Can we Reason in Heaven?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (according to the Bible). He created the earth and everything that’s in it in six days. He created a human being in his own image and called him Adam and made him the master over all creations. However he commanded Adam not to eat the fruit of a certain tree which was in the middle of the Garden for he would surely die if he eats the fruit.

Days passed peacefully at the Eden Garden until the serpent appeared to Eve that fateful afternoon. The serpent’s (Devil) mission was to disclose God’s top secret to Man.

Quite opposite to what God had said, the serpent told Eve that eating the ‘fruit’ would open their ‘eyes’ instead. That she would become enlightened and be able to differentiate good and evil.

The package was attractive. She had two options – First, obey God and live with Him peacefully forever but in ‘ignorance’. Second, disobey Him and bear the risk of eternal damnation but gain the power to ‘reason’. She opted for the second. Her beloved joined her. The rest is …

My question is – Did man lack the ability to think or reason when he was living with God in Heaven? Or it was just positive thinking?

Will it be the same when we get to heaven? Well, I think …

Money Vs Reputation

#1. Lost wealth can be recovered but not character.
#2. Opportunities to make money keep coming but it takes time to make a name.
#3. Even if you are poor, others will still accept you. But society look down and
avoid ill-reputed people.
#4. If you are honest, people would like to do business with you. That’s money chasing
you and not the other way round.
#5. Happiness invite good things in life including wealth. It’s a proven fact that Rich
people were happy before they were rich. If you don’t believe, ask wealthy
people around you or Google. My point is, you can’t be happy when your
relationship with others is in jeopardy.

This is my advice: Money is everywhere and in abundance. The limit depends on how much you are willing to work and put in. But be careful not to destroy yourself with greed. It is always possible to become rich the right way. People have done it so why can’t you?

Why Happy People Reach Goals Faster?

When I was in Sunday School, one of my favorite songs was ‘A Merry Heart Is Like a Medicine…’. The words are taken out from Proverbs 17:22 in the Bible. I used to sing it over and over again anytime and everywhere till my voice would get hoarse. Did I get the wise old guy’s wisdom? Nope.

A few years ago I came across somewhere in a magazine that ‘happy people reach their goals faster in life.’ That was what psychologists have found out. I just couldn’t apprehend the wisdom then. I didn’t pay any attention either. As usual, I was just flipping through the pages and not actually reading.

I am older now and wiser I guess. Now I see a connection between these two. Wish I had understood this much earlier in life. Why? Because IT IS TRUE – ‘A merry heart is like a medicine’ and that ‘Happy people reach their goal faster in life.’ Let me say the last one again – ‘Happy people reach their goal faster in life.’ Once more: ‘HAPPY PEOPLE REACH THEIR GOAL FASTER IN LIFE’!

Here is why…

I guess you must have heard about the Law of Attraction (LOA)a million times over or more by now. It’s everywhere and people are making a fortune selling this SECRET through every strategy available. It’s an old secret though. But for the sake of those who are new to this, let me try to put it as simple as I can. LOA operates on this simple law – LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE. Human beings are magnet and that, what we are is what we have attracted to ourselves through our thoughts. How? Because everything in the universe is made up of the same stuff – ENERGY. You are an ‘energy ball’ constantly sending out vibrations into the universe in the form of thoughts and feelings. The logic is this – If you send positive energy, you will attract positive things into your life; If you send negative energy, you attract negative things.

Down the ages almost all the great teachers and philosophers have recognized this and have advocated it. Here is what some of them said:

All that we are is a result of what we have thought – Buddha
A man is what he thinks about all day long – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Whatever the mind can conceive it can achieve – W. Clement Stone
A man’s life is what his minds make of it – Marcus Aurelius
The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their life by altering their attitudes of mind – William James
If you think in negative terms you will get negative results, if you think in positive terms you will achieve positive results – Norman Vincent Peale
Everything is possible for him who believes – Mark 9:23
As Earl Nightingale puts it,“We become what we think about.”
It is also written in the Bible,“As a person thinks in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)
You might as well have heard the old adage ‘Be careful of what you wish for. They might come true.’ They do.

