Vivek Vishal Samuel

NAIL IN THE FENCE!!!

2010-01-15T06:24:00.000-08:00

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.

His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper,He must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.

Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger,The number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.

He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.

He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.

He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.

The fence will never be the same.

When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.

You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.

It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.

" A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one."

Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.

**********Please forgive me if I have ever left a hole in your heart :) *********

ALPHABET OF HAPPINESS!

2009-12-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

A-Accept. Accept others for who they are and for the choices they've made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.

B-Break Away. Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.

C-Create. Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.

D-Decide. Decide that you'll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.

E-Explore. Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you'll learn more about yourself.

F-Forgive. Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.

G-Grow. Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.

H-Hope. Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.

I-Ignore. Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.

J-Journey. Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you'll grow.

K-Know. Know that no matter how bad things seem, they'll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.

L-Love. Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there's room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there's room for endless happiness.

M-Manage. Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you'll suffer less stress and worry. Then you'll be able to focus on the important things in life.

N-Notice. Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.

O-Open. Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there's still much to be thankful for.

P-Play. Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.

Q-Question. Ask many questions, because you're here to learn.

R-Relax. Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.

S-Share. Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.

T-Try. Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You'll be amazed by what you can accomplish.

U-Use. Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that's wasted has no value. Talent that's used will bring unexpected rewards.

V-Value. Value the friends and family members who've supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.

W-Work. Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.

X-XRay. Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you'll see the goodness and beauty within.

Y-Yield. Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you'll find success at the end of the road.

Z-Zoom. Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rears its ugly head. Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your abilities, your dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.

100 WAYS TO BRING SMILE ON SOMEONE'S FACE!

2009-12-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

01. Call an old friend, just to say hi.
02. Hold a door open for a stranger.
03. Invite someone to lunch.
04. Compliment someone on his or her appearance.
05. Ask a co-worker for their opinion on a project.
06. Bring cookies to work.
07. Let someone cut in during rush hour traffic.
08. Leave a waitress or waiter a big tip.
09. Tell a cashier to have a nice day.
10. Call your parents.
11. Let someone know you miss them.
12. Treat someone to a movie.
13. Let a person know you really appreciate them.
14. Visit a retirement center.
15. Take a child to the zoo.
16. Fill up your spouse's car with gas.
17. Surprise someone with a small gift.
18. Leave a thank-you note for the cleaning staff at work.
19. Write a letter to a distant relative.
20. Tell someone you thought about them the other day.
21. Put a dime in a stranger's parking meter before the time expires.
22. Bake a cake for a neighbor.
23. Send someone flowers to where they work.
24. Invite a friend to tea.
25. Recommend a good book to someone.
26. Donate clothing to a charity.
27. Offer an elderly person a ride to where they need to go.
28. Bag your own groceries at the checkout counter.
29. Give blood.
30. Offer free baby-sitting to a friend who'sreally busy or just needs a break.
31. Help your neighbor rake leaves or shovel snow.
32. Offer your seat to someone when there aren't any left.
33. Help someone with a heavy load.
34. Ask to see a store's manager and comment on the great service.
35. Give your place in line at the grocery store to someone who has only a few items.
36. Hug someone in your family for no reason.
37. Wave to a child in the car next to you.
38. Send a thank-you note to your doctor.
39. Repeat something nice you heard about someone else.
40. Leave a joke on someone's answering machine.
41. Be a mentor or coach to someone.
42. Forgive a loan.
43. Fill up the copier machine with paper after you're done using it.
44. Tell someone you believe in them.
45. Share your umbrella on a rainy day.
46. Welcome new neighbors with flowers or a plant.
47. Offer to watch a friend's home while they're away.
48. Ask someone if they need you to pick upanything while you're out shopping.
49. Ask a child to play a board game, and let them win.
50. Ask an elderly person to tell you about the good old days.
51. During bad weather, plan an indoor picnic with the family.
52. Buy someone a goldfish and bowl.
53. Compliment someone on their cooking andpolitely ask for a second helping.
54. Dance with someone who hasn't been asked.
55. Tell someone you mentioned them in your prayers.
56. Give children's clothes to another familywhen your kids outgrow them.
57. Deliver extra vegetables from your gardento the whole neighborhood.
58. Call your spouse just to say, I love you.
59. Call someone's attention to a rainbow or beautiful sunset.
60. Invite someone to go bowling.
61. Figure out someone's half-birthday by adding 182 days,and surprise them with a cake.
62. Ask someone about their children.
63. Tell someone which quality you like most about them.
64. Brush the snow off of the car next to yours.
65. Return your shopping cart to the front of the store.
66. Encourage someone's dream, no matter how big or small it is.
67. Pay for a stranger's cup of coffee without them knowing it.
68. Leave a love letter where your partner will find it.
69. Ask an older person for their advice.
70. Offer to take care of someone's pet while they're away.
71. Tell a child you're proud of them.
72. Visit a sick person, or send them a care package.
73. Join a Big Brother or Sister program.
74. Leave a piece of candy on a coworker's desk.
75. Bring your child to work with you for the afternoon.
76. Give someone a recording of their favorite music.
77. Email a friend some information about a topic they are especially interested in.
78. Give someone a homemade gift.
79. Write a poem for someone.
80. Bake some cookies for your local fire or police department.
81. Organize a neighborhood cleanup and have a barbecue afterwards.
82. Help a child build a birdhouse or similar project.
83. Check in on an old person, just to see if they're okay.
84. Ask for the recipe after you eat over at someone's house.
85. Personally welcome a new employee at work and offer to take them out for lunch.
86. While in a car, ask everyone to buckle up because they are important to you.
87. Let someone else eat the last slice of cake or pizza.
88. Stop and buy a drink from a kid's lemonade stand.
89. Forgive someone when they apologize.
90. Wave to someone looking for a parking space whenyou're about to leave a shopping center.
91. Send a copy of an old photograph to a childhood friend.
92. Leave a pint of your spouse's favorite flavor ofice cream in the freezer with a bow on it.
93. Do a household chore that is usually doneby someone else in the family.
94. Be especially happy for someone whenthey tell you their good news.
95. Compliment a coworker on their role in a successful project.
96. Give your spouse a spontaneous back rub at the end of the day.
97. Serve someone in your family breakfast in bed.
98. Ask someone if they've lost weight.
99. Make a donation to a charity in someone's honor.
100. Take a child to a ballgame.

