Drawing significance- Place or person?

With Coronavirus, we have arrived a point where everything seems to be crumbling, our innovations, medical science, technology, Artificial intelligence, Religious institutions, Shrines, and so-called holy places too. Coronavirus has emptied the Vatican, the capital of Catholicism, Mecca, Churches, Temples, mosques, Ashrams and all religious institutions. Are we learning something?

Any religion which draws high importance on places than person is struggling to restore back. Is God telling us something? That He is not in places or buildings but in people! Surely if God was in building or places then these would be the safest places. But, at this very moment these are the most dangerous places. Currently the safest place is your home. The God of the Bible who was born, died for our sins and rose again, claimed to be God said, “You are God’s temple and that the spirit of God lives in you” Jesus never promoted to build structures but to gather and worship him for which reasons people assemble on Sundays. Even in the midst of the crisis you can be safe. Trust in God, you will be at peace.

We human beings generally confine to “Confirmation Bias” too often. Now what do I mean by this phrase? Let’s say your elbow is itchy, and you are starting to fear that it might be serious. You type in google “itchy elbow, serious symptom”, and in 20 minutes you are convinced that you have elbow cancer. You can easily find a confirmation for any belief, and people often do. We tend to look for information that confirms our beliefs. We jump to conclusions, assume that our initial guess is correct, and then look for evidence that supports it. That is called confirmation bias, and it has many effects that prevent us from being more intelligent and developing accurate beliefs.

This is how most of the time we put our trust on people too, may it be a Political leader, Government personal or so-called self-made godmen and we take all efforts to defend them. We defend people and places and fight with each other.

Let us take this into cognizance, that this should not be the pattern to find our true identity in God. To know why such things are happening? Where is God? You need to find whom you believe as Supernatural being? Well, I am not talking about our worshiping the created beings, because technically they cannot be God as they are also part of the same creation. There is no way you can group every religious belief and practice together and then smugly denounce religion as a whole. All beliefs are not equal. Some are true and others are false. Find the true claims of God and put your faith on Him. Stay at home and be safe.

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Fighting the Pandemic!

The global crisis which has swept the entire universe infecting people and resulting in so many deaths has impacted everyone, if not physically, at least, emotionally for sure. We are all gripped with fear to a larger extent, but the fear is rising to many new levels.  The foremost is definitely to keep us protected from this deadly virus, but at the same time there are so many other things that are standing as a cause to worry.

I call this “fishing in troubled waters”, where many industries and people are making use of this global catastrophe to manipulate news and increase their revenue. The government is constantly warning us not to fall for the lies and plots by so many to make their living better. Can you imagine how inhumanly people can become? When actually it is a time where people are supposed to lend their helping hands to someone in need, they use such opportunities for meeting their selfish demands.

Another area which is a major cause to worry is the Corona virus outbreak is plunging the world economy into its worst downturn since the global financial crisis, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), urging governments and central banks to fight back to avoid an even steeper slump. Domestic markets suffered worst single-day losses as investors turned jittery after World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, heightening fears of a global recession.

How is one supposed to behave in such perpetual crisis? Do politicians have an answer to such crisis? Ones who were trying to divide the people in the name of religion, minorities, caste and creed, what do they have to say now? Even they are not exempted from being affected. Many are killed in the name of religion. But if you follow the news, even the religious shrines and places are forced to shut down. How are you going to explain this? Why are the religious places under constant tension and conflicts, why there are wars, fighting and ruthless killing? Even the sacred places are not secure, if you notice. Does it tell us something?

In the Bible it says, “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the spirit of Go lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy and that is what you are.”. God wants to live in our heart, whereas we want to keep God in the external so that we can keep God far away. How could we human beings manufactured by God fight against each other and kill each other? The Bible talks something about end days. It may sound funny but if you follow you will notice the pattern of things happening are culminating to some point. Just hold your peace and trust God, you will be fine. An assurance that is given in the Bible and it says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." May God keep each one of us safe. Remain blessed.

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Why you need God?

You need to find answer to these basic questions before you try to find out "why you need God"?

Whom you belong to? Do you think your existence is confined to your parent’s physical union alone, or it is much more than that? Let me give you some details, millions die as still born or immediately after birth or born stunted or mentally challenged and exists with various complications, yet if you are reading this article means we both (you & I) have survived and enjoying the beauty of life. It should also mean that you are not the product of random choice or just a mere coincidence, but uniquely designed and placed in this universe.

