Remember, all our crosses, not matter how large or small they may seem, is specifically made to help us through our lives. Dont compare your cross with someone else's. Your cross is special. It is made for you, for your future.
Showing posts with label god. Show all posts
Showing posts with label god. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Why Is My Cross So Heavy?
All of us carry our crosses daily. And all of them are heavy. Why does God do this to us? Maybe this illustration will help...
Monday, August 27, 2007
Evan Almighty - What I Learned From It.
I am not a movie critic, nor do I watch a lot of movies. The only reason why I watched Evan Almighty was because of my wife. She insisted that I leave the Internet for a couple of hours and head over to the big screen.
The fact that Morgan Freeman was acting made me think it would be a good movie. Was it? It was but I was disappointed that the story line wasn't any deeper.
Would I encourage you to watch it? Not if you have a better film to watch.
What did I take away from the film? One very important concept. When you ask God for something, he doesn't give it to you. Instead, he gives you the opportunity to go and get what you want. If you ask God for a happy marriage, God gives you the opportunities to make the marriage happy. If you ask God for more money, God gives you opportunities to get the money, like small projects from friends and so forth.
God gives, but He gives subtly. We're so blinded by the rat race that we don't see it.
Have you been in the situation where you have some extra cash at the end of the month and then suddenly, the car breaks down or the washing machine dies? What will you think? Will you think, "Why, oh, why must God curse with this especially when I have a little money to spend on my family?". Wouldn't it be better to thank God that the car and washing machine had to break down when you have some money to spare. Think of what would have happened if God allowed the washing machine and car to break down when you had no money - how would you get to work? Wouldn't that cost you more money taking the bus or cab to work? How will your wife wash the clothes? Laundry would be expensive.
When something happens, always ask yourself, "What is God trying to teach me now?" God is using these problems to give us the opportunity to strecth ourselves even further. We only improve our lives when we stretch and move ourselves from our comfort zone.
And be grateful you can read this little not that I had written. That means you have internet access, and a computer to read it from, and eyes to take in the words and hopefully the meaning, and many things more. There's a lot of people who are not as blessed as you and me. Just look at the Middle East, India, China - just imagine the hungry, abandoned women, children and men who will never know the comforts that we have.
One last lesson from God in the film: All goodness starts with ARK, which was what Evan was asked to build.
A = Act
R = Random
K = Kindness
All goodness in the world starts with ARK, one Act of Random Kindness.
What ARK will you be doing today?
Saturday, October 07, 2006
I am Thankful For ...
The partner who hogs the covers every night, because he is not out with someone else.
The child who is not cleaning his room, but is watching TV, because that means he is at home and not on the streets.
For the taxes I pay, because it means I'm employed.
For the mess to clean after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing, because that means I have a home.
For all the complaints I hear about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the lot, because it means I am capable of walking and I have been blessed with a car.
For my huge heating bill, because I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church who sings off-key, because that means I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing, for it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, for it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning, because it means I am alive.
And finally, for too much e-mail, because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Are we Honest?
An older lady gets pulled over by a police officer for speeding...
Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.
Older Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer: Can I see your license please?
Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
Officer: Don't have one?
Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
Older Woman: I can't do that.
Officer: Why not?
Older Woman: I stole this car.
Officer: Stole it?
Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer: You what?
Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see.
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half! drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Older woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Older Woman: Murdered the owner?
Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.
The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.
Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.
ARE WE HONEST TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHEN WE ACKNOWLDGE OUR SIN?
Monday, September 18, 2006
The Link Between Man and God is....
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, the Almighty. He asks one of his new students to stand and.....
PROF: So you believe in God?
STUDENT : Absolutely, sir.
PROF: Is God good?
STUDENT : Sure.
PROF: Is God all-powerful?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)
PROF: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. is God good?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF : Is Satan good?
STUDENT : No.
PROF : Where does Satan come from?
STUDENT : From...God...
PROF : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF : Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF : So who created evil?
(Student does not answer.)
PROF : Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
STUDENT : Yes, sir.
PROF: So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)
PROF: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
STUDENT : No, sir.
PROF: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
STUDENT : No, sir.
PROF: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
STUDENT : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
PROF: Yet you still believe in Him?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
STUDENT : Nothing. I only have my faith.
PROF: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
STUDENT : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
PROF: Yes.
STUDENT : And is there such a thing as cold?
PROF: Yes.
STUDENT : No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
STUDENT : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
STUDENT : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
PROF : Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
STUDENT : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
PROF: So what is the point you are making, young man?
STUDENT : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
PROF: Flawed? Can you explain how?
STUDENT : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one to view death as the
opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
PROF: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
STUDENT: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
STUDENT : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir?
Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in uproar.)
STUDENT : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter.)
STUDENT : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. with all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
PROF: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
STUDENT : That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
NOTE: I believe you have enjoyed the conversation...and if so...you'll probably want your friends/colleagues to enjoy the same...won't you?.... this is a true story, and the student was none other than...
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam , the President of India
(from his college life)
PROF: So you believe in God?
STUDENT : Absolutely, sir.
PROF: Is God good?
