That's the title of the study notes I found at the bottom of the page of the Bible I read last week. It's a brief Bible study guide to anyone wanting to learn the Bible. Frankly, I'm not an ardent Bible student. I consider myself more of a prayer-er than a devout student of the Bible.
Since I didn't have any Bible commentaries or Bible studies to attend in most of my life, I was left with no option but to read the Bible on my own and understood it as the Holy Spirit revealed the truth to me. Because I have got accustomed in that way, even when I got a good commentary to aid me in later years, I preferred to stick to what was most familiar to me- to read on my own and glean the truth as I understood
Was I wrong in doing that? I don't think so, for most of the times I found the explanation given in the commentaries not so different from what I've understood. That reveals what a great teacher the Holy Spirit is when you completely rely on Him for understanding the truth. That's how many believers learned from the Bible when no Bible teachers no Bible commentaries were available in the past or even now in various parts of the world. Who could beat Holy Spirit in revealing the truth? No one.
Since I'm not a person who loves to immerse in reasoning and critical analysis, it works well for me. But for someone, who is prone to reason out and analyzing things, explanations from variety of resources may be more beneficial. Perhaps, it depends more on personality and learning style.
Eight years back, when I got involved in Bible study Fellowship I was introduced to Homiletics for the first time. Many Christians had vouched that this method had helped them tremendously. But for me it was a struggle. No doubt, I gave a good try to apply it , but with not much success. Otherwise, I would have put that into practice for every Bible chapter I studied there after. But I didn't . It was like the lesson on thermodynamics you learn in physics, which you tend to forget as soon as you've written the test on it. No sooner I finished my leadership in BSF, my knowledge of homiletics too waned.
Just a few weeks back, homiletics was again introduced in our Women's Bible study. This time, Rhonda our instructor handed us sheets that told us how to do homiletics. This one seemed much simpler and easier to learn than the one I learned at BSF eight years back. This gave just five simple steps to teach us how to study a Bible passage. The person who wrote the homiletics took a chapter in the Book of Ruth to guide us through with these five simple steps. I found it very helpful and easier to follow too.
And then few days back, I came across this study notes with the title-Six questions of the Bible study in my Bible. To me, this one seemed to be the best way to understand a passage in the Bible. Others may prefer homiletics or any other method. Maybe it's me, my type or , my style of learning which favors this method to any other. Hoping this one would help someone, I've included it in my posting.
Six Questions of Bible Study
1 Factual:
What does the passage say? What are the facts?
2. Meaning:
a) Is there an underlying meaning behind the facts?
b) Is the message literal, ironic, poetic or symbolic?
c)Was the message for more than one person or audience
d)What issues in my life does this passage address?
e)What big picture questions might it answer?
3 Application:
What was the application for the original audience?
How does this passage apply to my life today? What should I do?
4 Holistic:
How does this passage relate to the rest of the Bible?
5 Spiritual:
What is God trying to say to me through this passage?
6 Devotional:
What have I learned about God? How does this passage make me feel about Him?
How does it stir me to praise Him?
(taken from Faith in Action Study Bible NIV on pg1979)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Oprah's final show.
After 25 years of flight, the jet had landed soft and smoothly today with great ovation. Finally, the day had come for us to say goodbye to Oprah show. Because it was too painful for her say goodbye to her audience, Oprah avoided saying those farewell words. Instead, she scooped both her palms in the 'namasthe ' fashion, bowed low gracefully and said, " Until we meet again. To God be the glory!" and turned around and left the stage.
For the last twenty five years and 4, 561 days on set, Oprah had entertained mostly women not only in US, but across the globe, from Africa to Australia and India to England in her unique and captivating manner. Race, religion, gender stood no barrier in her path nor in her eyes.
She was no one when she was born a black baby girl somewhere in Mississippi, born out of wedlock, result of two teenagers act of puppy love. No one knew, but God who knitted her in her mother's womb knew then and there, that little bundle named Orpah would one day turn out to be the Oprah to rock the world.
