Kristian-te Tiduhdahtu Rome Emperor-Te

1. EMPEROR CLAUDIUS CAESAR DRUSUS GERMANICUS NERO (AD 54-68)
(1). A Hmun:- AD 65-68 khan Rome khawpui chhungah tiduhdahna hi a thleng.
(2). Tiduhdahna:- Nero hian Rome khawpui a hâl a (hla a phuah duh vangin a hâl nia sawi a ni). Kristian-te chu “Rome khaw hâltu-ah” a puh hlauh thung a. Nasa taka tihduhdah an ni.
(3). Martar langsâr zualte:- Apostol Petera leh Paula.

2. EMPEROR DOMITIAN VESPASIAN FLAVIA (AD 81-96)
(1). A Hmun:- AD 96 khan Rome khawpui leh Asia Minor-ah te tihduhdahna hi a thleng.
(2). Tiduhdahna:- Emperor hian “Pathian” (Lord & god) anga biak a phut. Apostol Johana chu Patmos thliarkarah tan tir a ni.
(3). Martar langsâr zualte:- Flavius Clemens (Domitian’s cousin).

3. EMPEROR MARCUS ULPIUS TRAIANUS TRAJAN (AD 98-117)
(1). A Hmun:- Asia Minor.
(2). Tiduhdahna:- Kristian nih chu Dan kalh a ni a, Dan zawm lo chu hrem tura tih a ni. Thil mak tak    erawhchu Kristian-te nasa takin an pung thung.
(3). Martar langsâr zualte:- Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch.

The 3 Most Dangerous Weapons Of Satan

Thuhmahruai

Kan Hmêlma-pa Setana hian Ringtute min Thlêmna leh min Hnehna Hmanrua tam tak a nei a. Chung zingah chuan a Hlauhawm zual 3 a awm a. He Thlêmna-te hi Kristian zingah Pitar-putar, Nula-tlangval leh Rawngbawltu tê ber aţanga Hotu-ber thlenga kan tawh ţhin zinga Hneh hâr tak an ni. Tirhkoh Paulan, “Chuvangin, dinga inring chu fimkhur rawhse, chutilochuan a tlu dah ang e,” (1Kor.10:12) a lo ti hial a. He Setana Thlêmna Thang Hlauhawm Ber 3-ah hian tlu lo turin inringin, i fimkhur ang u.

1. Wealth (Ro-Sum)
Sum leh pai, hausakna duh leh ît avangin mi tam tak an tlû a. Pathian Rawngbawltu fel tak tak pawh hman tlak lohvah an chhuak ţhin. Sum hmang hian Setana’n Pathian Rawngbawltu tam tak a lei tawh a, a lei mek zel a ni. ‘Sum tel lovin rawng kan bawl thei lova, kan nung thei lo’ tih hi thudik a ni. Mahse, Sum hi kan ngaih pawimawh ber a ni tur a ni lova, Sum hian kan thlarau nun leh rawngbawlna a hma-khalh-in, a tichhe tur a ni lo (1Tim.6:10).

Tihtakzeta Lal Isua Chibai Bûktu Mifingte

Matthaia 2:1-18-a kan hmuh angin, Lal Isua Bethlehem-a a lo pian khan, Khawchhak Mifingte, Lal Heroda leh Berampute khan Chibai an bûk ţheuhva. Chibai bûk tu mi chi 2 kan hmu a – Tihtak zeta Chibai buktute (Mifingte & Berampute) leh Adera Chibai buktu (Heroda) te an ni. Vawiinah hian Matt.2:1-18 thu aţang hian Lal Isua Chibai Bûktute Mi Chi 2 Zinga “Tihtak zeta Lal Isua Chibai Bûktu Mifingte” Chanchin hi kan zirho dawn a ni.

1. Mifingten Judate Lal Arsi An Rawn Zui
Khawchhak Mifingte hi Zawlnei Balaam-a khan Messiah (Judate Lal) lo pianna tur-a Arsi lo chhuak tur thu kha a lo sawi lawk tawh avangin, Mifingte pawh hian kha Thuhrilhlawkna (prophecy) kha an rawn umzui tih a lang a (Numb.24:17). Anmahni ngaihtuah chhuah mai mai a ni lova, Pathian Thlarauvin a rawn tirh-te an ni tih alang chiang hle.