SEVEN STEPS TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE

2009-12-12T04:56:00.001-08:00

Taking control of your life is getting in touch with your values, setting meaningful goals and identifying your vision. To be in control of where life is taking you means being more productive, dealing more effectively with stress, having the ability to solve problems, handing change and developing healthy optimism. Start with these 7 steps and you are on your way.

1. Get In Touch With Your Values:
When we feel like we are working hard but not getting anywhere it is probably because our priorities are not aligned with our values. To begin identifying your values ask yourself these questions:
What is important to me? Wisdom, freedom, happiness, equality, security, self-respect, romantic love, money, power, comfortable living, fresh air, beauty, controlling others, etc. Rate these values.
Who is important to me?
What or who is most important? Be honest with yourself.
What do I need to do to feel good about myself?
How would you feel if someone you respect knew this was one of your values?
Would you stick by this value?
Is it who you are?
How is this value affecting your life?
Make a list of your 10 top values. Of that 10 choose 4 and of the 4 choose your top two. From this exercise you will see where you need to focus your time and effort.

2. Decide What Motivates You:
If tomorrow you knew you could do anything and not fail what would you do? Is there something you are passionate about but are afraid of trying? If you have no idea what your passion is spend some time reflecting on it. To start, write down the types of activities you like to do and the types of activities (hobbies) that make you feel good when you do them. What are your special skills and talents ? Don't be shy ? Usually if it's something we like to do we are probably good at it. What inspires you?

3. Set Goals:
In order to get what you really want you must start by setting goals. Goals fuel your intent and make your desires concrete. Start by writing the goals for this year in area of personal relationships, work, health, finances and spirituality. List five goals in each category (add more categories if you like). Then break them down into monthly and then weekly goals. Focusing on what you intend in your life will bring it to reality. You create your life ? So start now by setting your goals.

4. Take Action:
Goals are worthless without action. If you have written long-term and short-term goals and prioritized them, you have a plan of action. Just take it one step at a time and do something everyday that takes you closer to where you want to be. Remember however, to live in the present and be thankful for what you have now, enjoying the journey toward your goals.

5. Manage Your Time:
We all have the same amount of time to use in a day. Why do some people a lot done while others do very little? You have complete control of how much time you spend productively and how much you waste. Plan your days and prioritize your time to get the most out of the time you have. Use time-wasters like standing in line or waiting in a doctor's office to catch up on reading or something else that is important to you.

6. Do What Needs to be Done:
Do what has to be done to get to where you want to go. Whether it is a mundane task or internal work, putting it off gets us nowhere. You are either going forward or falling behind; there is no such thing as standing still. Sometimes when we work on ourselves we stop when we get to a place that we need to change. Change can be difficult when we have to step out of our comfort zone. The more change is needed the more difficult it is.

7. Self-Discipline:
Self-discipline is the final step that takes all that we have learned and puts it into action. This is a trait that for most of us has to be developed. To reach our goals we must visualize them as already being accomplished and have faith that we can reach them. When you believe in and trust yourself and have enough desire, self-discipline comes easily.

