suspect that sexual motive could have been the cause behind the murder.
Recently, Sister Jyothis's father, K M Jose filed a case in the Kerala high court pleading for a CBI investigation into his daughter's murder in the convent.
** Last month, a gang of students belonging to the Student Federation of India attacked Father Geo Pulickal, principal of the Catholic-run Nirmalagiri College at Koothuparamba in north Kerala. SFI students allege that the principal is a sodomite and subjected a college student to sodomy and two priests were involved in a ragging case in the college hostel. Posters depicting the priests and nuns in bad light appeared on the college campus.
The tug of war between the SFI activists and the Catholic church over the attack on Father Pulickal reached a flashpoint when Nirmalagiri College was closed last month and later re-opened after mediations between the Church officials and the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist.
Is the vow of celibacy that priests and nuns adopt to serve the Catholic church in Kerala becoming suspect? Why are increasing numbers of sex scandals involving the clergy coming up in the state?
Church leaders, especially those belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala are upset as social groups are mounting protests for trying to protect priests like Father Karthikapally from the clutches of civil law.
But Catholic activists who have launched a movement against the church claim that cases of priests caught in sex crimes are increasing in the state. "It seems priests in Kerala are losing their faith and virginity. We know the names of many priests who deliberately fail to keep their sacred pledge of a celibate lifestyle," says Sebastian Vattamattam, secretary of Kottayam-based Vikas Institute that has raked up the sex scandal involving Father Cyriac Karthikapally.
"Priests are sinning against their church and the community. But their crimes have thrown up legal, ethical and moral issues for debate within the church and the catholic community," he said.
Vattamattom, a college professor in the Changanacherry archdiocese-run Saint Berchman's College, is one of the many active Catholics who have launched a movement against what they call "erring and immoral priests and nuns."
Critics like him cite many reasons why priests and nuns are stepping out of their pastoral and missionary duties to the forbidden paths. "All the modern priests are very educated and rich. They are exposed to the world and lured by the luxuries of the modern world. They are spiritually corrupt and indulge in all sorts of immoral activities," accuses Vattamattam.
Kurian Verghese, a Catholic activist in Kochi, who himself left priestly studies mid-way and became an engineer later, says the fault lies with the seminaries. "Seminaries where students are trained and moulded to become priests are old-fashioned. They are taught philosophy and theology of the old order without any freedom of thought or action," he points out.
"I left the seminary after five years because I felt suffocated. So I think once they are out of seminaries, the present generation of young priests are attracted by the outside world which they have never seen or experienced," Verghese says.
"I know many priests who drink and womanise regularly. But they still remain within the dioceses and pastoral ministry and serve the local people. Our social set-up is such that a priest giving up the cassock for marriage is a butt of ridicule," he said.
Therefore, he says, the best thing that the church should aim for is to encourage those "immoral priests" to get out of the church services and help them get married.
But Church officials point out that some of the sex scandals rocking the Catholic community in Kerala are "stray instances" and have been blown out of proportion by "some misguided catholic activists."
According to Bishop Thomas Chakiath of Ernakulam archdiocese, it is sad that "some vested interests have launched a smear campaign against the church basing their arguments on some stray incidents."
"Of course, there have been incidents in which priests were accused of disobeying the sacred order of celibacy. But it is improper to accuse that the church is plagued by sex scandals," he said.
Bishop Chakiath said often priests who indulge in immoral activities leave their pastoral job and embrace matrimony. "But these all are very rare instances and they do not mean that the church has lost its mission, unity and integrity," he asserted.
However, according to Professor M J George, a member of the action council that is now pursuing the Father Karthikapally case the gravest mistake within the church is that "it itself is the protector of criminal clergy."
George said when the Father Karthikapally sex scandal rocked the Changanacherry archdiocese, what the Archbishop did was to get him tried in the diocese's own tribunal, which "punished" him by removing him from the pastoral ministry and offering remuneration to the girl.
"The accused priest is still with the diocese. His residence is provided by the diocese and he is protected by the church while his daughter is growing up in an orphanage," George said.
Catholic activists claim in many dioceses across Kerala, many "clerical gangsters" have come up. "Our information is that Father Karthikapally used to take the minor girl to his priest friends in other parishes. They had actually formed a sex racket involving many girls," says Vattamattam.
But Changanacherry Archdiocese Chancellor Father Gregory Naduviledam refutes the charges levelled by the church pressure groups. "They are misguided activists who are acting with some vested interests against the church," he said.
As for Father Karthikapally sex case, he said, the diocesan tribunal decided to try the priest after the victim's parents approached Archbishop Joseph Powathil for a settlement on the case from the church side.
"In the tribunal the priest confessed to his crime. We found him guilty and punished him by relieving him of all pastoral duties. He is now living in a remote village without serving any parish or other diocesan institutes," Father Naduviledam said.
As to the accusation that the diocese did not take the case to the police, he said "it was not the duty of the church." "It was the duty of the offended party to approach the police. But the girl's parents instead wanted that the priest should be tried by the church tribunal only," Father Naduviledam added.
According to Father Paul Thelakkat, editor of Sathyadeepam, a popular Catholic weekly, "It is an unfair argument that the church has lost its image because one among thousands of its priests is involved in a sex scandal."
"In every religious society and community in the world, there are erring members. The Catholic church considers the rare instances of sex scandals in Kerala as insignificant," he asserted.
One of the first sex scandals that rocked the Kerala church was in the 1970s, that too in the Changanacherry diocese. A diocesan priest, Father Benedict entered into a sexual relationship with Mariakutty, a regular church-goer. But when their relationship began doing the rounds, Father Benedict allegedly killed Mariakutty.
Father Benedict was arrested and fought the case in many courts for years, but was later set free for want of sufficient evidence of murder.
Old timers recall when Father Benedict was acquitted and released, he was given a warm reception by the Changanacherry archdiocese.
"I think this is the fault with the church. It does not punish those priests who break their celibacy and seek immoral means of life. But the church is always eager to protect the clergy who are found guilty," says Joseph Punnen, a devout catholic who had launched a movement against Father Benedict in 1970s.
The Changacherry police on Tuesday registered a case against Father Karthikapally for raping, abducting and compelling the victim for abortion. The police has submitted before the local judicial court a first information report against the priest under sections 315, 316 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code that deal with provisions on rape and abduction.
** In 1993, the dead body of 21-year old Sister Abhaya was flushed out from the well of St Pious X Convent, Kottayam. Six years of police investigations reached nowhere and in July this year the Central Bureau of Investigation closed the sensitive case as it failed to fix the liability of the young nun's murder. Church critics circulate two theories for Sr Abhaya's death. One, she was murdered when she refused the sexual advances of a priest or a bishop. Second, she was killed because she knew that some of her colleague nuns had sexual relationships with two Catholic priests -- Fr Jose Putrukayal and Fr Thomas Kattoor.
While the Sister Abhaya case is closed forever, a popular Malayalam movie was released three weeks back on the incident. Titled Crime File and starring superstar Suresh Gopi, the film depicts the Church in bad light by portraying what many say "the real story" behind Sister Abhaya's murder.
** In 1998, Sr Jyothis of Sacred Heart Convent at Mukkom in Kozhikode district was found murdered in the convent's well. Investigations so far have made no headway, but the police suspect that sexual motive could have been the cause behind the murder.
Recently, Sister Jyothis's father, K M Jose filed a case in the Kerala high court pleading for a CBI investigation into his daughter's murder in the convent.
** Last month, a gang of students belonging to the Student Federation of India attacked Father Geo Pulickal, principal of the Catholic-run Nirmalagiri College at Koothuparamba in north Kerala. SFI students allege that the principal is a sodomite and subjected a college student to sodomy and two priests were involved in a ragging case in the college hostel. Posters depicting the priests and nuns in bad light appeared on the college campus.
The tug of war between the SFI activists and the Catholic church over the attack on Father Pulickal reached a flashpoint when Nirmalagiri College was closed last month and later re-opened after mediations between the Church officials and the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist.
Is the vow of celibacy that priests and nuns adopt to serve the Catholic church in Kerala becoming suspect? Why are increasing numbers of sex scandals involving the clergy coming up in the state?
Church leaders, especially those belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala are upset as social groups are mounting protests for trying to protect priests like Father Karthikapally from the clutches of civil law.
But Catholic activists who have launched a movement against the church claim that cases of priests caught in sex crimes are increasing in the state. "It seems priests in Kerala are losing their faith and virginity. We know the names of many priests who deliberately fail to keep their sacred pledge of a celibate lifestyle," says Sebastian Vattamattam, secretary of Kottayam-based Vikas Institute that has raked up the sex scandal involving Father Cyriac Karthikapally.
"Priests are sinning against their church and the community. But their crimes have thrown up legal, ethical and moral issues for debate within the church and the catholic community," he said.
Vattamattom, a college professor in the Changanacherry archdiocese-run Saint Berchman's College, is one of the many active Catholics who have launched a movement against what they call "erring and immoral priests and nuns."
Critics like him cite many reasons why priests and nuns are stepping out of their pastoral and missionary duties to the forbidden paths. "All the modern priests are very educated and rich. They are exposed to the world and lured by the luxuries of the modern world. They are spiritually corrupt and indulge in all sorts of immoral activities," accuses Vattamattam.
Kurian Verghese, a Catholic activist in Kochi, who himself left priestly studies mid-way and became an engineer later, says the fault lies with the seminaries. "Seminaries where students are trained and moulded to become priests are old-fashioned. They are taught philosophy and theology of the old order without any freedom of thought or action," he points out.
"I left the seminary after five years because I felt suffocated. So I think once they are out of seminaries, the present generation of young priests are attracted by the outside world which they have never seen or experienced," Verghese says.
"I know many priests who drink and womanise regularly. But they still remain within the dioceses and pastoral ministry and serve the local people. Our social set-up is such that a priest giving up the cassock for marriage is a butt of ridicule," he said.
Therefore, he says, the best thing that the church should aim for is to encourage those "immoral priests" to get out of the church services and help them get married.
But Church officials point out that some of the sex scandals rocking the Catholic community in Kerala are "stray instances" and have been blown out of proportion by "some misguided catholic activists."
According to Bishop Thomas Chakiath of Ernakulam archdiocese, it is sad that "some vested interests have launched a smear campaign against the church basing their arguments on some stray incidents."
"Of course, there have been incidents in which priests were accused of disobeying the sacred order of celibacy. But it is improper to accuse that the church is plagued by sex scandals," he said.
Bishop Chakiath said often priests who indulge in immoral activities leave their pastoral job and embrace matrimony. "But these all are very rare instances and they do not mean that the church has lost its mission, unity and integrity," he asserted.
However, according to Professor M J George, a member of the action council that is now pursuing the Father Karthikapally case the gravest mistake within the church is that "it itself is the protector of criminal clergy."
George said when the Father Karthikapally sex scandal rocked the Changanacherry archdiocese, what the Archbishop did was to get him tried in the diocese's own tribunal, which "punished" him by removing him from the pastoral ministry and offering remuneration to the girl.
"The accused priest is still with the diocese. His residence is provided by the diocese and he is protected by the church while his daughter is growing up in an orphanage," George said.
Catholic activists claim in many dioceses across Kerala, many "clerical gangsters" have come up. "Our information is that Father Karthikapally used to take the minor girl to his priest friends in other parishes. They had actually formed a sex racket involving many girls," says Vattamattam.
But Changanacherry Archdiocese Chancellor Father Gregory Naduviledam refutes the charges levelled by the church pressure groups. "They are misguided activists who are acting with some vested interests against the church," he said.
As for Father Karthikapally sex case, he said, the diocesan tribunal decided to try the priest after the victim's parents approached Archbishop Joseph Powathil for a settlement on the case from the church side.
"In the tribunal the priest confessed to his crime. We found him guilty and punished him by relieving him of all pastoral duties. He is now living in a remote village without serving any parish or other diocesan institutes," Father Naduviledam said.
As to the accusation that the diocese did not take the case to the police, he said "it was not the duty of the church." "It was the duty of the offended party to approach the police. But the girl's parents instead wanted that the priest should be tried by the church tribunal only," Father Naduviledam added.
According to Father Paul Thelakkat, editor of Sathyadeepam, a popular Catholic weekly, "It is an unfair argument that the church has lost its image because one among thousands of its priests is involved in a sex scandal."
"In every religious society and community in the world, there are erring members. The Catholic church considers the rare instances of sex scandals in Kerala as insignificant," he asserted.
One of the first sex scandals that rocked the Kerala church was in the 1970s, that too in the Changanacherry diocese. A diocesan priest, Father Benedict entered into a sexual relationship with Mariakutty, a regular church-goer. But when their relationship began doing the rounds, Father Benedict allegedly killed Mariakutty.
Father Benedict was arrested and fought the case in many courts for years, but was later set free for want of sufficient evidence of murder.
Old timers recall when Father Benedict was acquitted and released, he was given a warm reception by the Changanacherry archdiocese.
"I think this is the fault with the church. It does not punish those priests who break their celibacy and seek immoral means of life. But the church is always eager to protect the clergy who are found guilty," says Joseph Punnen, a devout catholic who had launched a movement against Father Benedict in 1970s.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Signs of the End of the Age
1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2“Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,a’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
15“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’b spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.
26“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29“Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’c
30“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that itd is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generatione will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
36“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,f but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,a’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
15“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’b spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.
26“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29“Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’c
30“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that itd is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generatione will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
36“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,f but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
ISRAEL gonna left out by OBAMA? Part 2
John Bolton, former United States ambassador to the United Nations, told Bar Shem-Ur on IDF Army Radio Tuesday morning that "[U.S. President Barack] Obama is harming Israeli security and is playing into the hands of [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad” by agreeing to talk with Egypt about a nuclear-free Middle East.
“All of us know this suggestion [of Egypt] relates to one country - Israel,” Bolton stated. "The question right now is how much pressure he is prepared to apply to achieve his objective. If I were an Israeli, I would be afraid of the results of these contacts because of the very fact that Obama agrees to talk with Egypt about its proposal. “It is clear that we are talking about an absurd and very aggravating” action by President Obama, “but this is how it has worked for years since the days of Castro, and the ‘shining” period of [Yasser] Arafat,” Bolton told Army Radio.
He also said he is not surprised that the “head of an enemy state can arrive in the United States, take the podium in the center of New York, castigate the United States and Israel and accuse them of mutual nuclear aid. “This really is not an exceptional step for the U.N. to give the podium to the president of Iran. The best thing I can say about the visit of Ahmadinejad is that his speech was so ridiculous that he actually damages himself more than he does himself any good.”