Want more? Check this out…

Haven’t you realized that when you are angry or hurt, things become worse or even get physically hurt? But when you begin to look at the brighter side of life, suddenly your path seems to get brighter? Everything in the universe seems to favor you? Doors open up? Opportunities show up? Good things happen? Why? Now you know.

Our life is steered and shaped mostly by the pattern of our thoughts. If you think good, you become good. If you think bad, you become bad. This is true because when you are in a positive state of mind, you get positive ideas and begin to ACT on those ideas and what you get is positive outcome. Let me say it again: “When you are in a positive state of mind, you get positive ideas and begin to ACT on those ideas and what you get is positive outcome.” THINK AND ACT. It also happens exactly the same when you think the other way round.

So?

Well, if you really love and care for yourself, BE HAPPY. Time and space will not permit me to tell you again how to make yourself happy. To begin, develop a grateful heart and you’ll be amazed at the number of things you would be happy about. Well, just be good and do good and be grateful for what you have and for things to come. Here is a golden rule. “Do unto others what you want them to do to you” (Matthew 7:12) and surely good things will cross your way. Just obey this great commandment and I am certain that your life will be full of Divine intervention which we humans call ‘miracles’!

Who is this Jesus of Nazareth born in Bethlehem?

From the time he lived, till today, the world is curious and amazed at this man called ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ The authenticity of His claim to be the Saviour, the Messiah or God himself is being challenged and has become a subject of debate for centuries. In fact it was for this very reason (his identity) that the religious teachers put him to death. I wonder as to why they refused to accept him as the ‘Messiah’ despite having full knowledge of the ‘Messianic Prophesies’ (prophesies concerning Christ) and the scriptures being fulfilled through different events in Jesus’ life, and even after he had done all those miraculous signs in their presence.

Ironically their rejection and opposition had greatly affected the common men’s faith. Except for those faithful few, majority of them were confused lots. Many times people were divided on the issue of Jesus’ legitimacy. While some accepted him as the ‘Messiah’ who was to come, others considered him a ‘deceiver’. Maybe it was the Father’s will that everything would remain a mystery until after his (Jesus) death so that His divine plan for providing forgiveness would be fulfilled. I wonder how we would have reacted if we were there! Anyhow, the disbelief and controversy still exists.

Today, while millions profess Jesus, skeptics are also at work and many good Christians are held victim by their atheistic propaganda. For instance, movies have been made and books written in recent times challenging the legitimacy of Jesus wherein antagonists have tried to twist history by distorting the facts leading to confusion even among some sections of believers as well.

Then, who really is Jesus?

For 2000 years or so, much of the world has seen Jesus as the founder of one of the world’s major religions. Many have also seen and regarded him as a great teacher and a good moral example. But he was more than a ‘man.’

According to the Bible – JESUS is the Christ, the eternal Son of God, who became truly man without ceasing to be truly God having been supernaturally conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. And though a living person, he was sinless and perfect, and after having lived a life of unparalleled wisdom and character, he died an awful dead to pay the price for the sins of mankind. But on the third day he rose from dead and now he is in heaven with his Father. He will return again at God’s own appointed time with great power and glory to judge the world; to reward the righteousness and punish the wicked.

Jesus about himself – During one of the debates with the religious leaders Jesus said, “I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:28). According to the scripture, that was the name God gave Himself when He commanded Moses that He was the self-existent One: “I AM who I AM… Say to the people of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14). As such, the name of God in Hebrew is YHWH or I AM.

He also described himself as: “The Son of God” (John 5:25); “The Son of Man” (John 8:28); “The Bread of Life” (John 6:35); “The Light of the World” (John 8:2); “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:14); “The Gate for the Sheep” (John 10:7); “The True Vine” (John 15:1); “The Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:35); “The Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13); “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” (John 14:6).
When the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the living God?” He replied, “Yes.”

