Good Morning,
It is Friday, the 13th of February. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Those who live in this area, join us this evening at 7 p.m. on cable channel 4. It has been great blessing to share the Good News Of our Lord over the airways since 1993.
Some of you have inquired about the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, in 2010. A few have already signed up for the trip. The tentative departure date is July 13, 2010. We have brochures available for anyone who is interested. I will be sending information next week. Remember, it is not a trip but an adventure.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. We praise the Lord for the love that we have been given in Jesus Christ. His love is peaceable and perfect. His love never fails. We have planned for gathering of senior citizens and the retirees for noon tomorrow and for the youth and their leaders tomorrow evening. These meetings are planned around sumptuous meals and warm fellowship. Our men will gather for a prayer breakfast on Sunday morning at 7 a.m. Craig Sabin will be sharing his testimony.
The scripture readings for Sunday are taken from Psalm 30, 2 Kings 5, 1 Corinthians 9, and Mark 1: 40 ff. Praise the Lord! We serve an amazing Lord who is the Prince of Peace. The world can lead us into frenzies and deep anxiety. Jesus can and does infuse us with His abiding peace and everlasting joy.
Proverbs 12:25 says that “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” That is a perfect description of what anxiety does to us. It weighs us down so that it’s more difficult to move forward with our lives. People might be worried right now about the future. As companies lay off employees due to tough economic times, people worry that their jobs may be on the line too. There is a lot about the future that we do not know. That is the reason that I like Jeremiah 29:11. It says “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” Though we may not know what the future holds, we know Who holds the future. He loves us, and He has a plan that gives hope for our future. If there was ever a person who had legitimate things to worry about, it was the apostle Paul. According to the first 3 chapters of Philippians, he was a prisoner of the Roman Empire. He was a frequent target for criticism by other preachers, and his ministry was being challenged by false teachers coming into the Philippian church. In spite of all these things, Paul gives several commands to help us overcome anxiety. The first thing he tells us to do is to rejoice in the Lord. The words “joy” and rejoice” occur 13 times in the book of Philippians. Joy is the dominant theme. Paul's life was often more dramatic than a Hollywood script. In fact, if his life was written as a screenplay, it would be found too unbelievable to portray as a biography. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were thrown in jail for preaching the gospel of Christ to the Philippians. They were treated unfairly. They had every reason to grumble and complain. Instead, according to verse 25, they used the time in jail to sing hymns to God with the other prisoners listening. Then, in verse five, we read, "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."
When we get stressed out, sometimes we lash out. We scream irrationally, yell, complain to anyone who will listen (and many who don't). But Paul said that “if you set aside some time to rejoice in the Lord, you should be able to find the time and the patience to be gentle with the people in your life. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." One of the worst effects of being stressed out is that we forget that the Lord is near. We forget that the One person in the Universe who can do something about our anxiety is only a prayer away! That is the reason that Paul gives a third command in verse six, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” It has often been said that God answers prayer in 4 ways: “Yes,” “No,” “Wait,” or “You have to be kidding!” Looking at Philippians 4:7, Paul does not say that when you present your requests to God that you will always receive what you requested. Paul insists that you will get something even better. Verse seven says that when you rejoice in the Lord and when you pray TO the Lord, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Literally, the Greek text says that the peace of God will stand guard over you. The same expression is used in ancient literature to describe a detachment of soldiers sent by the king to guard over a city. God’s peace is like an army protecting us from anxiety. Then, in verse eight Paul writes, "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely or admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." In other words, instead of obsessing about things that stress us out, we should meditate on the things that will help us out, things that are true, noble, and right. First Paul indicates that we should think about are things that are true. We are not to ponder lies and gossip. Nor are we to dwell upon things that may never come true. We are not to spend our time in needless worry. I was reading about a woman who worried for 40 years that she was going to get cancer. Every pain in the stomach was cancer, and she ran to the doctor over every little hurt. She died at age 73 of pneumonia. She had worried for 40 years over the wrong disease! Worry is a waste of time!
In His perfect peace,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9bC9CRv9oU
Hi All,
Larry just called and said that Jennifer does have spinal meningitis but the doctor won't know until tomorrow if it is viral or bacterial. She is in ICU and isolation right now and has been given 2 shots of morphine and another cocktail and is comfortable if she does not move. Viral meningitis is similar to a cold that has gone haywire and is affecting her spinal fluid and brain. Bacterial meningitis is contagious and if she has that they will have to call the Center for Disease Control. I will update you tomorrow when we know more. Thank you for your prayers...I am so appreciative.
Love,
MaryBeth
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Brown's Daily Word 2-12-09
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord. The Lord gave us a very spring-like day yesterday. The snow has almost melted. I can see that some daffodils and crocus by the foundation of parsonage are popping up.
I performed two funeral services last few days. It is a great blessing to proclaim the "the sure and the certain hope of Resurrection". It is a great blessing to participate in baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Funerals are, in fact, celebrations of death and resurrection.
In the Gospel according to John, our Lord performed His first, miracle in a wedding ceremony. We read about this in John 2. This was the first sign of the Messiah in the adult life of Jesus. A person’s wedding is one of the three most significant days in his or her life, along with the days of birth and death. Of the three, it is the only one that we can remember. We know that God attaches tremendous importance to it since He bracketed Scripture with it. Genesis begins with the wedding of Adam and Eve, and Revelation ends with the great wedding feast of Jesus Christ and His bride. Jesus, His mother, and His disciples were all invited to a wedding party. It was close to His home town of Capernaum so the bride and groom were probably personal friends of the family. What better way could there be to start a marriage than to invite the Lord of marriage to its very inception? Jesus, by His very presence, honors all wedding parties and tells us that this is good and acceptable in His Father’s eyes. We do not get very far into the story when we notice that a problem had arisen - the host ran out of wine. This may seem of small consequence to us today since wedding receptions are not very long, and this can signal the end of the reception. However, in the time of our Lord’s incarnation, a wedding party was much more elaborate, important, and lengthy than now. Consequently, the lack of appropriate foodstuffs or wine, carried greater significance.