Calling the United Nations an organization “empty of all content” that “lost its legitimacy a long time ago,” Bolton suggested the establishment of an alternative body comprising only those countries that are democratic. “There needs to be a wide-ranging discussion on the lack of effectiveness of the United Nations in dealing with international challenges,” he explained. “In its history, it has failed time after time to deal with global threats. This happened with Communism and today it is happening with worldwide terror.” He dismissed the U.N. committee for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons as another “great name of an organization that has no teeth or significance."
Bolton, who advised then-President George W. Bush to stop paying dues to the United Nations, quit his U.N. post out of frustration.
“All of us know this suggestion [of Egypt] relates to one country - Israel,” Bolton stated. "The question right now is how much pressure he is prepared to apply to achieve his objective. If I were an Israeli, I would be afraid of the results of these contacts because of the very fact that Obama agrees to talk with Egypt about its proposal. “It is clear that we are talking about an absurd and very aggravating” action by President Obama, “but this is how it has worked for years since the days of Castro, and the ‘shining” period of [Yasser] Arafat,” Bolton told Army Radio.
He also said he is not surprised that the “head of an enemy state can arrive in the United States, take the podium in the center of New York, castigate the United States and Israel and accuse them of mutual nuclear aid. “This really is not an exceptional step for the U.N. to give the podium to the president of Iran. The best thing I can say about the visit of Ahmadinejad is that his speech was so ridiculous that he actually damages himself more than he does himself any good.”
Calling the United Nations an organization “empty of all content” that “lost its legitimacy a long time ago,” Bolton suggested the establishment of an alternative body comprising only those countries that are democratic. “There needs to be a wide-ranging discussion on the lack of effectiveness of the United Nations in dealing with international challenges,” he explained. “In its history, it has failed time after time to deal with global threats. This happened with Communism and today it is happening with worldwide terror.” He dismissed the U.N. committee for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons as another “great name of an organization that has no teeth or significance."
Bolton, who advised then-President George W. Bush to stop paying dues to the United Nations, quit his U.N. post out of frustration.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
child abuse - part 1
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation.[1][2] Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure of the genitals to a child, displaying pornography to a child, actual sexual contact against a child, physical contact with the child's genitals (except in certain non-sexual contexts such as a medical exam), viewing of the child's genitalia for the purpose of sexual gratification, or using a child to produce child pornography.[1][3][4]
The effects of child sexual abuse include depression,[5] post-traumatic stress disorder,[6] anxiety,[7] propensity to further victimization in adulthood,[8] and physical injury to the child, among other problems.[9] Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.[10]
In North America, for example, approximately 15% to 25% of women and 5% to 15% of men were sexually abused when they were children.[11][12][13] Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as 'friends' of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases.[11] Most child sexual abuse is committed by men; studies show that women commit 14% to 40% of offenses reported against boys and 6% of offenses reported against girls.[11][12][14] Most offenders who sexually abuse prepubescent children are pedophiles,[15][16] although some offenders do not meet the clinical diagnosis standards for pedophilia.[17][18]
Under the law, "child sexual abuse" is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification.[4][19] The American Psychiatric Association states that "children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults", and condemns any such action by an adult: "An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior."[20]
The effects of child sexual abuse include depression,[5] post-traumatic stress disorder,[6] anxiety,[7] propensity to further victimization in adulthood,[8] and physical injury to the child, among other problems.[9] Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.[10]
In North America, for example, approximately 15% to 25% of women and 5% to 15% of men were sexually abused when they were children.[11][12][13] Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as 'friends' of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases.[11] Most child sexual abuse is committed by men; studies show that women commit 14% to 40% of offenses reported against boys and 6% of offenses reported against girls.[11][12][14] Most offenders who sexually abuse prepubescent children are pedophiles,[15][16] although some offenders do not meet the clinical diagnosis standards for pedophilia.[17][18]
Under the law, "child sexual abuse" is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification.[4][19] The American Psychiatric Association states that "children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults", and condemns any such action by an adult: "An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior."[20]
Saturday, June 18, 2011
SIGNS OF CHRIST'S SECOND ARRIVAL
1. INTRODUCTION
Will there be signs, warning and advance indications of our Lord’s coming? If so, what will they be? Two extremes must be avoided. On the one hand, we must not set dates for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. No man knows the precise hour of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:36, 42; Acts 1:6, 7). On the other hand, we are not to be dulled into spiritual lethargy. We are to watch and be ready for the rapture (2 Timothy 4:8). Jesus wants His people to discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3; Luke 21:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:4). Genuine Christians who carefully observes current events and moral and religious trends must be deeply impressed by the cumulative evidence. Surely we are in the last days, and Christ’s second coming is very near indeed. What are some of the specific signs which seem to herald our Lord’s return?
2. A SCOFFING UNBELIEF IN CHRIST’S COMING
"There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3, 4). Some will flatly deny the doctrine of Jesus’ return as absurd or unreasonable. Others will interpret it to mean the death of the believer. Others will openly ridicule it as antiquated or superstitious. The very spread of incredulity indicates that the Lord’s coming draws near. For Peter tells us that scoffers will abound "in the last days" (2 Peter 3:3).
3. RELIGIOUS UNCONCERN
Callousness and carelessness with regard to the things of Christ have always been present. But they will increase in the last days and thus point unerringly toward the return of Christ. An Instructive Parallel - In Noah’s day, shortly before the destructive judgment of the Flood, men were concerned about two items: eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage. The propagation and preservation of the race were their main topics of conversation in the very hour when the race was about to perish (Compare Genesis 6:5-9:19 with Matthew 24:32-39). The sinful race in Noah’s day cared little about his repeated warnings, was more interested in business as usual and the perpetuity of the human species. The inevitable result was that it was swept away by the Flood. So it will be at Christ’s coming. Mounting lack of concern about the things of God in general will precede His coming and indicate that it is near.
4. A FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH
God has given to us in His Word (i.e. Holy Bible) which is accurate and reliable. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). People long have questioned, doubted and impugned the authority of the Bible. But the sacred Book has stood the test of time. In the last days the apostasy ("falling away") will spread rapidly. (And that is happening today!)
4.1 The Testimony of Paul
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith." (1 Timothy 4:1-5) Note the "seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1) which will lead people astray. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:3). Unbelievers will have "itching ears" and will seek after false teachers and false religions which will not provide the true way of Salvation. They will be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:4).
4.2 The Modern Fulfillment
Paul stated the case perfectly. Spurious sects abound today. The old-fashioned, saving gospel is widely spurned. The integrity of the Scriptures is denied far and wide. The growing apostasy proclaims the approach the Son of God (Matthew 24:11).
5. AN OUTWARD FORMALISM
This will be a strange phenomenon of the latter days. Inward unbelief will be cloaked in outward ritualism. Faithlessness will be concealed by ceremonialism. If faith is missing, they will concentrate on form, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:5).
5.1 The Value of Ceremonies
If one's faith in the Lord Jesus is deep and genuine, of course he will wish to demonstrate it in visible, tangible ways. He will prove the purity of his religion by holiness and charity (James 1:27) and by the religious exercises in which, as a child of God, he engages.
5.2 The Danger of Ceremonies
But when the outward trappings of religion are a substitute for saving faith in Christ, they can lure a man to a Christless eternity! In the last days this will be the tragic state of affairs. Many a man who is outwardly religious but inwardly lost will be left being at Christ’s appearing. The very multiplication of religious, formal but unredeemed groups will be another indication of the Saviour’s approaching advent.
6. THE INCREASE OF WICKEDNESS
Paul describes the last days as "perilous times" (2 Timothy 3:1-9). He then explains the nature of the peril. Study with care II Timothy 3:1-9. Essentially men will be "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (II Timothy 3:4).
6.1 The Surprise
Popular fancy would have us believe that man’s moral status steadily improves; that education, erudition and culture are adequate agents in ethical rehabilitation. The Bible teaches the opposite. Man is a sinner both by nature and in conduct. A sign that Christ's coming is near is not that human society is morally prepared for His return, but rather that it is thoroughly degraded apart from the gracious influence of the Gospel.
6.2 The Challenge
Christians must do all they can to improve society. But their observation of contemporary moral deterioration (e.g. some highly educated men commit homosexual activities) and delinquency (e.g. a recent murder case was relating to a child who had killed a baby) must alert them to the nearness of Jesus’ advent (Matthew 24:12).
7. DISTURBANCES OF NATURE
7.1 The Ordinary Course of Nature
Earthquakes, famines and pestilences characterize human history. For since the Fall of man, nature has been under the divine curse (Romans 8:22).
7.2 Intensified Confusion
Jesus implied (Luke 21:10, 11) that these things would increase in number and destructive effect toward the close of the age.
7.3 Present Fulfillment
There have been more severe earthquakes in the last two hundred years than in the preceding one thousand years (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11). And the twentieth century has witnessed a lot of the worst pestilences in history (Matthew 24:21).
8. UNIQUE CONTEMPORARY SIGNS
During the last few decades a series of events has been taking place, the converging impact of which would suggest that Christ’s second coming may be even nearer than many believers suppose. There are at least eight such contemporary events is overwhelming. May we all be on tiptoe spiritually, with the earnest prayer in our hearts, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).
8.1 Political Consolidation in the West
A union of ten nations in the area of the ancient Roman Empire is predicted in Daniel as a sign of the last days. These are the "ten toes" and "ten horns" of Daniel 2:42; 7:7. Read Revelation 13:1-15, 17:8-13. Western European countries are today entering into ever closer, economic (e.g. unified monetary system, ECU), political and military ties. The way is being prepared for Anti-Christ to assume power after the Church is caught up and away.
8.2 Promotion of Cashless Transactions System and Computer Records
The promotion of cashless system is also providing a way for the Anti-Christ to control the human rights of all people. Advancement of computer technology, computerized personal records and also transaction records, credit cards, debit cards and the recent launched "Mondex" cards will be used by the Anti-Christ as effective means to control all people and force them to obey and worship him (Read Revelation 13:16-18).
8.3 Stirrings in the Far East
Mighty nations, such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC), are now alert and ready for action. The rulers of the PRC are blood thirsty, corrupted and absolute dictators. Most of the religious activities are prohibited in PRC. Their military might is growing and their national ambitions are increasing. The renascence of the Far East is paving the way for the marching of "the kings of the east" toward Armageddon (Revelation 16:12).
8.4 Fusion of Peoples in the North
This means, north of Palestine - the area of Russia and her satellites. This fusion of peoples under the sponsorship of the hammer and sickle is a precursor of the great northern confederation (Ezekiel 38:14-16) which will invade Israel in the latter days. The present President of Russia who has serious heart disease (he is very sick), will either die or lose his political power very soon. The former army leaders (i.e. communists) will reign Russia with iron rod very soon. Russia will become a very strong military country very soon. The closer the "iron curtain" countries are joined in political unity, the nearer Christ’s return seems to be.
8.5 The Return of Israel to Her Land
After many centuries of wandering, the Jews are now making their way back to Palestine. Nowadays, Israel is a duly recognized republic (Review Isaiah 11:11; Jeremiah 23:3; Amos 9:13-15). The vanguard of Hebrews already back on the soil of their fathers will be followed by many more of their countrymen. All this paves the way for the return of Christ for His own; and then for the treacherous conduct of Anti-Christ, who will make a deadly agreement with Israel back in her land (Daniel 9:24-27).
8.6 The Tendency to Re-build the Jewish Temple at the Temple Mountain
The Jewish Temple will be rebuilt with the permission of the Anti-Christ who will seat on the throne in the temple and force the Jews to worship him (Matthew 24:15, 24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13:1-15). The recent re-opening of the second tunnel at the temple mountain in Jerusalem and excavation of archaeological evidences in Israel showing the tendency for the Jews to rebuild their Temple and restore their daily Sacrifices. If the Jews can find the lost gold altar of incense, ark of the covenant and two stone tablets of ten commandments, it will be a very strong and sufficient archaeological evidence to prove that the Holy Bible is the true Word of God, they will want to rebuild their Temple immediately (Note: A lot of Jews don't believe the New Testament, they only accept the Old Testament as the true Word of God) so that they just want to restore the Sacrifices in accordance with the Law of Moses. Satan don't want the Jews to rebuild their Temple because the Satan's ruling period in this world will only last for 7 years or even less according to the Bible Prophecy (Daniel 9:27). According to the above reasons, most of the people in the world will not pay attention to the current affairs happened in Israel. They may be deceived by the Satan to pay more attention to their daily entertainments, money making, UFO, ET, etc.
8.7 Preparation for the Coming World Church
The vast ecclesiastica maneuvering observable today, the merging of church groups, the minimizing of theological distinctives which separate denominations, the greater "understanding" between Protestantism and Rome - all this seems to be setting the stage for ecclesiastical apostate Babylon (Revelation 17:1-7). The harlot of Babylon represent a world-wide corrupt religious system (apostate Christianity) linked with Rome. The great prostitute as a false wife trying to take the place of the true Bride, the Church of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:22-28). In her final form she gathers up into her embrace all the false religious systems of earth. This Babylon will come into prominence on earth when the Church of Christ has been caught up to heaven.
8.8 The Atomic Age
As a climax to all the other signs, our generation has now entered an age about which our predecessors knew nothing. Peter, in describing "the day of the Lord," writes that "the elements shall melt with fervant heat," and that "all these things shall be dissolved" (2 Peter 3:10, 11). His words suggest just such an explosive era as the twentieth century. The destructive power of atomic bombs can evolve immense heat which can dissolve all materials in the world. Read also Matthew 24:6-8, 29; Revelation 6:1-8. Before the cataclysmic forces strike, the people of the Lord will be with their Saviour (2 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-6). Surely His coming will not be delayed much longer! Are we ready to meet Him in the air?
9. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION
There is only one God, there is only one way to salvation. What is that way?
Is it by prayer? No
Is it by good deeds? No
Is it by paying money? No
Is it by doing the best you can? No.
Is it by becoming a local church member? No.
Is it by becoming a follower of a religion system? No.
What, then, is the way to Salvation?
The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I am the way." (John 14:6) He is the only way. No mere human leader or religious system showed us the right way to Heaven. We are faced with a decision. We can take the road which leads to eternal life and Heaven or we can take the road which leads to eternal death and Hell. God wants us to choose the way to eternal life. Satan wants us to choose the way to eternal death. God will not force us to take the way to Heaven. We have a free will. We can choose the place in which we want to spend eternity. We must choose today. Tomorrow may be too late to make our choice. We may be either dead or the Lord Jesus Christ may have already come to rapture His saints to Heaven.