Even before this little girl could spell the word "Dream" God had a big dream for her. But for her to become what He wanted to make of her, He had to allow her to go through rocky paths, painful experiences, rejections and abandonment. Otherwise, how could she become that person to relate and sympathize with those whom she's going to have in her Oprah show one day. Yes, God knew what that little black girl, who didn't even have a doll or a toy for show and tell in her class be one day someone who is going to bless thousands by her generosity.
It's God's grace that what she is and what she has become and that's what her Steadman, her bou told at the star-studded spectacular event at the United Center in Chicago two days back. Today, Oprah has the power and influence no other person in the entertainment world or business world has. She has money in abundance, houses, ranches, dogs, plane and so forth. There are many equivalent in wealth and position like her. But what they lack and she has - a generous big heart to help the needy and hurting. The more she gets blessed, the more she gives. That's her motto. And that's her signature.
The secret to her success?
" My team and Jesus!" she unjokingly replies.
What made her farewell Gala at United Center in the last two days and at Oprah show today were her genuine love for her audience and her display of faith in God. It was as if we were watching a Christian event when the choir sang Amazing Grace along with the golden voice of Aretha Franklin followed by O Happy Day sung by Usher.
I liked the glamor, the glitter and stars that shined and surrounded Oprah on the stage at United Center. But what I loved and admired most was the fact God was not left out in the celebration. He was honored above all the achievements. Oprah displayed it loud and clear. Steadman told it point blankly. Those who sang acknowledged His grace for Oprah's success.
Even today at the final Oprah show, that was the theme and message from Oprah. She talked about the whisper she gets from God. She talks about how she waits still to hear His whisper before she takes any decision. She also said how she offers a prayer of gratitude in the elevator at the end of every show, on her way home. It's a miracle, she said, how from a simple and painful beginning she had come to see this day, with so much of love and admiration from people from all background.-from celebrities to unknown housewives in some corner of a city.
Yes, she worked very hard to get where she's now and her appreciation and respect towards her employees earned her a loyal team that loves her and serves her well.
But, is God's Amazing Grace that had been the wind at the back to propel Oprah to great height and unlike many other famous celebrities, Oprah broadly declares acknowledges that fact and openly offers God the glory. That shows her humility, faith and obedience.
I have watched Oprah for many years and I have come to love her for the good deeds she does for humanity. Especially helping the poor and educating those who have no means to get any education. Personally she had impacted and empowered me to see and do things better. At times, she had made me t o look from another angle to understand those whom I normally couldn't understand. She made me to be aware of many social issues and other times made me to laugh and have fun too. Yes, I'm going to miss her shows terribly at 4pms. But I know she will not and cannot be too far away from us. She'll come to us through her OWN network, O magazine and who knows, what else is in the horizon?
May God bless Oprah more and more, and keep her happy and healthy for another twenty years the least. I feel sorry for those who missed the opportunity of watching her shows on important social issues, health, family and financial matter because of their misjudgement of her and her shows. It brings me chuckles when some of women at Bible study feel uneasy to let others to know they watch Oprah. -
Some even display pride in saying they never watch Oprah as if its' something unchristian to watch her show.
I wish they've seen at least today's final show for them to know who she's really and how she waits on Jesus for each of her decision. I wonder whether those who judge her wait on God or give glory to Him as she did today.
For the last twenty five years and 4, 561 days on set, Oprah had entertained mostly women not only in US, but across the globe, from Africa to Australia and India to England in her unique and captivating manner. Race, religion, gender stood no barrier in her path nor in her eyes.
She was no one when she was born a black baby girl somewhere in Mississippi, born out of wedlock, result of two teenagers act of puppy love. No one knew, but God who knitted her in her mother's womb knew then and there, that little bundle named Orpah would one day turn out to be the Oprah to rock the world.
Even before this little girl could spell the word "Dream" God had a big dream for her. But for her to become what He wanted to make of her, He had to allow her to go through rocky paths, painful experiences, rejections and abandonment. Otherwise, how could she become that person to relate and sympathize with those whom she's going to have in her Oprah show one day. Yes, God knew what that little black girl, who didn't even have a doll or a toy for show and tell in her class be one day someone who is going to bless thousands by her generosity.
