tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60201750520766938682024-03-20T03:06:44.304+05:30Biblical PerspectiveI love this platform where i can express and share Biblical perspective and my views, thoughts, opinion and experiences.Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-87799524540304753642020-11-23T03:20:00.059+05:302020-11-30T13:59:57.380+05:30Narcissism: More than a Personality Disorder<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLDWbhywA0ZDyWLsrR5hVkhyjxkRiA6oZjdqnj08Ycn-Y1j0CeEUzkbKpwY_YxaV5uFuu99DfvwKtpULcM3YagpMtTcM61XPUymXQrtau46dlv5KeYVhEi34A6sa3tbTs9rf3Iaeg36ps/s868/download.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="716" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLDWbhywA0ZDyWLsrR5hVkhyjxkRiA6oZjdqnj08Ycn-Y1j0CeEUzkbKpwY_YxaV5uFuu99DfvwKtpULcM3YagpMtTcM61XPUymXQrtau46dlv5KeYVhEi34A6sa3tbTs9rf3Iaeg36ps/w200-h190/download.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: Pininterest</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For years, I believed that Narcissism is just a word for someone who is self-obsessed about his/her looks, beauty, intelligence, wealth etc. It never crossed my mind that Narcissism is more than that. Even when India began to be ruled by a Narcissistic King, even then, it never occurred to me to look up and study about Narcissism and Narcissists.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A personal encounter of a close kind took me on a journey to uncover the cause behind the mind-boggling intelligence displayed by my wife. The smear campaign she indulged in was so subtle and well timed that by the time(i.e. years later) I realized what she actually intended to by passing on private, confidential information to outsiders, the damage had already been done. The mind-numbing pain she caused was so intense that if I would not have come to know about Narcissism or in medical terminology, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), I would have either committed suicide or would have continued in depression. The deftness employed to create confusion was so precise and perfectly timed that it ripped me apart. A relationship with a Narcissist is a soul-crushing experience; once you are on the road with a Narc, you sure are on the way to hell. Having known and read Bible and the Biblical characters referred to as the Devil and his demons, i had a faint clue as to who i was dealing with or sleeping with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The whole picture became clear only when i happened to read about Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) on Quora and the personal accounts of many victims of Narcissists. It was then I realized that i am not alone who happened to be a victim of a Narcissist. It was then that I found that I with all my weaknesses and shortcomings was not the one to be blamed for the acts of my wife.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4SaVqx2Yrr-afs_9RK8G9d_BqTI7ET7m4bBLg30l3KldDtkoMnTC1YOid7Qslm4_Vt2d9hFcZVBbXMiuD0JbONbIG1yYsbrrxvcim97rChxlP7HjOpMSYuqIBi4TdraqfHUrWjl2ar-Y/s1400/Download+premium+image+of+Colleagues+working+together+during+the+meeting.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Colleagues" border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="1400" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4SaVqx2Yrr-afs_9RK8G9d_BqTI7ET7m4bBLg30l3KldDtkoMnTC1YOid7Qslm4_Vt2d9hFcZVBbXMiuD0JbONbIG1yYsbrrxvcim97rChxlP7HjOpMSYuqIBi4TdraqfHUrWjl2ar-Y/w200-h170/Download+premium+image+of+Colleagues+working+together+during+the+meeting.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: Pininterest</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>We all have come across Narcissists. Its just that because we aren't aware of the concept of demons walking in flesh and blood, that we ignore or adjust to such individuals. Yet, they are out there, may be, as our parents, brothers, sisters, children, spouse, relatives, friends, colleagues or acquaintances. </span>We assume that they are flawed individuals and that's that. We may pity them because of their poverty during their childhood. We may sympathize with them because of their having been deprived of parental love during their childhood. We may empathize with them for the mental, physical and/or sexual abuse they suffered during their childhood. We may assist them in their endeavor to rise up higher in their personal, professional, and social lives. But, they are not mere flawed individuals. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Poverty, deprivation of parental love and abuse during formative years surely play a dominant role in these individuals yet they are not a result or consequence of those events. But these three events surely imbibed in them an ambitious spirit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, who is a Narcissist? Or, what is Narcissism? At the outset, Narcissism is more than just a personality disorder, as they would want us to believe. Because of the fact that they don't believe in Bible or they don't want to believe in God of the Bible, the existence of Devil and his army of demons, that they have coined the word, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). A Narc, from the outside, is just like a normal human being, going about his/her normal course in life. A medical practitioner can or will never be able to diagnose an individual with NPD because of the fact that they have all their faculties functioning at the optimum level. They don't scream or howl like a madman. They don't wallow in filth or dirt. They don't live in far-away isolated locations or in caves and dens. They live, eat and work among us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A Narc's ability to create or spin stories displays their creative mind. Their ability to take and answer questions, logically, defies interrogators. Their prowess in engaging their audience is a result of their communication skills. Thus, these individuals can never be diagnosed as mentally disabled persons or incarcerated for their crimes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">To understand Narcissism, we have to understand the Biblical character, by the name of Lucifer. Our first full introduction of this creature is written in Ezekiel 28: 11-17, "</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Ezek-28-11">Moreover, the word of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> came to me:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Ezek-28-12" id="en-ESV-21170"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">God</span>:</span></span></span></p><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="text Ezek-28-12" style="position: relative;">“You were the signet of perfection, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-12" style="position: relative;">full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. </span></span>13 <span class="text Ezek-28-13" id="en-ESV-21171" style="position: relative;">You were in Eden, the garden of God; </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-13" style="position: relative;">every precious stone was your covering, </span></span><span class="text Ezek-28-13" style="position: relative;">sardius, topaz, and diamond, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-13" style="position: relative;">beryl, onyx, and jasper, </span></span><span class="text Ezek-28-13" style="position: relative;">sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-13" style="position: relative;">and crafted in gold were your settings </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-13" style="position: relative;">and your engravings. </span></span><span class="text Ezek-28-13" style="position: relative;">On the day that you were created </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-13" style="position: relative;">they were prepared. </span></span>14 <span class="text Ezek-28-14" id="en-ESV-21172" style="position: relative;">You were an anointed guardian cherub. </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-14" style="position: relative;">I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-14" style="position: relative;">in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. </span></span>15 <span class="text Ezek-28-15" id="en-ESV-21173" style="position: relative;">You were blameless in your ways </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-15" style="position: relative;">from the day you were created, </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-15" style="position: relative;">till unrighteousness was found in you. </span></span>16 <span class="text Ezek-28-16" id="en-ESV-21174" style="position: relative;">In the abundance of your trade </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-16" style="position: relative;">you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; </span></span><span class="text Ezek-28-16" style="position: relative;">so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-16" style="position: relative;">and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-16" style="position: relative;">from the midst of the stones of fire. </span></span>17 <span class="text Ezek-28-17" id="en-ESV-21175" style="position: relative;">Your heart was proud because of your beauty; </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-17" style="position: relative;">you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. </span></span><span class="text Ezek-28-17" style="position: relative;">I cast you to the ground; </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-17" style="position: relative;">I exposed you before kings, </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ezek-28-17" style="position: relative;">to feast their eyes on you."</span></span></span></p></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's look at the qualities of this personality as revealed in the scripture. First, in verse 12, it says, "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><u>Perfect and full of intelligence<br /></u></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Lucifer, the Devil was a perfect creature and this same feature is reflected in all Narcs. They have expertise in just about anything and everything. Their knowledge is vast. They are full of wisdom, earthly intelligence as to how to convince, persuade, manipulate, lie and yet get away unscathed. Outwardly, they look beautiful. There is no flaw in their facial and physical features. They consider themselves as High Net Worth individuals. </span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><u>Pride</u></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">In Verse 17, it says, "Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor." These creatures are obsessed about their facial and physical features.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><u>Dandy</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Verse 13 details how this Angel was decorated with precious jewels. All Narcs have an immense desire to dress up, to apply make-up, love jewels, wear a pretentious outfit, they love the dandy look. Depending on their financial capability, they either get to fulfill their desires or continue to retain such urge.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><u>Play victim<br /></u></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In verse 15, it says, "You were blameless in your ways...". All Narcs continue to pretend that they are the victims of abuse. All Narcs maintain innocence unless hard, undisputed, undeniable facts and truths are presented to expose them. All Narcs blame others for their past and current situations. They never accept blame. They still assume that they are blameless, faultless. They still harbor the misconception that they exist in Pre-Fall period.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><u>Violent</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In verse 16, it says, "you were filled with violence in your midst...". All Narcs are violent. They are extremely abusive, verbally and physically. They may have a calm exterior but they nurture a violent nature. They explode when exposed. Narcs do not know the path of peace. All their acts and speeches are designed to instigate violence.