"But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up…." (2 Peter 3:8-13). If you want to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, then you must pray to God, "I am a sinner, I deserve to go to Hell. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins. I accept Him now as my personal Saviour and will seek to live for Him from this time forward."
Will there be signs, warning and advance indications of our Lord’s coming? If so, what will they be? Two extremes must be avoided. On the one hand, we must not set dates for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. No man knows the precise hour of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:36, 42; Acts 1:6, 7). On the other hand, we are not to be dulled into spiritual lethargy. We are to watch and be ready for the rapture (2 Timothy 4:8). Jesus wants His people to discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3; Luke 21:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:4). Genuine Christians who carefully observes current events and moral and religious trends must be deeply impressed by the cumulative evidence. Surely we are in the last days, and Christ’s second coming is very near indeed. What are some of the specific signs which seem to herald our Lord’s return?
2. A SCOFFING UNBELIEF IN CHRIST’S COMING
"There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3, 4). Some will flatly deny the doctrine of Jesus’ return as absurd or unreasonable. Others will interpret it to mean the death of the believer. Others will openly ridicule it as antiquated or superstitious. The very spread of incredulity indicates that the Lord’s coming draws near. For Peter tells us that scoffers will abound "in the last days" (2 Peter 3:3).
3. RELIGIOUS UNCONCERN
Callousness and carelessness with regard to the things of Christ have always been present. But they will increase in the last days and thus point unerringly toward the return of Christ. An Instructive Parallel - In Noah’s day, shortly before the destructive judgment of the Flood, men were concerned about two items: eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage. The propagation and preservation of the race were their main topics of conversation in the very hour when the race was about to perish (Compare Genesis 6:5-9:19 with Matthew 24:32-39). The sinful race in Noah’s day cared little about his repeated warnings, was more interested in business as usual and the perpetuity of the human species. The inevitable result was that it was swept away by the Flood. So it will be at Christ’s coming. Mounting lack of concern about the things of God in general will precede His coming and indicate that it is near.
4. A FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH
God has given to us in His Word (i.e. Holy Bible) which is accurate and reliable. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). People long have questioned, doubted and impugned the authority of the Bible. But the sacred Book has stood the test of time. In the last days the apostasy ("falling away") will spread rapidly. (And that is happening today!)
4.1 The Testimony of Paul
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith." (1 Timothy 4:1-5) Note the "seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1) which will lead people astray. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:3). Unbelievers will have "itching ears" and will seek after false teachers and false religions which will not provide the true way of Salvation. They will be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:4).
4.2 The Modern Fulfillment
Paul stated the case perfectly. Spurious sects abound today. The old-fashioned, saving gospel is widely spurned. The integrity of the Scriptures is denied far and wide. The growing apostasy proclaims the approach the Son of God (Matthew 24:11).
5. AN OUTWARD FORMALISM
This will be a strange phenomenon of the latter days. Inward unbelief will be cloaked in outward ritualism. Faithlessness will be concealed by ceremonialism. If faith is missing, they will concentrate on form, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:5).
5.1 The Value of Ceremonies
If one's faith in the Lord Jesus is deep and genuine, of course he will wish to demonstrate it in visible, tangible ways. He will prove the purity of his religion by holiness and charity (James 1:27) and by the religious exercises in which, as a child of God, he engages.
5.2 The Danger of Ceremonies
But when the outward trappings of religion are a substitute for saving faith in Christ, they can lure a man to a Christless eternity! In the last days this will be the tragic state of affairs. Many a man who is outwardly religious but inwardly lost will be left being at Christ’s appearing. The very multiplication of religious, formal but unredeemed groups will be another indication of the Saviour’s approaching advent.
6. THE INCREASE OF WICKEDNESS
Paul describes the last days as "perilous times" (2 Timothy 3:1-9). He then explains the nature of the peril. Study with care II Timothy 3:1-9. Essentially men will be "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (II Timothy 3:4).
6.1 The Surprise
Popular fancy would have us believe that man’s moral status steadily improves; that education, erudition and culture are adequate agents in ethical rehabilitation. The Bible teaches the opposite. Man is a sinner both by nature and in conduct. A sign that Christ's coming is near is not that human society is morally prepared for His return, but rather that it is thoroughly degraded apart from the gracious influence of the Gospel.
6.2 The Challenge
Christians must do all they can to improve society. But their observation of contemporary moral deterioration (e.g. some highly educated men commit homosexual activities) and delinquency (e.g. a recent murder case was relating to a child who had killed a baby) must alert them to the nearness of Jesus’ advent (Matthew 24:12).
7. DISTURBANCES OF NATURE
7.1 The Ordinary Course of Nature
Earthquakes, famines and pestilences characterize human history. For since the Fall of man, nature has been under the divine curse (Romans 8:22).
7.2 Intensified Confusion
Jesus implied (Luke 21:10, 11) that these things would increase in number and destructive effect toward the close of the age.
7.3 Present Fulfillment
There have been more severe earthquakes in the last two hundred years than in the preceding one thousand years (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11). And the twentieth century has witnessed a lot of the worst pestilences in history (Matthew 24:21).
8. UNIQUE CONTEMPORARY SIGNS
During the last few decades a series of events has been taking place, the converging impact of which would suggest that Christ’s second coming may be even nearer than many believers suppose. There are at least eight such contemporary events is overwhelming. May we all be on tiptoe spiritually, with the earnest prayer in our hearts, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).
8.1 Political Consolidation in the West
A union of ten nations in the area of the ancient Roman Empire is predicted in Daniel as a sign of the last days. These are the "ten toes" and "ten horns" of Daniel 2:42; 7:7. Read Revelation 13:1-15, 17:8-13. Western European countries are today entering into ever closer, economic (e.g. unified monetary system, ECU), political and military ties. The way is being prepared for Anti-Christ to assume power after the Church is caught up and away.
8.2 Promotion of Cashless Transactions System and Computer Records
The promotion of cashless system is also providing a way for the Anti-Christ to control the human rights of all people. Advancement of computer technology, computerized personal records and also transaction records, credit cards, debit cards and the recent launched "Mondex" cards will be used by the Anti-Christ as effective means to control all people and force them to obey and worship him (Read Revelation 13:16-18).
8.3 Stirrings in the Far East
Mighty nations, such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC), are now alert and ready for action. The rulers of the PRC are blood thirsty, corrupted and absolute dictators. Most of the religious activities are prohibited in PRC. Their military might is growing and their national ambitions are increasing. The renascence of the Far East is paving the way for the marching of "the kings of the east" toward Armageddon (Revelation 16:12).
8.4 Fusion of Peoples in the North
This means, north of Palestine - the area of Russia and her satellites. This fusion of peoples under the sponsorship of the hammer and sickle is a precursor of the great northern confederation (Ezekiel 38:14-16) which will invade Israel in the latter days. The present President of Russia who has serious heart disease (he is very sick), will either die or lose his political power very soon. The former army leaders (i.e. communists) will reign Russia with iron rod very soon. Russia will become a very strong military country very soon. The closer the "iron curtain" countries are joined in political unity, the nearer Christ’s return seems to be.
8.5 The Return of Israel to Her Land
After many centuries of wandering, the Jews are now making their way back to Palestine. Nowadays, Israel is a duly recognized republic (Review Isaiah 11:11; Jeremiah 23:3; Amos 9:13-15). The vanguard of Hebrews already back on the soil of their fathers will be followed by many more of their countrymen. All this paves the way for the return of Christ for His own; and then for the treacherous conduct of Anti-Christ, who will make a deadly agreement with Israel back in her land (Daniel 9:24-27).
8.6 The Tendency to Re-build the Jewish Temple at the Temple Mountain
The Jewish Temple will be rebuilt with the permission of the Anti-Christ who will seat on the throne in the temple and force the Jews to worship him (Matthew 24:15, 24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13:1-15). The recent re-opening of the second tunnel at the temple mountain in Jerusalem and excavation of archaeological evidences in Israel showing the tendency for the Jews to rebuild their Temple and restore their daily Sacrifices. If the Jews can find the lost gold altar of incense, ark of the covenant and two stone tablets of ten commandments, it will be a very strong and sufficient archaeological evidence to prove that the Holy Bible is the true Word of God, they will want to rebuild their Temple immediately (Note: A lot of Jews don't believe the New Testament, they only accept the Old Testament as the true Word of God) so that they just want to restore the Sacrifices in accordance with the Law of Moses. Satan don't want the Jews to rebuild their Temple because the Satan's ruling period in this world will only last for 7 years or even less according to the Bible Prophecy (Daniel 9:27). According to the above reasons, most of the people in the world will not pay attention to the current affairs happened in Israel. They may be deceived by the Satan to pay more attention to their daily entertainments, money making, UFO, ET, etc.
8.7 Preparation for the Coming World Church
The vast ecclesiastica maneuvering observable today, the merging of church groups, the minimizing of theological distinctives which separate denominations, the greater "understanding" between Protestantism and Rome - all this seems to be setting the stage for ecclesiastical apostate Babylon (Revelation 17:1-7). The harlot of Babylon represent a world-wide corrupt religious system (apostate Christianity) linked with Rome. The great prostitute as a false wife trying to take the place of the true Bride, the Church of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:22-28). In her final form she gathers up into her embrace all the false religious systems of earth. This Babylon will come into prominence on earth when the Church of Christ has been caught up to heaven.
8.8 The Atomic Age
As a climax to all the other signs, our generation has now entered an age about which our predecessors knew nothing. Peter, in describing "the day of the Lord," writes that "the elements shall melt with fervant heat," and that "all these things shall be dissolved" (2 Peter 3:10, 11). His words suggest just such an explosive era as the twentieth century. The destructive power of atomic bombs can evolve immense heat which can dissolve all materials in the world. Read also Matthew 24:6-8, 29; Revelation 6:1-8. Before the cataclysmic forces strike, the people of the Lord will be with their Saviour (2 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-6). Surely His coming will not be delayed much longer! Are we ready to meet Him in the air?
9. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION
There is only one God, there is only one way to salvation. What is that way?
Is it by prayer? No
Is it by good deeds? No
Is it by paying money? No
Is it by doing the best you can? No.
Is it by becoming a local church member? No.
Is it by becoming a follower of a religion system? No.
What, then, is the way to Salvation?
The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I am the way." (John 14:6) He is the only way. No mere human leader or religious system showed us the right way to Heaven. We are faced with a decision. We can take the road which leads to eternal life and Heaven or we can take the road which leads to eternal death and Hell. God wants us to choose the way to eternal life. Satan wants us to choose the way to eternal death. God will not force us to take the way to Heaven. We have a free will. We can choose the place in which we want to spend eternity. We must choose today. Tomorrow may be too late to make our choice. We may be either dead or the Lord Jesus Christ may have already come to rapture His saints to Heaven.
"But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up…." (2 Peter 3:8-13). If you want to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, then you must pray to God, "I am a sinner, I deserve to go to Hell. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins. I accept Him now as my personal Saviour and will seek to live for Him from this time forward."
VATICAN ADMITS WIDE SPREAD ABUSE OF NUNS BY PRIESTS
The Catholic Church in Rome made the extraordinary admission yesterday that it is aware priests from at least 23 countries have been sexually abusing nuns.
The Catholic Church in Rome made the extraordinary admission yesterday that it is aware priests from at least 23 countries have been sexually abusing nuns.
Most of the abuse has occurred in Africa, where priests vowed to celibacy, who previously sought out prostitutes, have preyed on nuns to avoid contracting the Aids virus.
Confidential Vatican reports obtained by the National Catholic Reporter, a weekly magazine in the US, have revealed that members of the Catholic clergy have been exploiting their financial and spiritual authority to gain sexual favours from nuns, particularly those from the Third World who are more likely to be culturally conditioned to be subservient to men.
The reports, some of which are recent and some of which have been in circulation for at least seven years, said that such priests had demanded sex in exchange for favours, such as certification to work in a given diocese.
In extreme instances, the priests had made nuns pregnant and then encouraged them to have abortions.
The US article was based on five documents, which senior women from religious orders and priests have presented to the Vatican over the past decade. They describe a particularly bad situation in Africa. In a continent devastated by Aids, nuns, along with early adolescent girls, are perceived by some as safe sexual targets. The reports said that the church authorities had done little to tackle the problem.
The Vatican reports cited countless cases of nuns forced to have sex with priests. Some were obliged to take the pill, others became pregnant and were encouraged to have abortions. In one case in which an African sister was forced to have an abortion, she died during the operation and her aggressor led the funeral mass. Another case involved 29 sisters from the same congregation who all became pregnant to priests in the diocese.
The reports said that the cultures in some African countries made it almost impossible for a young woman to disobey an older man, especially one seen as spiritually superior. There were cases of novices who applied to their local priest or bishop for certificates of good Catholic practice that were required for them to pursue their vocation. In return they were made to have sex. Some incidents of sexual abuse allegedly took place almost within the Vatican walls.
Certain unscrupulous clerics took advantage of young nuns who were having trouble finding accommodation, writing their essays and funding their theological studies.
Forced to acknowledge the problem, the Vatican has tried to play down its gravity. In a statement issued yesterday the Pope's official spokesman, Joaquin Navarro Valls, said: "The problem is known and involves a restricted geographical area. Certain negative situations must not overshadow the often heroic faith of the overwhelming majority of religious, nuns and priests".
One of the most comprehensive documents was compiled by Sister Maura O'Donohue, an Aids co-ordinator for Cafod, the London-based Catholic Fund for Overseas Development.
She noted that religious sisters had been identified as "safe" targets for sexual activity. She quotes a case in 1991 of a community superior being approached by priests requesting that the nuns be made available to them for sexual favours.
"When the superior refused the priests explained they would otherwise be obliged to go to the village to find women and might thus get Aids."Sister O'Donohue said her initial reaction to what she was told by her fellow religious "was one of shock and disbelief at the magnitude of the problem".
While most of the abuse happened in African countries, Sister O'Donohue reported incidents in 23 countries including India, Ireland, Italy, the Philippines and the United States.
She heard cases of priests encouraging the nuns to take the pill telling them it would prevent HIV. Others "actually encouraged abortion for the sisters" and Catholic hospitals and medical staff reported pressure from priests to carry out terminations for nuns and other young women.
O'Donohue wrote in her report how a vicar in one African diocese had talked "quite openly" about sex, saying that "celibacy in the African context means a priest does not get married, but does not mean he does not have children."
The head of the Vatican congregation for Religious Life, Cardinal Martinez Somalo, has set up a committee to look into the problem. But it seems to have done little beyond "awareness raising" among bishops.
More recently, in 1998, Sister Marie McDonald, mother superior of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, put together a paper entitled The Problem of the Sexual Buse of African Religious in Africa and Rome.