It's God's grace that what she is and what she has become and that's what her Steadman, her bou told at the star-studded spectacular event at the United Center in Chicago two days back. Today, Oprah has the power and influence no other person in the entertainment world or business world has. She has money in abundance, houses, ranches, dogs, plane and so forth. There are many equivalent in wealth and position like her. But what they lack and she has - a generous big heart to help the needy and hurting. The more she gets blessed, the more she gives. That's her motto. And that's her signature.
The secret to her success?
" My team and Jesus!" she unjokingly replies.
What made her farewell Gala at United Center in the last two days and at Oprah show today were her genuine love for her audience and her display of faith in God. It was as if we were watching a Christian event when the choir sang Amazing Grace along with the golden voice of Aretha Franklin followed by O Happy Day sung by Usher.
I liked the glamor, the glitter and stars that shined and surrounded Oprah on the stage at United Center. But what I loved and admired most was the fact God was not left out in the celebration. He was honored above all the achievements. Oprah displayed it loud and clear. Steadman told it point blankly. Those who sang acknowledged His grace for Oprah's success.
Even today at the final Oprah show, that was the theme and message from Oprah. She talked about the whisper she gets from God. She talks about how she waits still to hear His whisper before she takes any decision. She also said how she offers a prayer of gratitude in the elevator at the end of every show, on her way home. It's a miracle, she said, how from a simple and painful beginning she had come to see this day, with so much of love and admiration from people from all background.-from celebrities to unknown housewives in some corner of a city.
Yes, she worked very hard to get where she's now and her appreciation and respect towards her employees earned her a loyal team that loves her and serves her well.
But, is God's Amazing Grace that had been the wind at the back to propel Oprah to great height and unlike many other famous celebrities, Oprah broadly declares acknowledges that fact and openly offers God the glory. That shows her humility, faith and obedience.
I have watched Oprah for many years and I have come to love her for the good deeds she does for humanity. Especially helping the poor and educating those who have no means to get any education. Personally she had impacted and empowered me to see and do things better. At times, she had made me t o look from another angle to understand those whom I normally couldn't understand. She made me to be aware of many social issues and other times made me to laugh and have fun too. Yes, I'm going to miss her shows terribly at 4pms. But I know she will not and cannot be too far away from us. She'll come to us through her OWN network, O magazine and who knows, what else is in the horizon?
May God bless Oprah more and more, and keep her happy and healthy for another twenty years the least. I feel sorry for those who missed the opportunity of watching her shows on important social issues, health, family and financial matter because of their misjudgement of her and her shows. It brings me chuckles when some of women at Bible study feel uneasy to let others to know they watch Oprah. -
Some even display pride in saying they never watch Oprah as if its' something unchristian to watch her show.
I wish they've seen at least today's final show for them to know who she's really and how she waits on Jesus for each of her decision. I wonder whether those who judge her wait on God or give glory to Him as she did today.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Tortured for Christ- A Book Review
At our previous writer's group meeting, I asked the women in my group to write a review on a 100-200 paged book of their choice. Since I had given the assignment, I had no choice, but to scan through the books on my bookshelves and pick out one to do myself. Charles Swindoll's So, you want to be like Christ? was my first choice. But, next to it stood another book with a glossy cover and a golden Wurmbrand Classics stamp on it. The title read, Tortured for Christ in white and red letters.
Years back, in my teenage years, I had vaguely heard of Richard Wurmbrand and his torturous imprisonment in Russian prisons. Probably, that's why, I quickly grabbed the book when I saw it on sale at our local library for a mere one dollar. Even though, I can't remember now anything I've read in Tortured for Christ , the circling and jottings in my handwriting on some pages tell me I must have read through the book at least once before. The book still looks new and untouched.
Wurmbrand spent a total of fourteen years in prison and he wrote Tortured for Christ shortly after his release and in three days. In his words, "Tortured for Christ has no literary value. This book is written not so much with ink, as with the blood of bleeding hearts." It's amazing how the book got translated into more than 65 languages, and is still being sold in millions across the world. This gives us a glimpse of what God can do, when the heart of a writer is broken like that of God Himself.
