Why do bad things happen?

1. God.
Yes, God punishes. But He decides life and death - when the game is over. None of the forces below can decide life and death.

2. Satan. Satan has a certain amount of power even though Jesus defeated him at the cross. Satan was allowed to wreak havoc on Job except take his life.

3. Man
Man has free will, whether to serve God or Satan.

4. Nature
God created a marvelous machine called Nature that obeys the physical laws of the Universe. Whenever people say that God caused this hurricane or that earthquake, I think they are mistaken.
This machine was set in motion and God rarely steps in to interfere - and when he does, it is called a miracle. (if an inventor created an engine and constantly interfered with its running, it would show he didnt really know what he was doing).


In Luke 13, we see that the age old question was asked which Jesus answered:

What about certain Galilean Jews who were killed by the Roman ruler Pilate in the temple - were they especially guilty?
Here, Man's choice to do evil - and to serve Satan - was the driving force.

1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Why did a tower in Siloam fall and kill 18 people - were they more guilty?
Here, Nature was the tool that caused this calamity.

4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

In both these two cases, God decided who would live and who would die.

How does He decide?

6Then he [Jesus] told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "

Walk away from your sarcophagus

Break out of the calcified shell of Yourself.
Walk away from your sarcophagus.
Yes, walk away;
Away from your refuge,
And crouch naked, transparent and exposed.
Under the shadow of His wings.
There you will find rest.
There you will flow in His strength.

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
...
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

The three-fold cord

A three-fold cord is not easily broken.

Bible study: Holy Spirit (the book of Acts)

This is a Bible study on the Holy Spirit which covers the book of Acts. I shall keep updating it as I progress, which is very slow. Am following Kay Arthur's inductive series.

the juwo is here:

Why do we praise and worship God/Jesus?

• Is God/Jesus selfish or insecure that He desires our praises so much?

• Why is praising God/Jesus a critical part of our spiritual life?

• Should we praise God/Jesus to flatter and manipulate Him into giving us health and wealth?

• Should we continue to praise him so he will not stop or turn off the blessings tap?

Answer: It is the rightful order of the universe.

In Physics we see that the universal constants are finely tuned.
if the force of gravity were sightly off, there would be no solar system with the planets revolving around the sun.

Due to their auxin hormones, plants grow upwards towards the sun. The light from the sun enables photosynthesis which results in food and sustenance for animal life on earth.

Think of what would happen if the rightful order were not maintained. Life on earth would be snuffed out.

Surprisingly, praising God is not just for the rightful order of the spiritual universe but also for the physical universe.

Why is it the rightful thing to do? God has created us. He sent His son Jesus to die for us. If we repent and our sins are forgiven, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit who will guide us and empower us. We have a hope. Jehovah is a good God.

If you create something or perform some good work, then it is only right that you and not someone else, get the credit for it.

Well, you may ask - what about the evil that happens in this world?
Answer: God gave man free will to do good or evil. Also, the devil roams on this earth seeking whom he will devour; to kill, steal and destroy.

The Bible says,

Psalm 148

1 Praise the LORD. ^[a]
Praise the LORD from the heavens,
praise him in the heights above.

2 Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars.

4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.

6 He set them in place for ever and ever;
he gave a decree that will never pass away.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,

9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,

10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,

11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,

12 young men and maidens,
old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

14 He has raised up for his people a horn, ^[b]
the praise of all his saints,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the LORD

In the same vein,

Psalm 19

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world...

Unlike the creatures above, Man has free will. As Bob Dylan sang in Gotta Serve Somebody,
"[everybody has] gotta serve somebody... It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody."

If we don't worship God, then we shall worship the devil. If we don't praise God, then we will turn inwards and praise ourselves or each other. In other words, we will have other gods.
The rightful order of the Universe will be lost.
Both the spiritual and physical worlds will go awry. This is exactly what happened when Satan fell and sin was introduced into heaven when he praised and worshiped himself.

see also Psalm 145

Jesus and the demon possessed man

"They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed." (Mark 5)

I believe from a dream, that the Gedarene demoniac was crying out to the demons in him, "please don't cut me". Instead he saw them take control of his hands and slashed and gashed him so he bled.