She tabled the document to the Council of 16, made up of delegates of the international association of women's and men's religious communities and the Vatican office responsible for religious life. She noted that a contributing cause was the "conspiracy of silence".
When she addressed bishops on the problem, many of them felt it was disloyal of the sisters to send reports.
"However, the sisters claim they have done so time and time again. Sometimes they were not well received. In some instances they are blamed for what happened. Even when they are listened to sympathetically nothing much seems to be done" One of the most tragic elements that emerges is the fate of the victims. While the offending priests are usually moved or sent away for studies, the women are normally chased out of their religious orders, they are then either to scared to return to their families or are rejected by them. they often finished up as outcasts, or, in a cruel twist of irony, as prostitutes, making a meagre living from an act they had vowed never to do.
One of the few religious in Rome willing to talk about the report was Father Giulio Albanese, of MISNA, the missionary news agency. "Missionaries are human beings, who are often living under immense psychological pressure in situations of war and ongoing violence. On one hand it's important to condemn this horror and it's important tell the truth, but we must not emphasise this at the expense of the work done by the majority, many of whom have laid down lives for witness" said Fr Albanese "The press only talks about missionaries when they are killed, kidnapped or are involved in something scandalous" he added.
As the Vatican digests the unpalatable evidence of how their own priests are ruining the lives of their sisters, many Catholics hope a strong message may come from on high. With the American bishops, the Pope spoke in clear terms about paedophile priests, telling them this was a scourge that had to be faced. Some now hope that he may be equally courageous in denouncing an evil which has been covered by silence and shame for too long.
The Catholic Church in Rome made the extraordinary admission yesterday that it is aware priests from at least 23 countries have been sexually abusing nuns.
Most of the abuse has occurred in Africa, where priests vowed to celibacy, who previously sought out prostitutes, have preyed on nuns to avoid contracting the Aids virus.
Confidential Vatican reports obtained by the National Catholic Reporter, a weekly magazine in the US, have revealed that members of the Catholic clergy have been exploiting their financial and spiritual authority to gain sexual favours from nuns, particularly those from the Third World who are more likely to be culturally conditioned to be subservient to men.
The reports, some of which are recent and some of which have been in circulation for at least seven years, said that such priests had demanded sex in exchange for favours, such as certification to work in a given diocese.
In extreme instances, the priests had made nuns pregnant and then encouraged them to have abortions.
The US article was based on five documents, which senior women from religious orders and priests have presented to the Vatican over the past decade. They describe a particularly bad situation in Africa. In a continent devastated by Aids, nuns, along with early adolescent girls, are perceived by some as safe sexual targets. The reports said that the church authorities had done little to tackle the problem.
The Vatican reports cited countless cases of nuns forced to have sex with priests. Some were obliged to take the pill, others became pregnant and were encouraged to have abortions. In one case in which an African sister was forced to have an abortion, she died during the operation and her aggressor led the funeral mass. Another case involved 29 sisters from the same congregation who all became pregnant to priests in the diocese.
The reports said that the cultures in some African countries made it almost impossible for a young woman to disobey an older man, especially one seen as spiritually superior. There were cases of novices who applied to their local priest or bishop for certificates of good Catholic practice that were required for them to pursue their vocation. In return they were made to have sex. Some incidents of sexual abuse allegedly took place almost within the Vatican walls.
Certain unscrupulous clerics took advantage of young nuns who were having trouble finding accommodation, writing their essays and funding their theological studies.
Forced to acknowledge the problem, the Vatican has tried to play down its gravity. In a statement issued yesterday the Pope's official spokesman, Joaquin Navarro Valls, said: "The problem is known and involves a restricted geographical area. Certain negative situations must not overshadow the often heroic faith of the overwhelming majority of religious, nuns and priests".
One of the most comprehensive documents was compiled by Sister Maura O'Donohue, an Aids co-ordinator for Cafod, the London-based Catholic Fund for Overseas Development.
She noted that religious sisters had been identified as "safe" targets for sexual activity. She quotes a case in 1991 of a community superior being approached by priests requesting that the nuns be made available to them for sexual favours.
"When the superior refused the priests explained they would otherwise be obliged to go to the village to find women and might thus get Aids."Sister O'Donohue said her initial reaction to what she was told by her fellow religious "was one of shock and disbelief at the magnitude of the problem".
While most of the abuse happened in African countries, Sister O'Donohue reported incidents in 23 countries including India, Ireland, Italy, the Philippines and the United States.
She heard cases of priests encouraging the nuns to take the pill telling them it would prevent HIV. Others "actually encouraged abortion for the sisters" and Catholic hospitals and medical staff reported pressure from priests to carry out terminations for nuns and other young women.
O'Donohue wrote in her report how a vicar in one African diocese had talked "quite openly" about sex, saying that "celibacy in the African context means a priest does not get married, but does not mean he does not have children."
The head of the Vatican congregation for Religious Life, Cardinal Martinez Somalo, has set up a committee to look into the problem. But it seems to have done little beyond "awareness raising" among bishops.
More recently, in 1998, Sister Marie McDonald, mother superior of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, put together a paper entitled The Problem of the Sexual Buse of African Religious in Africa and Rome.
She tabled the document to the Council of 16, made up of delegates of the international association of women's and men's religious communities and the Vatican office responsible for religious life. She noted that a contributing cause was the "conspiracy of silence".
When she addressed bishops on the problem, many of them felt it was disloyal of the sisters to send reports.
"However, the sisters claim they have done so time and time again. Sometimes they were not well received. In some instances they are blamed for what happened. Even when they are listened to sympathetically nothing much seems to be done" One of the most tragic elements that emerges is the fate of the victims. While the offending priests are usually moved or sent away for studies, the women are normally chased out of their religious orders, they are then either to scared to return to their families or are rejected by them. they often finished up as outcasts, or, in a cruel twist of irony, as prostitutes, making a meagre living from an act they had vowed never to do.
One of the few religious in Rome willing to talk about the report was Father Giulio Albanese, of MISNA, the missionary news agency. "Missionaries are human beings, who are often living under immense psychological pressure in situations of war and ongoing violence. On one hand it's important to condemn this horror and it's important tell the truth, but we must not emphasise this at the expense of the work done by the majority, many of whom have laid down lives for witness" said Fr Albanese "The press only talks about missionaries when they are killed, kidnapped or are involved in something scandalous" he added.
As the Vatican digests the unpalatable evidence of how their own priests are ruining the lives of their sisters, many Catholics hope a strong message may come from on high. With the American bishops, the Pope spoke in clear terms about paedophile priests, telling them this was a scourge that had to be faced. Some now hope that he may be equally courageous in denouncing an evil which has been covered by silence and shame for too long.
Catholic priests abusing nuns
WHERE IS THE REAL CELIBACY TAUGHT BY CHRIST?????????
Roman Catholic priests and bishops in several parts of the world have been exploiting their religious authority to obtain sexual favours from nuns, in some cases resorting to rape and subsequently obliging the victims to seek an abortion, it was claimed yesterday.
Report of widespread sexual abuses were compiled by two senior nuns between 1994 and 1998 and passed to the Vatican, the Rome daily La Repubblica and the Italian Roman Catholic news agency Adista said.
Abuses were documented in 23 countries, many of them in Africa, but also in Ireland, Italy, the US, the Philippines and Brazil, they said.
The Vatican acknowledged the existence of the problem yesterday and said it was working with bishops and the heads of religious orders to try to resolve it.
"The problem is known and is restricted to a limited geographic area," its spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, said.
"A few negative situations must not make us forget the often heroic faithfulness of the vast majority of monks, nuns and priests."
The Aids epidemic in Africa has led to nuns being seen as a potential source of safe sex, according to Sister Maura O'Donohue, of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, who visited numerous African countries to conduct an Aids study on behalf of the Catholic development agency Cafod.
"The superior of a religious community in one country was contacted by priests who asked her to make the nuns available for sexual services," she wrote.
On the superior's refusal, the priests said they would otherwise have to go to the village to look for women, exposing themselves to the risk of Aids."
The reports, one of which is said to have been delivered three years ago to Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, head of the Vatican department responsible for religious orders, say young female candidates for religious life are sometimes obliged to have sex with a priest to obtain the necessary certificates.
Nuns who became pregnant were forced to leave their religious congregation, the reports say, while the priests responsible were simply sent away for a brief period.
In one community 29 nuns are reported to have become pregnant after sexual relations with priests, but when the mother superior raised the problem with her archbishop she was removed from her post. One priest is said to have induced a nun he had impregnated to have an abortion and when she died during the operation he celebrated her funeral mass.
Another priest is reported to have been driven from his village by gunfire when the local men got fed up with the way he abused his power with their women.
Many African women have been raised to consider themselves inferior to men, and so find it difficult to say no to requests for sexual favours by priests, who are seen as authority figures, according to a report by Sister Marie McDonald, superior general of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, quoted by Adista.
The priests are better educated than the nuns and sometimes use false theological arguments to persuade them, suggesting, for example, that sex between two celibate religious does not violate their vows of celibacy, she said.
Father Bernardo Cervellera, editor of the missionary news agency Fides, said the problem was largely confined to Africa, where the ideal of celibacy met resistance from cultural beliefs that set great store on fatherhood.
"In 25 years as a missionary priest I have never encountered this situation. I have come across the opposite, where priests have defended nuns from assault," he said.
"We shouldn't confuse a few individual errors with a tendency. I admire many African priests, who live their vocation with great heroism."
Roman Catholic priests and bishops in several parts of the world have been exploiting their religious authority to obtain sexual favours from nuns, in some cases resorting to rape and subsequently obliging the victims to seek an abortion, it was claimed yesterday.
Report of widespread sexual abuses were compiled by two senior nuns between 1994 and 1998 and passed to the Vatican, the Rome daily La Repubblica and the Italian Roman Catholic news agency Adista said.
Abuses were documented in 23 countries, many of them in Africa, but also in Ireland, Italy, the US, the Philippines and Brazil, they said.
The Vatican acknowledged the existence of the problem yesterday and said it was working with bishops and the heads of religious orders to try to resolve it.
"The problem is known and is restricted to a limited geographic area," its spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, said.
"A few negative situations must not make us forget the often heroic faithfulness of the vast majority of monks, nuns and priests."
The Aids epidemic in Africa has led to nuns being seen as a potential source of safe sex, according to Sister Maura O'Donohue, of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, who visited numerous African countries to conduct an Aids study on behalf of the Catholic development agency Cafod.
"The superior of a religious community in one country was contacted by priests who asked her to make the nuns available for sexual services," she wrote.
On the superior's refusal, the priests said they would otherwise have to go to the village to look for women, exposing themselves to the risk of Aids."
The reports, one of which is said to have been delivered three years ago to Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, head of the Vatican department responsible for religious orders, say young female candidates for religious life are sometimes obliged to have sex with a priest to obtain the necessary certificates.
Nuns who became pregnant were forced to leave their religious congregation, the reports say, while the priests responsible were simply sent away for a brief period.
In one community 29 nuns are reported to have become pregnant after sexual relations with priests, but when the mother superior raised the problem with her archbishop she was removed from her post. One priest is said to have induced a nun he had impregnated to have an abortion and when she died during the operation he celebrated her funeral mass.
Another priest is reported to have been driven from his village by gunfire when the local men got fed up with the way he abused his power with their women.
Many African women have been raised to consider themselves inferior to men, and so find it difficult to say no to requests for sexual favours by priests, who are seen as authority figures, according to a report by Sister Marie McDonald, superior general of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, quoted by Adista.
The priests are better educated than the nuns and sometimes use false theological arguments to persuade them, suggesting, for example, that sex between two celibate religious does not violate their vows of celibacy, she said.
Father Bernardo Cervellera, editor of the missionary news agency Fides, said the problem was largely confined to Africa, where the ideal of celibacy met resistance from cultural beliefs that set great store on fatherhood.
"In 25 years as a missionary priest I have never encountered this situation. I have come across the opposite, where priests have defended nuns from assault," he said.
"We shouldn't confuse a few individual errors with a tendency. I admire many African priests, who live their vocation with great heroism."
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Repent- The end of the World is near_Sins of people grow
ByAlessandra Pieracci and Giacomo Galeazzi / La Stampa / Worldcrunch
This post is in partnership with Worldcrunch, a new global news site that translates stories of note in foreign languages into English. The article below was originally published in the leading Italian daily La Stampa.
(GENOA) — The latest sex-abuse case to rock the Catholic Church is unfolding in the archdiocese of an influential Italian Cardinal who has been working with Pope Benedict XVI on reforms to respond to prior scandals of pedophile priests.
Father Riccardo Seppia, a 51-year-old parish priest in the village of Sastri Ponente, near Genoa, was arrested last Friday, May 13, on pedophilia and drug charges. Investigators say that in tapped mobile-phone conversations, Seppia asked a Moroccan drug dealer to arrange sexual encounters with young and vulnerable boys. "I do not want 16-year-old boys but younger. Fourteen-year-olds are O.K. Look for needy boys who have family issues," he allegedly said. Genoa Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, who is the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, had been working with Benedict to establish a tough new worldwide policy, released this week, on how bishops should handle accusations of priestly sex abuse.(Read "Vatican Gets Tough on Child Abuse but Not Tough Enough.)
Bagnasco said that when he met the Pope this weekend, he "asked for a particular blessing for my archdiocese" in light of the alleged crimes, adding that "like every father toward a son [feels] great pain in seeing a priest who is not faithful to his vocation."
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi praised Bagnasco's handling of the Sastri Ponente case, lauding its "timeliness and competence." On Saturday, May 14, the Cardinal visited the Santo Spirito church, where Seppia was the parish priest.
According to investigators, Seppia told a friend — a former seminarian and barman who is currently under investigation — that the town's malls were the best places to entice minors. In tapped phone conversations the two cursed and swore against God. The priest is charged with having attempted to kiss and touch an underage altar boy and of having exchanged cocaine for sexual intercourse with boys over 18.(See inside Benedict XVI's daily life.)
Seppia's defense lawyers are expected to argue that those conversations — monitored since Oct. 20, 2010 — were just words, sex games that were played by adults. It was just a game even when he claimed to have "kissed on the mouth" a 15-year-old altar boy, according to the defense.
On Monday, May 16, during formal questioning by Genoa's investigating magistrate Annalisa Giacalone, Seppia chose not to respond. The magistrate decided to keep him in custody to avoid a risk of relapse or tampering with evidence. Defense attorney Paolo Bonanni said the defense wants to evaluate all the charges, reserving the right to respond to public prosecutor Stefano Puppo in the coming days.