A Life Partner Hunt!!!

2009-08-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

Genesis 24 – the story the Holy Spirit included in the Biblical record of Isaac’s bride hunt which carries priceless principles we must keep in mind when we go about a life partner search. In this chapter, Eliazer, the servant of Abraham chooses a life partner for his master’s son, Isaac. Here were the qualities he looked for in that person when he chose:

He chose a Believer : He was asked to go on a long journey, a journey that lasted atleast 21 days according to some Bible Scholars, to look for a wife for Isaac. The reason for this was not hard to guess: in the area Abraham lived there were hardly any believers of the living God with a transformed life of no-idolatry. Abraham explicitly forbade Eliezer from choosing a girl “from the daughters of the Canaanites” (Gen 24:3). Canaanites were a wicked people who were recipients of a curse from the God-attested Noah, we understand from a previous Bible reference to them (Gen 9:25). So, the essence of what Abraham was driving home to Eliazer was this: I don’t want my son to marry an unbeliever from Canaan – but only a believer! Keep on traveling till you meet one! Keep on searching till you meet one! Here is where many young people trip and fall. They fall in love with “cute” and “cool” unbelievers they bump into – in their college, in their offices. God’s message for such folks is the same as Abraham’s message was for Eliazer: Swear to me that you will not choose a life partner who is not a believer! (Eliazer by placing his hand under the thigh of Abraham was making a solemn oath to this effect in line with the traditions of those times – Gen 24:9).

He chose a Good-looker: Eliazer bumped into Rebekah who “was very attractive in appearance” (Gen 24:16). There is nothing unspiritual about wanting to marry a pretty girl or a handsome boy. But we must NOT make beauty the first and final deciding factor when it comes to our life partner choice. But remember that beauty is temporary – it could disappear instantly if someone throws acid on your partner’s face (God forbid it) or a disease wrecks havoc on your partner’s body (We pray that it would not happen).

He chose a Holy-walker: The girl that Eliazer chose for Isaac, was a virgin, the Bible records (Gen 24:16). She was beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside! She had beauty that tape could not measure – the beauty of holiness. In other words, Rebecca was holy in her walk!

He chose a Hard-worker: The girl that Eliazer chose for Isaac was electric when it came to completing a task she voluntarily would take up. She not only offered the ultra-thirsty Eliazer, water. She also offered the same for the gallons-gulping camels that Eliazer rode on. It was no easy task. It must have involved a lot of sweat, I bet.

He chose a Giver: Rebekah, was willing to give room to stay in her home for the long-distance traveler Eliazer; (Gen 24:25). Marriage is a Give and Take relationship. So a marriage between two givers, trying to out-do each other, is bound to work!

He chose a Converser: Rebekah converses with her family and narrates to them about how she dramatically met Eliazer (Gen 24:28). One of marriage’s primary purposes is for meaningful conversations. It is not all about having sex, 24/7. A married man is writing this piece, by the way.

He chose an Obeyer: When Rebekah said, “I’ll go!” to say, “I do!” she actually was obeying God. She certainly overheard it when Laban and Bethuel said, “This thing has come from the Lord!” (Gen 24:52,58). This was how, her thought process got going: Since this thing is from the Lord, I must make it happen! Let me go with this man, to make that happen!

He chose a Respecter: When Rebekah spotted the man she would marry, she covered herself, in line with the traditions of the times she lived in – as a mark of respect and love for her would-be husband (Gen 24:65). You can’t marry the person, you can’t respect, can you?

If we look for these priceless qualities in our hunt for the lifer-partner. We will surely have the best MARRIED LIFE ever!

Did God Create Evil???

2009-08-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

Did God create evil? Does evil exist?

The Unversity professor challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied, Yes He did!"

"God created everything?" professor asked.

"Yes sir", the student replied.

The professor answered, "if God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

The student became quiet before such an answer. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question professor?"

"Of course", replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor does cold exist?"

"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?" The students snickered at the young man's question.

The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.

Absolute zero (-460? F) is the total absence of heat; all mater becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color.

You can't measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct?

Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor, "sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "of course as I have already said." We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.

To this the student replied, "Evil doesn't exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man created to descrtibe the absence of God. God did not create evil.

Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

The young man's name--Albert Einstein

God's Purpose For Your Life!

2009-08-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

When we do not know the purpose, we misuse the things and there is a malfuction. Likewise when we don't know the purpose behind our creation, we misuse our lives and are failed to live the life in it's full meaning. So, it is very much mandatory for everyone to know the purpose of his/her existence.
Only a Creator can tell that what's purpose behind his creation.