One day, some years later, it was Jesus who was gashed by the iron and bone fragments in the cat-o-nine tail whips that lashed across his bare back. I believe that Satan himself possessed the Roman soldiers who were tearing Jesus' body, in order to give them superhuman strength, so they could inflict maximum agony. His back was bloody, but by his stripes we are healed.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

So I claim the blood of Jesus and command evil spirits to flee in the name of Jesus that are possessing this person who calls himself Bruce Karlson. This person has been making wild accusations and hate-filled comments on my blog posts. 'He' is demon possessed. In the name of Jesus, I command evil spirits to leave 'him' and for 'him' to identify himself.

If Einstein does not impress God, what does?

(March 2006)

There is no fix or solution in sight (to my career and juwo startup problems), but here is a thought I have had for a while:

Over the past few months, I have been realizing that God does not care much for what we do - whether we are janitor or CEO. He is not impressed by our achievements.

He is more interested in whether we seek Him and whether we are His witnesses.

For example, even though Einstein's Theory of Relativity is over 100 years old, no one has been able to supercede it. Yet God is not too impressed with it because He knows the 'final answer' - not the theory of Relativity, but the final Reality of Relativity.

Growing up in India, my grandparents told me of the term "rice Christians", coined by the missionaries as a derogatory reference to those (India/China?) natives who would convert to Christianity for the material benefits. Yet, in America, I don't think we are immune from it either if we seek God because of the promises of success and prosperity.

One passage that strikes me from time to time is Habbakuk Chapter 3:

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

A plea to my church elders for financial transparency

This letter to my church elders was positively received and as a word. I believe there needs to be financial openness in many churches in America. Hence I am posting this here - you may want to copy part or all of it to write to your leaders. I have removed my church's name.
------------------------------

To:
The Elders of our Church

John 3:19-21 “...men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Luke 12:2-3 “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the day light and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”

This is a plea for more transparency in our finances. Please institute a mechanism and procedure for more open access to financial information by every giving member of the congregation. This should be neither to please any person nor to acquiesce to anyone's request for information, but as a matter of policy toward every giving member.

I strongly emphasize that I do want our pastors to enjoy a decent standard of living and not worry about paying their bills. I love, and am indebted to our senior pastor.

Background: We are disturbed when we read of financial scandals among Christian organizations. For example, the six charismatic ministries investigated by Senator Grassley, and also at Jerry Johnston’s First Family church (Kansas City).

Audited statements are not enough. A few of the above mentioned hide behind audited statements even though there are plenty of indicators of corruption or excessive wastefulness. Perhaps auditors too, are not shown details; perhaps they cannot comment on excessiveness. The key point is that they refuse to open their books. Emphatic protestations of innocence mean nothing - if there is nothing to hide, why are they hiding?

I observe that at our Church, our records too, are not open. Details are obscured when they are rolled into broad headings; for example, only the total combined amount given to all the visiting speakers for the year is shown. Only auditor statements are released. We are not members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability –incidentally, a recommendation of Sen. Grassley.

Why should there be transparency?

1. To safeguard the ministry from traps by the enemy. Every one faces temptations and given the opportunity, is corruptible. When things are done in darkness i.e. our financial records are kept in darkness, accessible only to a few, then I believe, according to the Word of God in John 3:19-21, that sinful deeds will begin to happen especially because they will be accorded the secrecy of concealment, will grow and grow. One day, there will be scandals including financial and sexual, that will hobble our church and stain the reputation of our leaders and the life-transforming message that we preach will be obscured. We shall become a stumbling block. Many will be spiritually wounded and "a root of bitterness will grow up to defile many" (Hebrews 12).

2. The kingdom of God will continue to advance through our church. When scandals happen around us, our confidence in our leaders will remain unshaken. Our confidence will not be based upon, "our elders and pastors are good people" nor even, "our pastor sounded convincing when he said that everything is done with integrity" but, "I looked at the account statements myself and am satisfied". In Luke 12:2-3, what is done openly and transparently will not need to be exposed.

3. So that our giving is not inhibited. To keep our hearts clean, and to avoid bitterness. When we give out of love, it is sacrificial. However the thought immediately enters - are they careful stewards, how do I know they are good stewards? I am certain that many in our church out give us - but for us, our church giving statement is our third highest expense after our mortgage and household expenses. I personally do not want to give out of blind trust to any organization that is not open. From the parable of the ten talents, God expects us to be shrewd investors in the kingdom of heaven.

Again, I have no interest in digging through our church records. This is a plea to institute a process just as the apostles did in Acts chapter 6 to safeguard the spiritual health of the church.

Sincerely,

thought - on churches merging

It is easier and more commonplace for companies and corporations to merge together - but it is rare for churches to do so.