Questioned by the investigators, the altar boy reportedly confirmed the attempted kiss. Another male minor who, according to the investigators, was stalked with messages and pressing invitations, will be questioned soon. Psychologists are helping Carabinieri police officers obtain testimony from the alleged victims. "The boys are ashamed to talk and to admit what happened," says one of the investigators. The evidence amounts to at least 50 messages and phone calls. In the tapped phone conversations, the drug dealer contacted the boys and gave their phone numbers to the priest, who paid them with cocaine or 50 euros each time for sexual intercourse. (Read "Controversial Study Links Catholic Abuse to '60s Culture and Church Hierarchy but Offers Few Solutions.")
"[The investigators] made us listen to that man saying terrifying things about our children. Things so terrible that I cannot repeat them," a father of one of the boys said.
Investigators are also examining three confiscated computers: the priest allegedly looked for partners via chat as well.
Seppia is currently being kept in a confinement cell in a Genoa prison. He met the jail's priest and psychologist. "He has read the newspapers, and he is pained by his parishioners' comments," says his lawyer. The investigation is ongoing.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2072613,00.html#ixzz1Nd09D3vm
This post is in partnership with Worldcrunch, a new global news site that translates stories of note in foreign languages into English. The article below was originally published in the leading Italian daily La Stampa.
(GENOA) — The latest sex-abuse case to rock the Catholic Church is unfolding in the archdiocese of an influential Italian Cardinal who has been working with Pope Benedict XVI on reforms to respond to prior scandals of pedophile priests.
Father Riccardo Seppia, a 51-year-old parish priest in the village of Sastri Ponente, near Genoa, was arrested last Friday, May 13, on pedophilia and drug charges. Investigators say that in tapped mobile-phone conversations, Seppia asked a Moroccan drug dealer to arrange sexual encounters with young and vulnerable boys. "I do not want 16-year-old boys but younger. Fourteen-year-olds are O.K. Look for needy boys who have family issues," he allegedly said. Genoa Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, who is the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, had been working with Benedict to establish a tough new worldwide policy, released this week, on how bishops should handle accusations of priestly sex abuse.(Read "Vatican Gets Tough on Child Abuse but Not Tough Enough.)
Bagnasco said that when he met the Pope this weekend, he "asked for a particular blessing for my archdiocese" in light of the alleged crimes, adding that "like every father toward a son [feels] great pain in seeing a priest who is not faithful to his vocation."
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi praised Bagnasco's handling of the Sastri Ponente case, lauding its "timeliness and competence." On Saturday, May 14, the Cardinal visited the Santo Spirito church, where Seppia was the parish priest.
According to investigators, Seppia told a friend — a former seminarian and barman who is currently under investigation — that the town's malls were the best places to entice minors. In tapped phone conversations the two cursed and swore against God. The priest is charged with having attempted to kiss and touch an underage altar boy and of having exchanged cocaine for sexual intercourse with boys over 18.(See inside Benedict XVI's daily life.)
Seppia's defense lawyers are expected to argue that those conversations — monitored since Oct. 20, 2010 — were just words, sex games that were played by adults. It was just a game even when he claimed to have "kissed on the mouth" a 15-year-old altar boy, according to the defense.
On Monday, May 16, during formal questioning by Genoa's investigating magistrate Annalisa Giacalone, Seppia chose not to respond. The magistrate decided to keep him in custody to avoid a risk of relapse or tampering with evidence. Defense attorney Paolo Bonanni said the defense wants to evaluate all the charges, reserving the right to respond to public prosecutor Stefano Puppo in the coming days.
Questioned by the investigators, the altar boy reportedly confirmed the attempted kiss. Another male minor who, according to the investigators, was stalked with messages and pressing invitations, will be questioned soon. Psychologists are helping Carabinieri police officers obtain testimony from the alleged victims. "The boys are ashamed to talk and to admit what happened," says one of the investigators. The evidence amounts to at least 50 messages and phone calls. In the tapped phone conversations, the drug dealer contacted the boys and gave their phone numbers to the priest, who paid them with cocaine or 50 euros each time for sexual intercourse. (Read "Controversial Study Links Catholic Abuse to '60s Culture and Church Hierarchy but Offers Few Solutions.")
"[The investigators] made us listen to that man saying terrifying things about our children. Things so terrible that I cannot repeat them," a father of one of the boys said.
Investigators are also examining three confiscated computers: the priest allegedly looked for partners via chat as well.
Seppia is currently being kept in a confinement cell in a Genoa prison. He met the jail's priest and psychologist. "He has read the newspapers, and he is pained by his parishioners' comments," says his lawyer. The investigation is ongoing.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2072613,00.html#ixzz1Nd09D3vm
Saturday, May 28, 2011
THE LORD IS NEAR YOU
t is God’s will that we should acknowledge Lord Jesus as our personal Savior. He wants us grow in the ‘the stature of the fullness of Christ.' He wants us to be like fruit-bearing green trees, which grow on the banks of rivers flowing to their brim. Likewise, the lives of those who own Christ ought to flourish and prosper.
How to be united with God? If we want to be deeply rooted in Lord Jesus Christ, we have to read the Bible intensely and meditate on His law day and night (Psalm 1:2). This will help us to remain in Him and live a fruitful life planted by the rivers of water (Psalm 1:3).
Employed women have dual duties- attending to work at the right time and looking after home and children. As tiredness overcomes them, some fail to read the Bible earnestly and meditate on God. Unable to concentrate upon matters pertaining to God, many women backslide. This is a dangerous situation for the devil makes an easy prey of them and wears them out.
But when we analyze the lives of truly devout men of God, we find that they are extremely careful in the knowledge of God. They spend hours together in the company of God and reading and meditating on the Bible. Despite teeming temptations, their lives seem like those built upon the rock.
The word of the Lord says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18). If we are faithful in calling upon Him and seeking Him, He will be helps us to remain in Him and live a blessed life.
Dearly beloved, you should be cautious about finding time to interact with God, read the Bible and live with Him in close harmony. Then whatever be your imperfections, He will rectify them and perfect them; He will give you a perfect growth in Christ and will help you to remain in Him and live a fruitful life.
How to be united with God? If we want to be deeply rooted in Lord Jesus Christ, we have to read the Bible intensely and meditate on His law day and night (Psalm 1:2). This will help us to remain in Him and live a fruitful life planted by the rivers of water (Psalm 1:3).
Employed women have dual duties- attending to work at the right time and looking after home and children. As tiredness overcomes them, some fail to read the Bible earnestly and meditate on God. Unable to concentrate upon matters pertaining to God, many women backslide. This is a dangerous situation for the devil makes an easy prey of them and wears them out.
But when we analyze the lives of truly devout men of God, we find that they are extremely careful in the knowledge of God. They spend hours together in the company of God and reading and meditating on the Bible. Despite teeming temptations, their lives seem like those built upon the rock.
The word of the Lord says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18). If we are faithful in calling upon Him and seeking Him, He will be helps us to remain in Him and live a blessed life.
Dearly beloved, you should be cautious about finding time to interact with God, read the Bible and live with Him in close harmony. Then whatever be your imperfections, He will rectify them and perfect them; He will give you a perfect growth in Christ and will help you to remain in Him and live a fruitful life.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Guided to Mission
May 27, 2011
VERSE:
The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
-- Acts 8:29 tniv
THOUGHT:
As in the previous thought, we are reminded that reaching the
ends of the earth with the Good News of Jesus is the Holy Spirit's
work. Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit inspires,
convicts, empowers, emboldens, directs, guides, and leads God's
servants in sharing the story of Jesus throughout the world. In the
book of Acts, we learn of four great cities that become the major
touch points for the advancement of the good news. Jerusalem is the
heart of the Jewish faith. Antioch, Ephesus, and Rome are three of
the four largest cities of the world at that time. The other large
city, Alexandria, is not mentioned in Acts. However, the conversion
of the Ethiopian reminds us that the message of God spread to
Africa just as it had throughout the rest of the world. Wherever
Jesus' followers went, they took the message of Jesus (Acts 8:1-3;
11:19-21). The Holy Spirit makes sure Philip, another servant full
of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:1-7), finds the Ethiopian at just the
right place and time (Acts 8:26-40). Let's ask the Holy Spirit to
be at work opening doors to new peoples and cultures for the good
news to spread and let's ask for the Holy Spirit to get the right
people to those who are seeking!
PRAYER:
O God of the nations, please use me in any way you choose to
share the message of Jesus with those who do not know him. I also
pray that you will bless each one of your servants who is seeking
to share Jesus across cultural boundaries. Please make your word
successful through their efforts. Please, dear Father, renew our
world through the movement of the Holy Spirit! In Jesus' name I
pray. Amen.
VERSE:
The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
-- Acts 8:29 tniv
THOUGHT:
As in the previous thought, we are reminded that reaching the
ends of the earth with the Good News of Jesus is the Holy Spirit's
work. Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit inspires,
convicts, empowers, emboldens, directs, guides, and leads God's
servants in sharing the story of Jesus throughout the world. In the
book of Acts, we learn of four great cities that become the major
touch points for the advancement of the good news. Jerusalem is the
heart of the Jewish faith. Antioch, Ephesus, and Rome are three of
the four largest cities of the world at that time. The other large
city, Alexandria, is not mentioned in Acts. However, the conversion
of the Ethiopian reminds us that the message of God spread to
Africa just as it had throughout the rest of the world. Wherever
Jesus' followers went, they took the message of Jesus (Acts 8:1-3;
11:19-21). The Holy Spirit makes sure Philip, another servant full
of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:1-7), finds the Ethiopian at just the
right place and time (Acts 8:26-40). Let's ask the Holy Spirit to
be at work opening doors to new peoples and cultures for the good
news to spread and let's ask for the Holy Spirit to get the right
people to those who are seeking!
PRAYER:
O God of the nations, please use me in any way you choose to
share the message of Jesus with those who do not know him. I also
pray that you will bless each one of your servants who is seeking
to share Jesus across cultural boundaries. Please make your word
successful through their efforts. Please, dear Father, renew our
world through the movement of the Holy Spirit! In Jesus' name I
pray. Amen.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Spirit Is Given to Samaritans
May 25, 2011
VERSE:
When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria
had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray
for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only
been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit
hadn't yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on
them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.
-- Acts 8:14-17 msg
THOUGHT:
Jesus had promised his closest followers that the Holy Spirit
would empower them to reach the ends of the earth with the good
news of the Kingdom (Acts 1:4-8). But these followers had kept this
good news bottled up with Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. Jesus had
promised that the Holy Spirit would enable them to be witnesses in
Samaria. We see this dramatically happen in ways that the apostles
can't deny. The message of Jesus will reach the ends of the earth
and the Holy Spirit will be the unmistakable power that enables
this to occur!
PRAYER:
O God, thank you for the good news message of Jesus. Thank you
for sending your Spirit to help breakdown every barrier that has
ever stood in the way of your good news message. Now I ask that you
be with us as we seek to share this message to others who do not
know your grace and victory given to us in your Son, in whose name
I pray. Amen.
VERSE:
When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria
had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray
for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only
been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit
hadn't yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on
them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.
-- Acts 8:14-17 msg
THOUGHT:
Jesus had promised his closest followers that the Holy Spirit
would empower them to reach the ends of the earth with the good
news of the Kingdom (Acts 1:4-8). But these followers had kept this
good news bottled up with Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. Jesus had
promised that the Holy Spirit would enable them to be witnesses in
Samaria. We see this dramatically happen in ways that the apostles
can't deny. The message of Jesus will reach the ends of the earth
and the Holy Spirit will be the unmistakable power that enables
this to occur!
PRAYER:
O God, thank you for the good news message of Jesus. Thank you
for sending your Spirit to help breakdown every barrier that has
ever stood in the way of your good news message. Now I ask that you
be with us as we seek to share this message to others who do not
know your grace and victory given to us in your Son, in whose name
I pray. Amen.
MY LIFE, GOD'S MESSAGE
2 Corinthians 3:3-6
Dear Father, all-sufficient God,
Let me be a letter from Christ written to people who need to hear
the Good News, written not on paper with ink but on hearts with my
loving attitudes and actions.
I claim no self-sufficiency, but I believe the sufficiency of your
grace qualifies me to serve as a spokesman for your new covenant. I
hope through Christ that you might use me this way. Grant me this
sufficiency as I rely totally on you.
Thank you that the covenant itself is not a written code that
kills but a life-giving communication of the Spirit.
In the name of Jesus, confident of his sufficiency, I make these
requests. Amen.
Dear Father, all-sufficient God,
Let me be a letter from Christ written to people who need to hear
the Good News, written not on paper with ink but on hearts with my
loving attitudes and actions.
I claim no self-sufficiency, but I believe the sufficiency of your
grace qualifies me to serve as a spokesman for your new covenant. I
hope through Christ that you might use me this way. Grant me this
sufficiency as I rely totally on you.
Thank you that the covenant itself is not a written code that
kills but a life-giving communication of the Spirit.
In the name of Jesus, confident of his sufficiency, I make these
requests. Amen.
A Long Gaze into Glory
May 24, 2011
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven
and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of
honor at God's right hand.
-- Acts 7:55 nlt
THOUGHT:
Stephen had been chosen to serve widows because he was full of
the Spirit. Stephen had spoken the truth of Jesus in the face of
great hostility by the power of the Spirit. Stephen had warned
those who opposed his words to not resist the Spirit like their
ancestors before them. And now, when the enemies of truth had
stoned the life out of Stephen's body, we are told an amazing
truth: the same Holy Spirit who had shaped Stephen's life in this
world was now letting him see over the horizon of history and see
the Lord Jesus in glory. How important is the Holy Spirit? For
Stephen, the Holy Spirit influenced, qualified, empowered, and
brought home to glory this man of God! May the Spirit do the same
in each of us!
PRAYER:
O Father, be at work within me through your Holy Spirit. I pray
in Jesus' name. Amen.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven
and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of
honor at God's right hand.
-- Acts 7:55 nlt
THOUGHT:
Stephen had been chosen to serve widows because he was full of
the Spirit. Stephen had spoken the truth of Jesus in the face of
great hostility by the power of the Spirit. Stephen had warned
those who opposed his words to not resist the Spirit like their
ancestors before them. And now, when the enemies of truth had
stoned the life out of Stephen's body, we are told an amazing
truth: the same Holy Spirit who had shaped Stephen's life in this
world was now letting him see over the horizon of history and see
the Lord Jesus in glory. How important is the Holy Spirit? For
Stephen, the Holy Spirit influenced, qualified, empowered, and
brought home to glory this man of God! May the Spirit do the same
in each of us!