In Genesis 1:26, we read that God created man with a difinite purpose; to rule, to domain, to govern, to infulence the whole creation with the image of God which was in him. A real leadership was given to man, that he should influence everything with the unseen heavenly culture, character, attributes and values. And control the things in heavenly prespective.

In Genesis chapter 3:6, "Eve saw the tree... and it was eye pleasing... it was desirable to make one wise." We read, both of them ate the fruit of that tree to become wise. Wise!? Wise for what? To impress others with the earthly tact & knowledge. They just missed the purpose of God in their life that "Man is not created to impress, but to influence others." The very moment we try to impress others we lose the true leadership; the power to lead others.

And this "Power to Influence" of man was suppose to be demonstrated through five different ways:-

Worship: God created man to have fellowship with him. Which also implies the man's worship towards Him. Genesis 3:8, Everyday God used to have fellowship with the man.
Work: A man is not a man if he doesn't work. Work was already assigned to man even before the crteation of woman, and even before the fall of man. Worship always includes work, "Faith without Works is dead". Man is created for the good works.
Cultivate: Man was created to cultivate the good fruits out of every good things God created in the garden. A fruitfull life. Genesis 2:15
Protect: Man given the responsibility to protect the garden of Eden. Eden was the extended colony of heaven, a place where there was the presence of God, a perfect peace & harmony with the heavenly culture & values. Man was to protect the dignity of heavenly Father and His values. Genesis 2:15
Keep His Words(obey): Genesis 2:16, man was created to obey his God. To follow what God says.

Today the world is facing a lot many severe problems e.g. terrorism, unemployment , corruption, recession, ecological-deficiency etcs...

If only man turns back to God and knows the original purpose for his life. The world can expreince once again the perfect harmony & pecae of God, which prevailed in the garden of Eden.

"Many are the plans in man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" -Proverbs 19:21

The Power Of Love! ( Must Read)

2009-08-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

A long time ago in China, a girl named Sui got married & went to live with her husband and mother -in-law. In a very short time, Sui found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all.

Their personalities were very different, and was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Sui constantly.

Days passed, and weeks passed. Sui and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting.

But what made the situation even worse that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Sui had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Sui's poor husband! D great distress.

Finally, Sui could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Sui went to see her father's good friend, Mr.Huang, who sold herbs.

She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr.Huang thought for a while, and finally said, "Sui, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you."

Sui said, "Yes, Mr.Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do." Mr.Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Sui, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving.

Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspect you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. "Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen." Sui was so happy.

She thanked Mr.Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Sui served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr.Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Sui had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. she hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law's attitude toward Sui changed, and she began to love Sui like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Sui was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Sui and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.

Sui's husband was very happy to see what was happening. One day, Sui came to see Mr.Huang and asked for his help again. She said, "Dear Mr.Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her."

Mr.Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Sui, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave her."

HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how they treat you? There is a Chinese saying: "The person who loves others will also be loved in return." God might be trying to work in another person's life through you. Likewise, let us spread THE POWER OF LOVE.

"By This All Men Will Know That You Are My Disciples, If You Have Love For One Another." John 13:35

EMPTINESS - WITHIN YOU!

2009-08-16T05:21:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, one of my friends called up seeking some sort of encouragement since he was feeling the emptiness within himself. Let me tell you, it's not only he but everyone has an emptiness in his or her life, which needs to be fulfilled. And generation after generation it's been man's effort to fufill this emptiness through different means - some try drugs, some try sex, some try movies, sports & other entertainments, some try by accumulating gold & riches of this world, some try relatives & by making more friends, there are a few try to get fufilled by seeking power,post & honor... yet man is failed to fulfill that emptiness which is in him.

Jesus said in John 4:13, "Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again."

All the efforts of man and of this world can bring only a momentarily satifaction... that's why man keep experimenting different things, but in vain!

Inorder to get yourself fulfilled- you first got to understand man's creation.

In Genesis 1:26, we read that "Then God said, let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."
and
Genesis 2:7 says, "the Lord God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."

When God created, He created a complete man without any emptiness. Thus, a man is only complete when he reflects the image & likeness of God in and through his life.

But after the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3, we read that they lost that perfection and distorted the image of God which was in them - guilt entered in their lives, fear gripped them, they started hiding from God, out of frustration & discouragement they started blaming eachother, accusing God and so on... it continued thereafter their son to kill his own brother (Genesis 4:8). The total lose of God's Glory(image) that was in man (Romans 3:23). And An EMPTINESS came in man's life.

Yes, an empty man is always incomplete - in him there is guilt, fear, frustration, discouragement, lonliness, sadness etcs. Altogether there is an EMPTINESS!