2. Mifingte Tihsual - Heroda In-ah Judate Lal An Zawng!?
“Judate Lal Arsi” (Bethlehem Arsi tia kan koh tak) ngei chu zuiin, he Arsi ngei hi En-in Jerusalem khaw bul thlengin an rawn kal a ni. Arsi-in hruai a tumna hmun Bethlehem khua hi Jerusalem khawpui kal pelh a, mel 5 vela hlaa awm a ni. Mahse, Jerusalem khawpui an thlen hian, Judate khawpui a nih avangin “Judate Lal” chu Jerusalem khawpui, Judate khawpui ngeiah piang turah an ngai a, Arsi en tawh lovin, an mihring rilru thiamna leh finna chu hmang zawkin Jerusalem-a Lal Heroda In-ah an lut a, “Judate Lal lo piang” chanchin chu an zawt ta a ni (vv.1-2). 

Okra Lowers Blood Sugar

Okra Lowers Blood Sugar

Okra/ Lady's Fingers/ Bawrhsaibe

 

Proud To Be A Mizo. Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Us {A Mizo Guy Lalrindika Ralte Scored Amazing & World Class Goal For East Bengal}

Plans Or Presumption, Who Knows Best???

All of us have hopes, dreams, and plans for the future, and our faith in God encourages us to look to tomorrow with bright expectation. James is not opposed to hoping or planning. All he wants to do is to hold our plans loosely so that our goals don’t replace what God is doing in our lives (James 4:13-16).

Let’s face it; many of us are control freaks. We want to make things manageable and orderly. This is an understandable need, and it can even be a good thing (1Thess.4:11, 1Pet.2:12). But we need to submit all our plans to the will of God.

AMEN!

Amen hi mi tam tak chuan ţawngţai tawpna chhinchhiahna ang lekah an ngai niin a lang a.  Hemi avang hian a nihna dik tak leh a awmze thûk zawk hi hriat a ţul êm êm a ni. Amen hian danglam bikna riau leh ropui rûkna riau a neih zinga pakhat hi han tarlang zawk ila. Khawvelah hian ţawngkam inţawm langsar tak tak pathum kan nei a, chungte chu Amen, Haleluia leh Coca-cola te hi an ni! A nihna dik tak leh a awmze thûk zawk hre lo mah se, khawvel mite pawhin Amen hi min ţawmpui ve a, an hre lâr hle a ni. Vawiinah hian Nehemiah 8:1-18 tlawhchhanin OT (Old Testament) leh NT (New Testament) aţangin Amen awmze thûk zawk leh nihna dik tak chhui kan tum ang.

1. OT Leh NT In Amen An Sawi Dan

OT-ah chuan Heb.amen tih hi vawi 25 vel hman a ni a. Amen hian kawh/tum hrang hrang a nei thei a - chiang, nghet, rintlak, dik, rinawm, tlo, chutiang tak chuan ni rawh se, tihna te a huam thei vek a ni. Thusawi ngaihthlâk pawm thlapna, nemnghehpuina a ni deuh ber. Qumran thuziakah leh Bible hmun tam takah a double-a sawi a ni fo bawk (Num.5:22, Neh.8:6, Chanchin Ţha Johana Ziak). A chang chuan, ţawngkam bulah hman a ni bawk (1 Ki. 1:36, Jer.28:6). Amen an hmanna chhan hi kawng 5 a awm a: (i). Pathian biakna atan (Ps.41:13), (ii). Pathian Fakna leh Chawimawina atan (Ps. 41:13, 72:19, 89:52, 106:48), (iii). Malsawm ţawngţainaah atan (1Chro.16:36), (v). Pathian anchhia puanchhuah nemngheh nân, Pathian zilhhauna leh thutiam pawmpuina atan hman a ni (Deut. 27:14-26).

Dearest Daughter, Congratulations on Your Success!

We Are So Proud of You!