Mary, always full of grace, noticed the need and conversed with Jesus concerning the dilemma. The first word of Jesus’ reply is quite curious. He calls Mary, "Woman". The rest of Jesus’ reply to His mother is quite distressing, "what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour is not yet come." Have you ever prayed for something, and gotten only silence - or worse, a rebuke - in exchange? Think about Mary’s meek response, "Whatever He says to you, do it". Mary exhibited her faith, trusting her son - God's Son - to come to the rescue. This is where faith stands in the heat of battle. This is the essence of Godly faith - trusting God to be gracious even when circumstances seem to tell you it is folly. Jesus, in His own time, ordered the water pots to be filled with water and He transformed them into wine. This was a miracle, but it was even more than that. It was, as John called it, a sign - a miracle with a message. Many Old Testament prophecies about the Messianic age spoke of a time when wine would flow liberally. In Isaiah 55:1 the prophet declared, “everyone who thirst come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price”. He indicated a time when everyone would see the glory of the Lord. Amos repeated this in the words, “the time is surely coming, says the Lord, when the one who ploughs shall overtake the one who reaps, and the treader of grapes the one who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit”.
So, in a sense, Jesus’ miracle was an announcement of the coming of the Messianic age. It also signified that the responsibility for providing the wine belonged to the bridegroom and Christ is the Bridegroom, announcing the birth of the Messianic age. Jesus used the occasion of the wine shortage to reveal God’s plan of salvation and redemption to the world. The servants who knew what happened were witnesses of the birth of this new age. The result, as we see in verse 11, was "His disciples believed in Him." That is the greatest effect of this sign. God grants us favor with Him, and with that favor He offers the forgiveness of sins, restoration of relationship, sanctification, and glorification through faith alone. It is therefore meaningful and appropriate that this sign, along with many others, was an occasion of faith. God came down and touched us. This sign effected what it showed. It accomplished that which the Lord set out for it to do - His disciples believed. What Jesus our Lord did for them, He also does for us.
In Him,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns
Praise the Lord. The Lord gave us a very spring-like day yesterday. The snow has almost melted. I can see that some daffodils and crocus by the foundation of parsonage are popping up.
I performed two funeral services last few days. It is a great blessing to proclaim the "the sure and the certain hope of Resurrection". It is a great blessing to participate in baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Funerals are, in fact, celebrations of death and resurrection.
In the Gospel according to John, our Lord performed His first, miracle in a wedding ceremony. We read about this in John 2. This was the first sign of the Messiah in the adult life of Jesus. A person’s wedding is one of the three most significant days in his or her life, along with the days of birth and death. Of the three, it is the only one that we can remember. We know that God attaches tremendous importance to it since He bracketed Scripture with it. Genesis begins with the wedding of Adam and Eve, and Revelation ends with the great wedding feast of Jesus Christ and His bride. Jesus, His mother, and His disciples were all invited to a wedding party. It was close to His home town of Capernaum so the bride and groom were probably personal friends of the family. What better way could there be to start a marriage than to invite the Lord of marriage to its very inception? Jesus, by His very presence, honors all wedding parties and tells us that this is good and acceptable in His Father’s eyes. We do not get very far into the story when we notice that a problem had arisen - the host ran out of wine. This may seem of small consequence to us today since wedding receptions are not very long, and this can signal the end of the reception. However, in the time of our Lord’s incarnation, a wedding party was much more elaborate, important, and lengthy than now. Consequently, the lack of appropriate foodstuffs or wine, carried greater significance.
Mary, always full of grace, noticed the need and conversed with Jesus concerning the dilemma. The first word of Jesus’ reply is quite curious. He calls Mary, "Woman". The rest of Jesus’ reply to His mother is quite distressing, "what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour is not yet come." Have you ever prayed for something, and gotten only silence - or worse, a rebuke - in exchange? Think about Mary’s meek response, "Whatever He says to you, do it". Mary exhibited her faith, trusting her son - God's Son - to come to the rescue. This is where faith stands in the heat of battle. This is the essence of Godly faith - trusting God to be gracious even when circumstances seem to tell you it is folly. Jesus, in His own time, ordered the water pots to be filled with water and He transformed them into wine. This was a miracle, but it was even more than that. It was, as John called it, a sign - a miracle with a message. Many Old Testament prophecies about the Messianic age spoke of a time when wine would flow liberally. In Isaiah 55:1 the prophet declared, “everyone who thirst come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price”. He indicated a time when everyone would see the glory of the Lord. Amos repeated this in the words, “the time is surely coming, says the Lord, when the one who ploughs shall overtake the one who reaps, and the treader of grapes the one who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit”.
So, in a sense, Jesus’ miracle was an announcement of the coming of the Messianic age. It also signified that the responsibility for providing the wine belonged to the bridegroom and Christ is the Bridegroom, announcing the birth of the Messianic age. Jesus used the occasion of the wine shortage to reveal God’s plan of salvation and redemption to the world. The servants who knew what happened were witnesses of the birth of this new age. The result, as we see in verse 11, was "His disciples believed in Him." That is the greatest effect of this sign. God grants us favor with Him, and with that favor He offers the forgiveness of sins, restoration of relationship, sanctification, and glorification through faith alone. It is therefore meaningful and appropriate that this sign, along with many others, was an occasion of faith. God came down and touched us. This sign effected what it showed. It accomplished that which the Lord set out for it to do - His disciples believed. What Jesus our Lord did for them, He also does for us.