In John 4: 14, Jesus siad, "But whoever drinks of the water
that I shall give him shall never thrist; but the water that I shall give him
shall become in him a well of water sprining up to eternal life."

Colossians 2:10 says,"In Him(Jesus) you have been made
complete...)"

How can you drink of this Water and spring up to eternal life and how can you be complete in Him?

"Let the wicked forshake his way, and the evil man his thoughts and let
him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for He will abudantly pardon." Isaiah 55:7

There is no way but only repentance. Repentance means that we put off the old man & the old ways and we put on the new man & the new ways. When we repent, once again God restores us in His Spirit to start doing those things which are right and reflect God's image & likeness. Obey God's Word... "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Cor.5:17
Once the image of God is restored, he is a New Creature, a complete man! There is no emptiness within...

Values - We Live With!!!

2009-08-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

When a child is born, who rejoices? The parents, relatives and friends. But who cries? The Child. However, when we die, it should be the other way round. We should be rejoicing and have the satisfaction that we made a contribution to the world and left the world a little better place than we found it.
People names live forever through their good deeds.

"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward
for what he gave." - Calvin Coolidge

How Do We Judge Our Values?
According to Mahatma Gandhi there are seven deadly sins:

Wealth without work

Pleasure without conscience

Knowledge without character

Commerce without morality

Science without humanity

Religion without sacrifice

Politics without principle

Each of these perversions reflects a lack of values. There are two ways by which we put our value system to the test:

God Test: Whenever we are doing something, at home or at work, alone or with someone - if values are in question - ask yourself, "If God sees me doing this, would He be happy of me and say, Weldone boy!" or would He be sad about me?

People Test: If my people were to see me doing what I am doing, would I want them to see it, or would I be embarrassed?

We worry about the declining morals of the younger generation: where will they end up? Values and virtues are not hereditary; they are learned. We need to get our priorities right if we are to infulence the next generations positively.

CHARACTER IS PRICELESS
Our character will be what we ourself choose to make it; because it's not readymade, but is created bit by bit and day by day. It's very well said:

Money lost, nothing is lost
Time lost, something is lost
Character lost, everything is lost.

I feel sad for those of the people who inherit money without values. Without lessons and guidance, they often equate everything with money. They think everything can be bought and sold. People want to be overnight successes at the cost of their conscience and it still doestn't work. That's because true values are priceless. The moment a price is put on values, the values lose their worth. The most precious things in life, money just can not buy. People with character, integrity and the right values are not for sale. Money can buy:

a good bed, but not sleep

amusements, but not happiness

books, but not wisdom

a clock, but not more time

companions, but not friends

cosmetics, but not beauty

food, but not strength

house, but not home

Medicines, but not health

a ring, but not marriage

The Bible, but not salvation

COMMITMENT

Commitment is an integral part of a good value system. When your value system is clear it will be easier to make decisions & commitments. Example: you can't keep a friend by revealing to others what he told you in confidence.

Lack of commitment destabilizes relationships and leads to insecurity.

Parent/child
Husband/wife
Student/teacher
Customer/salesman
Employer/employee
friend/friend

Commitment says:

I am willing to sacrifice because I care.
I am a person of integrity and you can trust me.
You can count on me no matter what.
Despite pain, I will still be there.
I will not let you down in good times or in bad times.

Commitment is a sign of maturity. Relationship, society, teritory are based on commitment, not just on closeness and intimacy. Commitment not kept leads to:

Broken homes
Abandoned children
Unfulfilled life
Isolation
Loss of business
Poor relationship
High stress levels
Guilt
Depression... so on.....

ETHICS

Bad circumstances are not EXCUSES FOR MAKING BAD CHOICES.

Values and etchics are not only designed for good times, but also to get you through bad times. There are two choices- 1) Personal choices(what clothes to buy, what to eat etcs.), and 2) Ethical choices(objective choice between right & wrong or justice). Thats why our conscience hurts when we make an unethical choice and doesn't hurt when we make a wrong personal choice.

Ethics and ethical choices are confusing- only to those with unclear values. Ethics and justice involve: a)Empathy, b)Fairness, c)Compassion for the injured, the ill, the aged, the needy etcs., d) The larger interest of society

Just because a majority of people agree on something doesn't make it right.

TO EDUCATE A MAN IN MIND AND NOT IN MORALS IS TO EDUCATE A MENACE TO SOCIETY.
-Theodore Roosevelt

LIVING WITH A PURPOSE

All of us put on this planet for a purpose. We are part of a big picture. But very few people discover their purpose in life. Most of us just exist and keep counting our days rather than our days count.

I would rather fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than succeed in a
cause that would ultimately fail. - Woodrow Wilson

It is not what we Eat-but what what we digest that makes us strong

Not what we Gain-but what we save that makes us rich

Not what we read-but what we remember that makes us learned

Not what we profess-but what we practice that reflects our Christian Values.