Jona Hun Hnuhnung

1. Ninevi Khawpui
Ninevi khawpui hi Nimrod-a din a ni a (Gen.10:6-12), Mesopotamia rama khawpui ropui leh hlui ber-te zinga mi a ni. A hming awmzia hi Assyrian Nina or Ninua tih ațanga lak niin, Heb.ninʹe-ve tih chu “Sangha” tihna a ni a, “Sangha Khawpui” tihna a ni mai awm e. Khawvela khawpui hlui ber-te zinga mi niin, thilhlui laichhuaktuten an chhut danin Ninevi khawpui hi BC 4500 vela din niin an chhut a. Thil laihchhuah zingah hian Ashurbanipa Library, Cuneiforms tablets 16,000 chuang zet a tel a, heng ațang hian Thilsiam leh Tuilet (history of the flood & creation) chungchang-te bakah, hun kal tawh-a sakhuana lam leh khawvel lam thil tam tak an hriat belh theih phah a ni.

Assyria khawpui Ninevi hian an Lal Sennacherib (705 B.C – 612 B.C) hunlaiin a vanglai a tawng a. Sennacherib Lalna a tawp hian Ninevi khawpui pawh a tluchhe ve nghal ang a ni. Ninevi khua hi Tigris lui chhak lam kamah a awm a. Acre 1800-a zau chhungah, leirawhchan (brick)-a hung, mel 8 kual chhungah a awm a. Khawpui pawnah hian Zawlnei Jonah thlan chhinchhiahna “Nebi Yunus” (the prophet Jonah) chu Captain Felix Jones chuan kum 1834 khan a hmuchhuak a. Hei hi Jona thlan tak tak nge, ama hriat-reng nan-a lungphun tih erawh a chiang lo. Captain Felix-a chhui dan chuan Ninevi khuaah hian Zawlnei Jona hunlai hian mi 174,000 chuang zet an cheng niin a chhut a. Bible-in “ding leh vei pawh thliar thei lo 120,000” a tih hi naupang chauh a sawi a nih phei chuan 600,000 pawh an tling thei turah a ngai hial bawk (Jona 4:11).

Jona Leh Ringlo Mite

Thuhmahruai
Ringtute hi kan mikhualna ram khawvela awm kan nih avangin, kan nundan, chetzia leh rilru put-hmang chu khawvel mite (ringlo mite) nen danglam turin Pathianin min ngai a, min beisei a ni (Rom 12:1-3). Kan thiltih ţhat te, kan awmdan mawi te, kan ţawngkam leh chezia duhawm tak-te an hmuh hunah ringlo mite rilru a hneh ang a, Pathian lam an lo hawi dawn a ni (Matt.5:13-16, Phil.1:27-29, 1Pet. 2:11-12).

Mahse, thil mak tak chu, a chang chuan ‘ringlo mite hi ringtute aia an ţhat zawk chang leh kawng dika min hruai zawk hun a tam’ tlat mai! Jona 1:1-17 kan chhiar chuan, hei hi a dik zia Pathian Zawlnei Jona chungah chiang takin a lang a ni! Jona hian Pathian nung chanchin chu ţawngkam leh chetziaa ringlo mite hnena hril tur a nih laiin, Ringlo mite zawk hian Pathian Zawlnei Jona hi an sawi-harh a, kawng dikah an hruai zawk tlat a nih chu!

Ringlo-mi Lawng Captain-in Pathian Zawlnei Jona a Hau!
Tarsis pan tur Lawng chhuak chu thui pawh a kal hma-in thlipuiin a nuai ta! Lawng a kehsawm vek leh tuipui-a an pil mai a hlauhawm tawh hle. Lawng mite hi an buaiin, an hlau êm êm a, an pathian ţheuh an ko a, Lawng Captain hian a pathian hnena ţawngţai lo Lawnga chuang zingah an awm em? tih thlengin a enfiah hial a. Chutia a enkualnaah chuan Jona, tui taka lo muhil chu a hmu a, mak a ti êm êm a, a hau hial a ni! Jona 1:5-a kan hmuh angin, thlipuiin Lawng a nuai na chhan hi Zawlnei thuawih lo Jona vang a ni a, Pathian tirh thlipui a tleh a ni. A chang chuan, Jona ang hian, ringtute hian ringlo mite hnenah (chungah) harsatna kan thlen ţhin. Lawng Captain ang hian, ringtute thiltih zahthlak tak avangin Ringlo mite mak tih kan hlawh a, ringlo mite khawih-harh kan ngai ţhin (1:5-6).