In Him,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Brown's Daily Word & India update 2-11-09
Good morning,
The story is told of a young boy who very much wanted $100. He prayed for a long time, but nothing happened. Undaunted by the lack of response, he wrote a letter to God presenting his request once again. When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to “God, USA,” not knowing what else to do, they decided to deliver it to the President. Mr. President was interested in the letter enough to instruct his secretary to send the little boy $5. He thought this amount might be enough to encourage such a young boy. Indeed, the little boy was delighted with the $5 bill. He sat down immediately to write a thank-you note to God. This too was forwarded to the President. It read,"Dear God, Thank you very much for sending the money, but I noticed that for some reason you sent it through Washington, DC and those guys deducted $95 in taxes!” While I can’t claim that this story is true, I must give the boy credit for persistence in putting his prayers before God, and his faithfulness in believing that it was man, and not God, who had messed up the answer. Our prayer lives tend to be cyclical. Sometimes we are good at praying, laying our requests at God’s throne, listening and waiting for His answers. At other times, our prayer lives are dead, dying, or too long neglected. We may pray, but not with the faith or persistence of that child. Further, we all too often do not have the trust that God will answer. Some of us never really come before God in honest and earnest prayer. Others need to do some weeding and watering to remove the complacency and nourish their souls. "The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much", creating the climate for change in our lives.
Whatever our current situation, Jesus has some words of encouragement for us today. He says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV) This section of scripture is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Earlier, in chapter 6, when He taught His disciples how to pray, He told them that prayer was to be between them and God. They were to keep their words simple. He also gave them an example of prayer, which has come to be known as the Lord’s Prayer. In chapter seven, He returns again to the topic of prayer. He puts no qualifiers and no how-tos in His statement, "Ask and receive; seek and find; knock and it will be opened". The failure of prayer is not even considered as a possibility. Prayer changes things, both people and circumstances. God desires that we come to Him with our needs . We should never be afraid to lay our needs before Him. God is holy, but as His children we are always welcomed to come in the Name of His Son. His desire is to give us good gifts. Above all, He wants His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth so that we can ask and receive, and our joy will be complete. He delights in giving to us without charge, as a father cares for his child. In John’s revelation, Jesus said, "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." (Revelation 21:6 b, NIV) Whatever our need today, whatever our burden, we must take it to God and leave it with Him. We need to keep asking and seeking, to come thirsty and come often. God’s love for us is so much greater than an earthly parent’s love for their children, ensuring that the answers we receive will be what is truly best for us. This should give us confidence in our prayers, for we know that even if we mess up, He never can and never will.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg
With political discrimination in the wake of pogroms, Orissa Christians cannot vote
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14448&size=AIn Kandhamal refugees are left off voters’ list. More than 70,000 have no papers, segregated in refugee camps, far from their villages. They might find it impossible to vote in the upcoming federal and local elections, scheduled for April and May.
Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews) – Orissa’s anti-Christian pogroms are having more political fallout. After being on the receiving end of violence last August Christians now could experience outright political discrimination in the upcoming April-May elections.The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) is warning that more than 70,000 Christian voters might not be able to exercise their right to vote in federal and local elections. Some 50,000 Christians who fled their villages at the height of the anti-Christian violence and tens of thousands who followed them afterwards into neighbouring states are now without identity papers or voters’ cards, which were burnt during the pogrom, unable to go back home.GCIC National President Sajan K. George wrote to the chief election commissioner and the Election Commission of India, urging them to rapidly find a way to have the names of Christian voters on the voters’ lists.“For us the fact that the names of voters forced into refugee camps are not on voters’ lists is a sign of bad faith’. Mr George said. Depriving someone of their voting right “is a way to disenfranchise and stifle the Christian minority.”
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
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Tue, 10/02/2009 - 6:04pm Kandhamal district co ordination committee meeting for peace
Coordination Committee Meeting with District Collector on 7th Feb 2009
Members Present: Ajay, Mukund, Sanatan, Prabodh, Br Thomas, Joseph Philip, Gyan, K A Stany, S. Tony Raj, Joseph Xavier, Ms Rama, Sr. Samuel MC, Fr. Varghese Mattamana ED CI, Ms. Madumita Action Aid and Mr. Vikrant Sphere India
Some salient points:
1. Camps: The District Collector (DC) pointed out that at present there are no doctors in the medical teams of the Church. From the Archdiocesan side we have agreed to find more doctors and place them in the camps soon. The DC also mentioned about the new transit camp (the third one in the district) being set up in Tiangia and he asked us to extend our medical service to this camp too. He also mentioned that since the numbers in all the camps is between 500 to 1000, three or four medical teams would be enough to take care of all the six camps namely, Mondasoro, St.Catherine's, Mondakia, Tiangia, K Nuagaon and G Udayagiri. The DC also mentioned the need to provide clothes for menstrual hygiene which the rural women are used to. We have agreed to do the needful. The DC has also agreed to provide medical supplies to the camps once the doctors arrive.
2. Once again the DC urged us to motivate the people to get involved in NREGS works. He also mentioned that if the soil is hard different rates (upto Rs 200) could be provided. The people have to get back to work culture and the DC asked us to identify some works like road construction or deepening of pond close to the camp sites.
3. The DC also agreed to set up 10 big tents in Mondasoro camp soon, so that the schools could function well and the hostel girls and sisters will have some place to work and rest.
4. When asked whether the district would provide tarpaulin to the people when they go back home, since the roof of the most of the houses are destroyed, the DC said that already UNICEF has distributed tarpaulin and if there are some gaps he is willing to look into.
5. Waiving of admission fee for next year in schools and colleges was raised. The DC did not give a definitive answer but has taken note of it.
