tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15296251770608897652024-03-08T09:40:24.717-05:00Unfolding freedomUnsafe, non-religious thoughts on spirituality, life, people and things.Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-16546672052300546362012-03-29T09:16:00.005-04:002012-03-29T09:36:54.014-04:00Jacob!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P08mohgofZ8/T3RlWxh5btI/AAAAAAAAIP0/9gZaN2d6gUY/s1600/DSC_0224-2.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P08mohgofZ8/T3RlWxh5btI/AAAAAAAAIP0/9gZaN2d6gUY/s320/DSC_0224-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725312468221783762" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >[Smita and I welcomed our third child Jacob on March 23rd, Friday 5:47am at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI. At birth, he weighed 7lbs 14 oz and measured 20.5 inches tall. He is the cutest thing ever!]</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >During Smita’s labor, the OB/GYN at the hospital told us we must be pros since it's our third child. The assumption was that we know everything about labor, delivery, recovery and taking care of the baby. Its quite humanly that we feel proud when someone say we are good at something, and I wasn't an exception.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Well, until the baby was born and given to us for care.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >It can be overwhelming that, now, we are responsible for the well-being of a brand new life, who completely depends on us to sustain and survive.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >It's true that I had changed diapers, fed, took care of 2 children in the past. But that was over 5 years ago. I forgot everything. Now, I am re-learning. It's a totally new, sometimes unnerving experience.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><span>It's fun too. </span><span>Jacob is very curious. He turns his eyes to each and every sound or gestures we make (unless he is hungry). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span >I don't think I have paid this much detailed attention to Jessica or Jonathan when they were younger. It could be because of a subliminal knowledge that this could be our last offspring. Last chance to learn, observe and enjoy how babies operate. (Of course, there is a chance when we become grand parents. But I don't want to think about that now because it makes me want to imagine how I would look when I am old. I don't want to go there now.)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >What Babies tells me is this: ‘life’ wants to happen. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >I am marveled at the magnificence of human life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span >The Batista at the coffee shop at my work told me something the other day. "If you have a boy, you need to worry only about THAT boy. However, if you have a girl, you need to worry about ALL the boys!". I thought that was funny and I laughed!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >On a second thought, my grin slowly faded. I have both!</span></p>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-77780455771767802332012-03-15T09:58:00.001-04:002012-03-15T09:59:51.295-04:00Are we progressing?<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; " >Are we progressing?</span><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Developmentally? Economically? Scientifically? Technologically?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Human kind seem to take a lot of pride in its own progressive development over the centuries starting from industrial revolution to the modern day technological and scientific advancements. We have learned to solve a lot of problems by using machines and chemicals. Most of it is done in as effort of beating the tyranny of time.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Time seems more precious than ever. </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >We have developed techniques to better manage our time for better productivity and thereby a better life - from packaged dinners to artificial intelligence.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >We have pretty much made the whole thing called life as a mechanical operation or a series of operations, which is usually kicked off by a morning instant coffee. We have learned the patterns and we are also on the lookout for better patterns, tools and strategies.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Is it just me or can anyone else see that there is something missing in our rushed daily life? Or is it that thing they call "progress"? Am I too old-school that I am not seeing the progress?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Can't you see how we are solving the problems in the world? They ask.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Look how we solved the issue of caring for children - we invented daycare professionals.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Look how we solved the issue of planting, cultivating and harvesting crops - we invented corporate farming and super markets.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Look how we solved the issue of preparing food - We invented packaged dinners and canned foods.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Look how we solved the issue of physical sickness - We have invented pharmaceuticals.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Feeling down? - We have antidepressants.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Need money? - We have loans.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Want to be in shape? - We have diet pills.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >Do you see a problem with this mentality? Are we really progressing?</span></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-14039241744477116432012-03-06T19:30:00.006-05:002012-03-07T08:52:49.470-05:00Grow deep!<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">A lot of people have chosen silence, passivity and isolation over standing up for truth and questioning things with courage, just so that they can avoid conflict. We have learned to compromise all our integrity and honesty for pseudo comfort and false sense of security. At work places we keep quite because we are afraid of being seen a difficult-to-manage, arrogant employee. At church we keep quiet out of the concern of being perceived as a rebel. We stick with abusive relationships, because we are afraid of living without those relationships. We are afraid of being seen as vulnerable. We would rather be in a state of depression than speaking out. We pretend. We close our eyes and blind ourselves to injustice, falsehood, control, darkness and bondage.</span><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>We are afraid of people. We are afraid of the god of our religion. We are afraid of being judged. We are afraid of being anti-social. We are afraid of breaking traditions.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Why?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Is this how we are supposed to live?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>We conform to the level that we have no sense of identity or individuality. Everybody controls us - corporations, politicians, clergies, relatives; and we sheepishly submit our identity to them and beg them to control us, feed us, think for us, protect us. We wouldn't second guess their intentions or their existence because the whole 'mob' is doing the exact very same thing and we don't want to be the odd one out.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Mob mentality?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>We live this conforming, compromising, gutless life 70, 80, 90 years and towards the end of our life, we would wonder did I even live one day as MYSELF? With my own thoughts, with my own convictions, with my own ideas, while being true to myself and others around us. Totally being comfortable in our own skin?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>We think our children need conformity, so that we can better control them. No wonder we teach them conformity from day one. Guess what, when they grow up they will crave control and bondage. </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>We have the so called "experts" to shovel instruction and "how to"s down through our throats. We savor upon them and celebrate our gluttony thinking that we are smart because we have the "expert" advice and a road-map for how to navigate our life-ship.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>What if life is not meant to live based on a road-map?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>What if life is not meant to live based on a moral standard?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>What if life is not meant to be going through the motions and doing what everybody else is doing?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Isn't that life boring?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Diet industry and mass food producing companies controls what we eat.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Medical industry tell us what medicine we need.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Clergies prescribe food for our soul and spirit.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Politicians control our sense of security.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Businesses, corporations, banks and credit card companies control our money.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>We are bombarded with the How-to books and self helps books. We validate every step of our life against the knowledge and wisdom of the "mob".</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>With all these we grow wide and big (Does knowledge puffs up?). </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>What a boring life!</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>We never grow deep with a mob mentality!</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>What happened to adventure? wonder? awe? curiosity? courage? creativity? solitude? revelation?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Without these, how do we grow deep? How do we experience freedom?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><br /></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-91419991034120803482012-03-05T09:25:00.005-05:002012-03-05T09:31:42.190-05:00Absolute Vs. Relative truth<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Absolute truth: What is true of me and everyone else.</span><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>Relative truth: What is true for me is true for me, may not be true for you.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span>If I say, I am now writing in Spanish, most people, who </span>can distinguish Spanish and English, would disagree.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>There is an absolute truth here: Spanish and English are 2 different languages.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>But, to those who don't know this truth (difference between English and Spanish), both the languages will sound the same. That is relativism. It's a myth.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>I have heard people saying "You can't know anything for sure." Well, the question I want to ask them is "How do you know THAT for sure?"</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>A lot of modern philosophy and liberal theology are built on relativism with an agnostic notion that we can't know anything for sure.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I remember, during my college days, when the professor ask us to solve a mathematical or science problem, the problem will have several variables, but there is always at least one constant. Without that one constant, it is impossible to solve that problem or any problem.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>There has to be absolute truth, otherwise everything we believe, say or do is in total vain. We cannot exist without absolute truth.</span></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-30425111558848509492012-03-01T05:30:00.001-05:002012-03-01T05:32:53.409-05:00Right or Wrong?<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; ">Do you make decisions in life based on what is "right" and what is "wrong"?</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span >Is in't it easy to fall into the trap of analyzing each of our thoughts and actions based on the moral standard we have been given by our religion, culture or education?