Jona Vang Emni Ninevi Khua Kha An Sim?

Thuhmahruai
Assyria mite sual turu dan hrechiangtu mi tam tak chuan, an sualte sim-a Pathian hnen lama an kir theih mai an ring ngai lo. Mahse, Assyria khawpui, a hunlaia khawvela khawpui lian ber ni hiala chhal Ninevi khuaa mite chuan Jona’n tlân pah-a Pathian thu tawi te a sawi chu an bengkhawn a, an ngai pawimawh a, an sualte simin Pathian lam an hawi phah tlat a nih chu! Jona Pathian thusawi (preaching) chauh hi nge an nunah awmzia nei a, thildang a tel ve? tih lai hi rilru-ah zawhna a lut nghalin ka ring, a pawimawh reng a ni. A chhan chu Pathian thu-in “an ţhatna turin engkimin a thawhsak hlawm ţhin” tiin min hrilh tlat a (Rom 8:26-28), hmanraw dang pawh Pathianin a hmang tel thei tih a chiang a ni.

Jona Thusawi Kha a Pawimawh Lutuk
Pathianin Jona hnena tih tur a pek chu “Tho la, Ninevi khaw ropui takah chuan kal la, anmahni kalh-in thu va sawi rawh” (Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach against it) tih a ni. Jona chuan Pathian duhdan ang takin thu ava sawi ta a, a thusawi hi a tawi ţek ţawk hle mai, “Tun achin ni 40-ah Ninevi hi tih boral a ni dawn e…” (Jona 3:4) tih ringawt a ni. Mahse, Jona hian Pathianin sawi tur a tih chin chiah a sawi avangin, a thusawi hi a thawk nâ êm êm a, Ninevi khuaa mite hian Jona thusawi lai tak hi hmu vek lo mahse, an inhrilh chhawng nasa a ni ngei ang tih a chiang a ni.

Jona Kha Engah Nge A Tlânbo?

Thuhmahruai
Bible-a kan hmuh angin, Zawlnei Jona chanchin (Jona 1-4) hian Pathian thu kan sawinaah a ţha lam leh a chhe lamin sawi a hlawh hle a. Jona thiltih leh a chunga thilthleng hrim hrim hian tisa leh thlarauvah entir (historical, cultural, scientific & spiritual implications) pawimawh tak tak a nei a (Cf. Matt.12:40-41, Luka 11:32). Eng ang hawi zawng pawhin chhui dawn ta ila, Thupui Zir tham zet a awm vek a ni. Vawi khat atan chuan a sei dawn lutuk avangin sei lutuk lovin Jona chanchin hi kan zir chho leh dawn a ni.

Pathianin Zawlnei Jona a Ko 
Mi ţhenkhat chuan Jona hi ‘Zawlnei’anga koh an hreh viau laiin, Bible (Old Testament) kan en chuan, Pathianin “tih tur bik tuka a koh-te reng reng hi Zawlnei tia koh an nih deuh vek” avangin, Jona pawh hi “Zawlnei” tia koh hi a dik lohna a awm lo. Jona hi Amittaia fapa, Galili rama Zebulun Gath-hepher hnam a mi (Josh. 19:13) a ni a. Lal Jeroboam II leh Israel Lal Joasa Lal laiin Pathianin Ninevi khuaah hian a tir a ni (2Lalte 14:23-25). Jona hming awmzia hi “Ţhuro” (dove) tihna a ni. A hming awmzia leh Jona rilru put-hmang leh thiltih duhdan hi a intu lo hle! Zoram ringtuten kan chhun hle mai. Chanchin bu-ah “Lalrinawman ruk a ru” tih te, “Vanlalfaki a uire” tih te, “Vanlalringan zungawl a vei” tih te, “Lalchhandami chu Satanic pawlah a tel” tih te kan chhiar hian rilru zawng a tibuai a ni.