6. The DC also mentioned in some exceptional cases, it could be one or two Christian families living in a village or some specific villages (eg Tikabali two villages) it will be extremely difficult for the people to go back and so alternatives arrangements are to be made. He also asked us to find out if there are genuine cases of this nature where families cannot go back to their villages. The DC is willing to consider and provide alternate homestead lands.
7. When asked about people who have lost their documents and certificates(GCIC had complained), the DC said that the process to reclaim the documents is initiated. The District Administration would begin a massive 100,000 voter ID cards programme from 10 Feb 2009. If anyone has lost the election ID card they will be asked to fill up a form with details and submit the same to the BDO. The details will be matched with data bank and the photograph in the data bank will be used to generate the new ID card. The normal fee of Rs 25 to apply for duplicate ID is waived. If the photograph is not available then their photographs are to be taken and the IDs will be given. This is the first and basic document. Based on this document the people could apply for labour, BPL and antoyodaya cards if they have lost the same. Using these documents the school and college students can apply to education board for duplicate certificates, mark sheets if they are also lost. Accepting our request to publish this information in the news papers the DC said that he would consider and discuss with his officers.
8. The case of Rajesh Digal who was killed in the violence but whose name does not appear in the ex-gratia payment was brought to the notice of the Collector. He agreed to look into the matter. The details and FIR will be submitted to him for further action.
9. Regarding the compensation package to public institutions the DC was open to consider Rs 2,00,000 each as compensation for the Church, parish house and convent and separately for the schools and public institutions. But he made it clear that if in one place the Church, parish house and convents are together in the same area all these would be put together and they will be eligible only for one compensation. Schools, NGO offices and public institutions will be considered separately.
10. MC sisters asked for protection for Sukananda which the DC agreed; The sisters also mentioned about 12 persons being trained in carpentry and 200 women in tailoring. Sisters asked whether these girls could be supported by the district. The response of DC was that if they could form SHG groups then some help could be given. The sisters also mentioned about the present eye-camp that is going on well.
11. The Beticola church problem was raised by the DC and he asked our opinion to find a viable and permanent solution. The DC convened a special meeting after the Coordination Committee meeting to discuss the Betocola land issue. Some of us were present and we have agreed to take up this issue with the Archbishop and to get back to the collector with some possible plans.
12. The DC also mentioned about his plans to appoint one person for every 50 houses to motivate and monitor the progress of the construction. The DC also encouraged us to initiate micro entrepreneurship so that some people could be employed, say in works like brick making, carpentry so that materials would be closely available for house construction. The DC also mentioned the need to have a mapping of the villages so that in future, god forbid, if there are going to be problems, immediate effective response could be initiated. The DC mentioned about involving agencies like the UNDP in this aspect. No decision was made in this regard.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Tue, 10/02/2009 - 5:50am Karnataka state to gag the media
'Media ombudsman is a dangerous proposal'
Mangalore:
The proposal of setting up an ombudsman to gag the media is a wrong and dangerous proposal. It is indeed a blatant infringement of constitutional guarantees, said High Court Judge (retd) M F Saldanha.
Addressing a news conference on Monday, Justice Saldanha came down heavily on the statement of Home Minister Dr V S Acharya that a fetter is needed to restrict the media from blowing issues out of proportion. He said that it is a move to curb the freedom of the press, which has done a commendable job in collecting remarkable public opinion on various issues in the recent past.
Contradicting the statement of Dr Acharya, Justice Saldanha said that it is incorrect to say that the pub attack incident was blown out of proportion by the media.
Justice Saldanha said that press censorship was imposed only during emergency in the country and setting up of an ombudsman by the state government, which does not have the power to do so, will be another press censorship that the nation will witness. He said that a second ombudsman can not be set up setting aside Press Council of India.
Justice Saldanha lamented that the name of Mangalore which was once looked at as a medical and educational hub is now being tarnished due to these incidents.
Karavali Ale Editor B V Seetharam said that censorship of press is being mooted by a person who hates press. Dr Acharya has started two blogs with information and articles against the scribes of the coastal districts.
posted in: Current Issue, Beliefs, South India
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Mon, 09/02/2009 - 9:35pm Thousands pray for life,agianst euthensia
Thousands of pilgrims to the "Lourdes of the East" pray for life, against euthanasiaby Nirmala CarvalhoOn the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, faithful of every religion and social class are visiting the basilica of Our Lady of Health in Tamil Nadu. Fr. Xavier, rector of the basilica says, that "every form of human life" should be defended, even if it is marked by suffering or affected by disability. Pilgrims are contributing money for victims of anti-Christian violence in Orissa.
Nagapattinam (AsiaNews) - Healing the wounds provoked by anti-Christian violence in Orissa, and by the war in Sri Lanka; reiterating that "every form of human life" is worthy of being lived, even in the case of people stricken by disability; combating the "diabolical" logic of euthanasia and death; recovering the profound value of physical and spiritual "suffering," because in every suffering is concealed the message of salvation that comes from God.These are the special intentions of the pilgrims participating in the Eucharistic procession and Mass planned for the basilica of Our Lady of Health in Velankanni, in Tamil Nadu. The World Day of the Sick is celebrated on February 11; the basilica of Our Lady of Health, called the "Lourdes of the East," is the pilgrimage destination of thousands of faithful from every social class and religion. "Already in these days leading up Feb 11th," Fr. Xavier, rector of the basilica, tells AsiaNews, "tens of thousands come to pray at the feet of the Blessed Mother. This shrine has brought solace to thousands - those afflicted by different ailments of mind, body and spirit. It is very moving to people of all different faiths, kneeling and praying with such devotion and trust, that at the basilica they will receive comfort."The untold suffering of the people in the Kandhamal district of Orissa have evoked feelings of great compassion. In fact, the pilgrims collected one hundred thousand rupees (a little more than 1500 euros), which we sent to Sr Nirmala, Joshi Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, as relief for the Kandhamal people."
posted in: Current Issue, Religion, South India
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Mon, 09/02/2009 - 8:47pm Bangalore India's suicide capital- GCIC appeals for action
Call for help
Jackie Pinto
Bangalore
Almost everyday, there are news reports of suicides in the City. Experts say that the need of the hour is to de-criminalise and de-stigmatise the laws relating to suicide so that people can seek help without fear.Suicide. Steeped in taboo and shrouded by silence, it has taken a terrible toll on families and society cutting across barriers of class and creedIn Bangalore alone, nearly 1,800 people commit suicide with an estimated 20,000 hospitalisations each year. As many as16,000 school and college students in India committed suicide in the last three years, according to the Health Ministry.
