Who will you believe?
If the Pharisee were given the chance to pick disciples for Jesus, imagine what would have happened.
Temple of Jerusalem
Council or Pharisees and Sadducees
Jerusalem
Jesus Christ
c/o Anywhere
Judea,
Dear Sir,
PROPOSAL OF ADVICE
It is in your own interest that we write you this letter. We have conducted a detailed human resource analysis of your choice of disciples and want to duly advice you. Upon research and interview we believe Simon Peter, John and James Zebedee, Mathew, Thomas and most of the rest of your choice are not fit to be disciples. Simon Peter has no formal education of any kind. He is too uncouth and has a terrible temper. Mathew is a dishonest tax collector and unsuitable for missionary work. The least said about Thomas the better. He is too argumentative and challenges authority. The rest have no social standing and most of them have no property of any value. They do not know the law of Moses, neither do they practice our holy religious methods.
Judas Iscariot on the other and is a very fine gentleman. He is knowledgeable in mathematics and finances; he has excellent communication skills and a fine business mind. We highly recommend him for discipleship. Hoping you will take our advice to heart.
PS. You could also benefit from a scripture refresher course.
Yours
Pharisee Trantos
God looks directly in our hearts and not at our appearance or pretenses. When He sent Samuel to Jesse’s house, this is what He said concerning his children,
(1Sa 16:7 CEV) But the LORD told him, "Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts."
The world has consistently albeit erroneously placed its emphasis on what is external. Hollywood has led the campaign of physical appearance as a standard for life and the rest of the world has bought this hook, line and sinker. The result of such abysmal standards is evident in the deteriorating moral standards and the sheer number of divorces and personal crisis amongst its believers. However the one whose opinion matters has assured us that he looks for what is inside. He looks at our hearts, after all it of the seat of all action. The emotion is the foundation of physical action. It is the true source of the external appearance. It is like the hidden part of the iceberg. What is the use of beauty outside when there is filth inside? A lot of people are like whitewashed graves; beautiful, clean and spotless outside, but terrible inside. The Bible says that a bitter source cannot produce sweet springs neither can a rotten root produce healthy fruits. What is inside will eventually show on the outside.
Do not judge people on only what you see. God does not. He looks at the heart and the soul.
So whose report will you believe about yourself?
Some people have allowed the opinion of others to put them down and discourage them. They have believed the report of others instead of God’s report. Remember, God looks in the inside, but man looks at the outside. So whose report will you believe?
Get up, shake the worries off and get to work. The one whose opinion matters has a good report of you. Don’t look back, never despair, for He who has started a good thing in you, is able to complete it.
God bless you.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
the POET. chapter 2
It couldn’t be done
Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.
Edgar Albert Guest
Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.
Edgar Albert Guest
Sunday, March 20, 2011
WORSHIP SERIES SEASON 1: episode 8
DO UNTO OTHERS.
(Mat 6:12 CEV) Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others.
Man is a social being. We were made for relationships. Our souls can only thrive in healthy connection with others around us. Man is also possessive. We love authority and power. We love independence and will resist vehemently any action that seeks to restrict or restrain us and rob us of our freedom. This seemingly conflicting desires in man creates a world where relationships become very delicate and difficult to manage or handle. On one side, man wants companionship and the pleasure of dependence on a trusted and loved one, on the other hand, he wants independence and the freedom to do as he pleases. The ultimate aim of peaceful co-existence is to find a balance. I call these opposing sides the ME and YOU concepts. The ME concept seeks its own good and satisfaction. It delights in personal progress and advancement. The ME factor looks for situations and conditions that brings self satisfaction and little pain. The ME concepts is selfish and self seeking. The YOU concept works hard to provide for the other party. It delights in bringing happiness and peace to others. It loves to give and support, to contribute to the betterment of others. The YOU concepts is selfless and gracious. There is yet another concept that balances these two; I call it the WE concept. This concept seeks to provide a balanced outlook to life. It delights in promoting equality and equity. It seeks to give as much as it gets and support as long as it can afford. The WE concept is fair and balanced.
Everyone possesses these three concepts and at any moment in time, one concept is dominant. Different people exhibit different concepts when faced with the similar situations. Which concept is dominant is based on personal convictions, personality and character.