Thlarau Râlthuam {Spiritual Weapons}

Thuhmahruai
Miin Pathian a rin veleh hian, Pathianin Amah Ringtu chu Thil pawimawh tak chi 2 a pe a. Chu chu Ringtu chuan a Rochun (inherits) nghal a. Chungte chu, (1). Malsawmna (tisa leh thlarauvah), (2). Pathian hmêlma chu a hmêlma a ni ve nghal ta bawk. Pathian hmêlma hlun leh thiltithei ber chu Setana a ni a, ani hian Pathian leh a hnathawh apiang chu tih-chhiat (destroy) vek a tum a ni (John 8:44). Pathian fapa Isua Krista pawhin Diabola (Setana) leh a hnathawh zawng zawng chu tih-chhiat vek a tum ve ta thung bawk a ni (1 John 3:8).

Setana hi Pathian thilsiam zinga Vantirhkoh chungnungber ni ţhin a ni a, a hel avangin Pathianin a paih-thla a ni (Isaia 14:12-15). Setana hi mihrngte aiin thiltihtheihna nei sângin, chak zawk mahsela, amah Siamtu Pathian chakna leh thiltihtheihna nen chuan tehkhin tham a ni lo. Lal Isua ringtute chu Tho-leh Krista thiltihtheihna ropui tak neitu leh ţawmpuitu kan nih avangin, chu thiltihtheihna chuan min venghim tlat ţhin a ni (1 John 4:4).
Isua Krista Thiltihtheihna neitu leh ţawmpuitu kan nih avangin Pathian Râlthuam Famkim pek kan ni a (Eph.6:10-18). He râlthuam hmang hian Setana chu do a, thlêmna leh sualna-te chu hneh zel turin Pathian thu-in min fuih a ni. Heng Pathian Râlthuam Famkim 7 te hi i lo zir-ho teh ang u.

1. In Kâwng Chu Thutak-a Hrêngin (6:14)
Kâwng chin hnuai lam emaw, pum bawr vel (waist or abdomen) emaw hi Seat of Emotions a ni a, khawvel thil leh tisa châkna hmunpui a ni, an ti! Bible-ah kan hmu a,“an pathian chu an pum a ni a, an ropuina pawh an mualphona a ni, khawvel thil an duh ţhin” (Phil.3:19). Mihring hi a hlauh luat avang emaw, a châkna a so-sân luat vang emaw-in hre reng chungin thil a tisual ţhin a ni. Ringtute chu Thutak (Isua leh Bible)-a kan innghah tlat chuan hlauhna leh tisa châkna kan hneh zel thei dawn a ni (John 8:32, 36; Phil. 3:19).

Hnamdang Nupui-Pasala Neih Hi {Inter-Cultural/Faith Marriage}

Thuhmahruai
Hnamdang Nupui-pasala neih (inter-cultural/faith marriage) hi thupui pawimawh tak a ni a, a taka nunpui leh lem duak erawhchu har tak a ni thung. Bible chuan thutlukna fel tak siamin Israel fate kha a warning thlap a, hnamdang chu nupui-pasala nei lo turin chiang takin a hrilh lawk a. Hei hi a chhan ber nia lang chu, (1) culture in-ang lo chuan chhungkua leh chi leh hnamah harsatna a thlen thei a, (2) hnamdangte hian sakhaw (pathian) biak an nei hrang a, (3) ringlo mi nupui emaw, pasal emaw chuan a rinna a phat-tir (bansan-tir) theih dawn avangin a ni ber (cf. Gen.28:1-4, Deut.7:1-4, 4:15-20, 17:17, 2Sam. 1Lal.3:1, 11:1-14, Neh.10, 13:23-27, 1Kor.7:12-39, 2Kor.6:14, 1Pet.3:1,2). A chunga tarlan aţang khian, hnam-dang nupui-pasala neih hian mimal, chhungkua, hnam leh sakhua (personal, family, culture, social & spiritual life)-ah te harsatna siamin chhungkaw hlim nih leh Pathian tana mi ţangkai nih a harsa dawn tih a hriat-chian êm avangin Pathianin a phalsak lo niin alang.

