Sunday, May 29, 2011

Urban VI

Urban VI

Urban VI

Urban VI

Stephen VI

Stephen VI

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sim Taxi Game - Car Games - Games Freak

Sim Taxi Game - Car Games - Games Freak

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

ISRAEL gonna left out by OBAMA?

The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs reported that the Israeli government was also refusing to protest massive U.S. weapons projects for Arab rivals in the Middle East, which has eroded Israel’s military superiority over its neighbors

Over the last year, the United States refused to approve any major Israeli weapons requests. Government sources asserted that the refusal represented a White House policy to link most arms sales to Israel to progress in the U.S. plan to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank.

At the same time, Obama has approved more than $10 billion worth of arms sales to Arab League states, including Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. JINSA said Israel, which receives more than $2.4 billion in annual American military aid, refrained from objecting to U.S. plans to sell F-16s, Harpoon Block 2 anti-ship missiles, Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, fast attack craft and helicopters to Egypt.

In a Jan. 27 report, the institute, regarded as close to the Defense Department and U.S. military, said the White House has blocked key weapons projects and upgrades for Israel. JINSA said Obama rejected Israel’s request for AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters while approving advanced F-16 multi-role fighters for Egypt. “Indeed, Israel’s request for six AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters was blocked by the Obama Administration in June – the same time the Egyptian sale was approved,” the report said.

The administration’s policy, the report said, has violated a pledge given more than 40 years ago to maintain Israel’s military superiority over its Arab neighbors.

“How does Israel compete when the Obama administration announces 24 more F-16s for Egypt and 24 additional F-16s for Morocco,” the report said. “The concept of the Qualitative Military Edge failed to keep up with the changes in U.S. arms sales and training policy over the decades.”

JINSA dismissed Israeli government claims that the White House was ready to address the erosion of Israel’s military superiority. The institute said the January 2010 visit by U.S. National Security Advisor James Jones did not concern Israel’s qualitative military edge.

“Actually, it was to push Israel into more pointless talks with Palestinians, who declined to cooperate,” the institute said.

The U.S. aid to Arab states, the report said, has hampered Israeli military cooperation with Washington. More than 20 years ago, the Israel Air Force stopped participating in U.S.-sponsored regional exercises to prevent the leakage of combat tactics. ”It’s one thing for our lover to take pictures in the bedroom,” the report quoted an Israeli combat pilot as saying. “It is another for them to sell the pictures on the street.”

JINSA said Israel has lost its advantage over the Arabs regarding the quantity and quality of weapons. The institute said the Arabs also appear to have caught up to Israel in the area of tactics and training. The sole advantage was said to concern the quality of Israeli soldiers and officers. ”Changing Israel’s local security paradigm at the same time as increased sales to the neighbors — and no new sales to Israel – means the balance is pushed further out of whack,” the report said.

Jesus comes soon!

Many frauds arise and say Jesus gonna come soon and announce the date! but it can never be possible to know the hour or date as it is known only to the Father. This is not my statement but the words of THE TRUE LIGHT - CHRIST Himself. So What's up? It is true that only Father knows the time of Christ's second arrival, but He Himself gave the signs to know His arrival!
Come on Let us discuss whether Jesus says truth? Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1