“The statistics are alarming enough but they do not begin to reflect the grim reality that exists in India’s suicide capital, Bangalore. Suicide here is a cognisable offence so rather than face legal or penal action, (unless fatal), most incidents go unreported. Introduced in 1860, the archaic law imposes imprisonment and fine on anyone attempting suicide. We need to offer care and understanding in place of persecution and police harassment. We also need to de-criminalise and de-stigmatise it so that so that people and their families can seek help openly without fear,” says Rajgopal, Chairman of Sahai, a helpline that is jointly run by NIMHANS, Medico-Pastoral Association and the Rotary Club.
posted in: Current Issue, Beliefs, South India
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Mon, 09/02/2009 - 8:48am Police arrest Jayaban Digal in Orissa nun rape case
One more person has been arrested in Orissa forhis alleged involvement in the rape of a nun during the communal violence last year in the state's Kandhamal district, police said Sunday. "Jayaban Digal, a resident of Sainpada village, was arrested Saturday night. With the latest arrest, the number of people arrested in the case has gone up to 11," said the investigating officer D.K. Mohanty "We are likely to arrest about four to five more people in the near future," he said.
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
The story is told of a young boy who very much wanted $100. He prayed for a long time, but nothing happened. Undaunted by the lack of response, he wrote a letter to God presenting his request once again. When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to “God, USA,” not knowing what else to do, they decided to deliver it to the President. Mr. President was interested in the letter enough to instruct his secretary to send the little boy $5. He thought this amount might be enough to encourage such a young boy. Indeed, the little boy was delighted with the $5 bill. He sat down immediately to write a thank-you note to God. This too was forwarded to the President. It read,"Dear God, Thank you very much for sending the money, but I noticed that for some reason you sent it through Washington, DC and those guys deducted $95 in taxes!” While I can’t claim that this story is true, I must give the boy credit for persistence in putting his prayers before God, and his faithfulness in believing that it was man, and not God, who had messed up the answer. Our prayer lives tend to be cyclical. Sometimes we are good at praying, laying our requests at God’s throne, listening and waiting for His answers. At other times, our prayer lives are dead, dying, or too long neglected. We may pray, but not with the faith or persistence of that child. Further, we all too often do not have the trust that God will answer. Some of us never really come before God in honest and earnest prayer. Others need to do some weeding and watering to remove the complacency and nourish their souls. "The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much", creating the climate for change in our lives.
Whatever our current situation, Jesus has some words of encouragement for us today. He says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV) This section of scripture is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Earlier, in chapter 6, when He taught His disciples how to pray, He told them that prayer was to be between them and God. They were to keep their words simple. He also gave them an example of prayer, which has come to be known as the Lord’s Prayer. In chapter seven, He returns again to the topic of prayer. He puts no qualifiers and no how-tos in His statement, "Ask and receive; seek and find; knock and it will be opened". The failure of prayer is not even considered as a possibility. Prayer changes things, both people and circumstances. God desires that we come to Him with our needs . We should never be afraid to lay our needs before Him. God is holy, but as His children we are always welcomed to come in the Name of His Son. His desire is to give us good gifts. Above all, He wants His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth so that we can ask and receive, and our joy will be complete. He delights in giving to us without charge, as a father cares for his child. In John’s revelation, Jesus said, "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." (Revelation 21:6 b, NIV) Whatever our need today, whatever our burden, we must take it to God and leave it with Him. We need to keep asking and seeking, to come thirsty and come often. God’s love for us is so much greater than an earthly parent’s love for their children, ensuring that the answers we receive will be what is truly best for us. This should give us confidence in our prayers, for we know that even if we mess up, He never can and never will.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg
With political discrimination in the wake of pogroms, Orissa Christians cannot vote
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14448&size=AIn Kandhamal refugees are left off voters’ list. More than 70,000 have no papers, segregated in refugee camps, far from their villages. They might find it impossible to vote in the upcoming federal and local elections, scheduled for April and May.
Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews) – Orissa’s anti-Christian pogroms are having more political fallout. After being on the receiving end of violence last August Christians now could experience outright political discrimination in the upcoming April-May elections.The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) is warning that more than 70,000 Christian voters might not be able to exercise their right to vote in federal and local elections. Some 50,000 Christians who fled their villages at the height of the anti-Christian violence and tens of thousands who followed them afterwards into neighbouring states are now without identity papers or voters’ cards, which were burnt during the pogrom, unable to go back home.GCIC National President Sajan K. George wrote to the chief election commissioner and the Election Commission of India, urging them to rapidly find a way to have the names of Christian voters on the voters’ lists.“For us the fact that the names of voters forced into refugee camps are not on voters’ lists is a sign of bad faith’. Mr George said. Depriving someone of their voting right “is a way to disenfranchise and stifle the Christian minority.”
