Prophet Habakkuk was contemporary of Prophets Daniel and Jeremiah who lived around 612-588 BC. He lived at a time when Judea was immersed in violence, Sexual Immorality, and Neglect of God's Commandments. Naturally He was distressed and restless. He complained to God. God answered him with a forceful statement "the Just shall Live by Faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). Ever since man disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, humanity is not free from violence, Immorality and arrogance. Dishonouring God and His commandments is the beginning of destruction. When God says something more than once means it is a very serious thing. This verse is repeated three more times in the New testament; though they are stated in different contexts. They are Romans 1:17, "the just shall live by faith." This verse is stated in connection with the Power of the Gospel. Galatians 3:11 tells the same, "the just shall live by faith." This verse is told in connection with salvation which is gained not by the observance of law but by the Faith in Christ Jesus. Thirdly Heb 12:38 tells the same "the just shall live by faith". This is stated in connection with second coming of Christ. For in just a very little while. " He who is coming will come and will not delay" (Heb 10:37)
No Doubt, The World situation is deplorable. but remember God is sovereign and He is in Control of world affairs. Be assured that God answers the prayer of the righteous man.
We all are familiar with this very fantastic heart touching verse In Galatians Chap 6 verse 14...
"God forbid that I should boast of anything but the CROSS of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST."
The Universal symbol of Christian faith is not a crib or manger but a Gruesome Cross. Yet many people are unclear about its meaning and cannot understand why Christ had to die. Cross is the centrality and the Cruciality of Christianity.
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| The Shadow Of Death (Holman Hunt) |
From Jesus' youth indeed even from his birth, the cross casts its shadow ahead of him. Holman Hunt in his famous painting entitled "The Shadow of Death" clearly illustrates this truth. It Depicts the inside of the Carpenter's shop in Nazareth. Stripped to the waist Jesus stands by a wooden trestle on which He has put down His saw. He lifts His eyes towards Heaven, and the look on his face in One of either pain or ecstasy or both. He also stretches, raising both arms above his Head. As he does so the evening Sunlight streaming through the open door casts a dark shadow in the form of a Cross on the wall behind him, where his tool- Rack looks like a horizontal bar on which His hands have been Crucified. The tools themselves remind Us of the fateful hammer and Nails.
Girl was going on outing with her two friends and their three boyfriends, in a small car.Then the Mum said to the daughter, "May God protect you and let Him move with you"The daughter laughed in disguise and replied: "Mum the car is full maybe if God moves in the boot, let him try there ."They then drove and went away.Then a terrible accident happened, the car was destroyed beyond recognition, all who were in died and some of them were only recognized by checking on the clothes they wore.
Surprisingly, when the police opened the boot of a car, they found two trays of eggs which not even one was damaged, in that crashed car.
Today we will have a quick journey through the life of a legend in music who thrilled the hearts of billions of people around the globe. Thirty years ago, Michael Jackson enchanted us with his moonwalk. He was born on 29th of August 1958. For 50 years we saw the perfect illusionist enchant and horrify the world in equal measure. We wonder over many of his achievements. His fans say he was one of the best musicians ever lived. Here are some facts about Michael Jackson.
ആറാം ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ പഠിക്കുന്ന സമയം.... ഞാന്‍ പഠനത്തില്‍ വലിയ സംഭവം ഒന്നും അല്ലെങ്കിലും ഒപ്പിച്ചു ജയിച്ചുപോകും....എന്നെ പോലെ ഉഴപ്പന്മാരായ കുറച്ച് സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെ കൂടെ ഏറ്റവും പുറകിലെ ബഞ്ചിലാണ് എന്‍റെഇരിപ്പ്...
എന്‍റെ അടുത്ത് ഇരിക്കുന്നത് ഷിബുവാണ്....ഒരു തനി നാടന്‍.....മുണ്ട് ഒക്കെ ഉടുത്താണ് ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ വരുന്നത്. ഞങ്ങളെക്കാളും ഒരു മൂന്ന് വയസ്സ് പ്രായമുണ്ട്.... അത് അവന്‍റെ കുഴപ്പം അല്ല.... പഠന മികവ് കൊണ്ട് ആ ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ അവന് രണ്ടാം വര്‍ഷമാണ്‌... മലയാളം നേരെ വായിക്കുവാന്‍ അറിയില്ല...പിന്നെ ഇംഗ്ലീഷിന്‍റെ കാര്യം പറയുകയും വേണ്ട... .പാവപ്പെട്ട കുടുംബമായതിനാല്‍ രാവിലെയും വൈകിട്ടും ജോലി ചെയിതിട്ടാണ് ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ വരുന്നത്....ജോലി തിരക്ക് കാരണം ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ താമസിച്ചാണ് അവന്‍റെ വരവ്....പഠിക്കുവാന്‍ കഴിവ് ഇല്ലെങ്കിലും മറ്റുള്ളവരെ സ്നേഹിക്കുവാനുംകരുതുവാനും അവന് നല്ല മനസ്സായിരുന്നു... മുട്ടയി വാങ്ങിച്ചാല്‍ അവന് ഒന്ന് എനിക്കും തരും...അവന്‍റെ വീട്ടില്‍ വാളംപുളി മരം ഉണ്ട്..രാവിലെ സ്കൂളില്‍ വരുമ്പോള്‍ ഒരു കവര്‍ നിറച്ചും നല്ല രുചിയുള്ള വാളംപുളിയുമായിട്ടാണ് അവന്‍റെ വരവ്... സീസണ്‍ അനുസരിച്ച് കണ്ണി മാങ്ങ, കമ്പിളി നാരങ്ങ, ചാമ്പങ്ങാ, എന്നിവയും കൊണ്ടുവരും....