Hruaitu Ropui Mosia, Davida, Solomona-ten Hnamdang An Nei!
Pathianin Israel fate kha hnamdang nupui-pasal-a nei lo turin a hrilh mawlh mawlh a. Mahse, an Hruaitu ropui ber ber-te chuan hnamdang nupui-ah an nei lawi si! Mosia’n hnamdang mi (Kush/Ethiopian) a neih hi Jehova ringtu ve tho a nih rin a ni tlangpui a (Numb.12:1-3). Hetih hunlai hian Thupek chiangkuang tak la awm lo mahse, hnamdang mi neih hi Pathianin a phalsak lo tih an hre tawh niin alang. Hemi avang hian a Unaute sawiselna (demna) pawh hi Mosia’n a chhang-let ngam lova, Pathian meuh pawh a inrawlh lo niin alang. Lal Davida khan hnamdang mi Bathsebi nupuia a neih khan, a nupui neih dân chungchang mai ni lovin, “Bathsebi kha hnamdang mi” a nih avangin Pathian a lungni lo tel bawk niin an ngai (2Sam.11). 

Lets Talk About Sex {Pornography} - Part 1

Lust of the Eyes

Is Pornography really so bad? After all, the human body is God’s handiwork. Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed in Eden (Genesis 3:7). Nakedness and pornography are not the same thing. Nakedness is simply an absence of clothing, and can be highly un-erotic. In many societies nakedness or semi-nakedness is a part of normal life. Pornography, by contrast, is the deliberate composition of visual images so as to stir erotic desires in the viewer.

The Bible speaks of “the lust of the eyes” (1 John 2:16). This is what pornography feeds and exacerbates. The lust of the eyes becomes the lust of the heart. The compiler of the book of a simple young man. King Solomon has given a worth advice from his own experiences, and he said,

I saw among the simple, 
I noticed among the young men, 
A youth who lacked judgment, 
He was going down the street near her corner, 
walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, 
As the dark of night set in, 
Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent,
With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk, 
All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, 
Like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, 
Like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
(Proverbs 7:7-10, 21-23).

Preaching Powerful Word of God To the World

                                    Preach To the World, So That They May Believe Jesus!

Hlawhchham hi Hlawhtlinna {Failure is Success}

1. J.K. Rowling – Novelist (Harry Potter) 
Harry Potter thawnthu ziaktu Joanne “Jo” J.K. Rowling hi tunhma chuan waitress hna thawk țhin a ni. A lehkhabu hi Publishers 10 chuang ten an hnawl sak hnu-in, a kal tawpna-a an CEO fanu kum 8 mi chuan a pa a ngen tlat avangin an chhuahsak hrâm a. Khawvela thawnthu ziak hralh tam ber (best-selling book series in history) a lo ni a, Kum 5 chhung lekin, Multi-Millionaire a nih phah! Kum 2008 ah khan United Kingdom-a hmeichhe hausa-ber 12-na a ni phak hial!

2. Ludwig Van Beethoven – Composer & Pianist
A violin tum thiam lo lutuk chu a Zirtirtu chuan beidawnthlâk a ti lutuk a, “Music lam leh hlaphuah kawnga beisei-bo a ni” a ti tawp. Chutih nâk alaiin, Beethoven chuan a ri hriatna a hloh zel a, a beng a ngawng hlen ta hial! Mahse, a kut-chhuak zinga ropui ber 4 te chu a Beng a ngawn hlen (completely deaf) hnu-a a siam (composed) an ni tlat!

3. Colonel Harland Sanders – Founder of KFC
Sanders chuan Kum 65 mi a nih-in a “Chicken Recipe, Kentucky Fried Chicken” siam hralh turin hmun hrang hrang 1000 chuangah a kal a, a hlawhchham. Kum engemaw zat a vahvaih-pui hnu, kum 75 mi a nih-in, a company din “Kentucky Fried Chicken” chu Dollar million 15-in an lei sak a, ram 120 ah dawr 18,000 chuang a nei tawh!

My Confession To the World

Hard-Talk With LPS Vision 

March 10, 2013 at Aizawl, Mizoram State, INDIA

{LPS Vision, Biggest Television Network in Mizoram}

The Scandalous Virtue

Humility
By recommending humility Apostle Paul fired a broadside at the Philippian culture and our own (Phil.2:3-8). Like us, the Greeks and Romans exalted the lifestyles of the rich and famous! The idea of humility seemed especially out of place in Philippi. Yet Paul insisted that Christians there cultivate humility.