God did not design humans to live independently of Him; they have a need to communicate with their Maker. To illustrate my point: When you buy a new piece of equipment, such as a camera or a computer, you expect it to come with an owner’s manual, or a handbook, that explains how to get the best use and satisfaction out of your acquisition. The Bible can be likened to such a handbook. It is a manual for human life that God, the manufacturer, as He were, has made it available to us, the users. This “user’s manual” explains what the product is designed to do and how it should be used for the best results. The Bible says, He Himself gives to all person life and breath and all things. For by Him we have life and move and exist, even as certain ones of the poets among you have said, ‘For we are also his progeny.’

We need God to set us free TO the fullest experience and participation of those things that God has given us to enjoy! We need God because without Him, we will never be satisfied. We are incomplete without union with God. It is as if there is a God-shaped vacuum in every one of us, only to be filled by the life of God in us.

A second way to answer the question of "why we need God?" is related to our own identity and wholeness. For according to the Christian way of thinking, the most fundamental essence of our nature is that we are made in "the image of God". To say it differently, we are not merely the sum total of our biological parts, we are in the words of Genesis "a living soul". St. Augustine once confessed "My heart is restless until I find my rest in Thee.". And finally, we need God to spend our eternity with him. Yes, there is something called eternity! Keep your focus on it.

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Bring up children of great Character!

Someone once said “If you lose money, you lose nothing; if you lose health, you lose something; but if you lose character, you lose everything.” The strength of your character determines the weight of your destiny; and the depth of your character also determines the height of your destiny. There are many who are stranded in life, and whose destinies have been crippled by the trap of compromise.

Schools emphasize and ensure children are well disciplined and comply to a set of behaviors that are acceptable and which may help the child to do well in the studies. Unfortunately, all behaviors are not necessarily building the character. Children may comply to the school protocols and may even be known to be the best student, yet may be addicted to some devastating habits that derails them from fulfilling their ultimate purpose.

When a particular child messes in his/her studies, mostly may not be capacity issue. There are cases the child my be addicted to some behavior which is detrimental and has been overlooked by the parents or left unaddressed.  A child or an adult have marred character because of the compromises they make. Compromises toward errant behavior or a little waywardness, seriously impacts the character.

Character talks about who you are, your belief system, the values the families are modelling. You will do well to know that until your character is adjusted your destiny cannot be established. You must come to a point in your life where you examine yourself, and sincerely ask, “what is it in my life that needs correction. What is it in my life that needs to be adjusted?” There are many great people; people of potential; people of influence, who are wallowing in irrelevance, because of character bankruptcy - A little lies here and  a compromise there.

To a large extent people in India are so religious but sadly the religion has not helped us to maintain a good character. They do not know that God cannot do anything serious with someone whose character is out of order. The Bible says, “A good name is to be more desired than great riches.” You will be honored by God and people for the kind of person you have developed to be.

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Treating women with dignity!

Evil has raised its ugly head with alarming intensity over the years.  I am choosing one issue which many assume  it's private but it's not. Anything that affects others because of your action is not private any more. I am talking about girl children and women who are constantly under threat and their rights are violated time and again by men all over the world. If you notice, the law enforcement in each state have brilliant measures to curb violence against girls and women. Despite the fact the crime rate against them is still on the rise.

According to UN report, It is estimated that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner (not including sexual harassment) at some point in their lives. However, some national studies show that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Evidence shows that women who have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence report higher rates of depression, having an abortion and acquiring HIV, compared to women who have not.

Approximately 15 million adolescent girls (aged 15 to 19) worldwide have experienced forced sex at some point in their life. In the vast majority of countries, adolescent girls are most at risk of forced sex by a current/former husband, partner or boyfriend. Based on data from 30 countries, only one per cent  has ever sought professional help. Does the stats bother us?

At one time people thought there was nothing wrong to see a girl but dating her was wrong and then it was thought that dating a girl was not wrong but sleeping with a girl was wrong and then the threshold was pushed further telling that sleeping with a girl was not wrong but making her pregnant was wrong. And finally, in the age where AIDS became a threat the perspective was enhanced further, where one justified its is ok to do all but just to be careful that the HIV is not transmitted and therefore with contraceptive measures people thought things should be fine.