ഒരു ദിവസം ഞങ്ങളെ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്ന അപ്പന്‍ സാര്‍ ( മഠത്തിലെ കന്യസ്ത്രീയെ കെട്ടിയതുകൊണ്ട് പിള്ളര്‍ കളിയാക്കി വിളിക്കുന്ന പേര്) . അപ്പന്‍ സാറിന്‍റെ അടി കിട്ടിയാല്‍ 3 ദിവസം ആ വേദന കാണും..ആള് വലിയ കര്‍ക്കശക്കാരനും....
ഒരിക്കല്‍ തലേ ദിവസം പഠിപ്പിച്ച ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് വാക്കുകളുടെ സ്പെല്ലിങ്ങ് ചോദിച്ചു... അങ്ങനെ ഞങ്ങളുടെ പുറകിലെ ബെഞ്ചില്‍ എത്തി... ആദ്യം ഇരിക്കുന്ന എന്നോട് cat എന്ന വാക്കിന്‍റെ സ്പെല്ലിംഗ് ചോദിച്ചു.. ഞാന്‍ ആകെ അതെ പഠിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളായിരുന്നു. സി..എ..റ്റി..... ക്യാറ്റ് എന്ന് ഞാന്‍ ഉത്തരം പറഞ്ഞു...
In this article, I want to explain what it means to be “born again” – or to be “saved”. Repentance is the first step to this experience. But in order to repent (turn from sin) you must first know what sin is. There is a lot of false understanding of repentance among Christians today, because there is a lot of false understanding of sin. The standards in Christianity have come down greatly in these past few decades. The “gospel” being preached today by most preachers is a highly diluted version of the truth. People are being told only to believe in Jesus. But believing in Jesus alone will not save anyone, if they do not repent. Being born again is the foundation of the Christian life. If you live a good life, without laying this foundation, then your Christianity will be just like all the other religions in the world – that also teach people to live a good life. We must certainly live a good life. But that is the superstructure of Christianity – not its foundation. The foundation is being born again. We must all begin there. Jesus used the expression “born again” in John 3:3, when speaking to Nicodemus who was a religious leader and a God-fearing man who lived uprightly. Yet Jesus told him, “Unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
We could take this time to relate all the reasons why and how being late can prove professionally and personally harmful to you, but if you’re chronically late, you already know them and they likely haven’t mattered enough to you -- yet. Don’t wait until it’s too late to do anything about it. Spare yourself the unfortunate experience of finding out the hard way. The following 4 steps to being punctual are predicated on the notion that being late is a selfish act. Use some of that selfishness to motivate you in a opposite direction.
step 1
Create an incentive
The first step to being punctual involves the most reliable motive known to mankind: creating personal incentives, or the "me factor." Think selfishly: What do you gain by being on time today, and what are you putting on the line by potentially being late for this particular event, meeting or function? In other words, what’s in it for you? Try to avoid generalities like “reputation.” Be specific. If you’re late to your job today, will you get fired? If not, find another incentive. For instance, being punctual will translate to leaving early in the afternoon and beating traffic. Or being late will require an excuse on your part, and if you are the kind of person who is always giving excuses, rest assured you long ago ran out of believable ones. Nothing short of a karma lie -- one that involves the alleged poor health of a loved one -- can save you now. Good luck with that.
Christian teens face temptation every day, and not everyone is prepared to overcome those temptations. At some point most people are faced with the desire to submit to sin, whether it is gluttony, sex, gossip, cheating, and more. Sometimes those temptations are minor, so they are pretty easy to overcome, but other times the desire seems too great. Remember, though, that temptation is not the sin, even Jesus was tempted. We only sin when we give into the temptation. Here are some things you can do to help you avoid and overcome temptations:
1. Identify Temptations
Everyone is a little different, so it is important to know what temptations are difficult for you to overcome. Some people may find that gossip is more alluring than sex. Others may find that even holding a date's hand is too much of a temptation. When you know what tempts you the most you can be proactive about handling that temptation.
2. Pray About the Temptation
Most Christian teens know the temptations that are difficult to overcome. For instance, if you find gossip a great temptation then pray every night for the strength to overcome the gossip. Ask God to provide you with the strength to walk away from the gossip and to know what information is gossip and what is real information.