The humility Apostle Paul described was not a groveling, abject demeanor. No, biblical humility means to not think of oneself more highly that is true (Rom.12:3), but rather acknowledging what one is with all of one’s strengths and weaknesses, pluses and minuses, successes and failures.

God And The Problem of Evil

Why?
Some Skeptics (atheists etc.) argue that if God did exist He would eliminate evil throughout the world. These Skeptics often argue the following points:-

1. A God who is good and loving would not allow evil and suffering in his world. Yet Evil exists in the world.

2. If God is all powerful, he could remove evil if grow worse. Yet evil remains. In fact, at times it seems to grow worse.

3. Therefore, a good and powerful God must not exist.

Genesis and Revelation – The First and Last Volumes

From Genesis, the first book in the Bible, to Revelation, the Bible’s closing book, God reveals much to us about his nature and his plans for us. In examining these two books, it’s interesting to compare the Genesis account of creation to Revelation’s depiction of a new heaven and earth:-

1. In Genesis, God creates the world. In Revelation, God creates a new heaven and earth.

2. In Genesis, the Devil introduces sin into the world. In Revelation, the Devil is defeated and destroyed; sin is done away with.

3. In Genesis, humanity falls into sin. In Revelation, God restores people to their original sinless-ness.

Seven Deadly Sins

1. Wealth    without   Work
2. Pleasure   without   Conscience
3. Science    without   Humanity
4. Knowledge   without   Character
5. Politics    without   Principle
6. Commerce   without   Morality
7. Worship  without   Sacrifice
 
                     ― Mahatma Gandhi

Letters To Seven Churches (A Quick Peak)

What would Jesus say if he sent a letter to your church or to you as he did to the Churches of Asia Minor (Rev. 2:1-3:29)? Do any of Jesus’ comments about these Seven Congregations accurately describe your own Church or Yourself? If so, what can you do to improve things? Let’s have a quick peak on these Seven Churches and reflect ourselves:

1. Ephesus, Grk. ephesos ‘desirable’ (2:1-7)
Description:- The Loveless Church (quality & intensity of Agape Love is lost).
Praised For:- Labor, patience, not bearing those who are evil/wicked, testing false apostles, perseverance, hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans.
Warned About:- Leaving their First love, without repentance lampstand will be removed.  Do we sense the importance to Christ of not only honoring his name by our true confession but also of reflecting his life by our loving relationship to others? This threat of loss of light bearing applies equally to the other four churches to whom a similar exhortation to "repent" is given (Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea).

2. Smyrna, Grk. myrrh ‘incense’ (2:8-11)
Description:- The Persecuted Church.
Praised For:- Tribulation, suffering, poverty (social & economic rejection).
Encouraged About:- Faithfulness under persecution, suffering & rejection. Under Domitian (A.D. 81-96) Emperor Worship became compulsory for every Roman citizen on threat of death. Such an act was considered as an expression of religious worship, and all a citizen had to do was burn a pinch of incense and say "Caesar is Lord." Yet most Christians, with their confession "Jesus is Lord" (cf. Ro 10:9), refused to do this. Perhaps nowhere was life for a Christian more perilous than in this city of zealous Emperor Worship.

Quiet Living In A Hectic World

The hectic pace of modern life makes Paul’s exhortation “To Live a Peaceful Life” (1 Thes.4:11), especially important. How can one lead a quiet life when technology, media, and a global economy accelerate change and increase complexity?

Paul gives us an important first step in the exhortation to “take care of your own business.” The focus is on “Your Own” – being able to self-support. Concerning peaceful living, Paul was probably not objecting to noise and sound as such, but to needless distraction. One way that most people could bring a little more peace and quiet into their homes would be to cut their television viewing in half. Imagine the time left for family members and neighbors, personal reflection, and prayers!