</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span >Yet, let's not forget that in the very scene of creation, the Creator specifically instructed the creation NOT to eat from the tree of knowledge of right and wrong.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We were not originally created to live by a moral standard, or a list of do's and don'ts. Lets not forget that Jesus had to die to restore us from the dead religion created as a result of the creation eating from the tree of knowledge of right and wrong.</span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span >Thank God that there was tree of LIFE in the garden! </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span >Let's just allow the one who said "I am the way, the truth and the LIFE" and "I have come so that you may have LIFE", to live his life in and through us. When He does it (and He is), we just live! Freely! Free from the need to live by right and wrong!</span></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-3614517518241654882012-03-01T05:24:00.004-05:002012-03-01T05:28:55.109-05:00Freewill<div class="block-header" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; "><h2 class="label block-title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.15em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; "><div class="editable-label" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; "><div class="label" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: dotted; border-right-style: dotted; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-left-style: dotted; border-top-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-image: initial; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span>The undeniable fact that there is pain, suffering, war and chaos exist in the world does NOT prove that our God is a passive God who is hesitant to intervene right away but planning to fix everything in the "future", instead it simply and profoundly shows that God is someone who does not want to violate people's freewill; because w</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; ">ithout freewill, love is impossible.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-weight: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span>So the question is not really whether God's love is inescapable, rather the question is, within the freewill entitled to each person, who would choose God's provision of Love? It is like a gift which was made just for you and offered exclusively for you and it's sitting right in front of you, but you still have the freedom to either receive it or reject it.</span></div></div></div></h2></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-5828681493392457652012-02-25T05:33:00.000-05:002012-02-25T05:58:20.310-05:0010 reasons why I don't believe in Universalism.<br />
I have been reading and thinking quite a bit lately about the idea of Univeralism (Universal Salvation), which is an argument that <i>all</i> people will be ultimately saved. The idea is rooted in the belief that a loving God cannot and will not send people to hell. There are numerous positions on this issue among people from the argument of logical and rational thinking (a loving God letting people go to hell being illogical), to the idea that the word "forever" (eternal) doesn't really mean forever and everyone will get an opportunity to go through a <i>short</i> period of "hell-like" experience and then they will eventually bow their knees and confess with their tongue that Jesus is Lord.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I too want to believe in this idea because I have a lot of friends and family who have not accepted Christ and it concerns me, so I started exploring the idea with great enthusiasm but eventually came to a realization that without tossing out a whole bunch of Scriptures, it is impossible to establish a case for Universalism.<br />
<br />
I am a believer in God's grace and His unconditional love and I am passionate about it and the good news of it. I am also encouraged to see people questioning and challenging the traditional beliefs of institutional church (which I am also doing). But, when it comes to this issue, the argument is seriously flawed.<br />
<br />
My attempt here is not to address each and every arguments, but some of it.<br />
<br />
<b>1. No Scriptural support.</b><br />
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There are no Scriptural support of evangelism offer to the unregenerate after their death and that they will be released from hell after their 'pruning time'.<br />
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<b>2. Freewill is critical.</b><br />
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If God is going to force people to accept him, it is a violation of freewill and if God was going to violate the freewill in the "future", He could have violated it in the Garden of Eden by stopping Adam and Eve from eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. God never violated the freewill and He never will.<br />
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<b>3. Being a universalist is not necessarily a sign of "open mindedness" or "thinking outside the box".</b><br />
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People posses a fear of being seen as a religious bigot (subtle influence of secularism?). They want to appear as "open minded" because they think that's kind of cool and modern. They ask the question "Did God really mean it that way?". Well, that's the same kind of question Satan once asked Adam and Eve: "Did God really say...?".<br />
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<b>4. If something is not mentioned in some places, that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.</b><br />
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Universalists argue that since there aren't a lot of occurance of the word "hell" in the Bible we shouldn't believe that it exist, or it exist in an eternal sense. There are an overwhelming number of passages in the Bible that it is very clear about a <i>separation </i>of believers and unbelievers such as the parable of 10 virgins, where 5 of them being left out in the dark and the parable of separating sheep from the goats. Though the world hell is not directly used in any of these places, it clearly shows us that there is going to be a seperation of believers and unbelievers; and unbelievers are going to be left out. Another example is, Jesus telling <i>"I never knew you, depart from me"</i>. There is no reference to hell here, but you can see that He rejects the people who never KNEW him (believed in Him and had faith in Him). Another example is the older brother in the story of the prodigal son that he <i>chose</i> not to join the party <i>though</i> his father invited him.<br />
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Another argument is, Apostle Paul being silent on the issue of hell. It is true that Aposlte Paul is not bringing that issue a lot in his epistles, but isn't it because he is writing to churches (believers)? Why would he keep on reminindng those who have already "passed from death to life" about hell (eternal death)?<br />
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<b>5. Satan was an archangel and was created by God, but it is ludicrous to believe that Satan will be saved. </b><br />
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One question I would ask a universalist: Do you believe that Satan and his demons will be reconciled to God? I would assume that their answer is "No", now consider this: Anyone who rejects Christ is <i>anti</i>-christ.<br />
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<b>6. "Forever" DOES mean forever.</b><br />
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The argument that "forever" doesn't really mean forever has a huge flaw. If you are going to posit that hell is temporal because of the Greek word used to describe it, you must also be willing to posit that heaven is temporal. The same word that is used to describe the length of hell (aionios) is the same word that is used to describe the length of heaven (aionios). [<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:46&version=NIV">Matthew 25:46</a>]<br />
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<b>7. We are NOT created in the image of God, in the first place.</b><br />
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Universalists also believe that salvation is nothing but forgiveness of sins and Jesus forgave the sins of the WORLD, then it must mean that the entire world is (or will be) saved. While it is true that the entire world is <i>forgiven</i> and reconciled to God, forgiveness alone is NOT salvation. Forgiveness is only a <i>prerequisite</i> to salvation. Salvation is receiving LIFE from God (receiving Jesus). Jesus said , <i>"I am the way, the truth and the LIFE". "I am the resurrection and the LIFE". "I have come so that you may have LIFE".</i><br />
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We are born into this world spiritually <i>dead</i> (inheriting adamic nature) and in need of <i>Life</i>.<br />
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[This is contrary to many people's belief that we are created in the image of God, which is <i>not</i> true. Only Adam was created in the image of God (fully alive to God) and all the people who are born thereafter (after Adam sinned) are born in the image of Adam (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%205:3&version=NIV">Genesis 5:3</a>). Remember, God told Adam that if he eat that fruit, he will DIE, but we all know that he did <i>not</i> die <i>physically</i> as bible says he lived for 930 years, so the death he died that day was <i>spiritual</i> death].<br />
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Jesus came to give us that life which we didn't have (which we lost in Adam) when we were born into the world, but in order for us to recieve that life we have to be fully forgiven of all sins for God's life (spirit) cannot be dwelled in a sinner. So Jesus brought forgiveness to the entire world (through His death on the cross) making us ready to receive life (through His resurrection) [This is the experience Jesus explained to Nicodemus that unless you are born of water (natural birth) <i>and</i> spirit (born again OF God), you cannot inherit the kingdom]. However, receiving the life is a choice - you can either accept it (by faith) or reject it and hell is a place or a state of remaining spiritually dead, for those who reject <i>life</i> by their free will.<br />
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"For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him (forgivenss) through the death of his Son , how much more, having been reconciled (forgiveness being a prerequisite), shall we be saved through his life (salvation)! - Romans 5:10<br />
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So, I believe in universal forgiveness, <i>not</i> in universal salvation. There is a huge difference.<br />
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<b>8. Believing in a loving God and believing that hell do exist is NOT paradoxical, and God is NOT <i>sending</i> anyone to hell.</b><br />
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Universalists think believing in hell and believing in a loving God are somehow paradoxical so they attempt to build a case against hell. It is a noble desire and I understand where they are coming from but the fact is God is <i>not</i> sending anyone to hell, people choose hell (death) by their will. When they reject Life offered by Christ, they <i>remain </i>dead. Remaining eternally dead is nothing but hell.<br />
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<b>9. God is Love, but He is also just.</b><br />
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God punishing sin on the body of Christ is something we shouldn't take lightly as it was an act of <i>justice</i> and because of His immeasurable love for us, He chose His own Son to receive the wages of sin (death). But He raised Jesus from dead and is offering us the<i> same</i> resurrection <i>life</i> so that we may be raised with Him from our state of spiritual death.<br />
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Those who reject this resurrection life, simply remain dead.<br />
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<b>10. It's all Grace, but faith matters.</b><br />