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In Isaiah 14:12-14, the Bible details a bit more on the fall of this creature, referred here as the Day Star and son of Dawn. It says, "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: #38761d;">Ambitious</span></u><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Lucifer the angel had a huge ambition that to overthrow God Himself. All Narcs exhibit this quality. All of them are highly ambitious. They want to scale heights, cross insurmountable barriers to become wealthy, rich, powerful, even becoming a king. An unwavering ambition that defies all odds, logic and commonsense. In their pursuit to become rich, wealthy, strong, powerful, they will not let anything or anyone come in their way. They are not inhibited by the laws of the land or social customs, rules, regulations. They do not consider anybody as authority or head. They are their own boss. You can't shake them off of their fantasy.</span></span><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><u>Angel of Light</u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 2 Corinthians 11: 14-15, Apostle Paul writes, "</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text 2Cor-11-14" id="en-ESV-28987" style="background-color: white;">And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. </span><span class="text 2Cor-11-15" id="en-ESV-28988" style="background-color: white;">So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Narcs, always present themselves as helpful, courteous, bring hope, create bliss, portray an image of being a perfect human being, draw a silver lining over the horizon. But its all a facade. Its a disguise. <a href="https://zeenews.india.com/news/india/pm-modi-launches-swachh-bharat-abhiyan-says-its-patriotism-not-politics_1479062.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PM swachh Bharat Yojana </a>(PM's Clean India plan), India shining, eradication of black money, corruption, Make in India initiative etc. are few examples.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="text 2Cor-11-15" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Cor-11-15" style="background-color: white;"><u>Wanderer</u></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="text 2Cor-11-15" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="text 2Cor-11-15" style="background-color: white;">In Job 1: 7, t</span><span style="background-color: white;">he</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">and said, “From</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” and again in Job 2:2, a</span><span style="background-color: white;">nd the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” In 1 Peter 5:8, Apostle Peter cautions to "</span><span style="background-color: white;">Be sober-minded;</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">be watchful. Your</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">adversary the devil</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">prowls around</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." All Narcs avoid staying at home. They love to roam, travel, prowl. They are restless beings, they can't stay within the confines of four walls of a home. In their convoluted imagination, home seems like a cage. </span><span style="background-color: white;">They desire to be a free bird.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><u>Create confusion and defy authority</u></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">In Genesis 3:1, the Bible tells us, n</span><span style="background-color: white;">ow</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">God had made. </span><span style="background-color: white;">He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You </span><span style="background-color: white;">shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And again in Job 1:9, "</span><span style="background-color: white;">Then Satan answered the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?" All Narcs question an accepted fact, truth. The questions are intended to create confusion in the mind of a listener or interrogator. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult, nearly impossible to investigate and prosecute a Narc. <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/police-solve-mystery-of-serial-deaths-in-kerala-s-kozhikode-1606593-2019-10-06" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kodhathai murder</a> case is a classic example of this. All Narcs defy authority and/or instigate others to defy authority, legal or otherwise.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Lover of Money</u></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">In 1 Timothy 6:10, "</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">For the love of money is a root of </span><span style="background-color: white;">all kinds of evils." All Narcs love money. Since evil they are at the core, their want money. So, they will deprive you of your money, in one way or the other. They want your money at all cost. That's how they deprive you of your purchasing power, reduce your financial capability. As a result, you are stuck in that relationship because now you don't have the ability to fight back or take a flight out. They want you at their beck and call. They find an evil pleasure in doing so. <a href="https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=38520" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Demonetization</a>, consistent price increase in petrol/diesel, loss of employment, negative growth, faulty policies, ignoring key growth areas, deliberate wastage of money on personal aggrandizement are examples of this behavior.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Smear Campaign</u></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">In 1 John 2:1, the Bible informs us, "</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Devil accuses Christians before our Father but the Bible tells us that we have Jesus Christ who intercedes on our behalf. All Narcs run smear campaign to arraign their opponent, spouse, parents, children, sibling, colleague or friend. They are good at it. They discredit, belittle, insult, humiliate, bad-mouth their opponents. Anyone who challenges their status quo is their opponent. The <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rahul-gandhi-pappu-1293314-2018-07-23" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">smear campaign</a> was so successful that before they could defend or correct or clear the narrative that was being spread, they lost the election.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a class="full-chap-link" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2&version=ESV" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #517e90; min-width: 0px;" title="View Full Chapter"></a></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div><a class="full-chap-link" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3&version=ESV" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #517e90; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; min-width: 0px;" title="View Full Chapter"></a><a class="full-chap-link" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&version=ESV" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #517e90; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; min-width: 0px;" title="View Full Chapter"></a></div>Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-15083192791908255612020-11-22T19:59:00.004+05:302020-11-22T23:24:01.135+05:30Christian Impossible<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: georgia;">It is the bondage of religion, traditions, society's pressure, rituals, ego and false belief system which restrains men from following Jesus Christ and the irony is, a new set of religion, traditions, rituals, false belief system that is not approved by Bible are the very ones which holds Christians from going back to their old religion, traditions and false belief system. The difference is now they are caught in a Christian religion, ego, traditions and rituals of the church and family, pressure of/from Christian society, and the false belief that they belong to Christ when their decision was just a fleeting moments of emotion under false presentation of the Gospel, without having known or understood the gravity of being a Christian.</span></span></p><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For it is not possible for a good soil not to yield at least some fruit when it has consistently received good and strong seed, pure water, sunshine without any obstructions, pollution free air, unadulterated nutrients, self-less care and protection. It has to be a false soil. However times I may sow and in whatever ways I sow, they won’t yield which goes on to prove that they were never a true soil to work on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have they not heard what God said to humankind in Genesis, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh.” Genesis 6:3<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did not Jesus cry out at their refusal to yield to Him when He said, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 19.55px; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">What did he follow it with? Judgment! He prophesied and said, “See! Your house is left to you desolate.”</span>Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-90787040773168165732020-11-04T00:59:00.001+05:302020-11-23T00:38:14.813+05:30Casteism in India and Untouchability<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">On the last day of a whitewash contract, while my
team of Painters was working in a flat, the lady of the house told the man of
the house that once the work is complete, we need to throw away the bottle from
which the Painters drank water.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Following the same pattern, which is way too common,
i along with my team of Painters, noticed that the cups in which tea is served
to us in the afternoon, are either plastic or paper cups or are designated
cups, which are discarded or kept separate or distinct, once the work is
complete.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome to the World of Casteism and Untouchability
in Indian homes. Casteism in India is a deeply rooted phenomenon, is alive and
thriving well in the well-to-do, educated, working professionals (including IT
professionals), working in Multi-National Companies, many of whom have even
visited foreign countries and are exposed to US and England's culture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And yet they refuse to let go of this despicable and
shameful Caste discrimination based solely of social status. All of the times, I’ve
experienced this, I felt awful. It is so shocking to see such actions from
individuals who reside in societies, whose children study in best of the
English medium schools.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All of the education, exposure to international
culture, travels to foreign countries are futile and have failed to eradicate
or alter the mindset of Indians. Casteism and Untouchability is an inherent part
of social structure. Indians cannot and will not comprehend the fact that
people who are doing manual work are no lesser than them. Manual labour, in any
form, is considered a menial job and thus to be looked down upon. They themselves
won’t and can’t do it and yet they won’t respect others who do it for them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">With their little brains, they can’t comprehend the
fact that whitewashing or home painting involves Art as well as Science.
Painting a home or a flat involves mathematical calculation as to the amount of
paint to be bought and consumed, based on the size of walls and ceiling,
understanding of colors and their association with each other, labour days and
labour cost to be calculated based on the size of flat or a house, customer
handling skills, and communication skills. A Painter holds the paint brush or a
roller in such a manner that not a drop of paint falls on the ground. It is a
matter of Art that he or she ensures that while painting the edges of walls, he
doesn’t let the brush or roller touch the other wall or surface. In addition to
these, a Painter or a Contractor needs to possess honesty, integrity, and
marketing skills, an understanding of different cultures based on religion,
language, age, education, sex and geographic location.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Caste system and Untouchability is here to stay and I
don’t find any near end to it. There is one way around for those at the
receiving end to react to such inhumane, shameful discrimination by understanding
and studying the mindset of individuals practicing Casteism and Untouchability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">First, those who are involved in manual labour like
painting a home or whitewashing a flat should work on their personal grooming.