How would you like to be remembered? What is your legacy? Will you be spoken well of? Will you be remembered with love & respect? Will you be missed?

Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord? !

2009-08-14T06:07:00.000-07:00

Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17
The question, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" is found in Genesis 18:14. The answer to this most important question is found in Jeremiah 32:17, "There is nothing too hard for Thee." Here you have the all important question and the thrilling, certain answer from the inspired Word of God.
Five Things Come To Us Out Of This Text:
1. There is no promise too hard for God to fufill. (Deut.33:27; Number 23:19)

God sometimes says some things in the Bible He did not say directly to me, but God never utter one word in the Bible that He didn't say for me.(Romans 15:4; I cor.10:11; Titus 1:2)
What do the Promises of the blessed Word mean to you? (Phil.4:13,19)
There two specific promises, one for wisdom and the other for power (James 1:5; Luke 11:13), and the promises are just as sure as they have always been.

2. There is no prayer too hard for God to answer.

(When God is going to do something wonderful, He starts with a difficulty. When God is going to do something very wonderful and miraculous. He starts with an impossibility.)

Almighty God is not limited to circumstances.
It is God's way out - it is our way in - it is the way over - it is the way of victory

Have you learned to claim the prayer promises? (Jeremiah 33:3; Matt.18:19; 21:22)

3. There is no problem too hard for God to solve.

Any Christian, if he attempts something for God, comes to great times of crisis in his life.
But no problem is too great for God to solve. (Psalm 37:3-5)

Everyone gets into Tight places: Gideon did-Abraham did-Moses did-Paul did etcs.

4. There is no place, where God can't send revival.

It's said that in great Welsh revival people did four things:

They condemned sin in themselves.
They completely obeyed God in every matter.
They had a compassionate burden for others.
They prayed. (II Chron.7:14; Habakkuk 3:2)

5. There is no person too hard for God to save.

The story of the paralytic-the four men brought to Jesus (Mark 2:1-5)

When the plaster began to fall and made all the noise and everybody wondered what was going on except Jesus, and when all of sudden the hole appeared and there was a cot with a man on it and four men sticking their heads in that hole and looking down - I would like to have been down there and looked up and have seen it. These men loved this cripple man - they would have done anything to get him to Jesus.

People around them were questioning them: "where are you going?" "what are you doing?" Someone said, "it can't be done!" someone else said, "now wait a minute- I never saw it done that way before!" Then someone else asked, "wait just a minute - it is going to cost some money to get that hole patched."

(When we start out to do a soul-winning work, there in always somebody to ask, "where are you going to get the money?" Well, they went ahead and opened up the hole anyway! instead they said, "let's be careful. If we drop him, we will hurt him worse than ever!"

And these tender hands let him down through the hole. When he gets down at the feet of Jesus, Jesus looks up, and the Bible says when He saw their faith - not his, their's(four heads peeking through the hole in the roof). He looked down at the man and said, "son, they sins be forgiven thee!" (Mark 2:5)

Finally, let's we all say as Jeremiah said: "There is nothing too hard for Thee."

BEING CONFIDENT IN THIS ONE THING, THAT GOD WHO HAS BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU,
WILL COMPLETE IT (PHIL.1:6)

The Basin and the Towel

2009-08-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

... the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve... (Matt.20:28)... Whosoever, therefore, shall HUMBLE himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matt.18:4)

Ever since the fall of mankind pride and prejudice became the hallmark of life. Humans lost the divine quilibrium and gave way ton passion for pedigree, lust for power and the desire for material gain. Some felt as if God had taken a voluntary retirement from creation. While others supposed that He is like a sultan in His majesty and power, without any regard for the problems of His creation.

"Who is the greatest" (Luke 22:24)? A query that challenged the standard of success. The pharaohs of this world cried out, "Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?! The Nebuchadnezzar proudly asked, "Who is that God that can deliver you out of my hand?" Humans venerated creation as divine and gave birth to polytheism. The pompous Greeco-Romans, in the first century, interpreted humility and service, only in a derogatory sense. Even today, the trend continues! There are those who pride in their humility and use it judgementally in their relationships with those they regard as not humble. In the Biblical revelation the splendor of God is His humility (Luke 14:11) - a supreme virtue and service (Rom.15:31) as one of those seeming paradoxes (Matt.23:11).