Orphaned as a child, Wurmbrand grew up in poverty in Romania. At age 14, he was convinced he was an atheist. Once he even prayed, "God, I know surely that you don't exist. But if perchance You exist, which I contest, it is not my duty to believe in You. It's Your duty to reveal Yourself to me."
On another part of Romania, high up in the mountain, an old carpenter was also sending up a prayer during that time. He wanted to bring a Jew to Christ before he died. So, he prayed, "I'm poor, old and sick. I cannot go around and seek a Jew. In my village, there are none. Bring a Jew into my village and I will do my best to bring him to Christ." God in His grace didn't waste much time in bringing the two men together and the young confirmed atheist became an ardent lover of Christ from that day onwards.
I've always wondered how some Christians go through torture and imprisonment with so much courage and joy ? What keeps them sane and sound amidst hatred, cruelty and starvation? Knowing myself well, I've told the Lord to count me out for persecution. If a prick of a needle could make me sweat, how could I ever face persecution as brave as those Wurmbrand described in his book?
" I've seen Christians in Communist prisons with fifty pounds of chain on their feet, tortured with red-hot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt has been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold- and praying with fervor for the Communists. This is humanly inexplicable! It is the love of Christ, which was poured out in our hearts." He further goes on to say, " We felt the torture, but it often seemed as something distant and far removed from the spirit which was lost in the glory of Christ and His presence with us. "
That's it ! That's the secret. It's the presence of Christ that makes them to go on and on and even showing love towards their torturers. Wurmbrand writes about a pastor who was badly beaten and thrown into his cell half-dead and bleeding profusely. When the other prisoners started cursing the Communists doing such a horrible thing, the pastor amidst his groaning uttered, " Please, don't curse them! Keep silent! I wish to pray for them."
Though such love is beyond my comprehension, the book enabled me to see things from a different angle for better understanding. I better give that in Wurmbrand's own words- " God sees things differently than we see them, just as we see differently than an ant. From the human point of view, to be tied to a cross and smeared with excrement is a horrible thing. Nonetheless, the Bible calls the suffering of martyrs"light afflictions."
If made to stand in a box with no room to move and pierced with razor-sharp nails on every side could be called "light afflictions," what do we call the things we cry about. How pathetic I may sound to heaven's ears when I bawl and complain about back pain and backyard quarrels? Or the disagreements and dissatisfaction at work or church, we tend to view as persecution. No wonder, Wurmbrand wrote," I have found truly joyful Christians only in the Bible, in the underground Church, and in prison."
His only grievance- the church in the West sleeps while its brethren in Christ suffer and fight for the gospel. That is the main reason he wrote this book soon after his release 1964.
" I tremble because of the suffering of those persecuted in different lands. I tremble thinking about the eternal destiny of their torturers. I tremble for Western Christians who don't help their persecuted brethren."
In short, the message of the book- " Remember the Persecuted church, help them, pray for them. Don't abandon them."
It's my prayer that whoever reads this blog would take time to learn more about persecuted churches around the world, pray for them on a regular basis and to help them in anyway they could. We are so blessed to live in countries where churches of all sizes and shapes are at every corner and Bibles can be bought in multiple versions and prayers can be uttered without any fear of punishment. Our main problem is that we've taken our blessings for granted or we've made ourselves too busy to even to realize how blessed we are. .
Though Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who had been called the " Voice of the Underground Church" had gone to be with the Lord in 2001, his voice is still alive through his books, as well as through the Voice of Martyrs Newsletter he had founded.
Years back, in my teenage years, I had vaguely heard of Richard Wurmbrand and his torturous imprisonment in Russian prisons. Probably, that's why, I quickly grabbed the book when I saw it on sale at our local library for a mere one dollar. Even though, I can't remember now anything I've read in Tortured for Christ , the circling and jottings in my handwriting on some pages tell me I must have read through the book at least once before. The book still looks new and untouched.
Wurmbrand spent a total of fourteen years in prison and he wrote Tortured for Christ shortly after his release and in three days. In his words, "Tortured for Christ has no literary value. This book is written not so much with ink, as with the blood of bleeding hearts." It's amazing how the book got translated into more than 65 languages, and is still being sold in millions across the world. This gives us a glimpse of what God can do, when the heart of a writer is broken like that of God Himself.