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
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Tue, 10/02/2009 - 6:04pm Kandhamal district co ordination committee meeting for peace
Coordination Committee Meeting with District Collector on 7th Feb 2009
Members Present: Ajay, Mukund, Sanatan, Prabodh, Br Thomas, Joseph Philip, Gyan, K A Stany, S. Tony Raj, Joseph Xavier, Ms Rama, Sr. Samuel MC, Fr. Varghese Mattamana ED CI, Ms. Madumita Action Aid and Mr. Vikrant Sphere India
Some salient points:
1. Camps: The District Collector (DC) pointed out that at present there are no doctors in the medical teams of the Church. From the Archdiocesan side we have agreed to find more doctors and place them in the camps soon. The DC also mentioned about the new transit camp (the third one in the district) being set up in Tiangia and he asked us to extend our medical service to this camp too. He also mentioned that since the numbers in all the camps is between 500 to 1000, three or four medical teams would be enough to take care of all the six camps namely, Mondasoro, St.Catherine's, Mondakia, Tiangia, K Nuagaon and G Udayagiri. The DC also mentioned the need to provide clothes for menstrual hygiene which the rural women are used to. We have agreed to do the needful. The DC has also agreed to provide medical supplies to the camps once the doctors arrive.
2. Once again the DC urged us to motivate the people to get involved in NREGS works. He also mentioned that if the soil is hard different rates (upto Rs 200) could be provided. The people have to get back to work culture and the DC asked us to identify some works like road construction or deepening of pond close to the camp sites.
3. The DC also agreed to set up 10 big tents in Mondasoro camp soon, so that the schools could function well and the hostel girls and sisters will have some place to work and rest.
4. When asked whether the district would provide tarpaulin to the people when they go back home, since the roof of the most of the houses are destroyed, the DC said that already UNICEF has distributed tarpaulin and if there are some gaps he is willing to look into.
5. Waiving of admission fee for next year in schools and colleges was raised. The DC did not give a definitive answer but has taken note of it.
6. The DC also mentioned in some exceptional cases, it could be one or two Christian families living in a village or some specific villages (eg Tikabali two villages) it will be extremely difficult for the people to go back and so alternatives arrangements are to be made. He also asked us to find out if there are genuine cases of this nature where families cannot go back to their villages. The DC is willing to consider and provide alternate homestead lands.
7. When asked about people who have lost their documents and certificates(GCIC had complained), the DC said that the process to reclaim the documents is initiated. The District Administration would begin a massive 100,000 voter ID cards programme from 10 Feb 2009. If anyone has lost the election ID card they will be asked to fill up a form with details and submit the same to the BDO. The details will be matched with data bank and the photograph in the data bank will be used to generate the new ID card. The normal fee of Rs 25 to apply for duplicate ID is waived. If the photograph is not available then their photographs are to be taken and the IDs will be given. This is the first and basic document. Based on this document the people could apply for labour, BPL and antoyodaya cards if they have lost the same. Using these documents the school and college students can apply to education board for duplicate certificates, mark sheets if they are also lost. Accepting our request to publish this information in the news papers the DC said that he would consider and discuss with his officers.
8. The case of Rajesh Digal who was killed in the violence but whose name does not appear in the ex-gratia payment was brought to the notice of the Collector. He agreed to look into the matter. The details and FIR will be submitted to him for further action.
9. Regarding the compensation package to public institutions the DC was open to consider Rs 2,00,000 each as compensation for the Church, parish house and convent and separately for the schools and public institutions. But he made it clear that if in one place the Church, parish house and convents are together in the same area all these would be put together and they will be eligible only for one compensation. Schools, NGO offices and public institutions will be considered separately.
10. MC sisters asked for protection for Sukananda which the DC agreed; The sisters also mentioned about 12 persons being trained in carpentry and 200 women in tailoring. Sisters asked whether these girls could be supported by the district. The response of DC was that if they could form SHG groups then some help could be given. The sisters also mentioned about the present eye-camp that is going on well.
11. The Beticola church problem was raised by the DC and he asked our opinion to find a viable and permanent solution. The DC convened a special meeting after the Coordination Committee meeting to discuss the Betocola land issue. Some of us were present and we have agreed to take up this issue with the Archbishop and to get back to the collector with some possible plans.
12. The DC also mentioned about his plans to appoint one person for every 50 houses to motivate and monitor the progress of the construction. The DC also encouraged us to initiate micro entrepreneurship so that some people could be employed, say in works like brick making, carpentry so that materials would be closely available for house construction. The DC also mentioned the need to have a mapping of the villages so that in future, god forbid, if there are going to be problems, immediate effective response could be initiated. The DC mentioned about involving agencies like the UNDP in this aspect. No decision was made in this regard.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Tue, 10/02/2009 - 5:50am Karnataka state to gag the media
'Media ombudsman is a dangerous proposal'
Mangalore:
The proposal of setting up an ombudsman to gag the media is a wrong and dangerous proposal. It is indeed a blatant infringement of constitutional guarantees, said High Court Judge (retd) M F Saldanha.
Addressing a news conference on Monday, Justice Saldanha came down heavily on the statement of Home Minister Dr V S Acharya that a fetter is needed to restrict the media from blowing issues out of proportion. He said that it is a move to curb the freedom of the press, which has done a commendable job in collecting remarkable public opinion on various issues in the recent past.
Contradicting the statement of Dr Acharya, Justice Saldanha said that it is incorrect to say that the pub attack incident was blown out of proportion by the media.
Justice Saldanha said that press censorship was imposed only during emergency in the country and setting up of an ombudsman by the state government, which does not have the power to do so, will be another press censorship that the nation will witness. He said that a second ombudsman can not be set up setting aside Press Council of India.
Justice Saldanha lamented that the name of Mangalore which was once looked at as a medical and educational hub is now being tarnished due to these incidents.