PRAYER:
O Father, be at work within me through your Holy Spirit. I pray
in Jesus' name. Amen.
THE IMAGE OF CHRIST
Your Attitude should be same as that of the Christ.
Philippians 2:5
Dearly beloved, the aspiration of our life is to become like Lord Jesus Christ. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Perhaps you may be a short-tempered person. But as soon as God’s love starts filling you increasingly, your mind will become new. Your old, original, bad temperament will be thrown away. God will transform you into a virtuous person.
In the Bible, St. Paul advises “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). When you have this mind, you will transform yourself into the likeness of Christ (1 John 4:17). God will infuse His divine qualities into you.
Queen Victoria, of England, loved her husband very much who also reciprocated her love. On one occasion, there arose a minor conflict of ideas between them. The Prince, in his great anger, ran into his room and locked himself in. Several times, the queen pleaded with him to open the door but it was not opened. At last, an idea flashed in her mind. She pronounced in her regal voice, “I am Queen Victoria; as the Queen of England, I command you to open the door and come out.” Any subject of the Queen, albeit her husband, must obey her command. So, he came out of his room. Abandoning her queenly status, Victoria, as a loving wife, embraced him passionately. They were reconciled and a new oneness of mind was born. Thereafter, they lived happily with one accord.
“…fulfill my joy by being like-minded having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). What a great joy for a family, in which the members live together amicably, with one accord. God will be delighted to see families, which try to overcome differences, in times of stress, and seek to live together, leaning on Him.
God wants to give you this sweet blessing of a harmonious family. Is there oneness of mind in your family? Is your family life, right now, linked to God? If not, ask for it today and get it from God. “Put on love which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14).
Philippians 2:5
Dearly beloved, the aspiration of our life is to become like Lord Jesus Christ. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Perhaps you may be a short-tempered person. But as soon as God’s love starts filling you increasingly, your mind will become new. Your old, original, bad temperament will be thrown away. God will transform you into a virtuous person.
In the Bible, St. Paul advises “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). When you have this mind, you will transform yourself into the likeness of Christ (1 John 4:17). God will infuse His divine qualities into you.
Queen Victoria, of England, loved her husband very much who also reciprocated her love. On one occasion, there arose a minor conflict of ideas between them. The Prince, in his great anger, ran into his room and locked himself in. Several times, the queen pleaded with him to open the door but it was not opened. At last, an idea flashed in her mind. She pronounced in her regal voice, “I am Queen Victoria; as the Queen of England, I command you to open the door and come out.” Any subject of the Queen, albeit her husband, must obey her command. So, he came out of his room. Abandoning her queenly status, Victoria, as a loving wife, embraced him passionately. They were reconciled and a new oneness of mind was born. Thereafter, they lived happily with one accord.
“…fulfill my joy by being like-minded having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). What a great joy for a family, in which the members live together amicably, with one accord. God will be delighted to see families, which try to overcome differences, in times of stress, and seek to live together, leaning on Him.
God wants to give you this sweet blessing of a harmonious family. Is there oneness of mind in your family? Is your family life, right now, linked to God? If not, ask for it today and get it from God. “Put on love which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14).
THE POWER OF ANOINTING
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
Once, Israel was drought-hit due to the idolatry of King Ahab and his subjects. After 3 years, God told Prophet Elijah, "Go and meet King Ahab. I will soon send rain." Elijah went up to Mount Carmel and prayed for the rain. He sent his servant repeatedly to look for a rain cloud with little result but received a positive answer for the seventh time.
Immediately, Elijah told his servant: “Run to Ahab and ask him to prepare his chariot and reach his palace at Jezreel before the rain stops him.” Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.” (1 Kings 18:44,45).
Elijah girded himself with his mantle. He ran and overtook the chariot of King Ahab and reached Jezreel ahead of him. The mantle signifies the Holy Spirit. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 20:7). In tune with this verse, Elijah, remembering the power of anointing in the name of the Lord, girded himself with his mantle. Another time, Elijah threw his mantle on Elishah and anointed him as a prophet. When the mantle fell on Elishah, he received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9). Once when Elijah rolled up his mantle and struck the water of the river of Jordan, the waters were divided; Elijah and Elishah crossed over on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8).
Yes, that mantle which signifies the power of the anointing of the Spirit, divided the waters this way, and made a path for Elijah and Elishah. That is why, Elijah girded his waist with his mantle considering the mantle to be the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the anointing put into him, a physical strength which broke and destroyed all yokes through supernatural means (Isaiah 10:27). He overtook the chariot and horses of the king.
Once, we conducted a Jesus Calls Meeting in London. The auditorium was filled to the brim with people. When the call was given for witnesses, a North Indian man came rushing to the dais. He rapturously gave this witness: “For ten years, my legs were functionless due to Osteoarthritis. My right hand had no strength because of asthenia. But today, God’s anointing came upon me. Both my legs and the right hand have received a new strength. See how I walk. I have been healed perfectly.” All of them glorified God.
Another witness given by a father who came with his child, stunned all. The child, from birth, could not move its legs and walk. But during the prayer time, the father was shocked to see that his child was swaying its legs. He cried out with tears. The child’s legs had acquired perfect strength.
Similarly, many young men came to the platform and joyously said, “Sir, we were waiting to receive this divine peace. Our hearts had been shattered by many problems. We languished in solitude. But today, the Holy Spirit filled us with His anointing. We saw a bright light descending from above. Now our minds are filled with divine peace and joy.”
Dearly beloved, only this anointing made Elijah to run and overtake Ahab’s chariot. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Let us also receive this anointing. God will break all yokes in our life with His anointing, remove all barriers and make us run in a supernatural way.
Once, Israel was drought-hit due to the idolatry of King Ahab and his subjects. After 3 years, God told Prophet Elijah, "Go and meet King Ahab. I will soon send rain." Elijah went up to Mount Carmel and prayed for the rain. He sent his servant repeatedly to look for a rain cloud with little result but received a positive answer for the seventh time.
Immediately, Elijah told his servant: “Run to Ahab and ask him to prepare his chariot and reach his palace at Jezreel before the rain stops him.” Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.” (1 Kings 18:44,45).
Elijah girded himself with his mantle. He ran and overtook the chariot of King Ahab and reached Jezreel ahead of him. The mantle signifies the Holy Spirit. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 20:7). In tune with this verse, Elijah, remembering the power of anointing in the name of the Lord, girded himself with his mantle. Another time, Elijah threw his mantle on Elishah and anointed him as a prophet. When the mantle fell on Elishah, he received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9). Once when Elijah rolled up his mantle and struck the water of the river of Jordan, the waters were divided; Elijah and Elishah crossed over on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8).
Yes, that mantle which signifies the power of the anointing of the Spirit, divided the waters this way, and made a path for Elijah and Elishah. That is why, Elijah girded his waist with his mantle considering the mantle to be the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the anointing put into him, a physical strength which broke and destroyed all yokes through supernatural means (Isaiah 10:27). He overtook the chariot and horses of the king.
Once, we conducted a Jesus Calls Meeting in London. The auditorium was filled to the brim with people. When the call was given for witnesses, a North Indian man came rushing to the dais. He rapturously gave this witness: “For ten years, my legs were functionless due to Osteoarthritis. My right hand had no strength because of asthenia. But today, God’s anointing came upon me. Both my legs and the right hand have received a new strength. See how I walk. I have been healed perfectly.” All of them glorified God.
Another witness given by a father who came with his child, stunned all. The child, from birth, could not move its legs and walk. But during the prayer time, the father was shocked to see that his child was swaying its legs. He cried out with tears. The child’s legs had acquired perfect strength.
Similarly, many young men came to the platform and joyously said, “Sir, we were waiting to receive this divine peace. Our hearts had been shattered by many problems. We languished in solitude. But today, the Holy Spirit filled us with His anointing. We saw a bright light descending from above. Now our minds are filled with divine peace and joy.”
Dearly beloved, only this anointing made Elijah to run and overtake Ahab’s chariot. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Let us also receive this anointing. God will break all yokes in our life with His anointing, remove all barriers and make us run in a supernatural way.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Christians attacked in Gujranwala by Muslim extremists while moderates take part in a rally against the violence The moderates, as a sign of goodwill, give out food supplies to poor Christians
report from Pakistan
GUJRANWALA, PAKISTAN (source:ANS) --
A mob more than 350 Muslim extremists violently attacked two Christian areas is the Pakistani city of Gujranwala on Tuesday, April 30, 2011, following the filing of what many believe was a fake blasphemy case against a Christian father and son.
According to reports the attacks also came amid unfounded reports of another alleged desecration of the Quran.
The attack on the two Christian colonies, Gulzar and Aziz, was so violent that local police have since arrested at least 32 Muslim suspects whom they believe had created the law and order situation. Some of those taken into custody, the police say, had “incited people” by making public announcements by the mosques’ public address systems.
At least 25 Christian men and women sustained injuries in this attack.
Imtiaz Bouta, President and Founder of the Christian Communication Network Pakistan (CCNP) told ANS that up until this time, more than 4 million Muslims had been dwelling peacefully side by side in this city with some ½ million Christians.
Bouta added the whole quarrel was stirred up by a handful of fanatics who registered a “fake blasphemy case” against Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Gill, a banker.
According to Compass Direct News Service (www.compassdirect.org), “Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Mushtaq were released on Friday afternoon (April 29) after a handwriting expert hired by police determined that the latter had not written a threatening note accompanying burned pages of the Quran, police sources said.
“A mob started rioting and hurling rocks at the Christians’ homes and at an elementary school owned by a Christian, Eric Isaac, who was among eight Christians that police took into custody for questioning, police said.
“The mob also pelted the Aziz Colony Presbyterian Church building, they said. Armed with clubs and batons, the protestors clashed with police who arrived to provide security to the besieged Christians.
Ferhan, a member of CCNP said, “The Muslim perpetrators were armed with clubs, bamboo sticks, and pistols and they brutally beat Christians, looted their houses, and vandalized the area.”
ANS has confirmed that they also pelted two churches with stones and bricks and partially damaged them. After the attack a Christian technical training college, a seminary and schools were shut for a week.
Peace Rally
In the meantime, a group of moderate Muslims from the Jamaat-e-Islami political party, joined with Christian political and religious leaders in the city to stage a series of rallies to protest the violence against the Christians and also for the promotion of “interfaith peace, love and harmony.”
At one rally, they marched to “Peace Square” where Jamaat-e-Islami leader Moulana Obaid-ullah Gohar, and Christian ministers, Rev. Sharif Aalam and Professor Dr. Rev. Kamil Maqsood, addressed the participants and stressed that interfaith peace was the need of the hour.
Then, as a sign of goodwill, the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami handed out food supplies to last a month to more than 100 destitute Christian families from Aziz and Gulzar colonies. They included packages containing edibles, such as wheat flour, sugar, rice, edible oil, skimmed milk and biscuits.
Gujranwala is an industrial Pakistani city in the north east of Punjab province and is a hub for the manufacture of electrical goods.
GUJRANWALA, PAKISTAN (source:ANS) --
A mob more than 350 Muslim extremists violently attacked two Christian areas is the Pakistani city of Gujranwala on Tuesday, April 30, 2011, following the filing of what many believe was a fake blasphemy case against a Christian father and son.
According to reports the attacks also came amid unfounded reports of another alleged desecration of the Quran.
The attack on the two Christian colonies, Gulzar and Aziz, was so violent that local police have since arrested at least 32 Muslim suspects whom they believe had created the law and order situation. Some of those taken into custody, the police say, had “incited people” by making public announcements by the mosques’ public address systems.
At least 25 Christian men and women sustained injuries in this attack.
Imtiaz Bouta, President and Founder of the Christian Communication Network Pakistan (CCNP) told ANS that up until this time, more than 4 million Muslims had been dwelling peacefully side by side in this city with some ½ million Christians.
Bouta added the whole quarrel was stirred up by a handful of fanatics who registered a “fake blasphemy case” against Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Gill, a banker.
According to Compass Direct News Service (www.compassdirect.org), “Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Mushtaq were released on Friday afternoon (April 29) after a handwriting expert hired by police determined that the latter had not written a threatening note accompanying burned pages of the Quran, police sources said.
“A mob started rioting and hurling rocks at the Christians’ homes and at an elementary school owned by a Christian, Eric Isaac, who was among eight Christians that police took into custody for questioning, police said.
“The mob also pelted the Aziz Colony Presbyterian Church building, they said. Armed with clubs and batons, the protestors clashed with police who arrived to provide security to the besieged Christians.
Ferhan, a member of CCNP said, “The Muslim perpetrators were armed with clubs, bamboo sticks, and pistols and they brutally beat Christians, looted their houses, and vandalized the area.”
ANS has confirmed that they also pelted two churches with stones and bricks and partially damaged them. After the attack a Christian technical training college, a seminary and schools were shut for a week.
Peace Rally
In the meantime, a group of moderate Muslims from the Jamaat-e-Islami political party, joined with Christian political and religious leaders in the city to stage a series of rallies to protest the violence against the Christians and also for the promotion of “interfaith peace, love and harmony.”
At one rally, they marched to “Peace Square” where Jamaat-e-Islami leader Moulana Obaid-ullah Gohar, and Christian ministers, Rev. Sharif Aalam and Professor Dr. Rev. Kamil Maqsood, addressed the participants and stressed that interfaith peace was the need of the hour.
Then, as a sign of goodwill, the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami handed out food supplies to last a month to more than 100 destitute Christian families from Aziz and Gulzar colonies. They included packages containing edibles, such as wheat flour, sugar, rice, edible oil, skimmed milk and biscuits.
Gujranwala is an industrial Pakistani city in the north east of Punjab province and is a hub for the manufacture of electrical goods.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
CHRIST'S LOVE LETTER 2 Corinthians 2:17-3:3
Dear Father,
Thank you, Father, that I am not just a peddler of your word, but
that I am commissioned by you and that I speak in Christ.
Let everyone who comes to a knowledge of your will through what I
teach be a living letter of recommendation, written on that
person's heart, to be known and read by everyone.
Let that person be a letter from Christ to the world, delivered by
me, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not
on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of the human heart.
In the name of Jesus I give thanks and make these requests. Amen.
Thank you, Father, that I am not just a peddler of your word, but
that I am commissioned by you and that I speak in Christ.
Let everyone who comes to a knowledge of your will through what I
teach be a living letter of recommendation, written on that
person's heart, to be known and read by everyone.
Let that person be a letter from Christ to the world, delivered by
me, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not
on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of the human heart.
In the name of Jesus I give thanks and make these requests. Amen.
Stubborn People
May 23, 2011
VERSE:
"You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the
truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your
ancestors did, and so do you!"