Orphaned as a child, Wurmbrand grew up in poverty in Romania. At age 14, he was convinced he was an atheist. Once he even prayed, "God, I know surely that you don't exist. But if perchance You exist, which I contest, it is not my duty to believe in You. It's Your duty to reveal Yourself to me."
On another part of Romania, high up in the mountain, an old carpenter was also sending up a prayer during that time. He wanted to bring a Jew to Christ before he died. So, he prayed, "I'm poor, old and sick. I cannot go around and seek a Jew. In my village, there are none. Bring a Jew into my village and I will do my best to bring him to Christ." God in His grace didn't waste much time in bringing the two men together and the young confirmed atheist became an ardent lover of Christ from that day onwards.
I've always wondered how some Christians go through torture and imprisonment with so much courage and joy ? What keeps them sane and sound amidst hatred, cruelty and starvation? Knowing myself well, I've told the Lord to count me out for persecution. If a prick of a needle could make me sweat, how could I ever face persecution as brave as those Wurmbrand described in his book?
" I've seen Christians in Communist prisons with fifty pounds of chain on their feet, tortured with red-hot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt has been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold- and praying with fervor for the Communists. This is humanly inexplicable! It is the love of Christ, which was poured out in our hearts." He further goes on to say, " We felt the torture, but it often seemed as something distant and far removed from the spirit which was lost in the glory of Christ and His presence with us. "
That's it ! That's the secret. It's the presence of Christ that makes them to go on and on and even showing love towards their torturers. Wurmbrand writes about a pastor who was badly beaten and thrown into his cell half-dead and bleeding profusely. When the other prisoners started cursing the Communists doing such a horrible thing, the pastor amidst his groaning uttered, " Please, don't curse them! Keep silent! I wish to pray for them."
Though such love is beyond my comprehension, the book enabled me to see things from a different angle for better understanding. I better give that in Wurmbrand's own words- " God sees things differently than we see them, just as we see differently than an ant. From the human point of view, to be tied to a cross and smeared with excrement is a horrible thing. Nonetheless, the Bible calls the suffering of martyrs"light afflictions."
If made to stand in a box with no room to move and pierced with razor-sharp nails on every side could be called "light afflictions," what do we call the things we cry about. How pathetic I may sound to heaven's ears when I bawl and complain about back pain and backyard quarrels? Or the disagreements and dissatisfaction at work or church, we tend to view as persecution. No wonder, Wurmbrand wrote," I have found truly joyful Christians only in the Bible, in the underground Church, and in prison."
His only grievance- the church in the West sleeps while its brethren in Christ suffer and fight for the gospel. That is the main reason he wrote this book soon after his release 1964.
" I tremble because of the suffering of those persecuted in different lands. I tremble thinking about the eternal destiny of their torturers. I tremble for Western Christians who don't help their persecuted brethren."
In short, the message of the book- " Remember the Persecuted church, help them, pray for them. Don't abandon them."
It's my prayer that whoever reads this blog would take time to learn more about persecuted churches around the world, pray for them on a regular basis and to help them in anyway they could. We are so blessed to live in countries where churches of all sizes and shapes are at every corner and Bibles can be bought in multiple versions and prayers can be uttered without any fear of punishment. Our main problem is that we've taken our blessings for granted or we've made ourselves too busy to even to realize how blessed we are. .
Though Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who had been called the " Voice of the Underground Church" had gone to be with the Lord in 2001, his voice is still alive through his books, as well as through the Voice of Martyrs Newsletter he had founded.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day
On this Mother's Day,
Mothers around this nation
are given gifts of flowers, cards
spas and driven to brunches.
Mothers do deserve this day of appreciation
and all the pampering that goes with it
For on all the other days, they're the ones
who do the pampering, buying the gifts
and throwing parties for all others to enjoy.
From Eve in Eden to Eva of this century
Mother's have played a great role in building the nation
Neither Eve nor Eva could be said a perfect mother
for each had her own set of flaws and ups and lows in caring skill.