Wear good, clean and fitting clothes, shoes, and socks. Attend to your personal
hygiene. Have an hair cut, apply hair oil, cut your nails, apply cream on your
arms and hands (during winters and after every day’s work), have a clean work
overalls, quit chewing tobacco, clean your teeth, abstain from using abusive
and filthy language.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of the most
effective ways to change or alter the mindset of an individual is by making him
or her change his or her preferred taste in music and movies. A vast majority
of those who practice Casteism in India and the ones at the receiving end are
the ones who are still engrossed in their regional music and movies. Allow them
to be exposed to the finest nuances of English music and movies. An exposure to
the finest of music and movies from a very tender age is bound to completely
alter the hearts and minds of Indians who still believe and practice discrimination
based on the despicable Caste system.</span>Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India28.6691565 77.4537577999999910.35892266382115423 42.297507799999991 56.979390336178845 112.61000779999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-77749952521419464562018-03-08T18:40:00.009+05:302020-11-18T00:48:31.334+05:30The Mystery of a Relationship<p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">
Its hard or rather very difficult to imagine the amount of hatred or anger that a person can harbor against their ex. Do you get to a point of killing that person? Do you get to the level of lying? Is the scent of the scalp of your once-loved one so sweet that if an opportunity falls in your lap, you are willing to ruin the career of your ex.? Should a person be so engrossed in their own <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">illusionary</span> thoughts, imaginations, ideas that he/she should negate all the positive vibes, acts of restoration, forgiveness that her/his loved one is sending across? Is any sin, wrong, error or a mistake unforgivable at all? There are innumerable questions that have been bogging my mind. I know, I'll never have the answers to these. At least, I've communicated them.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">
Is it too hard to forgive someone who is doing all his/her best to being forgiven? Every one makes a mistake. Well, I've mine in thousands. Then, I'm an exception. I wonder why people bring egos in their relationship. The moments I spent on my knees in front of her are very cherished memories. May be, I'll never forget that. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hmmm</span>.. I've never done that before or later. That's one exclusive act of love, commitment, worship that I've never duplicated. Never will.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">
If I have to delve into my own life, then yes, of course, I have been through this stage as well. But then, it was a mixture of both love, anger and hatred. I couldn't accept being at the receiving end at almost all of the time. Being ditched is not what I ever asked for. Breaking apart is a part of a relationship. I should have made a provision for that. Alas, I never did.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have come to believe that people who go (leave), never come back. Try hard as you may. I remember the old <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hindi</span> film song, '<span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">chahe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bhejo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hazaro</span> salaam, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">phir</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nahin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">aate</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">wo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">phir</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">nahin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">aate</span>'.</span>Lesson of the game: Love is a treasure. Once gone, forever gone.</span></span></p><p></p>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-2659427957048026272017-11-24T23:53:00.005+05:302020-11-18T01:23:50.777+05:30A nation of cowards or is it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">
I, due to my personal experiences, encounters and observations, for a considerable period of time held a firm view that we Indians are cowards who are afraid to stand, speak and fight for the truth, our rights, against wrongs, injustice and wicked people. India is not a land of cowards as they want to make us believe. One doesn't need lot of courage to kill. Depravity of mind will do. A mind full of evil and a heart full of hatred and wickedness will suffice to kill and rape. The ones who resort to threatenings, rape, and murder are the ones who are cowards because they are the ones who are attempting to silence every voice of dissention lest their wickedness is revealed.<br />
<br />
And then I came across people like Judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, Senior Executive Editor, Ravish Kumar of NDTV, Journalist Niranjan Takle of Caravan Magazine, Journalist Rohini Singh of The Wire, Journlist Josy Joseph of The Hindu, to name a few, all of whom have risked their lives to not only uncover but to speak and stand for the truth during a time when almost all the major news media outlets have continued to exhibit an indifferent attitude and maintain a stoic silence over the disclosures made by these journalists.<br />
<br />
These guys too are ordinary individuals just like you and me. They too have a family, relatives and friends who are concerned about the safety and well-being of these guys and who they are accountable to. They too have to go out to the market to buy vegetables, or go for a stroll in the mornings or evenings. They too like ordinary individuals come back home alone at night. They too may have had their fears, but they, while fighting the fear within, staked their all to uncover the truth and stand, speak and fight for the truth.<br />
<br />
The amazing thing about it all is that these guys aren't even saved, have not known or experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ but for the sake of truth have given it all. They, for the present truth and have staked their eternity. How much more should we Christians, who have known and tasted Jesus Christ and His redemptive work, stand, speak and fight for the truth.<br />
<br />
The current evil government has, through multiple organs available at its disposal, attempted to instill fear into our lives and has even succeeded in making us to believe that we are a nation of cowards. That it is futile to stand, speak and fight for the truth. That there would be no one to stand up to defend you. It may all be true but these few guys have shown, while they fought the war against fear within themselves and knowing fully well that they would be an easy prey against the powers that be, a remarkable courage, and are worthy of honor.</span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-32854096834878364212013-01-25T00:29:00.006+05:302020-11-18T00:50:16.022+05:30Being Holy: Biblical Perspective, Final <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Reason number
three, because of His son’s sacrifice on the cross. Paul in I Cor 6: 19 and 20
says, ‘Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is
in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought
at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are
God’s.’ For you were bought with a price. You do not belong to yourself. You do
not own yourself. You are a slave to Christ. You cannot do what you want to do.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do you realize
how difficult it is to go out in the streets, knocking doors as a salesman? As
a salesman, I have done door to door sales and I know how difficult it is to
make yourself get out of your room, shed your ego and shame and go knocking. I
have stood in the malls and exhibitions approaching people, we call it prospecting.
Do you realize how difficult it is? All salesmen do whatever it takes to
procrastinate, postpone the prospect of going out and making cold calls. And
Jesus having shed His glory and honor endured the shame and humiliation of being
beaten and spit upon. If that was not enough, he was made to walk all the way
to the Calvary, making himself a spectacle in front of the whole crowd who had
gathered to see this event. If people didn’t know Him, it would have been
easier for Him to go unrecognized as just another criminal being punished for
his crime. But here He was, among the same people whom He taught daily in the
synagogue, whom He healed, spoke great monologues. They knew Him and that’s why
they mocked Him. He faced treachery from His own people, falsely convicted,
humiliated and mocked by soldiers, endured pain due to the beatings and crown
of thorns, isolated at the cross, died the death of a criminal. He did it
because He chose to suffer for our sake. Jesus said in Jn 10:17b-18, ‘I lay
down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it
down Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.’
II Cor 5:15, ‘And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer
for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.’ Peter in I Pet
1:18 and 19 says this, ‘Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible
things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition
from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Reason number
four, because you are saved. God demands holiness because He is holy. God
demands holiness because He hates sin. God demands holiness because of His
son's sacrifice on the cross. God demands holiness because you are saved,
transformed, redeemed, new creation. So, do not conform yourselves to the
former lusts. II Pet 1:14. Conduct (behave) yourselves throughout the time of
your stay in fear. I Pet 1:17. Fear means reverence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God demands
holiness from people who do not know Him for even though they may not know the
True and Living God, they have a conscience which either accuses them or
excuses them. Rom 1:19, 2:14, 15. How much more pertinent it is for those who
are God's children to yield to this demand of their God.</span></div>
</div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India28.6691565 77.453757799999991-1.1346054660452189 42.297507799999991 58.472918466045215 112.61000779999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-52567187027261724682013-01-25T00:26:00.002+05:302013-01-25T00:27:05.737+05:30Being Holy: Biblical Perspective, Part 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Reason number
two, because God hates sin. Why you should pursue holiness? Because God hates
sin. Sin is an affront to God’s holiness. God hates sin. Sin is an insult to
God. Sin demeans God’s holiness and His authority. How much does He hate it?
Listen to what God says of his anointed cherub, an angelic being in Ezekiel 28:
11-17, ‘Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, take up
a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:
“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You
were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the
sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and
emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for
you on the day you were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I
established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and
forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day
you were created, till iniquity was found in you. “By the abundance of your
trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I
cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O
covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. “Your heart was lifted up
because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your
splendor; I cast you to the ground…”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This is the
origin of Satan. He was perfect in all sense: being, wisdom and beauty. He was
in the Garden of Eden, he walked on the holy mountain of God, he had many
responsibilities, he was the anointed one, yet the moment he sinned, God threw
him out of heaven. God hates sin in its entirety. As far as east is from the
west, so far away is our God from sin. Sin has no place in heaven and no
one who is tainted with sin can or will ever be able to make his/her way to
heaven. God is serious about sin and does not push it under the carpet.</span></div>
</div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-45679174839627450342013-01-25T00:21:00.000+05:302013-01-25T00:27:05.734+05:30Being Holy: Biblical Perspective, Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We will begin
our discussion with the question on, 'why holiness is important'? Why holiness
is an absolute must? Then, we will seek to find as to how to be holy. Let’s
begin our study with the question, why holiness…why holiness?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Reason number
one, because He is holy. Holiness is one of the central themes of the Bible. It
is the thread which runs through the fabric of the Bible. You cannot separate
God of the Bible from holiness. He is holy and demands that they who approach
Him, approach Him in holiness. He is so holy that even the Seraphims, the
angelic beings referred to in Isaiah 6:2,3 cover their faces with two of their
wings, feet with another two of their wings and with another two they flew
saying one to another, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth
is full of His glory. In I Timothy 6:16 Paul says, ‘ Who alone has immortality,
dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be
honor and everlasting power. Amen.’ His dwelling place is unapproachable light,
which speaks of symbolically of His absolute holiness. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/1Tim/Timothy-Man-God">http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/1Tim/Timothy-Man-God</a>.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Look at Exodus
chapter 19 and starting from verse 11, ‘And let them be ready for the third
day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight
of all the people. Verse 12, ‘You shall set bounds for the people all around,
saying, ‘take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch
its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.’ In I Jn
1:5, Apostle John says, ‘…that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.’