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There are numerous passages in the Scripture where it shows that we receive Jesus (resurrection life) by <i>faith </i>and faith is never compelled upon on anyone.Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-68703059616437359292012-02-17T09:11:00.001-05:002012-02-17T09:14:02.862-05:00Think with your heart."Use your head" is a provocation we all use to get people thinking rationally and logically. It is not a bad thing. in fact a good thing, to have our own rational take on issues related to life. And we are all very opinionated and I think it is healthy to have opinions, better than having nothing to say about anything.<br />
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We have been trained enough to think with our head. It is the intellectual reasoning what enables us make decisions in our daily lives. Decision such as what career path should I be taking, what vehicle should I be driving, should I buy a Mac or PC etc.<br />
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However, life is far from being rationale. We all know, things always don't sit well with our left brain, the stuff we encounter, the life puzzles we conveniently leave unresolved, those several unanswered questions lingering in our head. Our heads can't be peace with all that.<br />
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But, our hearts can! Our hearts can safely ignore the need for logical reasoning and actually enable us to move from where we are stuck in our head. Heart doesn't make a lot of sense to our heads. Heart operates in a totally different paradigm.<br />
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Those leaps in the inner chambers of our heart when we experience love, forgiveness, acceptance. The joy we feel when a stranger smiles at us. The elevated happiness when we look at our children's cute behaviors. That desire we all have somewhere deep in us to show kindness, to protect the vulnerable, to speak up for the oppressed. That awe and wonder we all feel when we look around and observe the beauty and marvel of creation.<br />
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Those are all heart matters! There we lay aside our head, to experience life.Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-29571750478166286882012-02-15T09:39:00.000-05:002012-02-15T11:37:43.631-05:00What is happening to Christianity?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe we are living in a very crucial, yet exciting time in the history of mankind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are all kinds of revolutions going on in the world, from the very conspicuous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring">Arab Spring</a> which thrives on great media coverage to subtle, silent, yet powerful spiritual revolution among the new generation. I am encouraged and excited to see the renewed spiritual awareness and a greater sense of the need for freedom sweeping across the globe. I am encouraged by the courage and brevity of the young generation to come forward and question things which doesn't appeal to their heart. And the more and more people becoming less and less hesitant to stand firm in (or reclaim) their freedom and say "No" to religious, political and social oppression.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is something very telling about the huge popularity of the "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY">Why I hate religion, but love Jesus</a>" YouTube video. There is something refreshing about that video. It's both radical, yet sitting right with our heart. Truth, though it is sometimes disturbing in the light of our traditions, always sit right with our heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we hear the truth, we KNOW that it is the truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is this a phenomena out of the new generation to seek and find what is actually real? Could it be seen as a damaging challenge to the religious establishment and how religion had been oppressing, controlling and manipulating people for centuries?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It reminds me of the great courage shown by men like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther">Martin Luther</a> (in 1500s), who vehemently opposed to conform to Catholic oppression and ignited the flame of Protestant revolution. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been more than 500 years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this 500 years, traditions, unspoken rules and clever manipulation have been sneaked into Christianity. Fundamentalism took its root and became like a Pharisaical cult. It abused hundreds and thousands of people, snatched their freedom from their hands, and controlled them without kindness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it time to question it? Is it time to shake even the very foundation of institutional church and organized religion? Is the social media, and other powerful technological tools changing the game? Is the global spiritual climate changing rapidly? Is the bigotry of Christian fundamentalism and institutional Christianity coming to an end?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it a sign that people are coming out of their closet and authentically agreeing that they have a greater spiritual need and a deeper desire in their heart to connect with their Creator, which the institutions have failed to meet?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is worth noticing, unlike the historical revolutions, which usually started by one or two courageous men/women, the modern revolutions are started and carried on by regular, ordinary people. Ordinary radicals, just like you and me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After all, is it just that we are awakening to the simple, yet profound fact that Jesus did not really come to start another religion but to give us a <i>relationship </i>and<i> friendship </i>and He is whole-heatedly interested in each one of us individually with all of our flaws, not necessarily the little phony religious activities we do?</span></div>
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</div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-29262926471911502742012-02-15T08:43:00.001-05:002012-02-15T08:43:07.048-05:00Hide and seek<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12px;">Hide and seek in the dark woods (Poem by Jessica Manjasseril (7 years old) Jan 2012)</span></div>
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<br />The woods are dark<br />The branches creek<br />The rain is dropping on my feet<br />I don't know what to do<br />But I look and look and look for you...<br />When I am about to give up, and no longer filled with hope<br />I feel something on my leg<br />It's YOU! It's YOU!<br />I am so happy to see you<br />Let's go inside and play hide and seek.</div>
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</div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-12954940547394939552012-02-13T11:33:00.001-05:002012-02-13T14:11:52.626-05:0071 popular Christian teachings which are to be challenged.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">These are some of the popular teachings I have observed for that past 10 years of my Christian life among predominantly large Christian denominations/groups. By no means, this is an attempt to find fault but I strongly believe that <i>right </i>believing will lead us to <i>right </i>living and if our premise (of belief) is wrong, anything we build upon it could be just fragile, erroneous, and futile and as a result limiting us from experiencing the freedom Jesus gave His life for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Regardless of what you have been taught/believed for years or decades, are you willing to take up the challenge to re-assess your beliefs as you go through this list with a "what if?" attitude?</span></div>
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">God saves us so that He can change us.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">When you sin, God is disappointed.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Preaching too much grace is dangerous.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">We are merely a "sinner saved by grace".
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">God expect every Christians to be "soul winners".
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Our heart is wicked and is deceitful above all things</span>.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">New Covenant is the continuation of the Old Covenant.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If we are not tithing (10% of our income), we are robbing God.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">We can earn rewards in heaven if we work hard for God.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Through the death of Jesus, the ceremonial laws were fulfilled, but the moral laws (10 commandments) are expected to be obeyed by Christians.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">When we are saved, our past sins are forgiven, then on, all the sins we commit in our daily life need to be confessed and sought forgiveness for.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The righteousness we have in Christ is only "positional" for now, it becomes a reality in its true sense only when we reach heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The fact that Christ lives in us is only a "positional" truth which need to be a reality in the future.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">We are saved by grace apart from the law, but once saved, Holy Spirit gives us the ability to obey the law.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The primary benefit of believing in Jesus is avoiding hell and going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">We need to take the whole bible as it is written to us and the whole bible (66 books) are applicable to us today.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Sinners need to clean up their acts before they can be accepted and loved by God.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The sign of being a good Christian can be measured by the various activities he/she is involved in - prayer, fasting, bible study, evangelism, good works</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The issue of hell is a great tool to use in convincing people to accept Jesus.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The goal of Christian life is going to heaven one day.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Christians should always be nice, meek and gentle because Jesus was nice, meek and gentle.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The problems you have in life - sickness, poverty, depression etc are usually a sign of unconfessed sin your life.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Sanctification is the process of achieving sinlessness by obeying the law.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">A Christian who is not busy with Christian activities is usually a backslidden christian.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The biggest advantage of becoming a christian is avoiding hell.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you consider yourself holy and righteous (because of what Jesus did), there is a danger of falling into pride and arrogance.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you preach total forgiveness, people might end up sinning more.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you preach that you are totally free from the law, people will take it as a license to sin.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">10 commandments is the rail on which your christian train should be running.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">It is the moral duty of a Christian to fight against all the sinful behaviors in the world (homosexuality, abortion, etc).</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">True conservative Christians are republicans.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Working for God is doing certain activities - bible teaching, preaching, evangelizing.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The biggest problem with Christianity today is that they drifted away from fundamentalism/conservatism.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you haven't prayed the "sinner's prayer", you can't be sure that you are really saved.