Every few blocks in America, you can see a church building. Why so many? Did God call all of them to start churches? I dont think so. When He does, it is usually among unreached peoples.

These churches on every block are usually branch offices of a head office, that compete with other head offices.

Is it clashing egos and flesh that prevent more mergers especially when doctrines are similar?
Here is a juwo on when our church merged with another.
http://juwo.com/nodepad/demos/thoughts/churches_merging.html

thought - On why the Ark was captured

In the Old Testament of the Bible, the ark which contained the presence of God was captured in battle by the Philistines. Why did God allow the symbol of His presence to be captured? They were manipulating God like an idol.
God Himself engineered the showdown between Himself and the Philistine god Dagon to show He was no idol. Here are some thoughts on how we manipulate God for our prosperity.
It is in a juwo (presently on Windows only), click here for the juwo.
The entire story can be read here in the online Bible.

Beautiful Kerala

tranquility



Outside the 450-year old Jewish synagogue in Cochin, Kerala. The ruler had it build outside his palace and extended his protection to the Jews.




"the fields of India are ripe for harvest" - Rita. paddy fields of Kerala

On Internet chat rooms

Loneliness envelops each of us
typing tapping on the keyboard
hoping to connect across the aether
hoping to trade sleep for snuggling
to a fantasy

Courtship

These two figures look like a woman shyly hiding behind her ladies' fan while a prince in his plumage is trying to woo her.

(I took this photo recently in March 2007. Winter had ended with one final snowstorm. We made two snowmen. Then it warmed up and they started their usual melt. However, then due to the unusual weather patterns we have seen this year, a hard freeze followed).

the kingdom of heaven is here

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world".
First, there was only one light, Him.

After that, a few lives were transformed. They touched other lives with the good news of Jesus and they too, were transformed.

The gospel continued to spread and transform lives - as it spreads even today.

"until it worked all through the dough."
Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

Question: Is my life transformed? I dont know.

Why do you believe in the god of the Christians to the exclusion of all the others? (or Recruit the Power of the Holy Spirit)

Dont be afraid nor embarrassed to recruit the Holy Spirit's power;
We dont need to use sleight of hand to prove Jesus is alive and real.

"because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

On a newsgroup (news.YCombinator), the following thread:


rms 4 days ago
As an intellectual person, I find blind faith in Christianity outright offensive. It doesn't make any sense to base your world view on the mythology of a Bronze Age people.
Honestly, I'm glad that you have the right to spread the good word on your website. But it's so rare I get to interact with a real, live Christian that I delight in the opportunity. Maybe we can both gain something.
So let's talk. Why do you believe in the god of the Christians to the exclusion of all the others?
reply
*

juwo 4 days ago
why do you believe that 2+2=4 and not 2+2=5 ?
reply [I was sleepy and replied without much thought]

rms 4 days ago
Because I count two things, and two more things and see that there are four objects. I can observe with my own eyes that mathematics works. You can't ever see God, you have to take on faith that a book written almost 2000 years ago is absolute fact.
So why do you believe in the god of the Christians to the exclusion of all the other gods?
reply
*
juwo 4 days ago
You obviously pride yourself on being an intellectual, yet you havent even scratched the surface. Think deeper.
The answer lies in the answer to my question.
reply

rms 4 days ago
Fine. Mathematics is generally based on so-called "non-logical axioms" -- non proven statements that we accept based on what a person such as yourself would call faith.
Still, I believe in mathematics because it works. Why do you believe in the god of the Christians to the exclusion of all others?
reply [the Holy Spirit brought rms to recognise by himself, the role that faith plays in Mathematics]
*
juwo 3 days ago
You're getting the point - that we trust Mathematics even though it involves faith, because there is plenty of correlation to the 'real' world.
Similarly, Jesus is a real person, not an emotional crutch. An absolute truth, not a relative choice. Like 2+2=4 and not 2+2=5.
How do I prove it? Simple. Ask Jesus himself to show that he is real, to you. However when you ask, you cannot have an attitude - otherwise he will ignore you.
"you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart" [God] (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2029%20:%2013;&version=31)
He himself, will checkmate you.

jey
Neither introspection nor emotional experiences reveal truths about external reality. Emotional experiences carried out in the meat computer mounted on top of your torso do not provide any supporting evidence for the existence of Jesus.
reply
*
juwo
Far from it. I am not talking about "introspection nor emotional experiences". If Jesus is real, then he will show that he is real, to you, if you ask without an attitude.
It will not always be in the same way.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209:1-6,%207-20&version=31;

[perhaps someday soon, both rms and jey will have that encounter]

Do we have compassion for the poor?