Darkness refers to sin. God is holy and He does not want anyone to undermine
His holiness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This is the
reason He demands holiness from His people. If we have to approach this God, we
will have to do it by conforming to His standard. You think that ‘now that I am
saved, it doesn’t matter how I live, I will anyways end up in heaven’, listen
to what God says in Hebrews 12: 14, ‘Pursue peace with all people and holiness,
without which no one will see the Lord.’ If you have an unholy lifestyle and
still consider yourself as saved, you need to reconsider your standing. If
there is an unbroken pattern of sin in your life, that is an alarm screaming at
you about your unredeemed status. A holy life is a proof of your redeemed
status. In Matt 5:48, Jesus said, ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
who is in heaven is perfect.’ (KJV) in I Peter 1:15, Peter says, ‘But as He who
called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.’ This is not some
kind of suggestion. It is a command. God wants you to be holy. Period.</span></div>
</div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-3541352303741405232013-01-25T00:16:00.000+05:302013-01-25T00:22:34.567+05:30Being Holy: Biblical Perspective, Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Part 2 deleted, accidentally. My apology.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">you choose to
continue to sin, will it be easy to bring you back, listen to what God says
through the author of Hebrews in chapter 6 and verses 4-6, ‘For it is
impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly
gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good
word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them
again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God,
and put Him to an open shame.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Has He not
called us by grace. Yes, indeed He called us by grace but to what? Let’s read I
Thess 4:7, where Paul says, ‘For God did not call us to uncleanness but to
holiness.’ Verse 8, ‘Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but
God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.’ This is not teaching of a man but
is from God. You reject God when you choose to live an unholy, sinful life.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This call to
holiness is obvious when you become a Christian or when you gave your life to
Jesus, repenting of all your sins. It is obvious for a Christian to be holy. We
came to Jesus because we wanted freedom from the bondage of our sins. Did we
not? Sin held a sway over our lives. Did it not? Far from overcoming it, we
were not even able to deal with it in an effective manner. Then, we heard the
good news of Jesus Christ and his wondrous work on the cross, shattering the
power of sin and delivering us from our sins. God gave us the same power
through which He raised Jesus from the dead. Now having received the
forgiveness of their sins and power over sin, these disobedient believers have
turned back to fulfill their own lustful passions and fleshly desires. Did not
Peter refer to these believers as dogs and pigs in II Peter 2: 22? II Peter
2:22, 'But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog
returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her
wallowing in the mire." Revealing that these people were never saved
in the first place? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Does Bible brand
dogs and pigs as unclean animals? No, not at all. Listen to what Paul says in I
Tim 4:4, 'For every creature of good, and nothing is to be
refused...' Dogs and pigs have an inherent quality. That is, a dog will
vomit and eat the same and a pig, though it has been washed and cleaned will
return to filth. Unless that inherent quality, attribute is changed, dogs and
pigs will continue to revel in that kind of behavior. Salvation or born again
means that you have been transformed completely. The inherent nature to wallow
in sins has been removed. Listen to what God says in Ezekiel 36 and verse 26
and 27, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I
will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I
will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you
will keep My judgments and do them." II Cor 5: 17, 'Therefore, if anyone
is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all
things have become new.'</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Were we saved to
fulfill our own lusts and sinful passions? Paul in I Thess 1:9 says, ‘….you
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God…’ We have turned from
idols, from sin, to God, to serve Him, to obey Him, if indeed we have turned.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Others argue
that the call to holiness is just a talk and there aren't any examples of
Christians in the real world who live or have lived a holy life. Let's confront
this argument by referring to Hebrews 12:1,2, 'Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and
the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith...' The word, therefore, is used to make a conclusion on the basis of
what has been said earlier. In chapter 11, the author refers to a great list of
stalwarts of faith. In verse 2, he asks us to look to Jesus, stay focussed on
Jesus cos He is the author of our salvation, He is the one who will complete
our salvation. So, rather than demanding an example to follow, the author asks
us to look to Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-12454823212575384042013-01-24T23:53:00.000+05:302013-01-25T00:23:16.074+05:30Being Holy: Biblical Perspective, Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We once again
open our Bibles to see God’s perspective in the matter of holiness in the lives
of Christians. Holiness and the lack of it, has always been and continues to be
a matter of grave concern to me as well as to our Lord. My heart aches when I
see and hear God’s people indulging in sin and being open about it. It saddens
me when the church condones these acts and behavior. It is a continuing sorrow
to me to see the lack or absence of reactive and proactive measures taken by
the church in confronting, reprimanding, correcting, and ultimately banning the
erring believer from being a part of the church. Because the church does not
want to deal with these issues head-on, for whatever reasons, young men and
women in faith continue to indulge, wallow and take pleasure in sin, lacking an
understanding of God’s Word and God’s take in the matter of holiness. These
believers continue to pander to their fleshly desires, impulses and emotions by
distorting God’s Word and by taking refuge in Romans 7. These believers refuse
to study God’s Word. Without having a full understanding of God’s Word, to
their own hurt and destruction, they continue to indulge in sin and despise
holiness in their personal lives. These unholy, sinful, disobedient believers,
both young and old, then get involved in the activities of the church, are
given prominent positions, duties, and recognition to the utter disregard of
God’s call to holiness. These believers then exercise their influence over other
immature believers and believers who are new to the faith, thereby dragging
them too in their net. To address these issues, we’ll open our Bibles to see
God’s perspective in this matter of Holiness in our lives.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Let me clarify
at the very beginning that this call to holiness is only for the saved,
redeemed. Only a saved, regenerated, transformed person has the source and the
capability to be holy. Only a person who is saved, redeemed, regenerated,
transformed by the blood of Jesus Christ will have a desire, longing to live a
holy life, pleasing to God. It is due to the indwelling Holy Spirit that God is
able to initiate the desire in the saved person to be holy. It is God who
initiates a desire in us to shun evil, to pursue holiness. In Phil 2:
12-13, Paul commands the believers at Philippi, 'to work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling; For it is God who works in you both to will and to
do for His good pleasure.' Paul in this verse is not saying that we need
to do ‘works’ to achieve salvation. How do I know? In Phil 1:1, Paul refers the
letter to 'all the saints in Christ Jesus.' You do not become a saint unless
you are a saved, right? So, what does fear and trembling means? I looked up few
commentaries to understand what Paul meant when he used the words, fear and
tremble. Pastor John MacArthur says, 'it is to live a life in full surrender
and dependence of the Holy Spirit as Christ lived and live daily, moment by
moment yield to the control of the Spirit, a process which we must carry out
the remainder of our life on earth.'<br />
<br />
The question Christians ask is how to live a holy life? That is a wrong
question. That is a self-centric question. That question seeks personal
achievement. The question should be how should I live a life that pleases God? That
is a God-centric question, which focuses attention on God rather than us. We
need to get our priorities right. It is to please God that we lead a holy
life. An unsaved person may have a longing to do good works, would do good
works also, take part in good works also, but in the words of Pastor John
MacArthur, ‘His tongue is deceitful, his lips are poisonous. His throat is an
open grave; his eyes are full of adultery. His ears are deaf to God's voice and
truth. His hands do evil. His feet run to shed blood. His mind is depraved and
reprobate. His heart is desperately wicked. His will is hard and unrepentant.
He resists God. He refuses life. His conscience is evil. In and out he is
polluted.’</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For part 2 in the series, please click, </span></span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-82188087195158339712013-01-24T23:46:00.001+05:302013-01-25T00:17:13.747+05:30Being Childless: Bible's Perspective, Part 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For part 4 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2012/08/being-childless-bibles-perpective-part-4.html#.UQF42vLmfIU">Being Childless, Part 4</a></span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Does it mean that all the other <i>barren women </i>in history
are sinful? Of course not. Does it mean that all the other <i>barren women </i>in
history failed to have the divine intervention in their life? We do not know. God
while executing his wonderful plan of bringing glory to His name in the lives
of these five <i>barren women</i>, He also revealed that a <i>barren woman </i>is not cursed.
I talk to the believing women and not to the unbelievers. If you have not
repented of your sins and have not given your life to Jesus Christ, God’s wrath
is on you. You are cursed, whether you have a child or you do not have a child.
Will you be able to bear a child, once you repent? I do not have the authority
to say that. You may, you may not. You don’t come to Christ because your needs
are met, you come to Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMogxdfhKUtWhs7dogTY8QcD5H5Siv9Bn5GOIJD26_E4eAQvqe8-1Hbk041ONhFhqEwUnwIiVvlnXwrMSeHbtNsFV-XJFEsHufitt6IAEN3UtAPP-yHuhvmjRgdfz2vfPWrS_XxRZpDZ3b/s1600/472133_359640737391327_631538289_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMogxdfhKUtWhs7dogTY8QcD5H5Siv9Bn5GOIJD26_E4eAQvqe8-1Hbk041ONhFhqEwUnwIiVvlnXwrMSeHbtNsFV-XJFEsHufitt6IAEN3UtAPP-yHuhvmjRgdfz2vfPWrS_XxRZpDZ3b/s320/472133_359640737391327_631538289_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">God’s redemptive work is complete. Through the death of
Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection on the third day, God has
completed the redemptive work. God’s Word is complete. We cannot add to it,
neither can we subtract from it. All the examples of the Old Testament are for
our exhortation and not to increase our suffering. That is why He commanded in
Matt 28: 19, ‘to go and make disciples.’ You do not make disciples by
continuing to wait for the Lord to help you conceive. You do not fulfill the
command by wasting the best years of life wallowing in self-pity, medication,
suffering, humiliation, loneliness and pain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Were we not saved by grace? Are we not adopted ones? After
the redemptive work was complete, only then did He adopt us to His family.
Right? Originally, we are not a part of his family but because of the work on
the cross, we can call Him, ‘Abba’, ‘Father’. Don’t we? Then, how is it that
you refuse to adopt a child into your family and provide a child with parents? How
is it that you do not want to give a child the opportunity to call you ‘Dad’,
‘Mom’? Do you want to start in grace and finish with the work of the flesh? Is the
work of Christ in vain? Did you not receive grace that you refuse to be
gracious? Have you not receive mercy that you refuse to be merciful?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">We spend our whole lives preaching and proclaiming the
gospel of Christ. And after all the effort, the soul of an unrepentant sinner
is not in our hands. God gives repentance. He opens the heart of individuals to
repent and turn away from their sins and come to the saving knowledge of
Christ. I am yet to claim even one individual as my child in Christ as a result
of my preaching.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J5UaoYDlTJZUdjAD2e2LImLiKWLc8-sXsdrG6_GiiBsKwsdYyygx3PBAw83R_z5-_gOGIvQNaWjTgXrRuZzlsKsP3M506jm1U3Lmj3irtutDCU2DvY443UV2yrvxl3lgpP_MYYTykq04/s1600/332053_274994372522631_166591371_o.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J5UaoYDlTJZUdjAD2e2LImLiKWLc8-sXsdrG6_GiiBsKwsdYyygx3PBAw83R_z5-_gOGIvQNaWjTgXrRuZzlsKsP3M506jm1U3Lmj3irtutDCU2DvY443UV2yrvxl3lgpP_MYYTykq04/s320/332053_274994372522631_166591371_o.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Is it not wonderful, that God has made you <i>barren </i>and
given an opportunity to save an orphan from this wicked world, rescue him from
hell, provide him/her with godly parents, raise him/her in the fear of the
Lord? Are you so ignorant that you do not know, understand the purposes of God?