What is church? Church is neither a building, nor an organisation. Church is a living, vibrant organism (not organisation) full of life and zest. While Jesus was on this earth, his physical body that walked on this earth represented God to humanity.As long as Jesus was on this earth, He was the light of the world (John 9:5) by radiating the life of God (John 1:4,5). Now we are called called to be the light of the world (Matt 5:14). In the New Testament era, we cannot reflect God fully to the world only as individuals. We are called to be a body of believers connected to the head and to one another.
1.Competition
1.1 Timothy 6:11-12
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
2.1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
2.Preparation
1.1 Peter 1:13-16
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
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| Students Learning Aramaic In Israel |
A Christian village in Israel is teaching Aramaic in an effort to revive the ancient language that Jesus spoke – centuries after it all but disappeared from the Middle East.Maronite children from Jish, who speak Arabic as their first language, are learning the tongue of their forefathers after their elementary school became the only one in the country to teach the subject.The language, which was the region’s dominant language 2,000 years ago, is still chanted in the church – although few understand it beyond prayers.
But, rather than rebel against learning an idiom that has little practical use, the 80 youngsters aged five to ten are embracing learning phrases such as ‘ah chop’ – or ‘how are you?’Many Muslim children are even happy to learn it because, according to the school’s head teacher, it is part of the Arab community’s ‘collective heritage’.In the Arab village of Jish, nestled in the Galilean hills where Jesus lived and preached, about 80 children in grades one through five study Aramaic as a voluntary subject for two hours a week.
Israel’s education ministry provided funds to add classes until the eighth grade, said principal Reem Khatieb-Zuabi.Several Jish residents lobbied for Aramaic studies several years ago, he explained, but the idea faced resistance.
1.Slimy Sin:
Many of us have seen either wristbands, key chains, or pin
buttons, with the following message: “WWJD”, or “What Wound Jesus Do”. Many
people wear this as a fashion, or as an identification trinket of sorts. However, in many cases, that is the extent of
their faith in Jesus, very shallow as many others who wear a cross around their
neck. They seemingly hold the trinket with more regard, as more of a
superstitious phylactery, than the One whom the trinket represents. Consequently, their only consolation, is in
the fact that the name of Jesus (or associated symbol) associated is on
display, and little more beyond that. In their minds that is standing up for
Jesus, but if we were to stand up for anyone else, such as a family member,
would that be our approach to standing up for them, wearing a trinket displaying
their name?
The Dictionary defines it as: Keen mental suffering, or
distress over affliction or a loss: sharp sorrow; painful regret.Grief is an instinctively, healthy human response to tragic
events that take place to varying degrees in the lives of everyone. Often
times, most would agree that the greatest loss a person can experience is the
loss of a loved one. Many would equate a painful separation or divorce as in
many ways being equal or perhaps even
greater than the death of a loved one in light of the associated drama that is
likely to surround it, and drawn out, with the perpetual grief that continues
to follow. Grief is can obviously be a very painful experience, however as most
situations in life, the pain does subside through the healing power of time.
For some people it may last a very long time with many associated “up and down”
moments. The closer the bind that we have with a person, the greater and
deeper, and the wound will be when that person is torn from our lives, which
will naturally impact our degree of our grieving, and healing process as well.
Those of who we aren’t so close to, perhaps such as a public figure or someone
of whom we did not have a very favorable relationship, this process may be at a
minimum. However, it is those closest in
our lives, by which we will suffer the most, when they are gone. Any
separation, permanent, or long term can have just as equal of a negative
impact, be it through death or divorce/separation.
Many of our failures have the ability to sweep us to greater
heights of success, even higher than we ever hoped for in our wildest dreams.
Life in many regards is simply a successive unfolding of successes from
failures. In discovering America, Christopher Columbus even experienced some
absolute failures. His ingenious reasoning and experiments led him to believe,
that by sailing westward he would eventually reach India. Consequently every Native
American carries the name “Indian,” as the perpetuation of the memory, of this
failure by Columbus. The Genoese navigator obviously did not reach India as
calculated; so the cargo of “human souvenirs” he took back to Spain to show to
Ferdinand and Isabella as proofs of his success, really attested his failure.
Yet the discovery of America, wound up becoming a far greater success than any
possible finding of a “back-door “to India could ever have been.Another great example of great failures redounding to successes
would be in the life of David Livingstone. He was a man who supplemented his
theological education by completing a medical education course before heading
into the missionary field. For over three years he studied tirelessly. With all
energies concentrated with one aim; to spread gospel in China. The hour finally
arrived when he was ready to embark enthusiastically for his noble chosen work.
He had a mindset, to give his life unselfishly and relentlessly for such an
ambition. Then word came from China that
the current “opium war,” would make it folly to even attempt to enter this
country. However, disappointment and this setback, did not long daunt him. He
instead offered himself as missionary to Africa—and he was accepted. His
glorious failure to reach China opened a whole continent to light and truth.
His study proved an ideal preparation for his labors as physician, explorer,
teacher and evangel in the wilds of Africa, [The Trumpet]
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