-- Acts 7:51
THOUGHT:
Stephen spoke with wisdom and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Yet
he knew that there was great opposition to the Jesus he proclaimed
and the truth that he spoke. He also knew that this was nothing
new. God's own people had consistently opposed God's servants in
every age even though those servant leaders had been inspired and
empowered by the Holy Spirit. Their stubbornness made their hearts
hard and their ears deaf to the truth of God. Yet it wasn't the
words of Stephen and the prophets that they ultimately resisted:
they resisted and rejected the Holy Spirit of God (1 Thess. 4:8).
Let's be different than they were. Let's humbly ask God to use his
Spirit to convict us where we need to be changed, fortify us where
we need to be strengthen, to instruct us where we are ignorant, and
bring hope to hearts when they are broken.
PRAYER:
O Father, with the words of King David, I pray: "My sacrifice, O
God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will
not despise." I ask, dear Father, that you cleanse my heart of any
sin and purify my motives as I seek to serve you and never resist
the influence of your Holy Spirit within me. I pray this in the
name of Jesus, my Lord. Amen.
VERSE:
"You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the
truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your
ancestors did, and so do you!"
-- Acts 7:51
THOUGHT:
Stephen spoke with wisdom and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Yet
he knew that there was great opposition to the Jesus he proclaimed
and the truth that he spoke. He also knew that this was nothing
new. God's own people had consistently opposed God's servants in
every age even though those servant leaders had been inspired and
empowered by the Holy Spirit. Their stubbornness made their hearts
hard and their ears deaf to the truth of God. Yet it wasn't the
words of Stephen and the prophets that they ultimately resisted:
they resisted and rejected the Holy Spirit of God (1 Thess. 4:8).
Let's be different than they were. Let's humbly ask God to use his
Spirit to convict us where we need to be changed, fortify us where
we need to be strengthen, to instruct us where we are ignorant, and
bring hope to hearts when they are broken.
PRAYER:
O Father, with the words of King David, I pray: "My sacrifice, O
God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will
not despise." I ask, dear Father, that you cleanse my heart of any
sin and purify my motives as I seek to serve you and never resist
the influence of your Holy Spirit within me. I pray this in the
name of Jesus, my Lord. Amen.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Dear Father,
Let the incense which is my life and my prayers arise as a sweet
fragrance to you.
Thanks be to you, my God, that you always lead me in triumph, and
through me, spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ
everywhere. Thank you that you have appointed Christians to be the
aroma of Christ to yourself among those who are being saved and
among those who are perishing. To the one we are a fragrance from
death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
Who is sufficient for these things? Certainly not I! Your grace
alone upholds me.
In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Dear Father,
Let the incense which is my life and my prayers arise as a sweet
fragrance to you.
Thanks be to you, my God, that you always lead me in triumph, and
through me, spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ
everywhere. Thank you that you have appointed Christians to be the
aroma of Christ to yourself among those who are being saved and
among those who are perishing. To the one we are a fragrance from
death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
Who is sufficient for these things? Certainly not I! Your grace
alone upholds me.
In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
No Match!
May 22, 2011
VERSE:
None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with
which Stephen spoke.
-- Acts 6:10 nlt
THOUGHT:
Stephen had been selected as one of the 7 special servants of
the church in Jerusalem. He was chosen to help make sure the widows
were properly given care. He was also chosen because he was full of
the Holy Spirit, faith, and wisdom. The Holy Spirit within him not
only helped him in his service to the widows, but it also empowered
him to speak God's truth boldly. When men opposed him, they found
that they could not stand up to his teaching because of the power
of the Spirit and the wisdom with which he spoke. Let's continue to
pray for God to give us leaders today with these qualities and for
us to be able to recognize these leaders and call them into service
to the Kingdom. In addition, let's seek to be people of faith,
wisdom, and full of the Holy Spirit in our lives!
PRAYER:
O Almighty God, I continue to pray for your church. We
desperately need leaders of faith and wisdom, leaders who are full
of the Holy Spirit. Father, I want you to be at work within me
through your Holy Spirit so that I am molded into the kind of
person you can use to lead and bless your people. In Jesus' name I
pray. Amen.
VERSE:
None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with
which Stephen spoke.
-- Acts 6:10 nlt
THOUGHT:
Stephen had been selected as one of the 7 special servants of
the church in Jerusalem. He was chosen to help make sure the widows
were properly given care. He was also chosen because he was full of
the Holy Spirit, faith, and wisdom. The Holy Spirit within him not
only helped him in his service to the widows, but it also empowered
him to speak God's truth boldly. When men opposed him, they found
that they could not stand up to his teaching because of the power
of the Spirit and the wisdom with which he spoke. Let's continue to
pray for God to give us leaders today with these qualities and for
us to be able to recognize these leaders and call them into service
to the Kingdom. In addition, let's seek to be people of faith,
wisdom, and full of the Holy Spirit in our lives!
PRAYER:
O Almighty God, I continue to pray for your church. We
desperately need leaders of faith and wisdom, leaders who are full
of the Holy Spirit. Father, I want you to be at work within me
through your Holy Spirit so that I am molded into the kind of
person you can use to lead and bless your people. In Jesus' name I
pray. Amen.
Monday, May 16, 2011
I Will Come Again
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL
COME AGAIN, and receive you unto myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3
When this age-abiding promise was first uttered
by Jesus to his apostles, it did not make sense. To
the naturally minded men who followed Jesus, they
assumed the logical move would be for Jesus to
take charge as a King, throw off the yoke of Roman
bondage, exalt the Jews and bless the world. Why
should he leave now? There was work to be done
here. When Jesus spoke of his death and strangely
of his leaving, the idea simply did not fit into their
expectations.
But as they wended their way along the path to
Gethsemane, Jesus had assured them,
If I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again.
Dazed, these words made little impression on
his little band. But forty days later on Mt. Olivet,
huddled together in amazement with eyes turned
heavenward, straining to catch the last glimpse of
their ascending Lord, this promise came alive. “I
will come again.” Yes their beloved Master
would return. The Apostles wove that glorious
theme into the fabric of their ministry and their
very lives.
No other doctrine is discussed more in the New
Testament—over one third of its writings deal with
this momentous event. How our hearts trill at the
hope of being united with the returned Lord, our
heavenly Bridegroom, seeing him as he is, living
with him and experiencing his love forevermore—and the reality of reigning with him
(Rev. 20:5) in a kingdom that extends to the ends of
the earth, bringing “peace…like a river and the
glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.”
Isa. 66:12
Long have faithful Christians prayed with the
Apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Centuries have passed. Seemingly nothing has happened.
But suddenly our day is charged with an air of expectancy.
Few would question that we are living in an unprecedented time of human history. Most Biblebelieving Christians feel we are living in the very
time the Bible says Christ is to return. There is a
surge of interest in prophecy—a revival of interest
in the second advent. Many speak of the imminent
coming of Christ. This expectancy is based on our
Lord’s Great Prophecy recorded in Matthew 24,
Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21. Many believe that the
nearness of Christ’s return is indicated by such
signs as the following: Israel restored (Matt. 24:32;
Jer. 16:13-18); knowledge and travel increased
(Dan. 12:40); evils exposed as never before
(Luke 12:2; 1 Cor. 4:5); infidelity rampant from
university to pulpit (Luke 18:8; 2 Tim. 4:1-4); men
seeking pleasure, morality rotting (2 Tim. 3:1-5,
13); strikes, walkouts (James 5:1-4); racial strife,
riots (Zeph. 1:7-9); juvenile delinquency (2 Tim.
3:2); wars and war preparations intensified (Joel
3:9-11); men crying fearfully for peace (1 Thess.
5 : 3 , L u k e 2 1 : 2 6 ) ; t r o u b l e e v e r ywh e r e
(Matt. 24:21,22).
But let us take a closer look at our Master’s
words and see what these signs really prove.
Page 2And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the
disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell
us, when shall these things be? and what shall
be the sign of thy coming [Greek, parousia],
and of the end of the world? Matthew 24:3
Coming or Presence
The Greek word translated “coming” is parousia.
It really means “presence.” If parousia means
“presence,” then the fulfillment of the signs of this
prophecy would mean that Christ is not coming
shortly, but he is already secretly here as a “thief in
the night.” Remember, the Scriptures show that
Christ’s initial return would be a thief-like, secret
presence (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15) before “every eye shall see him.” The following dictionaries (standard works in fundamentalist and
evangelical bookstores) confirm this definition of
presence.
W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: Parousia, literally, a presence, para,
with, and ousia, being…denotes both n arrival and
a consequent presence with.“
Robert Young’s Analytical Concordance to the
Bible: Parousia, a being alongside, presence.”
Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek
Testament Foreword: “Parousia, as applied to the
return of the Lord, is simply the anglicizing of the
Greek word which literally means ‘presence.’”
The Bible Definition
However, we are not confined to dictionary definitions. The Lord has provided a Scriptural definition for the Greek word parousia. Parousia appears
in Matthew 24:27 where it is mistranslated
“coming.” The following chart compares its parallel citation in Luke 17:26, providing the Bible’s
own definition for parousia.
The phrase “parousia of the Son of man” in Matthew 24:27 means the same as the phrase, “in the
days of the Son of man” in Luke 17:26. the “days
of the Son of man” (Luke 17:26) refers to the time
that Christ is present, just as the “days of Noah”
would refer to the time when Noah was present
among his wicked generation. Therefore,
parousia in Matthew 24:37 should be translated
“presence of the Son of man” instead of “coming”
of the Son of man.”
This is further confirmed by the Apostle Paul’s
usage of the word. The thought of “presence” is
plainly shown by the contrast with “absence” in
Philippians 2:12. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye
have always obeyed, not as in my presence [Greek,
parousia] only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” This is also shown in 2 Corinthians 10:10.
Every New Testament scripture in which parousia
is used is listed in Appendix A.
Evangelical and Fundamentalist
Consent to “Presence”
The Emphasized Bible translated by Rotherham is
published by Kregel, an evangelical publishing
house. Rotherham relates his struggle with the
word parousia in the third edition of his translation.
Although contrary to his theology, he acknowledged that parousia means “presence” and so translated it in every occurrence. He states on p. 271 in
the Appendix:
In this edition the word parousia is uniformly rendered ‘presence’ (‘coming,’ as a
representative of this word, being set aside).
The original term occurs twenty-four times in
the N.T., viz.: Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1
Corinthians 15:23; 16:17; 2 Corinthians 7:6,
7; 10:10; Philippians 1:26; 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 3:3; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians
2:1, 8, 9; James 5:7, 8; 2 Peter 1:16; 3:4, 12
and 1 John 2:28. the sense of ‘presence’ is so
plainly shown by the contrast with
‘absence’ (implied in 2 Cor. 10:10, and exPage 3
Matthew 24:37 Luke 17:26
But as the days of
Noah were,
=
As it was in the
days of Noah,
so shall also the
parousia of the Son
of man be.
=
so shall it be in the
days of the Son of
man.pressed in Phil. 2:12) that the question naturally arises,—Why not always so render it?
The more so, inasmuch as there is in 2 Peter
1:16 also, a peculiar fitness in our English
word ‘presence.’ This passage, it will be remembered, relates to our Lord’s transformation upon the Mount. The wonderful manifestation there made was a display and sample of ‘presence’ rather than of ‘coming.’ The
Lord was already there; and, being there, he
was transformed (cp. Matt. 17;2,n.) and the
‘majesty’ of his glorified person was then
disclosed. His bodily ‘presence’ was one
which implied and exerted ‘power’; so that
‘power and presence’ go excellently well together—the ‘power’ befitting such a
‘presence’; and the three favoured disciples
were at one and the same moment witnesses
of both.
Harry Rimmer (D.D., Sc.D.), who was styled
“Fundamentalism’s outstanding spokesman” until his death, admitted that the word parousia
meant personal presence. In his book, The Coming King, he observed that the Greek word
parousia is used 13 times in describing the return
of Christ and not once does it have the thought of
“coming.”
Christianity Today (a well-known evangelical
magazine) published a series of essays on
“Fundamentals of the Faith.” the essay in booklet
form on “The Second Advent of Christ” had this
to say about parousia: “…let us look at the
Greek words used in the New Testament for the
idea of the return. First of all, there is the word
parousia, which means basically ‘presence.’”
No doctrine is more frequently mentioned in
the New Testament that Christ’s second advent.
Yet, few doctrines have been as greatly fra gmented into such diversified concepts. Much of
the beauty of this doctrine has been wrested from
the grasp of God’s people. All secular Greek dictionaries define parousia, “presence.” Most Biblical dictionaries likewise define parousia,
“presence.” Most current fundamentalist and
evangelical writings on the second advent usually begin by correctly defining parousia,
“presence.” Then a strange thing happens. Somehow the word “coming” replaces “presence.” Incorrect theology requires parousia to be translated “coming,” but Scriptural harmony requires
that it be translated “presence.”
“Rightly Dividing the
Word of Truth”
Historically there is not a single Protestant concept of the second advent that has an unbroken lineage back to the time of the Reformation. Since that
time, Bible-believing Christians have fluctuated
among a number of conflicting concepts.
Our purpose in this work is to set aside all theories of men and ascertain from the Scriptures, and
the Scriptures alone, the glorious beauties of this
momentous event. The faithful Christian is to
“study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). The Word of
Truth was originally written in Hebrew and Greek.
But now the average Christian is no longer dependent upon the translators or scholars to determine the
meaning of a specific Hebrew or Greek word in a
given text. In fact, many of the new “translations”
are mere paraphrases of former translations, with
little or no consideration given to the Hebrew and
Greek manuscripts. Further, even the best translations have some flaws since they are the works of
man.
The ready accessibility of Biblical concordances,
Hebrew and Greek dictionaries and lexicons in libraries and Bible bookstores is one of the blessings
of our day. With the Bible in one hand and a concordance and lexicon in the other, the average
Christian can verify the meaning of original words
in the Hebrew Old Testament or Greek New Testament manuscripts. He can be a “workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
For many centuries, the church has been on a
rough and stormy sea longing for the blessed haven
of Christ’s return. Now, with the chart and compass
of God’s word, the Christian can trace the various independent lines of prophecy and see the
blessed haven just before him. As there is the
Page 4danger of shipwreck upon reefs just beneath the
water’s surface along many shorelines, so the
Christian must be his own mariner avoiding the ensnarements of unscriptural or even partially Scriptural theories on the second advent. As a “workman
that needeth not to be ashamed,” he will utilize,
whenever necessary, the tools that make the Hebrew and Greek texts of Scripture readily accessible.