Karavali Ale Editor B V Seetharam said that censorship of press is being mooted by a person who hates press. Dr Acharya has started two blogs with information and articles against the scribes of the coastal districts.
posted in: Current Issue, Beliefs, South India
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Mon, 09/02/2009 - 9:35pm Thousands pray for life,agianst euthensia
Thousands of pilgrims to the "Lourdes of the East" pray for life, against euthanasiaby Nirmala CarvalhoOn the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, faithful of every religion and social class are visiting the basilica of Our Lady of Health in Tamil Nadu. Fr. Xavier, rector of the basilica says, that "every form of human life" should be defended, even if it is marked by suffering or affected by disability. Pilgrims are contributing money for victims of anti-Christian violence in Orissa.
Nagapattinam (AsiaNews) - Healing the wounds provoked by anti-Christian violence in Orissa, and by the war in Sri Lanka; reiterating that "every form of human life" is worthy of being lived, even in the case of people stricken by disability; combating the "diabolical" logic of euthanasia and death; recovering the profound value of physical and spiritual "suffering," because in every suffering is concealed the message of salvation that comes from God.These are the special intentions of the pilgrims participating in the Eucharistic procession and Mass planned for the basilica of Our Lady of Health in Velankanni, in Tamil Nadu. The World Day of the Sick is celebrated on February 11; the basilica of Our Lady of Health, called the "Lourdes of the East," is the pilgrimage destination of thousands of faithful from every social class and religion. "Already in these days leading up Feb 11th," Fr. Xavier, rector of the basilica, tells AsiaNews, "tens of thousands come to pray at the feet of the Blessed Mother. This shrine has brought solace to thousands - those afflicted by different ailments of mind, body and spirit. It is very moving to people of all different faiths, kneeling and praying with such devotion and trust, that at the basilica they will receive comfort."The untold suffering of the people in the Kandhamal district of Orissa have evoked feelings of great compassion. In fact, the pilgrims collected one hundred thousand rupees (a little more than 1500 euros), which we sent to Sr Nirmala, Joshi Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, as relief for the Kandhamal people."
posted in: Current Issue, Religion, South India
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Mon, 09/02/2009 - 8:47pm Bangalore India's suicide capital- GCIC appeals for action
Call for help
Jackie Pinto
Bangalore
Almost everyday, there are news reports of suicides in the City. Experts say that the need of the hour is to de-criminalise and de-stigmatise the laws relating to suicide so that people can seek help without fear.Suicide. Steeped in taboo and shrouded by silence, it has taken a terrible toll on families and society cutting across barriers of class and creedIn Bangalore alone, nearly 1,800 people commit suicide with an estimated 20,000 hospitalisations each year. As many as16,000 school and college students in India committed suicide in the last three years, according to the Health Ministry.
“The statistics are alarming enough but they do not begin to reflect the grim reality that exists in India’s suicide capital, Bangalore. Suicide here is a cognisable offence so rather than face legal or penal action, (unless fatal), most incidents go unreported. Introduced in 1860, the archaic law imposes imprisonment and fine on anyone attempting suicide. We need to offer care and understanding in place of persecution and police harassment. We also need to de-criminalise and de-stigmatise it so that so that people and their families can seek help openly without fear,” says Rajgopal, Chairman of Sahai, a helpline that is jointly run by NIMHANS, Medico-Pastoral Association and the Rotary Club.
posted in: Current Issue, Beliefs, South India
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Mon, 09/02/2009 - 8:48am Police arrest Jayaban Digal in Orissa nun rape case
One more person has been arrested in Orissa forhis alleged involvement in the rape of a nun during the communal violence last year in the state's Kandhamal district, police said Sunday. "Jayaban Digal, a resident of Sainpada village, was arrested Saturday night. With the latest arrest, the number of people arrested in the case has gone up to 11," said the investigating officer D.K. Mohanty "We are likely to arrest about four to five more people in the near future," he said.
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Brown's Daily Word & India update 2-10-09
Good Morning,
The Lord gave us our January thaw in February. It has been spring-like over the past few days, and the snow is melting fast. I walked for 4 miles yesterday - it was very refreshing. Alice drove to Boston early Saturday morning to see Micah and Simeon and their parents. She came home Monday evening. She is going to return this coming weekend for a extended weekend.
We had a funeral service for Don Eckler last Saturday. Don was chairman of the Trustee Board of the church in 1990. He was a dedicated family man, who loved the church and was a doer of the Word. The church family came together in celebration and worship, in memory of Don Eckler, who was 74 years old. His wife of 54 years, Lillian, had gone to be with the Lord on the 8th of April, 2007.
Nathan Young, another Saint of Jesus our Lord, went to be His Master and Lord this past Sunday morning. Nathan was 89 years old. Nathan loved the Lord with a deep passion. He and his wife, Barbara Jean, had served as volunteers with Wycliffe Bible Translators for 12 years. Nathan and Barbara Jean were married for 65 years. Barbara Jean went to be Christ 4 years ago. Both Nate Young and Don Eckler slipped peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus.
John Wesley said Christians die well. Indeed, in Christ we can do life well and, because of Jesus who is the resurrection and the life, we die well. Paul could say, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain".
In 2 Peter 1: 3 we read, "His divine power has given us every thing we need for life and for godliness". We can live in confidence knowing that our Lord is able and very capable of giving us every thing we need. We can live with generosity and grace. We can live our lives investing in the Kingdom of Jesus which is eternal and triumphant. Yet, I often wonder why it’s so hard to get people to give even a tenth of their income to God’s work? My guess is that the average giving in any church,somewhere between 1 and 2% of income. Why are we giving God such a pittance? Is it because we don't trust God to provide? Was it easier for that poor widow in Jesus’ day to give her few copper coins because she had to rely on God anyway? In Malachi 3 God accuses his people of robbing him. "Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me -- the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing." (Mal 3:8-10) God can be trusted to look after us. In 1 Timothy God warns us about the love of money. First it is written, "we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it." So, what can we do to fight the temptation to covet? The key, I think, is there in 1 Timothy 6:6, "there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment." How can we be content? We must begin by remembering what God has promised. In John 6 Jesus talked about himself as the bread of life. He said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Jesus is the satisfaction of the soul’s thirst and the heart’s hunger. If we come to him he promises to satisfy us, and to give us contentment.