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<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Salvation is an "initial" experience, which is to be followed by a second (or more) experience of infilling of the Holy Spirit.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">It is important for a Christian to be under the teaching (cover) of an ordained pastor and a local church.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">By participating in the activities of your local church, you are participating in the works of the Lord.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you pray earnestly, with the right amount of faith, God will grand your requests.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">By starving/weakening your body, through fasting, you can strengthen your spirit.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">All Christians have two natures - a sinful nature and a righteous nature. Both these natures are at war.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Sunday is the Christian Sabbath.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">When you sin, you are out of fellowship with God.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">You need to repent of each of your sins and confess it and seek forgiveness from God on a daily basis.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Not asking forgiveness to God again and again is a sign of arrogance.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">All Jesus's teachings in the 4 gospel books (Lords prayer, sermon on the mount etc) are to be followed by Christians today.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Lord's supper should be administered by a pastor/priest in a church setting.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">We should teach our kids to have a fear of God.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Bible should be used as a rule book for our daily life.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">It is important for Christians to stay out of the "world", because the world can contaminate their Christian righteousness.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Faithful Christians are always prospering </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">All your sicknesses will be healed if you have enough faith and use the right formula to pray.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you aren't materially prospering, you are not believing and claiming God's blessings enough.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you get busy for God, you will sin less and be blessed more.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Pastors/Priests/Leaders have special hot communication line with God, and special privileges to interpret the Bible unlike the flocks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you are not water baptized, you are not a Christian.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">You can lose your salvation if you continually sin.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Holy Spirit's job is to convince you the sins you commit.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Salvation is nothing but a "guarantee" that we will go to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The formula for salvation is - Accept, Believe and Confess.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">If you are emotional and crying in an environment of dim lights and slow music, it is a sign of the presence of Holy Spirit.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Church is a building with a set of activities.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">God has a serious attitude, so everything "godly" must be serious.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Serious Christians have accountability partners.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">It is important that we preach the right balance of law and grace.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Becoming a Christian is giving your life to Jesus.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">In our Christian gathering, it is necessary that we invite the presence of Holy Spirit, so that He will be present.
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Mosaic laws (10 commandments) are written on a Christian's heart.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Anyone who questions the institutional church system and the practices of the organized, traditional Christianity is a heretic.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Having the attitude of a "sinner saved by grace" is a sign of humility.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">By being a Christian you are bullet proofing yourself from various trials you may otherwise face in the world.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Frutiger, Tahoma, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">God communicates to us only through the Bible.</span></li>
</ol>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-5908942589741974022012-02-09T09:33:00.002-05:002012-02-10T14:19:41.827-05:00Does grace lead us into licentious sinning?<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">This is the second portion of the conversation I am having with a friend:</span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Yes, we certainly don't see eye to eye on this issue and that is perfectly alright. We are still loved by God :)</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I am well aware that my stand on several Christian subjects aren't very popular and I am perfectly fine with it. After all, I am not in it to win a popularity contest. That is one of the reason I shy away from arguing/debating with people because I know most people aren't ready for what I am saying. I have long ago given up the idea that just because a lot of people believe in something, that makes it true. </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Also, I am not trying to be edgy just for the thrill of it, neither looking to be famous. I always want to be a regular guy who is passionate about the truth.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I want to address a few things you brought up in your last email. By no means feel obligated to respond.</div><div class="im" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;">most of the theologians call it the difference in school of thought between a Calvinistic view point and Arministic view point</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Honestly, I don't even know who these people are. I have heard of Calvin but never spent any time learning his teachings. It's interesting to me that people like to identify themselves with some famous theologians. It's a human tendency I guess. They like to call themselves Calvinist, Lutheran etc. I am not any "ist". If at all, someone wants to call me an "ist", call me "Paulinist". Because if Calvin or Luther learned any theology, they learned it from Apostle Paul. Isn't it? And we still have Apostle Paul's teaching available to us, then why not learn directly from his epistles instead of looking to someone who has only a second hand information?</div><div class="im" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;">However, before I close let me discuss one important aspect that is on repentance and obtaining forgiveness. I subscribe to all the Bible verses that you quoted, but all of these refer to a person who is to be a new believer. However, none of these tell us, what happens if a person who is saved commits a sin. </span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Since you brought up the issue of repentance, I want to clarify my understanding of it. There is only one true repentance - that is repenting of your unbelief. When bible talks about repentance, what it says is repent of your unbelief and believe in Jesus. It's not talking about repenting every time you sin. However, there is a place for repentance in our daily life. When we sin, we repent because we wronged (hurt) someone and then we go and ask forgiveness to them.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">That is why bible says, "<i>forgive each other as I have forgave you</i>". Because God has forgiven us, we can forgive others. And forgiving others is a result of realizing (repenting) that we wronged them.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">When you sin, God is not surprised. He knows! He even knows the sins you are going to commit in the future (because he is omniscient), but he <i>chose</i> to forgive us.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Bible says, "while we <i>were</i> yet enemies, Christ died for us and forgave us". See it didn't say, "when you repented, God forgave you".</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Forgiveness was a voluntary act of God. He did that while you <i>were</i> still His enemy. That is <i>grace</i>! If God only forgives you when you repent, that is not grace. That is<i> conditional</i> forgiveness.</div><div class="im" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #500050;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: red;"><u>If one continues to stay on that path,</u> such lack of repentance will only lead us to pride, arrogance, absence of love, possibly miss the fruits of the spirit and even lead us to a road of total denial of Christ.</span></div><div style="color: #500050;"><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">That makes me grin. Not because it's funny but because I have heard this argument a million times. In reality, the opposite is true. The fact that God has forgiven all my sins and there is nothing I can do to lessen His love for me doesn't make me pride or arrogant, rather it makes me humble and grateful.</div><div class="im" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Jesus confirmed it, via a <u>perfect model</u> for prayer:</span></b></div><div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;">Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.</span></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Yes, Jesus taught his disciples to pray that prayer. But when did he do that? it was <b>before</b> the cross. Things are different on this side of the cross. Jesus was born and taught under Jewish law. Remember he went to the temple on Sabbath, for example. But that doesn't mean that he expect us to continue to practice Jewish religion.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><span >Cross changed everything! On the other side of the cross forgiveness was </span><i style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; ">conditional</i><span >. On this side of the cross forgiveness is done deal (In other words, totally unconditional). Let me explain.</span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><span >This is the verse right after the Lord's prayer referred in Matthew: </span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Mathew 6:14)</i></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Now, tell me if this is true on this side of the cross? that, we will be forgiven <i>only</i> if we forgive others? I want to you to think.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Don't forget "<i>without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness</i>".</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">So, Jesus taught under the Jewish law and His ministry was to bring Jewish people (who were religious and thought their religion and self-made righteousness can save them) to the end of their ropes, so that they will understand their need for a savior. And then (only then), they will have the readiness to accept grace.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">There are several examples in the Bible proving this point. Jesus told them to cut off their arms if their arm cause them to sin. Jesus told to pluck their eyes out if their eyes cause to sin. Jesus said, adultery is not just the physical act, but just having lust in the mind. Murder is not necessarily killing someone, but just having anger in our mind is considered as murder. Jesus told the young ruler to give everything to the poor.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><span >Have you ever wondered why Jesus said all this? He was literally showing them, righteousness is not merely an external cleanliness. Remember, Pharisees were very clean (externally) people. They followed all the law. Yet Jesus reserved some harsh words against them: "white washed tombs", "brood of vipers". Because those people were arrogant thinking that they are following the rules and obeying God's commandment and focusing on mere external cleanliness, cleverly obscuring their dirty minds.</span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">You had mentioned, if we think all our sins are forgiven and there is no need for repentance, it can make us arrogant and pride. Now do you see who is actually arrogant? The Pharisees who did the "right" things (went to the temple, prayed the prayer, tithed, fasted, never committed adultery, murder or anything, followed the 613+ Jewish laws) were arrogant whereas the Zacchaeus (tax collector) was <i>not</i>. The woman caught in adultery was <i>not</i>. The woman at the well was <i>not</i>. The thief on the cross was <i>not</i>.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">So, who is more arrogant, the one who receives God's unconditional forgiveness and grace or the one who thinks they are doing all the right things and obeying all the commandments and doing the works of the Lord?</div><div class="im" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #500050;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: red;"><u>If one continues to stay on that path,</u> such lack of repentance will only lead us to pride, arrogance, absence of love, possibly miss the fruits of the spirit and even lead us to a road of total denial of Christ.