Scripture presents many accounts of Jesus' role of a servant. One in which several powerful lessons are found in Serving, is the allegory of washing the road-dust of the feet of his learners (Jh.13:1-17). They were preoccupied with elements of precedence; as to who should be the greatest in the Kingdom and would be the closest to their Master (Luke 22:24). Feet-washing was below their dignity. While Jesus was contemplating on sharing about His journey to Golgotha, He sensed their attitude. He took off the robe of dignity and girdeed Himself with the towel of service. He stopped to define what was true greatness (Matt.18:4). He restored to an indelible and inevitable example (Jh.13:14-15), authenticating that service rendered in humility is a learned art and that had no affect on His position as the Son of god. It involved considerably more than a mere job description or attending a trade school or earning a degree from a seminary. It came through modeling God's character and altering that into His description.

In the present environment of individualism and spiritual anarchy; the art of serving seems unpleasant and inconvenient to the rational mind. It was not only the twelve who were plagued with an insecurity complex. the rivalry prevails even today, within the ecclesiastical domain. The towel and the basin has been theologized and traditionalized to the extend of jeopardizing its origional intent. The act is performed in several church services, as though it was the fufillment of the teaching of Jesus! His dramatization endorsed His leadership with a spirit of servanthood (1 Peter 5:5). This gave a vivid picture that leaders ought to take off the mantle of religious superiority and submit to God's authority. Prepared to be tailored into the image of Christ (Rom 8:29) and be transformed into His resemblance (2 Cor.3:18).

Today Jesus waits with the towel and the basin, to wipe away the dust and the dirt of all worldly excellence. The degree of expectation is probably far more than what was foreseen in the days of the twelve. He demand calls for an eradication of the professional-the outwardly religious and the status symbols intended to impress (Matt.10:39) and a transfiguration into the towel and the basin spirit in order to serve our fellow-countrymen, baptizing them into the blood of Calvary and turning them into burning firewood of the Spirit.

Isn't It Strange???

2009-08-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

Isn't it strange how Rs.20/- seems like such a large amount when you donate it to Church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at place of worship, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble thniking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible, but hoe easy it is to read 1oo pages of a popular novel?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in the Church?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for the Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjest it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God or to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspaper say, but we question the words in the Bible?

Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away, but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?

For as he thinks within himself, so he is... Proverbs 23:7

2009-08-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

In Your Thoughts Today You Are Building The Blueprint Of What You Will Become Tomorrow! So,discipline your mind.
The uncontrolled mind has no knowledge of the self. He has no meditation. To the unmeditative there is no peace. And to the peaceless how can there be happiness?
Though a man go out to battle a thousand times against a thousand men, if he conquers himself he is the greatest conqueror.
He who reigns within himself and rules his passions, desires and fears, is more than a king.
A MAN is his own best kingdom. But self-control, this truest and greatest monarchy, rarely comes by inheritance. Everyone of us must conquer himself, and we may do so, if we take the Holy Spirit for our guide and general.
Man's greatness lies in his power of thought.
We grow by thinking and not by simply accepting the thoughts of others, even though these thoughts may be noble.
Ideas rule the world, and all ideas are from the mind.
A negative mental attitude is one of the primary causes of failure.
Can you walk on water? You have done no better than a straw. Can you fly in the air? You have done no better than a bluebottle. Conquer your heart; then you may become somebody.

THE PENCIL

2009-08-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

The pencil maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. "There are five things you need to know" he told the pencil, before I sent you out into the world. Always remember these and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.

ONE: You will be able to do many things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand.
TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you will need it to become a better pencil.
THREE: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make.
FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.
FIVE: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember and went into the box with pupose in its heart. Now replacing the place of the pencil with you:

ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand.
TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time by also going through various problems for you need to become like Jesus.
THREE: You will be able to correct mistakes you make.
FOUR: The most important part of you will be what's on the inside.
FIVE: On every surface you walk, you must leave the mark of Jesus. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.

By understanding and recollecting when necessary, let us move in life to fulfill the purpose of God on our life!!!

Failure???

2009-08-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

>> Failure doesn't mean - God has abondoned you. It means - God has a better way for you.

>> Failure doesn't mean - you'll never make it. It means - it will take a little longer.

>> Failure doesn't mean - you don't have it. It means - you have to do something in a different way!!!

"No Matter What You Are Facing, There Is Someone Else In The World Who Has Had The Same Past As You And He Has Faced It Successfully And Gone On To Live A Productive Life."

The Prayer of Serenity

2009-08-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

God Grant Me The Serenity
To Accept The Things I Can Not Change
Courgae To Change The Things I Can
And Wisdom To Know The Difference.

The Rich Merchant And His Wives

2009-08-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

There was a rich merchant who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other man.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the 1st wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied 3rd wife, "Life is so good over here! I'm remary when you die!" The merchat's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife,"I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his 1st wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I shold have taken much better care of you while I could have!"