You who have children, are not excused, refuse to adopt children, when you have
sufficient resources to provide and care for the child. I talk to Indian
Christian parents. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">You decide. Is it not easy for a child to be rescued from
hell than a man with all the knowledge, sinful experiences and influences that
pull and drive him? Will not the child spend the first eighteen years of life
under your care and influence? Will you not be able to impact his/her life
through your prayer, study of the Word and love?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">We live in a period of grace. Miracles were designed to
happen along with the preaching of the gospel, to enable the world to see the
hand of God behind the preaching of the Word. God is not in the business of
opening wombs but in the redeeming of sinners from hell. He is not in the
business of performing physical miracles but spiritual miracles. He died and
rose again to change people’s heart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnJV2B_9kze4AgQk1UVjxQW5mfVjbGibMopbD6Wqgdnvj2QhTdHCJrJ9iFrFTiYt7s-wnDfAnn6rezBvs7flURRr_rza0UfR-0xMknm1yLHpWGjn9hXJIpWD6Qle2UzQnUv67be-uKM3Z/s1600/558644_10151466093460597_2049640944_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnJV2B_9kze4AgQk1UVjxQW5mfVjbGibMopbD6Wqgdnvj2QhTdHCJrJ9iFrFTiYt7s-wnDfAnn6rezBvs7flURRr_rza0UfR-0xMknm1yLHpWGjn9hXJIpWD6Qle2UzQnUv67be-uKM3Z/s320/558644_10151466093460597_2049640944_n.jpg" height="320" width="178" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">God wants you to be happy. He wants you to be satisfied.
His command is that you be content. You have a choice to be on His side or your
own. You are not ‘incidentally childless, you are not ‘unfortunately
childless’. God designed your family life that way. He is in control. He has
occasioned that you be happy and content by adopting in your family a child and
bring glory to his name by helping the child to see, know and experience God’s
love, redemptive power, and grace. At the same time, fill your life with joy,
thrill, excitement, energy, love and desire for each other. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My joy is complete when I know that you obey God’s Word. Continue in grace. </span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-21257959869038369422013-01-24T23:31:00.005+05:302020-11-17T20:22:30.866+05:30Abusive Marriage: Biblical Perspective, Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">For part 2 in the series, ple<span style="font-size: small;">ase click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2012/08/abusive-marriage-bibles-perspective.html#.UQF1gfLmfIU">Abusive Marriage, Part 2</a></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">So, how do you deal with an abusive
spouse in an abusive marriage?</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Purpose</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Number one is by knowing that marriage
is not all that there is to the life of a Christian. You have not been created and saved to suffer
in an abusive marriage. You have been created to serve God. Col 3:24b says,
‘for you serve the Lord Christ.’ Eph 2:10 says, ‘For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we
should walk in them.’ See, we have been created by God to serve Him by doing
good deeds/works. Also, we have been saved to serve God. II Tim 1:9, ‘Who has
saved us and called us with a holy calling.’</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Understand this folks, you have been
bought with the precious blood of Christ, which means through Christ’s death,
we’ve been bought. I Pet 1:19. You are not your own. I Cor 6:19b. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9-NRz2BMGfam7QZGyk7zpAL_tjEOeeoJiYkPX9E-3qJhaQoschi1_vrEpJ-uPP1eM-KUdSM_TnYlEz2KOVPnKRQNwg6iM4Uf5Sm4Ks0S74uRKZhdPMcZvxa7WZe8deRv99KudINEAQ84/s1600/403260_1797229748312_1107295870_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9-NRz2BMGfam7QZGyk7zpAL_tjEOeeoJiYkPX9E-3qJhaQoschi1_vrEpJ-uPP1eM-KUdSM_TnYlEz2KOVPnKRQNwg6iM4Uf5Sm4Ks0S74uRKZhdPMcZvxa7WZe8deRv99KudINEAQ84/s320/403260_1797229748312_1107295870_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You are not your own</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">You are God’s property. Your
identity and being is in God. You were and are married with the purpose of
serving God through the help and support of your spouse. You live for Christ as
Paul said in Phil 1:21, ‘For to me, to live is Christ.’</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Do not remain stuck in an abusive
marriage for the sake of retaining your marital status. Run the
race like an athlete laying aside every weight with endurance the race that is
set before us. Heb 12:1</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Position</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdmaqdWO3apZFK5NTNmXzbDrLPTmYK8dNWJEhS5r8oZXloOT_bDmSexnpJLcHVrQ6eoShahde5RQiFuJlJpt7h2f1IIlTThOA7U0IDIoicYtGtDL5MLTOrAgfAQ9sutjdo9Ubr7N7-6i1/s1600/62197_412706057536_7338867_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdmaqdWO3apZFK5NTNmXzbDrLPTmYK8dNWJEhS5r8oZXloOT_bDmSexnpJLcHVrQ6eoShahde5RQiFuJlJpt7h2f1IIlTThOA7U0IDIoicYtGtDL5MLTOrAgfAQ9sutjdo9Ubr7N7-6i1/s320/62197_412706057536_7338867_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suffering in futility</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Husband and wife are co-heirs of the
grace of life I Pet 3:7. ‘Grace’ simply means a ‘gift’, and one of the best gifts
life has to offer is marriage. Thus, Bible gives equal status to both the man
and the woman. A woman is not a slave to her husband and a husband is not a
master to her. You do not have to suffer mental and physical abuse,
humiliation, assault, harassment, and be neglected. Do not consider such abuse
as suffering for Christ. Don’t pat yourself on the back that you are enduring
suffering for the sake of Christ. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Pain</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">The more you suffer and endure it,
the more you will accumulate hurt feelings, harbor grudge, bitterness, hatred, and anger against
your spouse and the more difficult will it be for you to forgive and move on or reconcile
with your spouse in the future. Talk to your spouse of the pain that He/she is
inflicting on you. If he/she accepts her/his sin, you’ve gained your spouse. If
he/she does not, confront your spouse with few members of the church. If he/she
accepts, great! But if he/she does not, take the matter to the church. If
he/she still does not accept his/her sin, then let the church consider such as
sinner and throw him/her out of the church. Matt 18:15-20.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peace</span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">In I Cor 7:15 Paul says, ‘But God
has called us to peace.’ Again, he says in verse 5, ‘Do not deprive one another
except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and
prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of
your lack of self-control.’ What a beautiful advice for a Christian couple in conflict!
Separate for a while, with mutual consent for the purpose of giving yourself to
fasting and prayer (for seeking God's grace and guidance) and come back together so that due to the lack of your
spouse, you fall into temptation and commit sexual sin. As Peter said in I Pet
3:7b, ‘that your prayers may not be hindered.’</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Lord Jesus Christ
abhors the concept of divorce except on the ground of infidelity. Even in the
matter of sexual immorality, a Christian spouse may forgive his/her erring partner
in grace and love. ‘Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.’ Matt 6:12</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">For part 4 in the series, please click, </span></span> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-37955889301677114872013-01-24T23:05:00.003+05:302013-01-24T23:16:01.146+05:30Arranged Marriage: Bible's Perspective, Part 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For part 4 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2013/01/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective_3233.html#.UQFxBPLmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 4</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
process: Selection phase</span></b><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Let’s look at the selection process. When your family
gets into the selection mode, the selection is made on many factors which
include social and financial/economic status, educational qualifications,
caste, language spoken, regional, skin complexion, artistic talents and any
other objective or visible traits/qualities. Bible calls it the lust of eyes
and pride of life. The subjective traits, like habits, views on things and
issues, and thought process of a person, are only visible or made known when
you know and have interacted with the person.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Tell me, my dear, where is God in all of these? Does God
looks at outward appearance or the heart, the inward being? Does God make any
difference between a Jew and a Greek? Did we not all receive the same Spirit
and partake in the same heavenly blessings? Are we not all called by one and
baptized in one name?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">And then, you have the audacity to claim that you have
prayed about the proposal, or that you are praying about it, that you are
seeking God’s will, and that you are waiting on the Lord.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Are you so ignorant that you do not know that when the start
is illegal, the next process is illegal and void ab-initio. If an act is illegal
and void in the first place, then, the whole process is termed illegal and
deemed void.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
process: Final decision</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then you visit the girl’s family to make a final decision.