</span></div><div style="color: #500050;"><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I want to address one more thing here. I don't want to sound like there is no earthly consequences to sin. Of course there is. When you sin, you suffer the heartache of it and the one you sinned against also feel the pain. So, of course we need to realize that our act was not aligned with who we are in Christ (perfectly holy and righteous) and take the steps to bring reconciliation with <wbr>whomever we wronged. But the point is, we are not condemned by God when we sin. God isn't shaking his head in disappointment when you sin. He always knew you would sin, but chose to love you and while you were still His enemy He chose to forgive you. He doesn't keep the records your wrongs. He has forgiven you <u>un</u>conditionally. He has not only forgiven you and he has also <i>forgotten</i> your sins. He took them away, never to see them again.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1)</i></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Truth sets us free. It really does. Christ did not come so that we can be confined inside the four walls or an organized religion or institutional church. He came to <i>abolish</i> religion and set us free from the oppression and bondage of it. </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I know, it's kind of scary. Freedom <i>is</i> scary.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">But we are created to be free. </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."</i> - Grace Murray Hopper</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We think if when we give people freedom, they will go crazy. So people love the "security" of the organized religion, the popular belief. It is just a <i>false</i> security. </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Have you seen the movie Madagascar? It's a children's movie, but there is some amazing truth in that movie. It's about a group of animals getting out of a zoo. Those animals were "safe" and well fed in the zoo. They were entertaining to the people. But were they created to be inside the four walls of a zoo cage? They are created to be in the wild!</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">When they escaped, they didn't know what to do. They were terrified. Because it's been a long time since their freedom was compromised. They forgot how to live in their <i>natural</i> state. Then they had to <b>re-learn</b> how to live in freedom and while doing that they had to <b>unlearn</b> a lot of stuff they have been taught and believed for several years. The lion had to learn how to hunt. At times, they were tempted to even go back to the zoo. </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The state of so many Christians is very similar to those animals in the zoo. They put on a great show. They entertain, and live in the coziness of the institutionalized church, not knowing what they are missing in the wild. They do all their Christian acts - prayer, bible study, Sunday school, tithe, charity, soul winning, you name it. </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Brother, I was there once. Not anymore! I am detoxing myself from religion. It's a painful slow process but I will stand firm in my freedom. I don't want to go back to the dead religion, I want to live the adventurous life of freedom Christ has given me. <b>When we live in freedom, He also teaches us how to handle it.</b> We don't go crazy and indulge in sin.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">It is not the law, rules, do's and don'ts what teaches us to live a rightous life. It is the grace what teaches us to live a righteous life.</span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>Grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age" - Titus 2:12</i></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br />So, unlike many people think, this freedom doesn't lead us to arrogance, pride or licentious sinning. The opposite is true.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">It is the law what stirs sin in us, not grace. ("<i>The power of the sin is the law</i>" - 1 Corinthians 15:56)</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I want to conclude with one more note. I want to share my story (you can call it testimony or whatever) I wrote back in May 2009 on my blog. If you would like to read, here is the link. </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://branchofvine.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-performance-based-acceptance-story.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://branchofvine.blogspot.<wbr>com/2009/05/my-performance-<wbr>based-acceptance-story.html</a> </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Again, don't feel pressured to write back or anything. </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Have a great day!</div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-87013795978139609612012-02-06T13:47:00.003-05:002012-02-06T13:50:21.397-05:00What is Salvation?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As part of an email conversation with a friend, I wrote the following explaining my understanding of what Salvation is. I have come to this view after several years of living and trying out various religious, doctrinal, denominational views on this issue. I spoke the church lingo quite eloquently, but I have to admit, I never "got" the essence of what gospel really was. Today, I am glad to say that, I finally "get" it! In His grace, He revealed it to me! And unlike the other views I had, I am holding to this view for several years now because it sits right with my rational mind and also with my spirit. It's been consistent. In other words, now, I have a <b>conviction</b>, but in my religious days, I had only a <i>belief</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the email I wrote:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what is my understanding of Salvation?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boy! where do I begin! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cannot explain what salvation is and why we need it without going all the way to the garden of Eden. God created Adam and Eve fully alive (body, soul and spirit). They had perfect communion with God. But God told them if they eat from the tree of knowledge and evil, they will <u>DIE</u>. However, we all know that Adam/Eve did not really die when they ate from the tree, because Bible says Adam lived upto 930 years (had children, grand children etc)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so, then why did God say that they will die? Did God lie?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer is, they in fact <i>died</i>! But not their body or soul, but their <u>spirit</u>. They died <u>spiritually</u>! The spirit of the God, who made them alive to God, <i>left</i> them! In another words, <u>life</u> left them! Because death is the absence of life, isn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know the rest of the story. Adam and Eve had kids, but all those kids inherited the <i>nature</i> of Adam. What is the "<i>nature"</i> of Adam? Spiritually dead! The children of Adam, ever since the fall, including us, inherits Adam's nature. In other words, when we are born into this world, we have a live body and a live soul (mind), but NOT a live <i>spirit</i>. Why? because we inherit the nature of Adam, the nature of being <i>spiritually</i> <i>dead</i>. Have you ever wondered why we don't have to teach the kids how to sin? They know it. Even a 3 year old knows how to lie, for example!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you are with me until now :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, lets fast forward to the time of Jesus. Have you ever wondered why Jesus is called the "Second Adam"? Interesting, isn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is an amazing statement in </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 John 3:14</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Here it is: "We know that we <u>have passed</u> from <i>death</i> to <b>life</b>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow! What was the problem in the garden of Eden? Death!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the solution God had? LIFE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazing, isn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only solution for death is life! (We don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, consider this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the LIFE"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I have come so that you may have LIFE"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I am the resurrection and LIFE"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any human being, who is born from their human Dad and Mom are born <i>spiritually</i> DEAD. But, then later in life, when they receive Jesus, they receive LIFE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their spirit (which they lost in Adam) is now <i>restored</i>! They are redeemed! And that, my friend, is the SALVATION!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salvation is coming ALIVE to God. Being born from the <u><b>in</b>corruptible </u>seed (corruptible seed being our human father). We are born again. Birth happens when <u>Life</u> comes! Don't you agree? Just like when a new baby is born there is a new life (natural life), when we are born <u>again</u>, there is a new LIFE (the LIFE which Jesus came to give us).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's interesting, people come up with all kind of theories about what salvation is. Many people think salvation is merely forgiveness of sins. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many people think, salvation is the ticket to heaven! Though that is part of salvation, that is <u>not</u> salvation is all about. Some people think cross is what saves us. Not true! it is the <i><b>resurrection</b></i> (life) what saves us! Cross (forgiveness) was a <u>pre-requisite</u> to salvation. In other words, without the cross, salvation (resurrection) is not possible, yet cross itself is <i>not</i> salvation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In simple terms, Salvation is God coming to live in us! The life of God dwelling in us, just like how He dwelled in Adam and Eve before the fall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's is why salvation is called r<u>edemption</u> - redeemed what Adam and Eve lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, a perfectly holy and righteous God cannot and will not live in a sinful man, right? That's why cross was needed. Cross cleansed us, forgave us all our sins, made us righteous and holy, so that now the holy God can come and live in us. What an amazing plan!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christian life is <i>not</i> about going to heaven one day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">It's not about how much <i>sin</i> we can manage or how we can attain sinlessness or how we can modify or improve our <i>behavior</i>. Rather, it is living in the reality that a perfectly loving God dwells in us </span><u style="color: #222222;">right now</u><span style="color: #222222;">, </span><u style="color: #222222;">right here</u><span style="color: #222222;"> and we are perfectly LOVED by Him. Nothing could separate us from His love. When we realize that, life is amazingly transformed. That's the power of gospel. Until and unless we realize this, we are not living the life God intended us to live. We can put on a show (like the pharisees and several modern day christians). Anybody can do that (in fact, almost all religions in the world believe and practice good morals). But true Christian life is totally different. It is the Christ living in and through us. We rest, He lives!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Jesus said, my yoke is </span><i style="color: #222222;">easy</i><span style="color: #222222;"> and my burden is </span><i style="color: #222222;">light. </i><span style="color: #222222;">Yet, when I look at many Christians today, they are trying hard to live a successful christian life. It look like they carry a difficult yoke and a heavy burden. Isn't that sad? They fail to understand that we are called to a "Sabbath Rest" (</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hebrews 4:11). We are not called to "work for God", we are called to "<b>rest</b>", so that <i>God </i>can work <i>through</i> us!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S: I apologize for using several exclamation marks and Capital letters. As you can see, I am very very passionate about the good news of gospel. There is nothing in this world makes me more happier than seeing someone getting the truth of God's unconditional love and grace! It's amazing and I have no words to explain that joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Religion (including christian religion) is a mere human attempt to make things happen, by observing the law, by following the rules, by doing the "right" things, by speaking the christian lingo, by having the do's and don'ts, by acting like it's working. Dead religion is boring! But, Christ's life in us is exciting! It sets us FREE! The life we live in Him (knowing that we are totally forgiven, loved and accepted right now, right here) is amazingly fulfilling, satisfying and exciting!</span></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-32225607474273588082012-02-05T19:47:00.000-05:002012-02-05T19:59:23.346-05:00Belief Vs. ConvictionAfter a long time, since this morning I felt the passion for the truth and the conviction again. I felt angry about the various theories out there. People come up with clever, appealing theories so that they can simply hide the lack of passion and conviction they have.<br />
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I was thinking about the difference between belief and conviction.<br />
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People have numerous beliefs, some true and some untrue. But belief always is a matter of the approval of our rational mind. People believe in political, social, cultural and philosophical matters. And it matters to them. They work for it. They spend their money and energy in a very notable way. They look convicted. Yet, are they convicted?<br />
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Or do they just hold fast to their belief and put on several acts of validation? Is it because people always find 'hope' in believing in something or someone? Are we wired to 'believe'?