If this work inspires the reader to a deeper search
of the Scriptures on this subject, then it will have
made a contribution to the fellowship of believers.
A Secret Presence Before
“Every Eye Shall See Him”
Having observed that the word parousia means
presence and not coming, Matthew 24:3 properly
reads: “What shall be the sign of thy presence and
of the end of the world?”
Luke 21:25 refers to “signs” in the plural.
The Scriptures show that the first stage of our
Lord’s parousia, presence, will be secret. “The day
of the Lord will arrive [will be here, Greek, heko—
see Strong’s, Young’s or Vine’s] as a thief.” 2 Peter
Page 5
3:10, Rotherham A thief enters a house quietly, doing a secret work. Consequently, the first works of
our returned Lord are during a secret presence. The
world will, at first, be unaware that Christ has returned. “But ye brethren are not in darkness that
day should overtake[implies, a period of overlapping] you as a thief.” 1 Thess. 5:4 Later, his presence will be made manifest to all. The Scriptures
use another Greek word, apokalupsis, to describe
this revealment to all. “The Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED [apokalupsis] from heaven in flaming
fire taking vengeance.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 It is
in reference to this revealment to all, that Scriptures
like Revelation 1:7 apply; “He cometh with clouds;
and every eye shall see him.” Christians, who are
not overcharged with the cares of this life, will experience the joys of discerning the signs of his secret presence (Luke 21:34-36), before they are
“caught up together” with him.
Later chapters will consider in Scriptural detail
both the thief-like presence and subsequent revealment of the returned Christ to all mankind. See Appendix C for detailed discussion of “E
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Pastor is not his own- part 1
Today pastors are in handful of numbers but how many true Christians do they make? How many of us could happily say i am living a Christian life? Probably many of today's Christian do not know what is Christian life? Why? Because of the pastors and leaders who has to guide the sheep are going astray! Is it true? Yes! But how can u prove that? With the Bible! The Bible clearly says what is the work of a pastor. So let us look on it and see How a pastor ought to be and how today's pastors are!
If you ask a pastor what does he long for or what does he love or what will make him/her joyful, probably they would say he longs for more people into church, he loves to become head of a big church or whatever may be... what does the bible say?
"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved." Philippians 4:1
First we shall look into the longing of a pastor.
People who we would Long would probably mean the people those whom we love
more and of course, we can't love every people and long for their love and happiness. This is human nature and no pastor will be exceptional for this but an ideal pastor like Jesus Christ who only can love and long for every one alike. But
citing this pshycological reason, we see many pastors make a round for themselves and get their desires satisfied physically and psycologically. ultimately we see them losing the path the god had given them. Many examples could be cited. we come across many pastors and priests raping women, men, children, cheating the money, posessing land in injustice way etc... Is this the holy like for which god had called them? Shame on these people for god's holy name gets ashamed because of these people. let us not talk more about these false prophets. let us now focus on how a pastor should be? and ask the grace of god to guide as like that
dear viewers please send your valuable comments to jeeva.cyril@gmail.com this will encourage me to write part 2 of this heading. thanks in advance. MARANATHA!
If you ask a pastor what does he long for or what does he love or what will make him/her joyful, probably they would say he longs for more people into church, he loves to become head of a big church or whatever may be... what does the bible say?
"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved." Philippians 4:1
First we shall look into the longing of a pastor.
People who we would Long would probably mean the people those whom we love
more and of course, we can't love every people and long for their love and happiness. This is human nature and no pastor will be exceptional for this but an ideal pastor like Jesus Christ who only can love and long for every one alike. But
citing this pshycological reason, we see many pastors make a round for themselves and get their desires satisfied physically and psycologically. ultimately we see them losing the path the god had given them. Many examples could be cited. we come across many pastors and priests raping women, men, children, cheating the money, posessing land in injustice way etc... Is this the holy like for which god had called them? Shame on these people for god's holy name gets ashamed because of these people. let us not talk more about these false prophets. let us now focus on how a pastor should be? and ask the grace of god to guide as like that
dear viewers please send your valuable comments to jeeva.cyril@gmail.com this will encourage me to write part 2 of this heading. thanks in advance. MARANATHA!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Young reporters trained by UNICEF tackle social issues in rural India
© UNICEF India/2011/ Crouch
Pausha Madharia, 16, writes about child labour in the 'Bal Swaraj' newspaper that started as part of UNICEF's Child Reporters Initiative in the Indian State of Chhattisgarh.
‘The State of the World’s Children 2011 – Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity,’ UNICEF’s flagship report, focuses on the development and rights of more than a billion children aged 10 to 19 worldwide. This series of stories, essays and multimedia features seeks to accelerate and elevate adolescents’ fight against poverty, inequality and gender discrimination.
By Diana Coulter
CHHATTISGARH, India, 6 May 2011 – When Pausha Madharia, 16, speaks, she gives voice to the hopes, dreams and fears of every child in the Indian State of Chhattisgarh.
Standing before the State Assembly recently, she shared her concerns about child labour, discrimination faced by young girls and the troubles that some students encounter when they’re simply trying to attend school. Pausha told legislators that drunken men sprawled on the road outside a wine shop in Murmunda village were regularly threatening local schoolchildren.
“I said people consuming liquor were creating a nuisance for children trying to get past for classes,” she recalls. “I asked that these shops be moved away from any public place.”
Pausha also wrote about the issue in ‘Bal Swaraj’ (‘Children’s Republic’), a Chhattisgarh newspaper, published twice monthly, that started in 2007 as part of UNICEF’s Child Reporters Initiative.
Right to free expression
The initiative recruits and trains child volunteers in an effort to fulfil Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives children the right to speak freely and express their concerns.
It’s an important effort in Chhattisgarh. Large segments of the state face violent political unrest, making access to social services more difficult for children and families.
Under the aegis of the Child Reporters Initiative – assisted by the Mayaram Surjan Foundation, non-governmental organization – about 1,200 young people like Pausha are now writing about issues that affect them, their families and communities in the state.
Highlighting serious issues
With the help of another child reporter and friend, Puja Dewangan, 16, Pausha has also tackled the dangerous village practice of consulting faith healers rather than trained doctors. In their village, a child died because of inadequate treatment, according to Puja and Pausha.
© UNICEF India/2011/Crouch
Umashankar Joshi, 14, reported on the near drowning of a 10-year-old boy who fell into an uncovered well in a village in Chhattisgarh, India. After the report, the village leader had the well filled in.
Puja – who recently drew an intricate ‘rangoli’, a colourful chalk pattern, outside her home for a festival – helped design a cartoon to accompany the faith-healer article. It shows a long-haired holy man waving a wand over his patient’s head as a skull and crossed bones warn of danger.
A recent issue of ‘Bal Swaraj’ highlighted other serious issues, as well, including the plight of a girl suffering from polio, the perils of chewing tobacco, the problems of children working illegally as carpenters and in hotels, and the poverty that prevents them from attending classes.
Parents are proud
At Murmunda’s Government Middle School, six students have regularly submitted articles to the newspaper. Umashanker Joshi, 14, wrote about the near-drowning of a 10-year-old boy who fell into an uncovered well.
On a hot afternoon, the child, Devrath Chandel, was reaching into the well and splashing friends when he lost his balance and plunged into the water. The boy’s friends managed to make a human chain and pull him out.
After Umashanker wrote about the incident, the sarpanch (village head) saw his story and arranged to have the well outside an abandoned home filled in.
“I am feeling good that I am working like this to help children,” Umashanker says. His parents, both uneducated labourers, are also proud of him. “They tell me to keep doing this good work,” the boy adds.
Agents of change
All of the child reporters are issued official press passed that they can show to story subjects. Suman Joshi, 14, flashed hers when she visited the public works office to research an article about a flooding drain near the school.
“People understand that we’re trying to make changes here,” says Suman, “and they are impressed by our stories.”
School headmaster Hemraj Sahu says he reads the children’s paper regularly and learns a lot about his community from it. “The students are raising problems and showing confidence that most elders can’t display,” says Mr. Sahu.
Pausha Madharia, 16, writes about child labour in the 'Bal Swaraj' newspaper that started as part of UNICEF's Child Reporters Initiative in the Indian State of Chhattisgarh.
‘The State of the World’s Children 2011 – Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity,’ UNICEF’s flagship report, focuses on the development and rights of more than a billion children aged 10 to 19 worldwide. This series of stories, essays and multimedia features seeks to accelerate and elevate adolescents’ fight against poverty, inequality and gender discrimination.
By Diana Coulter
CHHATTISGARH, India, 6 May 2011 – When Pausha Madharia, 16, speaks, she gives voice to the hopes, dreams and fears of every child in the Indian State of Chhattisgarh.
Standing before the State Assembly recently, she shared her concerns about child labour, discrimination faced by young girls and the troubles that some students encounter when they’re simply trying to attend school. Pausha told legislators that drunken men sprawled on the road outside a wine shop in Murmunda village were regularly threatening local schoolchildren.
“I said people consuming liquor were creating a nuisance for children trying to get past for classes,” she recalls. “I asked that these shops be moved away from any public place.”
Pausha also wrote about the issue in ‘Bal Swaraj’ (‘Children’s Republic’), a Chhattisgarh newspaper, published twice monthly, that started in 2007 as part of UNICEF’s Child Reporters Initiative.
Right to free expression
The initiative recruits and trains child volunteers in an effort to fulfil Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives children the right to speak freely and express their concerns.
It’s an important effort in Chhattisgarh. Large segments of the state face violent political unrest, making access to social services more difficult for children and families.
Under the aegis of the Child Reporters Initiative – assisted by the Mayaram Surjan Foundation, non-governmental organization – about 1,200 young people like Pausha are now writing about issues that affect them, their families and communities in the state.
Highlighting serious issues
With the help of another child reporter and friend, Puja Dewangan, 16, Pausha has also tackled the dangerous village practice of consulting faith healers rather than trained doctors. In their village, a child died because of inadequate treatment, according to Puja and Pausha.
© UNICEF India/2011/Crouch
Umashankar Joshi, 14, reported on the near drowning of a 10-year-old boy who fell into an uncovered well in a village in Chhattisgarh, India. After the report, the village leader had the well filled in.
Puja – who recently drew an intricate ‘rangoli’, a colourful chalk pattern, outside her home for a festival – helped design a cartoon to accompany the faith-healer article. It shows a long-haired holy man waving a wand over his patient’s head as a skull and crossed bones warn of danger.
A recent issue of ‘Bal Swaraj’ highlighted other serious issues, as well, including the plight of a girl suffering from polio, the perils of chewing tobacco, the problems of children working illegally as carpenters and in hotels, and the poverty that prevents them from attending classes.
Parents are proud
At Murmunda’s Government Middle School, six students have regularly submitted articles to the newspaper. Umashanker Joshi, 14, wrote about the near-drowning of a 10-year-old boy who fell into an uncovered well.
On a hot afternoon, the child, Devrath Chandel, was reaching into the well and splashing friends when he lost his balance and plunged into the water. The boy’s friends managed to make a human chain and pull him out.
After Umashanker wrote about the incident, the sarpanch (village head) saw his story and arranged to have the well outside an abandoned home filled in.
“I am feeling good that I am working like this to help children,” Umashanker says. His parents, both uneducated labourers, are also proud of him. “They tell me to keep doing this good work,” the boy adds.
Agents of change
All of the child reporters are issued official press passed that they can show to story subjects. Suman Joshi, 14, flashed hers when she visited the public works office to research an article about a flooding drain near the school.
“People understand that we’re trying to make changes here,” says Suman, “and they are impressed by our stories.”
School headmaster Hemraj Sahu says he reads the children’s paper regularly and learns a lot about his community from it. “The students are raising problems and showing confidence that most elders can’t display,” says Mr. Sahu.
VIOLENCE
What is violence?
Violence takes place when someone uses their strength or their position of power to hurt someone else on purpose, not by accident.
Violence includes:
Threats of violence and acts which could possibly cause harm, as well as those that actually do. The harm involved can be to a person's mind and their general health and well-being, as well as to their body.
Deliberate harm people do to themselves, including killing themselves.
Violence against children exists in every country of the world, whatever the culture, ethnic group or background they are from. It doesn't matter whether their families are well-educated or not, rich or poor. Violence can take place anywhere.
Violence is often hidden
Much violence against children is hidden. Often the abuse of children happen behind closed doors and is perpetrated by those the child is supposed to be able to trust - parents, family members and acquaintances. Children often suffer in silence, afraid to speak out for fear of retribution or shame.
All children are at risk of violence by the very fact that they are children. However, some children - because of their gender, race, ethnic origin, disability, or school status - are more vulnerable.
How does violence affect children?
Violence can have many effects on children, which can still be felt many years later. Effects may include:
Physical health problems, such as changes in the development of the brain, injuries, bruises and fractures.
Difficulties in dealing with other people. learning problems.
Finding it hard to express feelings in a way that other people can understand.
Emotional health problems including anxiety, depression, aggression or even wanting to kill him or herself.
Being more likely to do dangerous things like using drugs or having sex at a very young age.
Inflicting violence on a child, in whatever form, teaches that child that violence is acceptable and so perpetuates the cycle of violence. By preventing violence today, we help build a future where violence will no longer be tolerated.
Violence takes place when someone uses their strength or their position of power to hurt someone else on purpose, not by accident.
Violence includes:
Threats of violence and acts which could possibly cause harm, as well as those that actually do. The harm involved can be to a person's mind and their general health and well-being, as well as to their body.
Deliberate harm people do to themselves, including killing themselves.
Violence against children exists in every country of the world, whatever the culture, ethnic group or background they are from. It doesn't matter whether their families are well-educated or not, rich or poor. Violence can take place anywhere.
Violence is often hidden
Much violence against children is hidden. Often the abuse of children happen behind closed doors and is perpetrated by those the child is supposed to be able to trust - parents, family members and acquaintances. Children often suffer in silence, afraid to speak out for fear of retribution or shame.
All children are at risk of violence by the very fact that they are children. However, some children - because of their gender, race, ethnic origin, disability, or school status - are more vulnerable.
How does violence affect children?
Violence can have many effects on children, which can still be felt many years later. Effects may include:
Physical health problems, such as changes in the development of the brain, injuries, bruises and fractures.
Difficulties in dealing with other people. learning problems.
Finding it hard to express feelings in a way that other people can understand.
Emotional health problems including anxiety, depression, aggression or even wanting to kill him or herself.
Being more likely to do dangerous things like using drugs or having sex at a very young age.
Inflicting violence on a child, in whatever form, teaches that child that violence is acceptable and so perpetuates the cycle of violence. By preventing violence today, we help build a future where violence will no longer be tolerated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)