STUDENT : Sure.
PROF: Is God all-powerful?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)
PROF: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. is God good?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF : Is Satan good?
STUDENT : No.
PROF : Where does Satan come from?
STUDENT : From...God...
PROF : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF : Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF : So who created evil?
(Student does not answer.)
PROF : Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
STUDENT : Yes, sir.
PROF: So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)
PROF: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
STUDENT : No, sir.
PROF: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
STUDENT : No, sir.
PROF: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
STUDENT : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
PROF: Yet you still believe in Him?
STUDENT : Yes.
PROF: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
STUDENT : Nothing. I only have my faith.
PROF: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
STUDENT : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
PROF: Yes.
STUDENT : And is there such a thing as cold?
PROF: Yes.
STUDENT : No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
STUDENT : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
STUDENT : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
PROF : Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
STUDENT : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
PROF: So what is the point you are making, young man?
STUDENT : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
PROF: Flawed? Can you explain how?
STUDENT : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one to view death as the
opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
PROF: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
STUDENT: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
STUDENT : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir?
Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in uproar.)
STUDENT : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter.)
STUDENT : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. with all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
PROF: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
STUDENT : That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
NOTE: I believe you have enjoyed the conversation...and if so...you'll probably want your friends/colleagues to enjoy the same...won't you?.... this is a true story, and the student was none other than...
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam , the President of India
(from his college life)
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
How To Pray
For some people, prayer is easy and its something they look forward to. For me, being brough up with strict Christian parents, prayer was the norm in the family but it was forced in order to build dicipline.
That explains my reluctance to pray.
Now that I am married, I am free to pray as I wish. And I prefer to pray in solitude. My wife on the other hand loves to pray with music and songs praising the Lord. I dont really like that way of praying. I prefer to talk to my Creator in silence so that I can listen when he speaks.
Today, I received a small note from JesusandYou.com :
1. Preparation
Prepare your heart for prayer.
2. Find a place alone - away from outside distracting influences
If you can't find a good place in your house, go to a park or some place where there is quitness.
3. Wait quietly before the Lord
Wait until you feel his presence.
4. Play worship Music
Music is always a part of a prayer. If you can't sing, play worship music. The anointing will flow.
5. Become totally dependent on the Holy Spirit
Bury you self and depend on Holy Spirit alone.
6. Open yourself to God.
Don't hide anything. Talk to your father freely.
That explains my reluctance to pray.
Now that I am married, I am free to pray as I wish. And I prefer to pray in solitude. My wife on the other hand loves to pray with music and songs praising the Lord. I dont really like that way of praying. I prefer to talk to my Creator in silence so that I can listen when he speaks.
Today, I received a small note from JesusandYou.com :
1. Preparation
Prepare your heart for prayer.
2. Find a place alone - away from outside distracting influences
If you can't find a good place in your house, go to a park or some place where there is quitness.
3. Wait quietly before the Lord
Wait until you feel his presence.
4. Play worship Music
Music is always a part of a prayer. If you can't sing, play worship music. The anointing will flow.
5. Become totally dependent on the Holy Spirit
Bury you self and depend on Holy Spirit alone.
6. Open yourself to God.
Don't hide anything. Talk to your father freely.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
God's Quotes
May out motto be: To look up and not down, To look forward and not back, To look out and not in, and To lend a hand.
Hold on to your dreams; achieve them diligently and honestly. Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit. Remember others on your way and take time to care for their needs. Enjoy the beauty around you. Have the courage to see things differently and clearly. Make the world a better place one day at a time, and don't let go of the important things that give meaning to your life.
If we have God in all things while they are ours, we shall have all things in God when they are taken away.
Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns.
There are times when God asks nothing of His children except silence, patience, and tears.
I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.
I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light.
You are what your deep driving desire is; As your deep driving desire is, so is your will; As your will is so is your deed; As your deed is so is your destiny.
Hold on to your dreams; achieve them diligently and honestly. Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit. Remember others on your way and take time to care for their needs. Enjoy the beauty around you. Have the courage to see things differently and clearly. Make the world a better place one day at a time, and don't let go of the important things that give meaning to your life.
If we have God in all things while they are ours, we shall have all things in God when they are taken away.
Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns.
There are times when God asks nothing of His children except silence, patience, and tears.
I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.
I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light.
You are what your deep driving desire is; As your deep driving desire is, so is your will; As your will is so is your deed; As your deed is so is your destiny.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Judgement
Judgement means a stable state of mind. And the mind always wants judgement, because to be in an unknown process is always hazardous and uncomfortable. Be very, very courageous, don't stop growing; live in the moment, simply stay in the flow of life.
This story happened in the days of Lao Tzu in China, and Lao Tzu loved it very much:
There was an old man in a village, very poor, but even kings were jealous of him because he had a beautiful white horse. Kings offered fabulous prizes for the horse, but the man would say, "This horse is not a horse to me, he is a person. And how can you sell a person, a friend?" The man was poor, but he never sold the horse.
One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. The whole village gathered and said, "You foolish old man! We knew that someday the horse would be stolen. It would have been better to sell it. What a misfortune!"