When you parade your daughter in front of a boy’s family, you are signifying
that your daughter is just a commodity who is in the marriage market to be sold
out to the best and suitable buyer. By parading her, you also make a statement
to the fact that your daughter is less in value than the boy, which is
absolutely ridiculous and contrary to the Bible. Bible considers both man and woman
equal in marriage.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">God created man and woman in His own image. Thus, they are both equal
before God. God commands woman to be silent in the church and do not have the
authority to teach and preach to men I Cor 14:34-38, I Tim 2:9-15. I Pet 3:7b
referring to husband and wife, says, ‘as being heirs together of the grace of
life.’ Thus, they are co-heirs. Paul in Eph 5:22-33, commands husbands to love
their wives and the wives to submit and respect their husbands. Submit not as a
servant but as a helper and a partner. Authority of a husband is not like the
authority of a schoolmaster but to lead and guide with love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">For part 6 in this series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2012/08/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective.html#.UQFzJ_LmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 6</a></span></span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-63458283035689533512013-01-24T23:03:00.000+05:302013-01-24T23:13:17.914+05:30Arranged Marriage: Bible's Perspective, Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For part 3 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2013/01/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective_3560.html#.UQFu3fLmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 3</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Just answer me these questions, how is it possible that
you scraped through your college life, church life, social life, and
professional life and you could not find a person whom you love and adore,
after your own heart? Do you mean to say that God did not create a person and
brought him/her in front of you during all these years since your adolescence and
adulthood? Are you saying that my God is unconcerned about you? That He has no
plan for them whom He chose before the foundation of the world? You then
believe in a cruel God, but not the God of the Bible.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">My God has<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">,</span></span> in different times, and in different similitude, revealed his deep concern for us, His chosen and saved ones. In
Matt 10:30, Jesus said, ‘But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.’ In
Zech 2:8, it is written, ‘He who touches you touches the apple of His eye.’ Is
49:16, ‘See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.’ Just a few out of
many exhortations recorded in the Bible.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For part 5 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2013/01/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective_3233.html#.UQFxBPLmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 5</a></span></span></div>
</div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-76533133116820798642013-01-24T22:56:00.002+05:302013-01-24T23:13:45.618+05:30Arranged Marriage: Bible's Perspective, Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For part 2 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2013/01/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective_24.html#.UQFvFfLmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 2</a></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
Process: Brain-Washing</span></b><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Reason number two, brain washing. <b><i>Arranged marriage</i></b> begins
with the brain-washing process, which starts from a very early age. The girl’s
mother consistently over a period of time feeds the child’s brain with the idea
that to love a boy is wrong and unacceptable in the family as well as society.
She discourages her from ever falling in love or to choose her own partner in
the future. She is fed with the concept of ‘family honor’ to send home the
point that ‘Love’ is a taboo and the girl has to respect and maintain family’s
reputation and honor by suppressing her emotions and feelings and not letting
them to ever take control or precedence. Let me quote what the former Indian
cricket coach, Mr Greg Chappell said about decision making capabilities of
Indians, “From an early age, their parents make all the decisions.” On the
contrary, a boy child is given a free run, with no control mechanism in place;
the boy gets the idea that he is not accountable to anyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During their growing years both boys and girls observe
the attitude of elders and society towards those who have defied this system
and chose their own partners. The elders and the society instill fear into the
minds of these growing children who later on become stereotypes of those
elders. They are influenced by their peers, movies and TV as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Christian who lives in such a society and culture
continues to follow the customs and traditions of the unregenerate society. The
church, its elders and Christians themselves refuse to be transformed by the
renewing of their minds that they may prove what is good and acceptable and
perfect will of God Rom 12:2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Result</span></b></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The end result is a convoluted and distorted mind, a mind
that plays around with its own feelings and emotions as well as that of others
who come into contact and influence of such convoluted and distorted minds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You grow up to be an adult and live through your college
life, social life and professional life without making an effort to seek your
life partner and refuse to make a life-long commitment to anyone based on love.
You may be attracted towards someone but you consider it just a fling, a
pass-time, a non-committal relationship. At the back of your mind, you know and
realize that ultimately, your marriage will be decided by your parents and
elders in the family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;">So, you have no regard for humanity, you play with human emotions, lie,
betray and cause hurt in a relationship. You would break up a relationship only
to enter a new relationship giving yourself no time to heal the wounds, if
there are any, because there is no humanity left there. You are zombies, you
have been brainwashed to such an extent that you do not feel anything. Since
you understand that these relationships doesn’t mean a thing and cannot last,
as in the end you will succumb to your parent’s choice of a life-partne<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">r.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For part 4 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2013/01/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective_3233.html#.UQFxBPLmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 4</a></span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-75834097169505195492013-01-24T22:50:00.001+05:302013-01-24T23:14:01.268+05:30Arranged Marriage: Bible's Perspective, Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For part 1 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2013/01/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective.html#.UQFtz_LmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 1</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Why an arranged marriage is not biblical? Why it is
against the precepts of the Bible will be seen in the following discussion.
Reason number one, human will.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Human
Will</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What is human will? Human will is the inherent desire of a
human being to choose between right and wrong, good and evil. The subject of human
will or as some may call it, free will, is a very serious and complex subject
and requires a detailed study and is not the subject matter of our current
discussion. <b><i>Arranged marriage</i></b> does not recognize or respect
the will of an individual but on the contrary overpowers and suppresses the
human will and emotions. Your assent or dissent is neither sought nor is
considered as desired. When it is sought, it is sought in the selection and
finalization of one prospect out of many. All the while the reins remain in the
hands of parents and the elders relegating God as a last-minute invite. Even
God does not override the human will as is revealed in Jesus’ accusation of the
Jews when He said, “But you are not <i>willing </i>to come to Me that
you may have life.” Jn 5:40</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_7kIgbg-BRjblk8iVFXLNXknFxAke2jPcGkBcrPFOdc5C0WiePejBl-cqDLFzlMiL6g1iHSH_qRBrOB50A8GOvnmdWdUD7njDOnIFT0z_5wTrCjNWP9jruZO1wAQ962DBfM-VaHy-c3M/s1600/225609_10150290922734497_7769706_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_7kIgbg-BRjblk8iVFXLNXknFxAke2jPcGkBcrPFOdc5C0WiePejBl-cqDLFzlMiL6g1iHSH_qRBrOB50A8GOvnmdWdUD7njDOnIFT0z_5wTrCjNWP9jruZO1wAQ962DBfM-VaHy-c3M/s320/225609_10150290922734497_7769706_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This system exists among a society which does not know
the True and Living God. This system is prevalent in societies and cultures which
are trapped in the clutches of their tradition and any dissent or assault on
the tradition of arranged marriage is seen as an assault on their very culture
and tradition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The depravity of a human mind is revealed
by its insistence to follow the despicable customs of an unregenerate society
which is in direct conflict with God's gift of free will to humans. <b><i>Arranged
marriage</i></b> is one bizarre custom, which negates the concept of free
will.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For part 3 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2013/01/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective_3560.html#.UQFu3fLmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 3</a></span></div>
</div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-63473984687410768252013-01-24T22:47:00.003+05:302013-01-24T23:14:17.115+05:30Arranged Marriage: Bible's Perspective, Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysyELJizchgUipj3XzPO5U_EVyyM8f7CxSnqTsSWsnmJSapXg6SSfjKuWuvd4twATQt2R1FhcM3vqVuTR3PgPCaLo0MkymGEah1ZyGcdLPoWQ8G5p7X_jt84XLCthNeEY2Af8EV-0qCU9/s1600/534770_3224029792773_118098701_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysyELJizchgUipj3XzPO5U_EVyyM8f7CxSnqTsSWsnmJSapXg6SSfjKuWuvd4twATQt2R1FhcM3vqVuTR3PgPCaLo0MkymGEah1ZyGcdLPoWQ8G5p7X_jt84XLCthNeEY2Af8EV-0qCU9/s320/534770_3224029792773_118098701_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To continue the series on the topic of customs and
practices that has permeated into the Christian faith, from the Biblical
perspective, I am discussing the subject of <b><i>arranged marriage</i></b>.
Earlier, I had discussed the issue of Christian couples refusal to adopt
children.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, the reason I’ve titled the discussion as such is to
ensure that you don’t end up with a conclusion that I am promoting love
marriages. No, I'm not. I am concerned only about one thing here is whether
your marriage is or has been arranged by your parents or by God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Definition</span></b></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To begin our discussion, let's begin with the definition
of marriage as defined in the Bible. So, what is a marriage? Bible defines it
as the joining or coming together of a man and a woman, to become one flesh
signifying the involvement of sex in the relationship. In Gen 2:24, ‘Therefore
a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they
shall become one flesh.’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Marriage:
Child, Homosexual, Lesbian and Polygamy</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the outset, it is evident that Bible commands and
approves the marriage of a man with a woman. Bible’s concept of marriage is
between a man and a woman. It does not approve child marriage; neither does it
approve the marriage of a man with another man or a woman with another woman.