Probably, yes!<br />
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People, from the post modern civilization to people from African tribes believes in things. People can hold fast to their beliefs from the early adolescence to later in life until death. They can be even passionate about their beliefs, they can get college degrees on the subjects of their beliefs, they can make a living based on what they believe and work on it to make it happen.<br />
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Have you ever wondered what drives or motivates this people? It's their belief. How or where belief happens? What is the psychology behind believing in something? May be they read a convincing book? listened to a charismatic, convincing speaker? Role models? tragedies? or may be its something makes them feel good? or may be it simply makes sense to their rational sense?
Or, it could be all of it?<br />
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Here is the question though:
All these people, who strongly and emphatically believes in things, have you ever wondered if they really have a CONVICTION? An unquestionable conviction in their hearts? Note that I did not say "in their mind"? Rather, in their HEART?<br />
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Well, does it matter? Isn't an intellectual belief enough? After all, they are getting things done. They appear fairly happy and lot of them have very successful life. So, do we need to split hairs here?<br />
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Have you noticed that all these people who believe in things, sometimes require encouragement, motivation and some pumping of energy into their heads? Politicians quit, clergies resign, social worker gives up, people quit one religion and joins another one. Why does all this happen all the time?
Why is it that people lose heart on things? Things they believed for several years, all of a sudden they find no motivation to continue in their long held beliefs.<br />
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Isn't that sad?
Could it be that they never had a conviction to begin with? Could it be that they merely had an intellectual belief but not a heart-deep conviction. Could it be that the things they believe are merely falsehoods or half-truths, and not THE truth?
Could it be that their belief never gave them the true freedom every human hearts long for? The things they believed weren't powerful enough to set them free and feel fearless?Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-19001926285976964422011-08-20T08:16:00.005-04:002011-08-20T08:34:05.394-04:00Regrets of the Dying<span class="Apple-style-span">Loved this post "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Regrets of the Dying" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">by someone who worked</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">in palliative care for years and noted down the regrets her patients</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> had or anything they would do differently. She says she was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives and the common themes surfaced again and again.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The most common five</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">1. <span>I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">2. <span>I wish I didn't work so hard.</span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">3. <span>I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">4. <span>I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.</span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">5. <span>I wish that I had let myself be happier.</span></span></span></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Read the entire post by clicking <a href="http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html">here</a>.</div><div>
<br /></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-24239403743229806632011-08-15T22:11:00.001-04:002011-08-15T22:13:48.430-04:00Passion. Have we lost it?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">When you go visiting a forest, the idea is not keeping youself clean and perfect throughout the visit.
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<br />In fact, those who really enjoyed the forest, who love being in the wild, who are passionate about the wildness, who are willing to take risks, would come out with some dirt on them, some bug bites, some wrinkled cloths, some stain and even some bruises.
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<br />You can live a mediocre, lukewarm life and come out clean and perfect or you can live a passionate life, taking risks in loving, reaching out, making a difference, get hurt, forgive, love again.
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<br />A lion in the zoo is "safe", well-fed and looks clean and healthy, but that's not where lions belong to. Lions are meant to live in the wild, and there is adventure in the wild, there is risk, there is freedom, there is beauty and it will be in its most naturally wild state.
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<br />"A ship in port is safe. But that’s not what ships are built for." - Grace Murray Hopper
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<br /></span></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-30106880475578398742011-08-15T14:44:00.005-04:002011-08-15T14:51:02.634-04:00What matters in life?<div>I have been noticing how the world aroud us is loosing touch with beauty, slience and creativity in a culture where there is lot of noise, clutter and distraction. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I felt the author of the below linked article is like-minded. Its always encouraging to know there are still souls out there who can see beyond the skin-level. The people who can look at things from their heart, not from their head. It is extremely saddening how humanity has shrinked to mere technicalities of life - college degree, mundane jobs, child care, paying off debt and saving for retirement.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Isn't life so much bigger, meaningful and beautiful than all these? Doesn't the things and people around us worth paying attention to?</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Read the entire post here: <a href="http://guytal.com/wordpress/2011/07/you-know-because-it-hurts/">You know Because It Hurts</a> by Guy Tal (Photographer)</div><div>
<br /></div>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-21306082995343390292011-08-11T08:16:00.004-04:002011-08-11T08:25:08.871-04:00Is there a God?In most cases, atheism is an emotional response to hurt or tragedy in life, the result of the age-old question, if there was a God, why does he allow bad things to happen.
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<br />They <span style="font-style:italic;">want</span> to believe that there is no God and in the effort they do an intellectual suicide. In reality, if we are intellectually honest, it doesn't take much to come to a plausible conclusion that there is a creator. Things doesn't just pop out into existence merely by chance.