Because mothers of today are lured to become super moms
Evas of today have more things to juggle and worry about
than Eve of that day
who bore Cain and Abel
and clothed them with fig leaves and animal skin
Behind every great man stands a mother
whose selfless love taught him to love
whose earnest prayers led him to live rightGifts or no gifts, bouquet of flowers given or not
Mothers of any color, race or age
deserve this day of celebration
So, let them know wherever they are
here on earth or up there in heaven
that we do love and honor them
and we cherish them for all their prayers, patience and perseverence!***
1
Mothers around this nation
are given gifts of flowers, cards
spas and driven to brunches.
Mothers do deserve this day of appreciation
and all the pampering that goes with it
For on all the other days, they're the ones
who do the pampering, buying the gifts
and throwing parties for all others to enjoy.
From Eve in Eden to Eva of this century
Mother's have played a great role in building the nation
Neither Eve nor Eva could be said a perfect mother
for each had her own set of flaws and ups and lows in caring skill.
Because mothers of today are lured to become super moms
Evas of today have more things to juggle and worry about
than Eve of that day
who bore Cain and Abel
and clothed them with fig leaves and animal skin
Behind every great man stands a mother
whose selfless love taught him to love
whose earnest prayers led him to live rightGifts or no gifts, bouquet of flowers given or not
Mothers of any color, race or age
deserve this day of celebration
So, let them know wherever they are
here on earth or up there in heaven
that we do love and honor them
and we cherish them for all their prayers, patience and perseverence!***
1
Monday, May 2, 2011
Breaking News
Yesterday, May 01, 2011 around 7.30 pm as I was busy making supper, my husband who was on the computer came rushing into the living room urging me to put the television on . It's then I saw the words Breaking News flashing bright and the death of Osama Bin Ladin was announced. The news came sudden and unexpected at a time, the country as well as the world is wading through many breaking news.
On March 11, around noon a massive and monstrous tsunami rocked Japan by swallowing up thousands of residents, houses, cars and boats, jerked the nuclear plants and created radioactive alert zones arund and left the land in total dismay and shock. That made breaking news.
Then came the regime change in Egypt after five decades of rule by President Mobarak. Here the march of the protesters was peaceful and the stepping down of the president without much killing was commendable. Yes, this too made into Breaking News.
Voices in Libya called out to their leader too to step down and let the people choose a leader in a democratic way. Their genuine and peaceful call resulted in massive opposition and many people, including one of Gadaffi's son and grand children died in the crossfire and aerial attack. This too made into Breaking News lately.
In recent weeks, gigantic tornados swirled in from nowhere with no siren warning in Alabama and Georgia killing at least 300 people young and old and swooped away houses and smashed down buildings into mere rubbles. Shocking and devastating, it too got into Breaking News.
And then, yesterday, the Breaking News of Bin Ladin came as a surprise, but it brought relief and celebration to this land of America. Exactly ten years after the attack on the twin towers, this news of avenge had reached this land for it to celebrate. For those who lost their loved ones on Sept 11, 2001, it had brought comfort and closure to their unending grief and loss.
Though the celebration of the crowd on the death of someone they hated seem right, it does put us in the same level as those people under Bin Laden who rejoiced and celebrated on the day the planes hit the twin towers and killed people in thousands. It's easy for me, who wasn't affected by such tragedy to talk about right and wrong. But would I not join and celebrate with the crowd if one of my loved one had been killed on 9/11. Probably so. Bin Laden's death a 'good day' for America, said the Breaking News. I hope so. I pray so. I pray that there won't be another 9/11 like happening not only on this soil, but on any soil even if it's the soil of those we disagree, oppose or hate.
A simple act of hatredness leads into violence and that inturn may give rise to atrocious and evil act of killing innocent and cruel alike. What makes a person choose good and another to choose evil? Both, when born were innocent as any babies could be. What makes some to grow out to be Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Desmond Tutu and Marthin Luther King Jr and some others to grow out to be Adolf Hitler, Sadam Hussein and Bin Laden? They too made breaking news in their parents lives when they took the first breath of air, cut their first tooth, took their first step and so forth. What made the change of direction and the choice of evil over good. Was it the circumstance? their belief ? Disappointment over something? Or all together to some degree?