Thus, marriage between homosexuals and lesbians is contrary and unknown to the
Bible. Also, Bible does not approve polygamy. Marriage is between two
individuals of opposite sex.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These unbiblical concepts are a result of the futility,
ungodliness, and corruption of the human mind and a result of a false and evil
culture as described in Rom 1:18-32. These concepts are foreign to Bible, which
is the final and sole authority by which God measures the thoughts and actions
of the individuals and the society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqdp1XA_NvvyPb1E29GaPHKHG1v9eAXMN7oE9FFCT_vx1mtsFc_ugtlLCHPgZmwBX_HYEfvkKGXrgy2_TIWNFwQ2xjtikVQ0udly3qkTYwJ5TnulKMwxybmxUdYi28ecTFleuags5X5MS/s1600/457997_3950206914808_991492634_o.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqdp1XA_NvvyPb1E29GaPHKHG1v9eAXMN7oE9FFCT_vx1mtsFc_ugtlLCHPgZmwBX_HYEfvkKGXrgy2_TIWNFwQ2xjtikVQ0udly3qkTYwJ5TnulKMwxybmxUdYi28ecTFleuags5X5MS/s320/457997_3950206914808_991492634_o.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">One Man, One Woman: Individual Choice</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Individual
choice</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A quick point to note from the verse is that marriage is
an individual choice. It is not the decision of a group, however well-wishing
the group may be and nor that of your parents, elders or relatives of your
family and neither of your friends. If you wish to marry, you marry. If you do
not wish to marry, do not marry. It is an individual choice. If you cannot
exercise self-control with regards to your sexual passions, then marry. It is
better to marry than to burn with passion I Cor 7:9. To save yourself from the
sin of sexual immorality, marry I Cor 7:2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, it is the coming together of a man and a woman. It is
not the coming together of two families, the man and the woman being just
bystanders or byproduct. It is the joining of one man with one woman, the
families being the coordinators, assisting in the process. They are the ones
who stand alongside the couple rejoicing and commending the association. The
couple takes the center stage. They hog the limelight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;">An evil and corrupt culture looks at marriage as an association of two
families. This is what is called an <b>arranged</b> <b><i>marriage </i></b>and
a befitting example of ‘the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life’. I Jn 2:16.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;">For part 2 in the series, please click, <a href="http://isaacmani.blogspot.in/2013/01/arranged-marriage-bibles-perspective_24.html#.UQFtX_LmfIU">Arranged Marriage, Part 2</a></span></div>
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Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-52588061669224141202013-01-19T23:26:00.000+05:302013-01-21T22:28:44.634+05:30My fight and victory over sin<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">My fight with sin continues. My battle with sin continues to rage. I continue to wage a war against sin in my own life. I will never be able to claim victory over sin in my life. As long as I am in the flesh, as long as I am in this mortal body, I will continue to struggle with sin in my life. It is amazing to know, understand and personally experience the power of sin in my own life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Sin separates me from God. Sin isolates and makes me lonely. Sin removes me from the presence of God. Sin brings back the hollowness, meaningless and emptiness of this life. Since sin and God cannot stay together, my fellowship, relationship and association with God is broken. O wretched man I am! Who can save me from sin?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Sin brings along with it, sorrow, sadness, pain, and guilt. Sin disappoints, weakens and disheartens. Sin leaves me motionless, speechless and without any pride in myself. It is due to sin that I realize that I am still in the flesh; that I am still in this body. It is due to sin that I realize that I need to continue to seek God’s grace, strength and presence. I cannot for a moment depend on my own strength and ability to overcome sin. Sin is always at the door seeking to take a control of me. Sin is the roaring lion always seeking whom it may devour. The moment I drop my guard, I find myself in Sin's dungeon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">I may through discipline beat my body to subjection. I may resist the greatest of all temptation on many occasions but I’ve realized that at the very moment when I begin to glory in my ability or capability, I’m overpowered by sin. I’m thrown down hard on the floor like a defeated wrestler. My sin is ever before me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">I am engulfed in sorrow over my sin. But this sorrow is not unto death. This sorrow is unto repentance. I thank my Lord Jesus Christ because there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Since He is my Lord and Savior, all my past, present and even future sins have been forgiven due to His sacrificial death on the cross. I gain confidence in this truth alone. If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">But just because this escape module or route is ever available for me, that does not mean I’ll continue to indulge and resort to sin. If that be the case, then I deliberately and intentionally trample Jesus Christ underfoot and count the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ as nothing, meaningless or dung and insult, humiliate the Spirit granted to me through sheer grace of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Since I’m saved, there is no iota of sin in my life. I cannot sin. But, if I am consistently leading a sinful life, with an unbroken pattern, then sin still has dominion over me and I’m still a slave of sin. In that scenario, I’ll not seek asylum under Romans 7 and seek a license to sin but realize that I’ve not yet turned from sin to God to serve Him; I’m not a slave to righteousness; I do not have the Spirit of God. If I claim to be saved, then what have I been saved from? If I continue to sin, then, I cannot answer that question with the word, sin. So, if I have to be saved, I have to be saved from sin but if I claim to be saved and continue to practice sin, then my claim is wrong, false and I’m still in my sin and the wrath of God continues to abide on me.</span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-70485609995678152232013-01-19T23:02:00.002+05:302013-01-19T23:02:57.558+05:30The Umbrella Man<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Not long ago, an Umbrella salesman made it to a town; he set up a small kiosk and began to observe the residents. As it rained, he noticed that very many found shelter under self-made cover called Religion of different colors (Yellow cum green, Saffron orange, Black, Red, etc.), many used their bare hands called Good Works for protection, and some just didn't care. No one was convinced of his method and thus, no one persuaded others. Our salesman seeing a great vacuum in the market began to plead with the residents to try his Umbrella. Many mocked him, some ridiculed him and few ignored him and only </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Uno</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;"> came forward to buy it. Did not </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Uno</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;"> leave beaming with joy when he got the Umbrella for free? For free indeed it was, all the while!! It still is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Umbrella: Salvation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Salesman: We who preach the Gospel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Rain: God's wrath</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Yellow cum Green: Islam</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Saffron Orange: Hinduism</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Black: Communism</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Red: Budhism</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Uno: Spanish for one</span></div>
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Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-55771822734641172942013-01-19T09:59:00.000+05:302013-01-21T22:35:58.628+05:30Indian Women and their Safety and Security<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During the protest for Indian women's safety and security, it was appalling to see men in hordes, fighting for the rights of Indian women. Do we need men to fight for women's rights? Why would men come out to seek the rights of women?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Indian women</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and girls sat watching 'Amrit Manthan' and 'Har, Har Mahadev' or reading 'Grahshobha' and 'Femina', to satiate their religious obligations and romantic urgings, Indian men have been howling, and denigrating, their own kin. Many of the women folks, for many a days, were not even aware of the incidence which rocked the capital, for, most of</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Indian women, rarely, find it worthwhile to read and appreciate the current news. They have more urgent and persistent needs, in terms of the religious vacuum and the absence of romance in their life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On my Facebook page, i have numerous female friends and ex-colleagues, yet, i am yet to see a single comment, in protest against the ghastly gang rape of the Delhi girl. There are more men and college boys out in the streets or at Jantar Mantar, protesting for women's safety and security then the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Indian women. A sight to behold was, a women's march, i witnessed in my society, being led by men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is the men and boys who were going all out, pleading for a capital punishment, while in their backyard, these are the very men and college boys, who harass, humiliate and hold the female sex in contempt. These are the very men and boys, who would dump their love and girlfriend, to marry a girl, arranged by their parents, whoever it may be, meekly complying to an outdated custom, which, at its core, treats and consider, women and female sex, as a commodity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While those who participated in the campaign against corruption, were themselves corrupt, in different measures and level, according to the opportunity available to them, in financial, social, personal, religious, political dealings and in their relationships, in the same manner, those who protested against women's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>safety and security, were, themselves, involved in desecrating the sanctity and instilling fear, in the minds of women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I fail to comprehend the reason for the presence of men, in women's fight, for their rights,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>safety and security. Are the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Indian women<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and college girls crippled or incompetent to protest? Are they dumb and mute to not raise a voice in protest and unison? They sought protection and security from male sex but the protesters themselves comprised of men! In essence, saying, 'Keep the female sex away from us, cos, we are sex-hungry animals?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These men were and are, uninvited and unsolicited, busybodies and worthless protesters. Indian women never invited them or sought their cooperation nor did the men seek the women's permission to protest. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Indian women<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">do not need men to fight or raise a voice for their rights,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>safety and security. They do not need men to break law for their rights. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The irony is, that is what is happening-why? Cos, the fairer sex still needs the shoulder of a man, to lay claim to the so-called, 'Women rights'.</span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-47118307574410985542013-01-15T12:40:00.001+05:302013-01-16T22:05:14.254+05:30Grolier's Home Learning Program<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfF4MK7BklyT6DhqDkdeMdpj4BdsivZ_CX1rCpSBmGkBMya3XgSjWlLon-Gs9FppWJhlgWhCBarZ10GxWBdS7n-t4HoJyzq7YKe2Kk_ShyphenhyphentbDX5LTM73cBuFCqCRJ51WiBRPVVZUbAE3g/s1600-h/Grolierlogo.1.