How do we tackle it? What does our religious book say about it? Does our visit to the religious places and shrines even transform us and shape our character? What is the use of all our offerings and prayers if it does not have the capacity to prevent us from sinning? Tough question, I know. The Bible says “He who looks at a girl with lust has already committed adultery”. It has to be addressed at your heart level. The Bible says, “Don’t you know that you are the temple of the living God and that the spirit of God lives in you?  

Having a cute slogan and placard to ensure the dignity of a girl isn’t going to work actually. You need to have the power to restrain from violating the rights of women and the girl child, and that can happen when you invite God into your heart and make Him the lord of your life.

Check out more on the link in the twitter to find how you can have the power over dominating sin in your life.

Reference: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures

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Growing inside!

When it comes to humans, we have parameters to assess a good person and one living up to the standard. It varies with our expectations from others. But the fact is, the real quality of a person can be determined in two ways:

1. His investments, and

2. His associations.

If we observe where one splurges his/her money or with whom one often associates, we can pretty fast predict the kind of person he/she is.

Paul Enenche in his book ‘21 Foolish Things People Do’ puts this beautifully “Wise people spend their money to upgrade their life. Wise people spend their money on good things that which is enriching to oneself and for noble causes too. They invest in information, in knowledge and in study. Foolish people spend their money on what can make them feel good at the moment. They spend on what can make them look good at the moment. They spend on what can make them feel like they belong at the moment. Their destiny is limited.”.

People today have ample of options and ways to engage themselves in what satisfies them for the moment. Young people have countless opportunities. Most of their financial investments and time is toward relationships, dating, giving gifts and pleasing each other. They follow their instincts. They think it is their right to enjoy their youth and feed their emotions with unfulfilling stuff that sucks them into a black hole till they end up emotionally bankrupt.

The next thing that impacts the life of someone is with whom they associate. Mind matters. Especially, the wrong ones have a greater impact in one’s life. The Bible says “Bad company corrupts good morals”.

It is important to note that anytime you stop growing internally, you will stop growing externally. When you stop growing in revelation and information, you really stop growing indeed. You cannot be stagnant inside and move forward outside and vice versa, you cannot move forward inside and be stagnant outside. Every time there is an improvement inside, there will certainly be an improvement outside.

The Bible says, “But a noble person plans noble things; he stands up for noble causes.”. If you notice many with wealth and high status are trying to find wrong pleasures from wrong sources. They end up becoming weary and finally switch to nobler causes like helping the poor. 

It's undeniable that we are made in the image of God, with a moral compass instilled in our heart to do what is right and enrich each another. Till we follow what God has instilled in our hearts we will not find peace and lasting joy. Don’t drag yourself to the point of despair and then scramble back to what promises peace.

You can have the peace and lasting happiness when you connect to God the savior.

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Life free from correction!

No one likes to be corrected! Let's accept that fact. Ego has a lot to be blamed for this. There are a lot of folks out there who believe that no one can correct them. They believe that when they are right, they are right and when they are wrong, they are still right. 

They are intolerable towards corrections from anyone. They never want to be told they made a mistake. It's foolish! A person that cannot be corrected cannot be assisted. We have to understand that no human being is above mistakes. We are meant to be above sin by God's mercies but not mistakes.

Especially, when it comes to children, when they are warned of a particular thing they are involved in, they would never want to accept it until they try for themselves. They are OK to get hurt miserably as a result of their behavior, action or relationship, but they simply can’t take the warnings and corrections.

Have you noticed why this happens? The Bible talks about a character named Paul who very logically and practically explain this problem and it goes like this, “For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but is the sin that lives in me.”. The moral values and ethical values have deteriorated alarmingly even among children in today’s age.

The problem of evil is far beyond one's imagination. If we follow the news, we find young children who murder, rape, rob and involved in all sorts of heinous crimes. How do you think one can live a correction free life and be able to say “no” to the allurements and persuasion for doing wrong? The answer is, you need a God who demonstrated doing right and who lived a holy life. The word holiness is not affiliated with any particular religion. We are all supposed to model a morally right life for our kids to follow and then our corrections and warnings will be readily acceptable for our children and friends.

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