Have we in anyway played a part in anyway for their actions? We never know and we've got no answer for that. Bin Laden is said to be a religious person and a spiritual leader? How could he then even think of orchestrating such a horrendous attack on thousands of innocent people the way he did? Even Hitler proclaimed to be a Christian and then and ordered the genocide of Jews. Why? Why? And Why?
Why can't people choose to love, live and let others live peace? Why is this beautiful earth be put to groan and weep by atrocious acts? Why can't God intervene and put a total stop to violence, cruelty and killings? If only we've answers to all these questions and have the power to put everything aright, what a peaceful place this world could be. For that to happen, we need to humble ourselves and turn to God and ask Him to put us aright first and then give us the wisdom to do what is right, noble, beautiful, peaceful. Hope and pray for those days to come in my time and in generation to come.***
On March 11, around noon a massive and monstrous tsunami rocked Japan by swallowing up thousands of residents, houses, cars and boats, jerked the nuclear plants and created radioactive alert zones arund and left the land in total dismay and shock. That made breaking news.
Then came the regime change in Egypt after five decades of rule by President Mobarak. Here the march of the protesters was peaceful and the stepping down of the president without much killing was commendable. Yes, this too made into Breaking News.
Voices in Libya called out to their leader too to step down and let the people choose a leader in a democratic way. Their genuine and peaceful call resulted in massive opposition and many people, including one of Gadaffi's son and grand children died in the crossfire and aerial attack. This too made into Breaking News lately.
In recent weeks, gigantic tornados swirled in from nowhere with no siren warning in Alabama and Georgia killing at least 300 people young and old and swooped away houses and smashed down buildings into mere rubbles. Shocking and devastating, it too got into Breaking News.
And then, yesterday, the Breaking News of Bin Ladin came as a surprise, but it brought relief and celebration to this land of America. Exactly ten years after the attack on the twin towers, this news of avenge had reached this land for it to celebrate. For those who lost their loved ones on Sept 11, 2001, it had brought comfort and closure to their unending grief and loss.
Though the celebration of the crowd on the death of someone they hated seem right, it does put us in the same level as those people under Bin Laden who rejoiced and celebrated on the day the planes hit the twin towers and killed people in thousands. It's easy for me, who wasn't affected by such tragedy to talk about right and wrong. But would I not join and celebrate with the crowd if one of my loved one had been killed on 9/11. Probably so. Bin Laden's death a 'good day' for America, said the Breaking News. I hope so. I pray so. I pray that there won't be another 9/11 like happening not only on this soil, but on any soil even if it's the soil of those we disagree, oppose or hate.
A simple act of hatredness leads into violence and that inturn may give rise to atrocious and evil act of killing innocent and cruel alike. What makes a person choose good and another to choose evil? Both, when born were innocent as any babies could be. What makes some to grow out to be Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Desmond Tutu and Marthin Luther King Jr and some others to grow out to be Adolf Hitler, Sadam Hussein and Bin Laden? They too made breaking news in their parents lives when they took the first breath of air, cut their first tooth, took their first step and so forth. What made the change of direction and the choice of evil over good. Was it the circumstance? their belief ? Disappointment over something? Or all together to some degree?
Have we in anyway played a part in anyway for their actions? We never know and we've got no answer for that. Bin Laden is said to be a religious person and a spiritual leader? How could he then even think of orchestrating such a horrendous attack on thousands of innocent people the way he did? Even Hitler proclaimed to be a Christian and then and ordered the genocide of Jews. Why? Why? And Why?
Why can't people choose to love, live and let others live peace? Why is this beautiful earth be put to groan and weep by atrocious acts? Why can't God intervene and put a total stop to violence, cruelty and killings? If only we've answers to all these questions and have the power to put everything aright, what a peaceful place this world could be. For that to happen, we need to humble ourselves and turn to God and ask Him to put us aright first and then give us the wisdom to do what is right, noble, beautiful, peaceful. Hope and pray for those days to come in my time and in generation to come.***
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