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfF4MK7BklyT6DhqDkdeMdpj4BdsivZ_CX1rCpSBmGkBMya3XgSjWlLon-Gs9FppWJhlgWhCBarZ10GxWBdS7n-t4HoJyzq7YKe2Kk_ShyphenhyphentbDX5LTM73cBuFCqCRJ51WiBRPVVZUbAE3g/s320/Grolierlogo.1.bmp" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180431674069047298" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Keeping the current situation in perspective, when students are committing suicide in numbers, our program becomes more relevant. The Times of India in one of its edition during the last week (March 10-16), states that approximately 6000 children have committed suicide in 2007 as a cause/result of studies (in one form or the other).<br /><br />If you analyze the reason, you will see that there has been an utmost lack of communication between parents and kids. The result being lack of trust on the part of kids to open up to parents.<br /><br />Lack of bonding between parents and kids could be another reason.<br /><br />Are we so engrossed in our pursuit of success that we are willing to lose our kids?<br /><br />Do you know that 50 percent of a child's adult intelligence is developed during the first four years of life?<br /><br />And, do you accept that during the first three years, kids are with parents 100 percent of time. I am assuming that the mother is not working, which in today's scenario could be wrong. But, as of now, let's work with this assumption.<br /><br />And, do you realize that you are the most influential people in the kid's life?<br /><br />Thus, during the years that you are exerting your influence 100 percent of the time when 50 percent of your kid's adult intelligence is developing, then, for the rest of the kid's life, you are responsible for what your kid becomes or does not become.<br /><br />Bitter truth.<br /><br />And then we blame the school, teachers, syllabus, friends etc...<br /><br />If the mother is working during this period, we have a kid who is being influenced by others. We have a disaster waiting to happen again.<br /><br />During the first three years at least, we cannot delegate our responsibility to others.<br /><br />Recent circular of kendriya Vidyalaya schools asks teachers to produce a pass percentage of at least 90 percent.<br /><br />Teachers are already under lot of pressure to perform. They pass on the same to kids. Just tell me, where should the kids turn to for help, when parents too are out of bounds. Parents themselves are pressurizing the kids to excel.<br /><br />That in itself is not wrong. It's a competitive world.<br /><br />Teachers are not in a position to give one-to-one attention to each and every kid and this has a negative affect on the weak students and back bencher's.<br /><br />This is where parents support is pleaded. That is the reason we have parents-teachers meeting.<br /><br />Would it not be better if we imbibe in our kids, from the very beginning, the passion of books. If parents participate, would it not be wonderful if we could give our kids, problem solving skills, logical thinking skills, independence.<br /><br />Through your participation, you are building a bond with the kids. Through communicating, talking, sharing, playing, laughing, walking, reading to them, you are building a mature citizen of tomorrow.<br /><br />This is where our program helps parents achieve that.<br /><br />And considering kids, who are priceless, the amount you are investing in the long run, is only meagre. Who are we earning for, at all?<br /><br />We meet the physical needs of our kids. The mental needs too are of utmost priority. When mental needs are met, that in itself will enable your kid to fulfill his or her physical and financial needs.<br /><br />If from the very beginning, you are using our vocabulary tools to improve your kid's vocabulary, won't your kids realize the importance of good vocabulary in communicating, both verbal and written.<br /><br />Later on, they themselves will pursue perfection in communication. A good vocabulary is the foundation of good communication skills. This will result in boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem.<br /><br />When you provide your kids with a very challenging and stimulating environment, you are not only making them inquisitive, thirsty for knowledge, you are giving them problem solving skills, listening and reading skills. As a result you are giving your kid, 'Passion for Books'.<br /><br />This is where our 'I Wonder Why' series of 24 volumes helps.<br /><br />Logico activities are to develop your kid's concentration, logical thinking, eye and hand coordination skills, in addition to other skills as well.<br /><br />It's a burden that I've shared with you.</span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-48683826967358893562013-01-15T12:39:00.000+05:302013-01-15T22:34:00.336+05:30Grolier's Family Plan Of Home Education<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37mpkLtr2MDnRWOHbIPwyM4zooOvsc69zPmMAliWrNz7vQT1g0zgcRtt6obToVBs4yE7N-v9_41QYOOVMZCdav4lQBBo7rm-wc7rG9ZNrhFU1odmcCEXTbGZOWYaSPq0Y-HTyngejmyet/s1600-h/Grolierlogo.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180424415574317042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37mpkLtr2MDnRWOHbIPwyM4zooOvsc69zPmMAliWrNz7vQT1g0zgcRtt6obToVBs4yE7N-v9_41QYOOVMZCdav4lQBBo7rm-wc7rG9ZNrhFU1odmcCEXTbGZOWYaSPq0Y-HTyngejmyet/s200/Grolierlogo.bmp" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
Our research makes it clear that the younger you start imparting learning skills to a child, the better. This is why so many parents like to read to their infant children. It’s not only a joy, it’s teaching the children precious learning skills, building their vocabulary, establishing values, transforming them into good listeners and getting them to think for themselves.<br />
Our experts believe the following skills acquired from a young age, through the medium of our innovative programme, form the basis for a creative, mature, successful adult:<br />
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. Strong vocabulary<br />
. Strong communication skills<br />
. Good reading skills/Love for books<br />
. Good listening skills<br />
. Creative mind<br />
. Independence<br />
. Good moral values<br />
. Creating the desire to learn<br />
<img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Isaac/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg" />Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-10045444078246943952012-09-24T20:51:00.004+05:302020-11-18T00:53:12.594+05:30The Greatest Indian<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Out of a population of over a billion and add to that an additional billion who have already died since our independence, there were found only ten Indians worthy of being
deemed as 'The Greatest' and one of them isn't even an Indian! Of the ten,
many are already burning their heels, infact their whole self, in hell and the
remaining are hurtling down the same road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 115%;">A nondescript person like you and me would do well to heed the
warning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 115%;">Currently, the severest of punishment is reserved for Ms.
Agnes Gonxha (Teresa) who knew the truth but rejected it. The best of the good
works are like a filthy rag to the living God. He detests them all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 21px;">Their fault: They rejected Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father (God of the Bible) but by Me."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 21px;">Again He said, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"</span></div></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-9938237504290752902012-09-18T19:48:00.000+05:302013-01-19T22:30:32.426+05:30The Truth of a Liar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I have a friend who insists on committing suicide
following in the footsteps of Nirvana’s lead singer, Kurt Cobain, being his
fan. My repeated pleadings to restrain him, from entertaining such thoughts and
contemplating such actions, fell flat. After a while, in a rare display of
wisdom, I suggested him if he really wants to follow Kurt why not make music
like he did. Guess what! I never heard Kurt’s name from his lips. Even if he
had all eternity he couldn’t write even a single note. It’s impossible.</span><br />
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It is easy to be religious, go to church, play
music in church, read Bible, give alms, do good, chant mantras, pray five
times, do rituals, follow traditions, visit Sai temple, Shirdi, Vaishno Devi, or
Mecca, and talk God yet it’s impossible to confront sin, holiness, truth and
Jesus. Hypocrites!</span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020175052076693868.post-44327548135573676382012-09-14T20:23:00.001+05:302013-01-19T22:34:56.624+05:30Letter of Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Many years ago, my loving Mom gave me a letter which she had received from a far-away country of Ever-Shining Light and this is what the letter said:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">My Dear son, Moron,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFjG0kiJowb0nqFaKi9pmRq-g3-PPxrI-RAQ3U_T9uO3gaPqgjTBcRlDDXVpvOA59WDgO6QRo1xfwc6m-U_P3F3cuW_uEAclXWmHtJy-xd1DRwLhRWtRkJYE7xN64alnLTyxTTrUxWE4/s1600/31738_392398676079_3088633_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFjG0kiJowb0nqFaKi9pmRq-g3-PPxrI-RAQ3U_T9uO3gaPqgjTBcRlDDXVpvOA59WDgO6QRo1xfwc6m-U_P3F3cuW_uEAclXWmHtJy-xd1DRwLhRWtRkJYE7xN64alnLTyxTTrUxWE4/s320/31738_392398676079_3088633_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Greetings! I’ve chosen you before you were even born and now I AM calls you to a wonderful yet treacherous journey to your home in the land of Ever-Shining Light. My own beloved Son has gone before and paved the Way for you to this Wonderful and Glorious Land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">I’ve sought you for long for my love for you overwhelms me. In love, and not of your own attributes or achievements, have I called you. Henceforth, you shall be called Norom. Therefore, do not fear nor let your heart be troubled for I’ve begun a good work and I’m faithful to finish it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">So, do not doubt if you will be able to make the journey nor worry about the failures and troubles of your journey. For behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the ages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">I want you to know, how many times, through My messengers, did I send My letter to you. But, many a time, My messengers failed to deliver the letter to you. Many destroyed and stole the letter on the way. Many would not go and so, I sent the lady called Daisy with the letter to you. Bless her heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa_zXtahXIGrALppKQtHZ42VbuVLqNngSU1P3n-xyx-m40KaTZF2E7c6YCsA5QX-BK6B4liZAKP0VZS4pvQKVABYAECPYu1RwxC6k1ysHruI1dY0xjwUDG8z6muSJh4H-x3lCPgS23yg/s1600/403738_10151083489745352_1441865555_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa_zXtahXIGrALppKQtHZ42VbuVLqNngSU1P3n-xyx-m40KaTZF2E7c6YCsA5QX-BK6B4liZAKP0VZS4pvQKVABYAECPYu1RwxC6k1ysHruI1dY0xjwUDG8z6muSJh4H-x3lCPgS23yg/s320/403738_10151083489745352_1441865555_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">If you will honor My love for you and will to begin the journey, then, will My angels surround and protect you and My presence shall go before you. To help you in your journey, I have provided the Boat to equip, to edify, and to exhort you, in order to make you a perfect man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">In your journey, you will come across robbers, murderers, wolves and foxes but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">You will find the instructions and guidance in the Manual called The Book, which is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and for correction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">See you on the other side of the shore where I will dwell with you and you shall be mine. I will be with you and be your God. I will wipe away every tear from your eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Grace be to you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Your Loving Father,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21px;">Yehowah</span></div>
Isaac D. Manihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314949547570930230noreply@blogger.com0