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<br />Newton's first law of thermodynamics still stands - <span style="font-style:italic;">matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed</span> (we can only change one form of matter into another form and one form of energy into another form). So it is quiet safe to assume that <span style="font-style:italic;">someone</span> who can violate the physical laws has to create the <span style="font-style:italic;">original</span> matter and energy.Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-41586399630728756552010-10-18T18:57:00.010-04:002010-10-19T11:45:02.793-04:00Being spiritual Vs. religiousHow is spirituality different from religion? How do you differentiate a person who is religious versus spiritual? Why is spirituality important to me?<br /><br />It gives me inner strength, it allows me to be part of something bigger than me. It quietens my heart and puts the life around me into perspective. It makes me want to look at things which are otherwise unworthy to look at. It makes me want to go on in life. It gives me okay to be depressed, yet not worried about being depressed.<br /><br />It makes me comfortable being silly. It helps me to lay down the various masks I wear in life. It takes the pressure off of my shoulder to perform, please and impress.<br /><br />It helps me to be wanting to help others selflessly. It lets me make friends without hidden agendas. It helps me to pay attention to the details, making me more creative and artistic.<br /><br />It allows me to love sinners with a compassionate heart, makes me more accepting than demanding. It gives me the power to listen, pay attention and show grace to others.<br /><br />It slows me down.<br /><br />It makes me want to give up the desire to change the world and develops a new desire in me - to make a difference in at least one person's life. It helps me fight materialism and greed.<br /><br />It makes my thoughts deep. It accepts the mystical nature human mind. It helps me to see the wonder of God's life in me. It humbles me and allows me to receive forgiveness and extend that forgiveness to others.<br /><br />It kills self righteousness and the need to be right always, lifting a heavy burden from my shoulder. It embraces freedom and resists bondage fervently.<br /><br />It gently teaches us to handle our freedom.<br /><br />It's desire is for Truth. It puts emotions into perspective. It answers the question, "why is there emotions?". It removes the fear to be vulnerable and weak. It knows that strength comes from weakness. It makes us want to be surrendered rather than committed and dedicated.<br /><br />It deals with the narcissism in me, in an unconscious way.<br /><br />It endures pain and see suffering from a different angle. It helps me to be peace with those million unanswered questions in my heart. It fills my heart with peace, love and hope.Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-83902333002647390262010-07-31T09:02:00.005-04:002010-07-31T09:52:55.433-04:00Some thoughts on women, and men too.I think it is in Don Miller’s ‘Blue Like Jazz’ that he talks about how he loved to visit Home Depot.<br /><br />I remember the first time I went to Home Depot. I was shocked to see the vast selection of different things. I remembered my Uncle telling me that Home Depot has everything we need to build a home. This was when I first came to this country. Since that day I was intrigued by Home Depot in the back of my mind but I never visited that place because there was no need to do so. I was living in an apartment and every time a light bulb burns out I would call their maintenance phone number. So, why would I go to Home Depot? After few more years, once I wanted to buy a tool and I went to Home Depot which was located less than 1/2 mile away from my apartment.<br /><br />I entered this huge store and looked around with amazement. I felt like I was looking for a coin lost in an ocean. I went to the first aisle. It was an aisle for screws. "One whole aisle for just screws?" I thought to myself. I looked at the tall shelves on the both sides of the aisle filled with stacks of different types of screws. No, I didn’t become philosophical about American consumerism or anything. I wondered how someone would pick the right screw from this. Are they going to try each one of them to see which one fits? It took me few more years to figure out there is a 'size' for each screw. So if you know the size, you can just go to the box which labeled with that particular size.<br /><br />But still, if I am missing a screw for something at home, how would I know the size of that screw? Should I measure? If so, how? Well, I still don't know. I don't know the use for 90% things in Home Depot. But I still love visiting Home Depot. I don't know why. I like looking at the various tools and such. When my wife calls me to go shopping with her at Kohls or JC Penny, I always wish if she was calling me to go to Home Depot instead. Or Lowes Or Best Buy. I always get a head ache when I visit stores like JC Penny. I don't like that section for perfumes. I can't stand that intense smell from people trying out different perfumes. I never liked the smell of any lady perfumes. May be it’s not made to impress men like me. I like one men's perfume. It's called 'Obsession'. No, I am not obsessed with it either.<br /> <br />In my office, we have a 4 member team including me. The other three are women. I work closely with them all the time. Each time I go for a meeting or something, I go with women and I come back with women. Sometimes I wonder if I started talking like women. So I remind myself to behave like men and I would change the way I talk and the way I walk. I also thought what others might think seeing me always working with only women. So sometimes when my teammates come to call me to go for a meeting or something, I would act busy so that they would leave and I can walk to the meeting room just by myself.<br /><br />I deliberately tried to make some men friends just to prove to others that I talk to men too. I would go to some men's cubicles and try to start a conversation. Unfortunately, it usually ends in one or two minutes. I always wondered why. I learned some techniques to start a conversation with men. I would start by saying how crappy iPhone 4 really is and how I hate Steve Jobs arrogance. One day I went to this new guy and was about to break a conversation by saying the antenna problems of iPhone4 and how arrogantly Mr. Jobs said "Do not hold it like that". Then I immediately (luckily) noticed an iPhone on his desk and changed the topic. <br /><br />I read the 'Science/Technology' section of Google News every day. So that I can keep myself up to date with what is happening in the tech world. Since I know nothing about Sports or beer, tech news is the only thing I can use to converse with men. Oh wait, I know two beer brands - bud light and bud wiser. I have seen those trucks. <br /><br />With men, I always have to make things up. With women, things are much easier. I talk about how I put my kids to sleep at night, how funny my 4 year old is. And they tell stories about their kids, diet, cooking, vacation plans, movies and then of course office rumors. And I love that. When they share rumors, I try hard to hide my enthusiasm to listen. After all, I am a man. I shouldn't show any interest to listen to lady gossips. The only problem is that they whisper when they share rumors. Unfortunately they don't know that others would listen more attentively when they hear whisper voce. I think I should tell them to say it in a normal voice.<br /><br />People say women are complicated and hard to understand. Well, I disagree. At least from my experience, men are complicated and are hard to understand. Because most of the time, they say something and mean something else. They act a lot. They act they are bold, all-knowing and all that. I know it because I act all the time. When I go to the car dealer I act like I know everything about cars. I am ego-centric. If I invest my ego into something, I will defend it till my death even if I know that I was wrong. Women have no issue to accept that they made a mistake and they say sorry very easily without any struggle. But for me, to apologize to someone is like eating a spoiled burrito. <br /><br />Women (mostly) speak their heart out. And with them, I can speak my heart out too. Life is easy. I don't have to keep up with the latest NFL news and all that crap.Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-15782091137542168862010-02-23T10:00:00.004-05:002010-02-23T10:07:47.317-05:00'Commitment' to the BibleBible, as we see it today came into existence after the invention of printing press. I checked Wikipedia and the first printing press was assembled by Gutenberg around 1440, which means the book form of the Bible (as we see it today) wasn't widely available for nearly 1500 years since the time of Jesus.<br /><br />How did people live during that time? They didn't have the 'Message' version and no one 'amplified' it for them. Could it be that they lived from the LIFE of Christ in them? Could it be that they depended on the <span style="font-style: italic;">revelations</span> God gave them through various means?<br /><br />It's also interesting to see that Jesus or any Apostles never ever put a 'should' on people to 'spend time on the word' every day. None of the first century churches boasted about 'being committed to the Word'.<br /><br />In the Bible itself, (John chapter 5), this words of Jesus are recorded: "<span style="font-style: italic;">You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.</span> "<br /><br />Pharisees of Jesus's time were 'committed to the Word', but they missed the whole point. There is no LIFE found in Scriptures. Scriptures only point to the one who has LIFE.<br /><br />And we are to eat from the tree of LIFE, not from the other tree.Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-2863067976206675932009-12-29T09:09:00.001-05:002009-12-29T09:11:22.132-05:00What He is to me<span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I got this in an email from a dear sister. I thought it is worth sharing...</span><br /><br />What He is to me?<br /><br />He is the First and Last,<br />The Beginning and the End!<br /></span> <p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!<br />He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.<br />He always was, He always is, and He always will be ...<br />unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone! </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;"><img src="http://d21c.com/Seabird44/inspirations/Gifs/blscrollbar.gif" /> </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">He was bruised and brought healing!<br />He was pierced and eased pain!<br />He was persecuted and brought freedom!<br />He was dead and brought life!<br />He is risen and brings power!<br />He reigns and brings Peace!<br />The world can't understand him,<br />The armies can't defeat Him,<br />The schools can't explain Him, and The leaders can't ignore Him.<br />Herod couldn't kill Him, The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and The people couldn't hold Him!<br />Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him,<br />The New Age can't replace Him, and "Oprah" can't explain Him away! </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;"><img src="http://d21c.com/Seabird44/inspirations/Gifs/blscrollbar.gif" /> </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.<br />He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.<br />He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.