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives:-

1) The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

2) Our 3rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.

3) The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

4) The 1st is in fact our Soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

"FOR WHAT PROFIT IS TO A MAN IF HE GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSSES HIS OWN SOUL OR WHAT WILL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL." (MATTHEW 16:26) THE BIBLE

Always Be On Guard

2009-08-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a Church in Houston, Texas. Some week after he arrived, he had an occassion to ride on the bus from his home town to the downtown erea. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet." When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said,"Here, you gave me too much change." The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? Have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday." When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test!

Always be on guard-and remember-You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself-CHRISTIAN

Watch your thoughts-they become words

Watch your words-they become actions

Watch your actions-they become habits

Watch your habits-they become character

Watch your character-it becomes your destiny!

STAY FAITHFUL AND BE GRATEFUL..

Powerful Ways To Expand Your Life

2009-08-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

DEFINE YOUR FUTURE:
Describe the life you'd like to live. The future you see defines the person you'll need to be. Identify the traits and qualities you'd like to acquire. Think bigger than yourself. An acorn that only thinks as an acorn will never become a mighty oak. Strecth yourself. You are undoubtedly capable of more than you ever dreamed is possible for you.

BECOME THE PERSON WHO WOULD ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS: As you develop the skills, knowledge,relationships and demeanour of the 'future you', your goals will be the natural byproduct of your growth. Spend an extra hour each day in the study of your chosen field.

GIVE MORE THAN YOU MUST:
Nothing advances until somebody does more than they are paid to do. Always deliver more value than others expect. Don't require others to acknowledge3 your generousity. Give with 'Class'.

MAKE TIME FOR WHAT YOU LOVE: If you don't live fully, you deny the world your potential contributions. Your 'play' sometimes contributes as much as your 'work'. What you love reveals the value you bring to the world.

REFINE YOUR INNER CIRCLE:
We define ourselves through our key relationships. Explore the mix and depth of those with whom youb spend most of your time. Release those who limit you and connect with those who dcan help you live more fully.

RESOLVED YOUR UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Either deal with it or descard it. Say your apologies, face your fears, pay your debths, express your gratitude and get on with living. Don't let yesterday drain value from today and tomorrow. Break out of the limited world of your past and start to grow.

RETHINK EXISTING HABITS AND ROUTINES: Describe your typical day and then reconsider every aspect of it. Change or expand the places you go, people you see, things you do, and the time you devote to each. Try new things, learn a new language, go some place different, do some things you'd typically pass by. Find out what your possiblities really are.

LIGHTEN UP:
Stop stressing over things that only matter to you emotionally. When life isn't fair to you, get over it quickly. Take your misfortunes as 'course corrections' rather than 'catastrophes'. Let go so you can grow.

TIGHTEN UP:
Sloppiness in life allows more variables to creep in and spoil your plans. Stay on target, increase your self-descipline, master the art ofv self-motivation. Sometimes details matter a lot.

PROFILE YOURSELF:
Keep a journal of your goals, concerns, fears and dreams. Revive it at least once a year. Look for patterns that reveal your core values, natural velocity, natural intelligences and recurring situations. Realise how life ebbs and flows for you. Notice the natural cycles of life. Know yourself.

INVEST IN YOURSELF:
Set aside a portion of each year's income to acquire new tools ans teachers to increase your potential. Refine your systems, get expert coaching, attend special conferences, cultivate a study group, appoint a board of advisors. You are your only true asset. Send part of today ahead to the person you'll be in future.

My Mission Statement

2009-08-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

My Mission In Life Is To Glorify God By Seeking To Know Jesus More Fully And Intimately, To Grow In Him And In His Character, To Serve She Broken Hearted And Needy By Sharing The Love Of Jesus With Them And Make Them To Be Healed And Complete In Jesus Christ.

The Statement of Faith

2009-08-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

I believe in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and in the inerrancy of the Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments in the origional autographs, is the inspired, infallible Word vof God, a complete and final written revelation of God.

I believe in one personal and holy God, the Creator of all, who is eternal and who manifests Himself in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I believe that Jesus Christ, though fully God, became a human, that He is the promised messiah, wsas born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vacarious death on the cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascended back to the right hand of God the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for us.
I believe in the person and work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells, seals and empowers all believers, baptizing them into the Body of Christ. I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit for all believers who ask in faith, enabling them to preach the Gospel in power.
I believe that all people by nature separated from God and resposible for their own sin, but by the grace of our Lord, and by trusting in Him, they are saved.
I believe in one holy universal & apostolic church(the Body), and the Jesus Christ the Head of the Body.

This motivates me to holy living, heartfelt worship, Christian fellowship, believers baptism, holy communion and mission involvement. Amen