Do we have compassion for the poor?

I saw this link in the YC newsgroup; it is the text of a speech by Apple's Steve Jobs.
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

I did not know he was adopted:

My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final
adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

A few days ago, he was listed in Forbes as one of the world's richest men.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it.

I couldn't help thinking that if a Christian family had shown him kindness and hospitality when he was poor and hungry - instead of the Hindu temple, I wonder what could have been?

There is no proof that the Bible is true. However...

There is no proof that the Bible is true. However...

(October 2005)

Gopal and I were classmates and friends in high school; I had lost touch with him 17 years ago and could not locate him until a few days ago. He is now a successful international businessman. At one time he said he believed in Jesus (usually very difficult for a high caste Hindu brahmin to be saved). Some years later when I met him again, he said those beliefs were childish (at which point I too, had stopped believing). I sent him the following email. He is quite intellectual. I pray that God will draw him near.

Gopal:

... Your earlier question on what I believe in now. I assume you are talking personal faith. The answer is - definitely not in purposeful divinity! That seems to be your cup of tea now?

Anil:

Hello Gopal,

You asked about whether belief was my 'cup of tea'. In college I was an agnostic but after several years of wandering around, I have come to realize that the Bible is true. There is noway to 'prove' that it is true (no matter what some may claim).

There are no proofs but simply indications to show that it is true. It is like a jigsaw puzzle with some of the pieces missing; we do not have those pieces but looking at the rest of the parts that do fit, we feel good about it that it is actually a designed and complete puzzle and that someday in eternity (heaven), the rest of the pieces will be given to us to prove that our faith was valid.

Why do I assert that it is not possible here on earth to get this proof? The Bible itself says that "We walk by faith, not by sight". It also says that "Without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that He (God) exists and rewards those who earnestly seek him. So God himself requires faith as a prerequisite; if there was a proof all laid out, then perhaps all scientists would become Christians by using some logic theorem which they had discovered or formulated, because I think most are sincere seekers.

But God will not accept us through the pathway of our tools that make us proud - our Mathematics, our Logic and our Mind - He wants us to come humbly by the pathway of Faith in His son Jesus who died for us. Which is why the Bible again says that God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise (or'intelligent'). I am not saying that we should not be thinking, but that to approach God, only faith in Jesus will reach Him. Only Jesus could say of himself, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me".

Unlike what Catholics and several religons believe, Jesus is the Only pathway to God. If you are interested in seeing some of the logical and scientific indications (again, not proofs) why what I believe is true, here are some good websites.

Ravi Zacharias:

http://www.rzim.org/radio/archives.php?p=JT

Hugh Ross: http://www.reasons.org/http://www.reasons.org/resources/hotline.shtml

-Anil
P.S. Another indicator that the Bible is true is a person's transformed life when he becomes a follower of Jesus.

Proof that the Early Church never tithed

Proof that the Early Church never tithed

I believe that the Holy Spirit showed me this:

The Temple was standing simultaneously while the church existed during its first 37 years. The church began in 33 AD, and the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

If the early church tithed, they would have brought crops and cattle to the priests of the Temple, not to the elders of their church.

They would have brought these to sustain the very people who crucified Jesus, to those who stoned Stephen. Isnt that ridiculous?

But the final blow is - if they so tithed, would they have been Jews, or Christians?

Ted Haggard scandal

Please pray for the tens of thousands of Christians around the world
whose lives have been influenced by Pastor Ted Haggard and New Life Church
in Colorado Springs. Pray that they will not get disillusioned and backslide.
Pray that their faith will remain fresh and that they will not be disciples of men,
but disciples of Jesus. Pray that the gay marriage ban vote will not fail because of the
scandal.

I read today:
"I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken."
(Acts 2:25)



This has been the biggest shock of my life. If I consider myself a charismatic, it is because
of Pastor Ted's influence. We were not members of New Life (later I wished I had been), but
visited often.

One of his principles in his sermons and books which I have tried to live by has been, "Live
your life as if there are no secrets".

In fact, when I had an offer from Sprint, in the New Life parking lot on Easter Sunday 2001,
we felt the Holy Spirit telling us to move here - even though I didn't want to.