What others say – On the night he was born, the angel said to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). When John baptized him in Jordan, a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” John the Baptist called him “The Son of God”; “The Lamb of God.” Nathanael, whom Jesus called a true Israelite, called him “The Son of God; the King of Israel.” The bible also says that the evil spirits knew who Jesus was. Whenever they saw Jesus, they were terrified and would say “Holy One of God”; “You are the Son of God”; “The Son of the Most High God.” Simon Peter, his beloved disciple, called him “The Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The Centurion (who was in front of Jesus when he died) said after seeing all that had happened, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

Thomas Schultz wrote: “Christ is the only religious leader who has ever claimed to be the deity, and the only individual ever who has convinced a great portion of the world that He is God.”

According to hundreds of eyewitnesses, Jesus did die and three days later He left the tomb alive. The biblical record tells that more than 500 people saw Jesus alive after his death.

Secular historians also acknowledged that Jesus was a real living person who gained renown in first century Israel as a healer and a teacher, and that he died at the hands of the religious teachers. W.H. Thomas wrote: “There never has been a more real or genuine man than Jesus of Nazareth.”

Even some of his great antagonists have also accepted his divinity. For instance, Goethe wrote: “If ever the Divine appeared on earth, it was in the Person of Christ.” Even Rousseau admitted: “Yes, the life and death of Socrates are those of a philosopher; the life and death of Jesus Christ are those of a God.” Interestingly in the Koran, the book of Islam, Yeshua (Jesus) is referred to as “the greatest above all in this world and in the world to come.”

What Do You Say? Most probably you have heard all these and much more. Maybe you have even read books and books and have done research on Jesus’ life and He being a deity. Not only the believers but the unbelievers as well have testified and accepted that Jesus is the Son of God; that He is the Christ. However it is not what the world says or what you know. What matters is “Who is this Jesus of Nazareth to you? Do you believe that he is the Son of God and that he died for you?

Be it in the first century AD or today, one of the main reasons for reluctance to accept Jesus as the “Christ” or “God Himself” is lack of faith (belief). That is the reason why whenever he taught, Jesus would say “Believe me.” Yes, it is faith that makes all the difference. Where do you stand?

And as for the believers, there are moments even when the most faithful falters too. Like Peter, for different reasons though, we often deny Him when we want to have our ways and that is when we fail as true Christians. The truth is this: No matter how much a person knows or talks about Jesus, unless he acknowledges Him as his Lord and Personal Savior, and is willing to keep and obey His commands, he does not really know HIM!

Well, if you have not invited Jesus into your life yet or not being really faithful all these time, let this Christmas be an opportune time to know HIM better!

On the Other Road to Jericho

One Sunday morning a family met with an accident on their way to attend a gospel crusade at a nearby town.

The first person to pass that road was a preacher. He saw the tragic stricken family but whisked off. He had a genuine excuse – He was running late for the Sunday morning sermon!

Next was a Choir group, very excited and impatient to present their Choirmaster’s latest rendition of Fanny J. Crosby’s “Rescue the Perishing” at the crusade. They also went their way. How could they miss their special number?

Next was a businessman who disappeared faster than the others. As usual he had no time to spare.

Finally a man came along and took care of the family.
*************
Came the Judgment Day.
The Preacher was the first in line.
“May I come in Lord?” he asked with great expectation and pride in his eyes.

“Wait! Aren’t you that preacher who had the heart to leave behind that ill-fated family in pain one Sunday morning?” The Lord asked.

“Yes Lord, but you know I was to preach. Hope you also remember those fifty souls who came home that morning.”

“Fool! Didn’t you realize that helping the family would have been much worthier than you saving those fifty souls?” The Lord thundered.

“Excuse me Lord, let me explain…” The preacher pleaded.

“We don’t entertain excuses here. I am sorry.”
“Liars!” The Lord said aloud seeing the choirmaster and his group. “You did not live your life the way you sang.”
“Lord…but…” They pleaded.
“No ‘buts’. Down there you can twist and turn anything the way you like with your ‘buts’. I am sorry. It’s not allowed here.”