Who Is My Neighbor? A Theological Approach to Socio-Economic Issues

1.  Introduction
Today we are bombarded with the needs of others around the world. We are even prone to what experts call “compassion fatigue,” because we see so many needs, and we cannot begin to meet those needs. As followers of Jesus Christ, we want to know whom we need to love. Who should have the priority for our time, our energy, and our money? If our Lord Jesus Christ requires us to love our neighbor then we must ask, “What does it mean to love someone?” and “Who is my neighbor?”

Two thousand years ago a young Jewish lawyer raised these same questions with our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan. In order to understand Jesus Christ’s answer, we must first understand the context of the question and the cultural dynamics involved in Jesus Christ’s answer.

2.  The Context of The Scripture
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), our Lord Jesus Christ emphasizes that inherent in true saving faith and true obedience is compassion for those who are in needs. The call to love God is a call to love others. In answering this question, Jesus Christ revealed the love of God found throughout the Scripture,

When I Am Weak, I Am Strong {2 Cor. 12:7-10}

Our world prizes strength - the physical strength of athletes, the financial strength of companies, the political strength of office-holders, and the military strength of armies. But Paul put a new twist on the notion of strength - Weakness can make a person strong (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

Most of us would have no problem with God using our natural areas of strength, such as speaking, organizing, managing, or selling. But suppose he chose instead to use us in areas where we are weak? Moses claimed to be a poor speaker (Ex. 4:10), yet God used him as his spokesman on Israel’s behalf.

Mentoring Other People {2 Tim. 2:2}

1.     Barnabas With Paul

Barnabas stood up for Saul (Paul), the persecutor turned convert, introducing him to Church leaders and vouching for his conversion. Coached by Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37; 9:26-30, 11:22-30), Paul became an outstanding leader in the burgeoning movement.

2.     Barnabas With John Mark

In a dramatic split with Paul, Barnabas took young John Mark home with him to Cyprus and rebuilt his confidence (15:36-39). Years later, Paul changed his opinion, describing John Mark as one who could help him in his work (2 Tim. 4:11).

3.     Priscilla And Aquila With Apollos

Priscilla and Aquila drew alongside gifted but confused Apollos, tutoring him in the faith and then sponsoring his ministry (Acts 18:1-3, 24-28).

The Bleeding Woman {Matthew 9:20-22}

Jesus Christ is the Messiah for women and men, for those with all kinds of backgrounds, all kind of pasts. He is the Messiah for all people. Much has been made of the Virgin Mary, but Matthew’s genealogy (Matt.1:1-6, 9:20-22) highlights five other important women in Jesus’ family and ministry.

Tamar

Tamar was a widow who married Onan, Judah’s second son (Matt. 1:3, Gen. 38:1-30). She was left childless and a widow once again, resorting to trickery and acting as a prostitute to find economic security. Her child continued the line that eventually led to Jesus.

Rahab

Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute in Jericho who protected two Hebrew spies in exchange for her own protection from the Israelites who surrounded the city (Matt. 1:5, Josh.2:1-24, 6:22-25). She later married a Hebrew and gave birth to Boaz, David’s great-grandfather.

A New And Better Promise For The Year 2013

A New and Better Agreement {Heb. 8:6-7, 9:1-10}

If you have ever felt hopeless and trapped in a desperate situation, you will understand why Jews reacted so warmly to the invitation extended in the book of Hebrews. Thousands of years of Jewish history were built on God’s agreement with Israel. But Christ came to offer a superior agreement rooted in better promises and without fault (Heb.8:6-7).

As the prophet Jeremiah had foreseen, under the new arrangement wickedness will be forgiven, sins will be forgotten, and the old agreement will fade into the shadows before vanishing altogether (8:12-13, Jer.31:31-34).

What an amazing message! We can have a fresh start. Bondage to old, seemingly unbreakable patterns can be broken and replaced. But first we must confess our condition and accept God’s provision, which includes His agenda for change (1 John 1:8-10). Therein lies a fresh start for our lives. The same pattern of newness holds true for relationships. Owning our responsibility and admitting our faults open the door to new ways (see Acts 19:18-20, James 5:16).

Have you learnt the joy of confession, apology and repentance? Do you need some breakthroughs among your peers, friends, or associates? Take the risk to speak the truth to them about your failings and seek a renewal in the relationship.