It is ironic but the basic idea for the software I wrote and have been unsuccessfully trying
to build a business around (http://juwo.com), came to me when I would listen to Pastor Ted's and Ravi Zacharias' sermons on the internet while we were looking for a church in 2001.

thanks,
Anil Philip

What is the purpose of life?

May 2006

Here is the Purpose Of Life - which I realised by myself over the past two years (since 2005):

1. Seek God (Jesus) continually.
2. Tell others about him - not just by speaking, but living and behaving the same way that he would.
3. Keep your vessel clean. If you keep your vessel clean, God will use you.
4. If God uses you, your life is not a failure.
   

The above seems simple or silly, but it has taken my entire life to find out this truth.

Need more explanation?

1. Seek God (Jesus) continually.

"As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for you" (Psalm 42)

"you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13)

Seeking is Actively Searching.

This will keep our hearts fresh and young even when we are disillusioned by:

• God

Many times, we, as people, get angry with God when we see tragedies in our lives, in the news, or people we know. Why could not an All Powerful God prevent or fix it? For me, it is hard when I look back at my life and see things I could have done which would have made my circumstances or even myself a much better person - why didn't God nudge me toward or open my eyes to those choices?

• Christians

When men and women of God fall, we get disillusioned because we did not know that they were in sin. If they can be like this, then why should I bother? Or maybe I can also have some 'fun'...
When Christians or even our church misunderstands us, our hurt can make us bitter and angry.

• Circumstances

Why do I have such a hard life? Why do people who are not God's children, have an easier life? So many of them have happy, healthy, prosperous lives.They have more money, I.Q., talent, health, good looks, children, families.

*****

Since our God is a living God, Seeking is two-way. When we seek God He will commune with us, on His terms. When we read the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate it for us, a sentence or phrase will leap out at us, off the page. That is God speaking to us. When we pray to God and our spirit is yearning without words or even sound (not tongues which I believe is probably different) then I believe that we are communing with God.

"No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord' because they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest" (Jeremiah 31:34)

What God shows to you will be a main dish for you, but a side dish for others. Similarly, what God shows another person will be (to use American terms) meat to him, but trimmings for you. For example, my understanding of the purpose of life was 'meat' to me, but may be obvious and trivial to another person. This will keep you from chasing after gurus. (Note: I am not referring to learning doctrine from a teacher which is necessary).

2. Tell others about him - not just by speaking, but living and behaving the same way that he would.

Jesus' last command: "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15)"you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem... and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8)

3. Keep your vessel clean. If you keep your vessel clean, God will use you.

Since God is the Creator, He will use everyone from Pharaoh in Egypt in 5K BC., to Saddam Hussein in 2003 AD. to meet His purposes. In the book of Exodus in the Bible, we read that Pharaoh would not let the Israelites out of Egypt as God commanded. So God said, "I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!" (Exodus 14). So God will use us, whether we voluntarily wish to be used or involuntarily - even when we refuse to be used. Important point: the blessing will come to us only when we are voluntarily used.

When we pick up a vessel to use, we first ensure it is clean - if it is dirty, we clean it.If it cannot be cleaned, we discard it.

"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these [things], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work". (2 Timothy 2:21)

I have been realizing that our thoughts are the starting points of strongholds of sin. As it progresses, the same thoughts can hide strongholds of sin. It is difficult to recognize a pattern of sinful thought, but easier to label sinful behavior. By the time it is visible, it has a strong root, been growing,burying, entangling itself and difficult to dig out. A stronghold has a strong hold!

4. If God uses you, your life is not a failure.

Men everywhere, define their lives by achievement. No one wants their life to have been a waste of breath. At the end of my life, I want to be able to say, it was good that I was born. I do not wish to be a failure.

Growing up in India, I remember that my father hoarded 'how to be successful' books. Life was hard. Life in the middle class was marked by competition and survival. Every issue of the Reader's Digest was read, word for word because of the large number of American self-help articles it contained. We stopped reading the Bible as it was replaced by the Readers' Digest. If I have learned one thing, it is that God will overthrow our idols. Needless to say, we became failures. So then, what is achievement? People often define it as money, creating a legacy, inventing something,becoming a leader, establishing a dynasty.

I disagree.

I say: You are achieving if you are voluntarily being used by God.

In the Bible (Luke 2:25) Simeon (and also Anna) was used by God for a specific purpose for perhaps only 10 minutes out of a probable lifetime of 80+ years. He dedicated the baby Jesus in the temple. Even though he had a short period of 'use', it was preceded by a lifetime of preparation, a long period of waiting, but his achievement has lasted through history.