“Just as you were busy to spare even a minute for me while on earth so am I. Hope you’ll be busy again shaking the hands of your ‘brothers’ there too!” The Lord said to the businessman pointing towards the Lake of Fire.

Then He saw a man looking so frightened. “What’s wrong my son?”
“Lord, I have done nothing good. People also despised me for which I deserved. I know what is in store for me that’s why I am so scared. If only you will have mercy on me!” The man said shakily.
“Son, I don’t judge the way you humans do. I forgive those who are humble enough to repent. And I love those who have faith in me and you are one of them. You have also done some pretty good deeds with all of your heart. One of them was taking care of that tragic stricken family one Sunday morning. Above all what pleases me most is this – you never “turned back” after you saw the “Light” that blessed night. Come in son and feast with me.”

“Thank you Lord!” The once “wretched man” said as he entered the Pearly Gates.

Adapted from the story of The Good Samaritan by Allen Imsong as found in the Book of Luke 10:30ff

Live Your Dream Now!

Blessed is the man who does not allow his miserable past to haunt him. Regretting about past failure is like digging graves or crying over spilled milk like they say. Let the dogs lick the spilled milk. You know what I mean. Is not it better to do and fail than to do nothing and remain a loser for life? It is only by doing that we learn and grow, and that makes life even more interesting.

One should also not be anxious about tomorrow because it never comes. It is always in the future and ever will be. One reason why some people never achieve their dream is because they keep pushing their dream. They always think of their dream as something in the future. And hence the waiting never stops. They also have the habit of saving the best for the next best time which keeps on going. Ringing bells? Well, don’t need to panic.

Just start to think, imagine, assume or act as if you are living your dream now! Begin to take and cherish each day as it comes. Be there and do the things which you can do today. Also do not withhold any good things from yourself which you can enjoy at the moment. Treat and pamper yourself. Start doing things that make you happy provided your conscience allows it and does not harm anybody. Share your love with those who need you. If you love someone, do not hesitate to make them feel special now. Whatever it is, if it is within your power to act, do not wait for the next best time. After all what matters is the present.

Know what? The PAST IS DEAD. Only you can make it alive.
Also don’t be anxious about TOMORROW because IT IS NOT HERE YET or you may never see it, and even if you do, it always comes with new hopes, opportunities, power and blessings!

You Can be a Great Philanthropist!

What is Giving actually?

Many people think that giving is something which can be practiced only by rich people because they think that it’s all about giving money. No argument, but I don’t agree on the idea for two obvious reasons: First of all, the term giving is older than the concept of money. Secondly, there are way too many things to give away. Can you give time, love, joy, peace, wisdom, knowledge, ideas, advice, encouragement or even smile (just to mention a few) to someone needy around you? I bet everyone can do that.

What Giving can do?

Giving is such a powerful force because it is most effective and instant. It benefits both the giver and the receiver. It is what caring and sharing is all about. It is love in action. It is like ‘you do not really care until you give.’ It is the only ‘act’ that cause real ‘change.’ For instance, what a hungry man need is ‘bread’, and the only way to help him is to give him something to eat. It beats all your thoughts of concern and prayer for him at the moment. If you believe in the Bible, even God had to ‘give’ in order to manifest his love in reality? “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Just imagine if God had only ‘loved’ and not ‘gave’? The Son also had to fulfill the Father’s promise by giving his life on the cross as atonement for the sins of mankind.

The point is: No Giving, No Result!

Are you willing to Give?

Well, well, this is the ultimate test. It doesn’t matter how much you have or what you don’t have. The question is : “Are you WILLING to GIVE?

Whatever your answer is, it is expected of everyone to give because all we have is from God and he blesses us with a purpose – to bless others in return especially where there are needs. It is only for our benefit because the more we give the more we receive. But also keep in mind that He blesses only a cheerful giver.

Another interesting fact is that no matter who we are, everyone longs to receive because we are all ‘differently-poor’ and need a helping hand.

Therefore GIVE whatever you can, whenever you can and see what difference you make!