Sunday 29 April 2007

Surviving in a not so Frienly Work-place - The Christian Way

I used to jump from one job to another. Anywhere I go I always found something distasteful in the company-If not the boss it's a colleague-so I always left. However there was a point in my life
that I realized I need to build up my career and that I needed a permanent earning so as to support my family. Having come to this realization I decided to think of a way so as to cope with whatever situation I find myself in.

By simply following some Christian teachings I had managed to stay on a job for one year and then another one until I realized I had been on the same job for 5 years. Eventually I left not because I dislike it but because I found a better one. Following are three basic Christian teachings which had helped me through: (more. . .)
http://www.helium.com/tm/109081

Friday 20 April 2007

Virginia Tech school shooting

Among the victims of the recent Virginia Tech School Shooting was Liviu Librescu, 76, engineering science and mathematics lecturer. . . and a modern day Christ. He died so that others may live. . . (more)

http://www.helium.com/tm/281426
http://www.helium.com/user/show/39709

Monday 9 April 2007

What is Love

God is Love.
When you are in love it is the most happy moments in yourlife because you are experiencing God. In other words you are sharing God's life.
You may be Christian, non christian or even atheist, once you love someone, you might not be aware of it but it is God you are experiencing. . . (more)

http://www.helium.com/tm/254118

Sunday 8 April 2007

Why are chocolate Easter eggs associated with Easter

http://www.helium.com/tm/261296/chocolate-easter-products-innovation

Chocolate Easter eggs are just products of man's innovation in celebrating Easter.

Easter, which is the most important celebration in Christian religon happened to be celebrated during spring time and egg had been already associated with spring, even before Christianity came into existence,to symbolize new life. This coincidence paved way to adopting the symbolism into Easter not only becuase of chronology but also because of similarity of meaning, i.e. Easter which commemorates the Resurrection of Christ can also be interpreted as 'New Life'. Jesus Christ resurrection from the dead had given Christians a deeper understanding of the meaning of Life. Furthermore the Empty Tomb had been likened to an egg in some respect, i.e. just as new life comes out of an egg, the risen Lord had also came out of his tomb.

Over the years a new game among children known as Easter eggs hunting had become part of Easter celebration, thus easter egg has become a special symbol among children.

Perhaps it occured to the person who first used the idea of using chocolate Easter eggs as opposed to real eggs because chocolate could add more fun to easter eggs hunting game.

Friday 6 April 2007

The Passion of Jesus Christ and the Bible

The Meaning of Christ Death and Resurrection

http://www.helium.com/tm/258192

For Christians (like me) Jesus dying in the cross and His Resurrection has saved us from sins. Indeed this is true but the manner by which they had saved us from sins could be quite confusing to some - as the more popular belief about Resurrection.

In real life this confusion is manifested by the following:

1. Less attendance during Easter vigil relative to Good Friday service.

2. Decline in number of practicing Christians (cf. UK census).

3. When situation calls for, not very many are willing to take up the cross or willing to die for the sake of doing what is good.

Here are four more common misinterpretation of the saving power of Jesus death and resurrection:

1. It is necessary for Jesus to die on the cross in order to save us.
While Jesus death and resurrection brought about our salvation but His dying on the cross was only accidental, i.e. as opposed to essential. In other words he died on the cross because Judas betrayed him, and Pilate and the people' condemned Him to die on the cross.

Point number one. This is belittling God's power and wisdom. God in his infinite power and wisdom can save us even if Jesus did not die on the cross. Why? Because He is God and to God nothing is impossible.

Point number two: This is contradictory to Christian teaching of man's freedom. If it is necessary for Jesus to die on the cross then it is also necessary for Judas to betray Jesus, and it is necessary for Pilate to approve it, it is necessary for the people to demand for Jesus crucifixion, lest salvation would not be realized. So what could have happened to us if Judas did not betray Jesus, if Pilate did not approve his crucifixion, and if the crowd did not pressure Pilate to crucify Jesus? Does it mean that salvation would not take place? Do we have to thank Judas, Pilate and those people who demanded his death? Or what about if Judas did not betray Him or Pilate did not crucify Him? Would Jesus demand for his own death?

2. Jesus willingly died on the cross in order to save us.
If this is true, then Jesus committed suicide. And if Jesus committed suicide then he is no better than those suicide bombers of our present time. The truth is that Jesus was neither intimidated by his accusers nor resisted arrest when they went after him.

3. Everything that happened in connection with Jesus death had already been predicted in the Old Testament.
While an event in the future can be prophesied in general sense but this is not true with regards to specific or particular events. Such would again be contradictory to Christian teaching about man's freedom. If everything that happened to Jesus had already been prophesied in the Old Testament then everything was merely a puppet show in which each one was only doing the role assigned to him. If Judas was already destined to betray Jesus even before he was born (same thing with Pilate and the rest of all the casts) then we should venerate them for a job well done, lest if anyone of them did not do his role accordingly, e.g. if Judas did not betray Jesus then maybe up until today we are still not saved.

4. Jesus death and resurrection had saved us but it is up to us whether to accept it or not.
In other words you should stay away from sins, you should go to confession, you should do good things, etc in order to merit your salvation. In other words you will not be saved if you do otherwise. These are indeed correct. But still one may ask: where did Jesus death and resurrection come into the picture? In other words even if Jesus did not die on the cross still one has to decide for himself whether he should stay away from sin or not, whether he would choose to do good or bad, whether he would confess or not, etc. . . (more) http://www.helium.com/tm/258192

Sunday 1 April 2007

The true meaning of the Passover celebration for Jews

Jewish Passover commemorates the night when Israelites were freed from slavery under ancient Egypt courtesy of Moses leadership.
Who are the Israelites?
Israelites are the descendants of Jacob. (The twin brother of Esau who was the Son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham). They are called Israelites because at one point Jacob's name was changed to Israel (meaning, struggling with God) because in a dream Jacob had struggled with the angel of God.
Why Jewish?
Jewish because it is a holiday celebrated by Jews. Jews are people who believe in Judaism. Judaism is a religion which got its name from Judah, one of the original twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob had twelve sons by whom the twelve tribes originated from. It looks like tribe of Judah (the forth son of Jacob to Lea, one of his two wives.) had been the best among the twelve hence the religion of the Israelite's nation took its name from his.
What were the Israelites doing in Egypt?
Jacob and his Children originally lived in Canaan (modern day Lebanon). One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, was despised by his brothers because he was Jacob's favourite plus one nigh he dreamt that all his family bowed down before him. For this reason they threw into a well (without water) and some foreigners passed by, saw him, took him out and sold them to Egypt. Joseph was doing well as a salve in Egypt until one day the Pharaohs wife fancied him and he snubbed her. The wife was insulted made a false accusation against him and he landed in prison. While in prison he interpreted a dream of his inmates, and it turned out that his interpretation came true. One day the Pharaoh had a dream which disturbed his so much. The former inmate recommended Joseph to interpret the dream. The Pharaoh was impressed and made Joseph Governor. Joseph interpretation of the Pharaoh's dream was about a forthcoming famine. When this was realised Jacob sent his sons to Egypt where Joseph and his brothers got reunited (in a very dramatic fashion). Eventually the whole family joined Joseph in Egypt where the Israelites grew in number.
Moses and the Birth of Passover
Unfortunately when the Pharaoh died he was succeeded by one who did not like so much the Israelites. He made their lives miserable. Then came Moses who was commissioned by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The Pharaoh did not let them go first but even after series of plagues brought by God to Israel. However the last . . . (more)

http://www.helium.com/tm/247059/jewish-passover-commemorates-night