The old man said, "Don't go so far as to say that. Simply say that the horse is not in the stable. This is the fact; everything else is judgement. Whether it is a misfortune or a blessing I don't know, because this is just a fragment. Who knows what is going to follow it?"
People laughed at the old man. They had always known he was a little crazy. But after fifteen days, suddenly one night the horse returned. He had not been stolen, he had escaped into the wild. And not only had he return, he brought a dozen wild horses with him.
Again the people gathered and they said, "Old man, you were right. This was not a misfortune, it has indeed proved to be a blessing."
The old man said, "Again you are going too far. Just say that the horse is back... who knows whether it is a blessing or not?" It is only a fragment. You read a single word in a sentence - how can you judge the whole book?"
This time the people could not say much, but inside they knew that he was wrong. Twelve beautiful horses had come.
The old man had an only son who started to train the horses. Just a week later he fell from a horse and his legs were broken. The people gathered again, and again they judged. They said, "Again you proved right! It was a misfortune. Your only son has lost the use of his legs, and in your old age he was your only support. Now you are poorer than ever."
The old man said, "You are obsessed with judgement. Don't go that far. Say only that my son had broken his legs. Life comes in fragments and more is never given to you."
It happened that after a few weeks the country went to war, and all the young men of the town were forcibly taken for the military. Only the old man's son was left because he was crippled. The whole town was crying and weeping, because it was a losing fight and they knew that most of the young people would never come back. They came to the old man and they said, " You were right, old man - this has proved a blessing. Maybe your son is crippled, but he is still with you. Our sons are gone forever."
The old man said again, "You go on and on judging. Nobody knows! Only say this, that your sons have been forced to enter the army and my son has not been forced. But only God, who sees the total picture, knows whether it is a blessing or a misfortune."
Judge not, otherwise you will never become one with the total. With fragments you will be obsessed, with small things you will jump to conclusions. Once you judge you have stopped growing. Judgement means a stale state of mind. And the mind always wants judgement, because to be in a process is always hazardous and uncomfortable.
In fact, the journey never ends. One path ends, another begins: one door closes, another opens. You reach a peak; a higher peak is always there. God is an endless journey. Only those who are so courageous that they don't bother about the goal, but are content with the journey, can be content to just live in the moment and grow into it; only those are able to walk in the total.
This story happened in the days of Lao Tzu in China, and Lao Tzu loved it very much:
There was an old man in a village, very poor, but even kings were jealous of him because he had a beautiful white horse. Kings offered fabulous prizes for the horse, but the man would say, "This horse is not a horse to me, he is a person. And how can you sell a person, a friend?" The man was poor, but he never sold the horse.
One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. The whole village gathered and said, "You foolish old man! We knew that someday the horse would be stolen. It would have been better to sell it. What a misfortune!"
The old man said, "Don't go so far as to say that. Simply say that the horse is not in the stable. This is the fact; everything else is judgement. Whether it is a misfortune or a blessing I don't know, because this is just a fragment. Who knows what is going to follow it?"
People laughed at the old man. They had always known he was a little crazy. But after fifteen days, suddenly one night the horse returned. He had not been stolen, he had escaped into the wild. And not only had he return, he brought a dozen wild horses with him.
Again the people gathered and they said, "Old man, you were right. This was not a misfortune, it has indeed proved to be a blessing."
The old man said, "Again you are going too far. Just say that the horse is back... who knows whether it is a blessing or not?" It is only a fragment. You read a single word in a sentence - how can you judge the whole book?"
This time the people could not say much, but inside they knew that he was wrong. Twelve beautiful horses had come.
The old man had an only son who started to train the horses. Just a week later he fell from a horse and his legs were broken. The people gathered again, and again they judged. They said, "Again you proved right! It was a misfortune. Your only son has lost the use of his legs, and in your old age he was your only support. Now you are poorer than ever."
The old man said, "You are obsessed with judgement. Don't go that far. Say only that my son had broken his legs. Life comes in fragments and more is never given to you."
It happened that after a few weeks the country went to war, and all the young men of the town were forcibly taken for the military. Only the old man's son was left because he was crippled. The whole town was crying and weeping, because it was a losing fight and they knew that most of the young people would never come back. They came to the old man and they said, " You were right, old man - this has proved a blessing. Maybe your son is crippled, but he is still with you. Our sons are gone forever."
The old man said again, "You go on and on judging. Nobody knows! Only say this, that your sons have been forced to enter the army and my son has not been forced. But only God, who sees the total picture, knows whether it is a blessing or a misfortune."
Judge not, otherwise you will never become one with the total. With fragments you will be obsessed, with small things you will jump to conclusions. Once you judge you have stopped growing. Judgement means a stale state of mind. And the mind always wants judgement, because to be in a process is always hazardous and uncomfortable.
In fact, the journey never ends. One path ends, another begins: one door closes, another opens. You reach a peak; a higher peak is always there. God is an endless journey. Only those who are so courageous that they don't bother about the goal, but are content with the journey, can be content to just live in the moment and grow into it; only those are able to walk in the total.
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