<br /></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;"><img src="http://d21c.com/Seabird44/inspirations/Gifs/blscrollbar.gif" /> </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">His ways are right,<br />His word is eternal,<br />His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.<br />He is my Savior,<br />He is my guide, and He is my peace!<br />He is my Joy,<br />He is my comfort,<br />He is my Lord, and He rules my life! </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;"><img src="http://d21c.com/Seabird44/inspirations/Gifs/blscrollbar.gif" /> </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">I serve Him because His bond is love,<br />His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life. </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,<br />the power of the powerful,<br />the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and is to come. And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size. </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;"><img src="http://d21c.com/Seabird44/inspirations/Gifs/blscrollbar.gif" /> </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">His goal is a relationship with ME!<br />He will never leave me,<br />never forsake me,<br />never mislead me,<br />never forget me,<br />never overlook me and<br />never cancel my appointment in His appointment book! </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;"><img src="http://d21c.com/Seabird44/inspirations/Gifs/blscrollbar.gif" /> </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">When I fall, He lifts me up!<br />When I fail, He forgives!<br />When I am weak, He is strong!<br />When I am lost, He is the way!<br />When I am afraid, He is my courage!<br />When I stumble, He steadies me!<br />When I am hurt, He heals me!<br />When I am broken, He mends me!<br />When I am blind, He leads me!<br />When I am hungry, He feeds me!<br />When I face trials, He is with me!<br />When I face persecution, He shields me!<br />When I face problems, He comforts me!<br />When I face loss, He provides for me!<br />When I face Death, He carries me Home!<br /></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;"><img src="http://d21c.com/Seabird44/inspirations/Gifs/blscrollbar.gif" /> </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">He is everything for everybody everywhere, every time, and every way. </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">He is God, He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine! </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.<br />So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this... </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">He said it and that settles it.<br />God is in control, I am on His side,<br />and that means all is well with my soul.<br /> </span> </p><p> </p><span style="font-family:Maiandra GD;">Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!</span>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-76497879260486330812009-12-17T11:32:00.004-05:002009-12-17T13:49:33.632-05:00Gift of Pain<p>What if there wasn't any pain in this world? What if humans, animals and birds didn't have the ability to feel pain? At the surface, we might think that it would be wonderful to live a totally pain-free life. But is it so?</p><p>Few years ago, I read a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Pain-Paul-Brand/dp/0310221447/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261067746&sr=8-1" target="_blank">"Gift of Pain"</a>, written by Dr. Paul Brand, who was a medical doctor and a missionary to India and worked amongst people suffered from leprosy. Leprosy starts with the symptom of losing one's ability to feel the sense of touch and a corresponding inability to feel pain and temperature.</p><p>What happens if you lose the ability to feel pain? You will injure yourself badly. You will get disfigured by self-amputation. The damaged bodies of lepers are mostly a result of self-inflicted injuries (i.e stepping on nails, touching something too hot). As part of the treatment, Dr. Brand offered custom-built footwear for the patients to wear all the time, so that they won't self-inflict injuries. </p><p>Though the book starts with the premise of bodily pain, it goes beyond that into emotional pain and spiritual truths as well. It is the first time my perspective shifted to see pain from a different angle - pain as a gift. I agree, no one likes pain, yet if you think, isn't pain a gift?</p><p>What if we didn't feel any pain when relationships are broken? What if we have a numbing insensitivity towards death, rejection, unforgiveness, hatred and ridicule? Would we ever appreciate life, acceptance, forgiveness, love and peace?</p><p>I think pain is essential. Life, with all its challenges is a gift. Without pain, I think, we wouldn't even know we have a valuable, beautiful life. Can you imagine living in a pain-free, fallen world? We would easily endanger ourselves. In a world filled with a million ways of instant-gratifications and easy methods of escapism from sufferings by depending so much on pain killers and mind-numbing chemicals to alter our thinking, have we ever thought that there might be a purpose for the existence of pain? And there might be a solution beyond the mere painlessness?</p><p></p>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-83223947139966691892009-12-10T13:13:00.003-05:002009-12-10T15:34:41.307-05:00How grace destroyed my prayer life.<p>My prayer usually started with "My loving father in heaven" for a long time. Eventually I got bored with that salutation, so I tried few others such as "My precious Father", "Our loving gracious Father in heaven" or simply "Lord Jesus". I was taught that quoting Scriptures while praying is very effective. In other words, we might get more action from God if we claim things which he had promised in the Scriptures but have forgotten to give to us.<br /></p><p>Every time, during the family prayer in the evening, I wanted to make sure my kids followed the Christian discipline of sitting in full attention with their eyes closed. I was proud of being a perfect Christian Dad, making sure even our 2 year old followed my strict prayer-time discipline.<br /></p><p>Depending on who is present, most of my public prayers were directed to them, kind of using the prayer time to preach to them or to show off my religiosity. After all, that’s the only time they are forced to be silent and listen to me. When my parents (who are not protestant Christians) are present, I threaten them through my prayer about the countless punishments God is going to send on them if they don't accept my belief system. My conscious effort there was to prove them wrong and prove me right.<br /></p><p>Depending on whom I am praying with, my prayer changed. I pray the most hypocritical prayer if there are unbelievers around. In the midst of super hyper believers, I pray as if I am also super hyper like them. You know, praying for the souls perishing all over the world? I knew how to add a touch of unbearable pain to the tone of my prayer to make it more dramatic.<br /></p><p>Do you want to add more excitement and power to your prayer? Add more loud "Hallelujahs".<br /></p><p>In short, my public prayer was a show and my private prayer was mostly a laundry list of things I thought I couldn't live without.</p><p>Grace destroyed all this drama and made it unbelievably simple. I can't believe I did all that for so many years. I feel embarrassed. Now when I pray, I hardly know that I am praying. It is like talking to a real person. It's a joyful occasion of tremendous freedom, peace and love. I don't mind talking silly things to Him. Now I don't necessarily want anyone around when I pray because I know that my prayer might sound very silly and child-like; mostly do not make any sense to the people who don't know where I am coming from.</p><p>And I think that's ok.</p><p></p>Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-44060159189036107442009-10-29T12:16:00.007-04:002009-10-29T20:40:48.078-04:00Let's not keep the common sense aside<p>I have been listening to the '<a href="http://gigcast.graceroots.org/" target="_blank">growing in grace</a>' podcasts a lot lately. In more than one episodes, I heard Mike Kapler saying, "let's not keep the common sense aside". He says that especially when it comes to obedience and keeping the law.</p>I think, being honest to ourselves is all it takes to come to the conclusion that religion doesn't work. It doesn't matter which religion it is. Each has its own 'ways' to please their god. For some, their god is pleased when they follow certain set of rules, laws, regulations or a list of do's and don'ts. Some gods are pleased when we gather at particular place at a particular time of a week. Some are pleased when we chant some prayers or starve through fasting. Some are pleased when we put some dollar bills into an offering plate. Some are pleased when we confess all our sins.<br /><p>I am not excluding Christian religion from this. Christians says their god is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He is a perfectly holy god. He is self-sufficient. That being the case, isn't it a futile act attempting to please that god through our puny works? Who in their right mind can logically come to a conclusion that they can somehow please god through all these? Not just that, some people think that they can make god angry! As though god has an emotional imbalance or something- easily angered, easily provoked but somehow hard to please.<br /></p><p>I feel stupid for believing such a lie for a long time in my life. I thought my god would be pleased when I achieve sinless perfection. I thought I was pleasing him when I did the works of evangelism. I thought, the more I studied the Bible, he is more pleased. The more I set apart a 'quiet time', I thought I can somehow tap into his presence. I thought I could manipulate god through 'effective' prayer (by quoting scriptures, for example). I thought god was a genie who comes out and bless me when I give my money. I kept doing all these for years and years even though I never felt contented nor reached a satisfying point in my life to boldly say that I pleased him. I tried to do all the right things and tried not to do any wrong things to keep god from getting angry at me. But I always felt that I fall short. So, I successfully hid my burned out heart from others.</p>For a long time in my life, I lived an illogical spiritual life. I kept my common sense aside and listened and followed other illogical spiritual leaders out there. I wasn't even honest to myself. I pretended as if my spirituality was working.<br /><p>Then there came a time in my life that I had to take a step back and look at the foolishness of my belief system. Trying to achieve sinless perfection? Trying to earn forgiveness through confessing all my sins on a daily basis? Trying to keep the law? Trying to love my neighbors as myself? Trying to love the enemies? Are you kidding?</p>I didn't know that James said, <em>"whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."</em> Will I ever be accepted by this god? Will I ever be able to say that I confessed all my sins that I am now fully forgiven? Will I ever feel the security of god's love? Will I ever feel any kind of security, contentment or peace?<br /><p>If you don't cheat in answering those questions, if you can be honest to yourself, the only thing you can do is - give up! That’s true - just give up!</p>That’s where my journey started. I fist gave up, then God took over…Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com9