In Philippians 4, Paul talks about his experience of God’s provision. He says, "I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13 NRSV) He thinks back on how God has provided for him in the past and his gratitude for God’s mercy overflows into trust for the future. Then he passes on that sense of trust to his readers with this assurance, "And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." It all comes back to that question, "Do you trust God?" Do you trust him to satisfy all your needs, to look after you in all circumstances, to help you find contentment whether it’s in plenty or in need? It’s interesting that the 10 commandments begin with, "You shall have no other gods before me" and they end with "you shall not covet." The two are the same commandment in different guises. Both are about trusting the true and living God to rule over us, to provide for us, to know what’s best for us. Finally, look at the advice Paul gives Timothy at the end of 1 Timothy 6. It is advice that applies equally to us, "But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness." The remedy for covetousness is to pursue not wealth but righteousness, godliness, faith, love, etc. We must put our whole trust in the God, who has already given us his only Son to die so we could be made his children and who promises to take us to be with him in glory forever.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcWkt7rxrg
The Lord gave us our January thaw in February. It has been spring-like over the past few days, and the snow is melting fast. I walked for 4 miles yesterday - it was very refreshing. Alice drove to Boston early Saturday morning to see Micah and Simeon and their parents. She came home Monday evening. She is going to return this coming weekend for a extended weekend.
We had a funeral service for Don Eckler last Saturday. Don was chairman of the Trustee Board of the church in 1990. He was a dedicated family man, who loved the church and was a doer of the Word. The church family came together in celebration and worship, in memory of Don Eckler, who was 74 years old. His wife of 54 years, Lillian, had gone to be with the Lord on the 8th of April, 2007.
Nathan Young, another Saint of Jesus our Lord, went to be His Master and Lord this past Sunday morning. Nathan was 89 years old. Nathan loved the Lord with a deep passion. He and his wife, Barbara Jean, had served as volunteers with Wycliffe Bible Translators for 12 years. Nathan and Barbara Jean were married for 65 years. Barbara Jean went to be Christ 4 years ago. Both Nate Young and Don Eckler slipped peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus.
John Wesley said Christians die well. Indeed, in Christ we can do life well and, because of Jesus who is the resurrection and the life, we die well. Paul could say, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain".
In 2 Peter 1: 3 we read, "His divine power has given us every thing we need for life and for godliness". We can live in confidence knowing that our Lord is able and very capable of giving us every thing we need. We can live with generosity and grace. We can live our lives investing in the Kingdom of Jesus which is eternal and triumphant. Yet, I often wonder why it’s so hard to get people to give even a tenth of their income to God’s work? My guess is that the average giving in any church,somewhere between 1 and 2% of income. Why are we giving God such a pittance? Is it because we don't trust God to provide? Was it easier for that poor widow in Jesus’ day to give her few copper coins because she had to rely on God anyway? In Malachi 3 God accuses his people of robbing him. "Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me -- the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing." (Mal 3:8-10) God can be trusted to look after us. In 1 Timothy God warns us about the love of money. First it is written, "we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it." So, what can we do to fight the temptation to covet? The key, I think, is there in 1 Timothy 6:6, "there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment." How can we be content? We must begin by remembering what God has promised. In John 6 Jesus talked about himself as the bread of life. He said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Jesus is the satisfaction of the soul’s thirst and the heart’s hunger. If we come to him he promises to satisfy us, and to give us contentment.
In Philippians 4, Paul talks about his experience of God’s provision. He says, "I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13 NRSV) He thinks back on how God has provided for him in the past and his gratitude for God’s mercy overflows into trust for the future. Then he passes on that sense of trust to his readers with this assurance, "And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." It all comes back to that question, "Do you trust God?" Do you trust him to satisfy all your needs, to look after you in all circumstances, to help you find contentment whether it’s in plenty or in need? It’s interesting that the 10 commandments begin with, "You shall have no other gods before me" and they end with "you shall not covet." The two are the same commandment in different guises. Both are about trusting the true and living God to rule over us, to provide for us, to know what’s best for us. Finally, look at the advice Paul gives Timothy at the end of 1 Timothy 6. It is advice that applies equally to us, "But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness." The remedy for covetousness is to pursue not wealth but righteousness, godliness, faith, love, etc. We must put our whole trust in the God, who has already given us his only Son to die so we could be made his children and who promises to take us to be with him in glory forever.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcWkt7rxrg
Monday, February 9, 2009
Brown's Daily Word 2-9-09
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.
Colossians 3: 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection F14 on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel F15 against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. ( KJV)
Colossians 3:1 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2 Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. 3 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in God. He is your life. 4 When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
5 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. 6 It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. 7 It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.
8 But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. 9 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. 10 Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. 11 Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
12 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. 13 Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. 14 And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. 15 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. 16 Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 17 Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. ( Message)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFaIGSyENsY
Colossians 3: 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection F14 on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel F15 against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. ( KJV)
Colossians 3:1 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2 Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. 3 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in God. He is your life. 4 When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
5 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. 6 It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. 7 It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.
8 But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. 9 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. 10 Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. 11 Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
12 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. 13 Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. 14 And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. 15 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. 16 Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 17 Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. ( Message)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFaIGSyENsY
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