For example, someone may keep for himself a loaf of bread when a beggar asks. Another may share the loaf and yet another may give the whole loaf away. The first person showed the ME concept, the second, the WE concept and the third, the YOU concept.
In the Lord’s Prayer and other parables in the Bible, Jesus taught his disciples to practice the WE concept. He taught them to forgive as they are forgiven and to love their neighbors as themselves. He encouraged them to forgive if they wanted God to forgive them their sins.
However Jesus practiced the YOU concept. All his life, he gave without receiving and loved without being loved back. He forgave although he didn’t need any forgiveness and even when people rejected and offended him he forgave and continued to love them. His grace and mercy is given freely for all. He taught his disciples the WE concept when he knew them to be weak and immature. Now he calls us to practice the YOU concept. He calls us to love unconditionally and forgive because we are the children of God.
(Luke 6:27-35 CEV) This is what I say to all who will listen to me: Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you.
Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, don't stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek. If someone wants to take your coat, don't try to keep back your shirt.
Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you.
Treat others just as you want to be treated.
If you love only someone who loves you, will God praise you for that? Even sinners love people who love them.
If you are kind only to someone who is kind to you, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners are kind to people who are kind to them.
If you lend money only to someone you think will pay you back, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners lend to sinners because they think they will get it all back.
But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel.
The WE concept is the middle way. The ME concept is the low way. The YOU concept is the high way. Which will you walk?
Our desire is to be like Jesus. To love like he did. To treat others better than ourselves. To give not because we will be given back but to give because God loves a cheerful giver. If you want to live an ordinary life, then the WE factor is good enough. You can take the middle way.
But if you want to live like Christ, to experience that glorious life he promised, then the high way is the only way for you. Allow the Holy Spirit to grow the YOU concept in your spirit. It is the perfect way.
God bless you.
Sam Tinagyei 2011
(Mat 6:12 CEV) Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others.
Man is a social being. We were made for relationships. Our souls can only thrive in healthy connection with others around us. Man is also possessive. We love authority and power. We love independence and will resist vehemently any action that seeks to restrict or restrain us and rob us of our freedom. This seemingly conflicting desires in man creates a world where relationships become very delicate and difficult to manage or handle. On one side, man wants companionship and the pleasure of dependence on a trusted and loved one, on the other hand, he wants independence and the freedom to do as he pleases. The ultimate aim of peaceful co-existence is to find a balance. I call these opposing sides the ME and YOU concepts. The ME concept seeks its own good and satisfaction. It delights in personal progress and advancement. The ME factor looks for situations and conditions that brings self satisfaction and little pain. The ME concepts is selfish and self seeking. The YOU concept works hard to provide for the other party. It delights in bringing happiness and peace to others. It loves to give and support, to contribute to the betterment of others. The YOU concepts is selfless and gracious. There is yet another concept that balances these two; I call it the WE concept. This concept seeks to provide a balanced outlook to life. It delights in promoting equality and equity. It seeks to give as much as it gets and support as long as it can afford. The WE concept is fair and balanced.
Everyone possesses these three concepts and at any moment in time, one concept is dominant. Different people exhibit different concepts when faced with the similar situations. Which concept is dominant is based on personal convictions, personality and character.
For example, someone may keep for himself a loaf of bread when a beggar asks. Another may share the loaf and yet another may give the whole loaf away. The first person showed the ME concept, the second, the WE concept and the third, the YOU concept.
In the Lord’s Prayer and other parables in the Bible, Jesus taught his disciples to practice the WE concept. He taught them to forgive as they are forgiven and to love their neighbors as themselves. He encouraged them to forgive if they wanted God to forgive them their sins.
However Jesus practiced the YOU concept. All his life, he gave without receiving and loved without being loved back. He forgave although he didn’t need any forgiveness and even when people rejected and offended him he forgave and continued to love them. His grace and mercy is given freely for all. He taught his disciples the WE concept when he knew them to be weak and immature. Now he calls us to practice the YOU concept. He calls us to love unconditionally and forgive because we are the children of God.
(Luke 6:27-35 CEV) This is what I say to all who will listen to me: Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you.
Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, don't stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek. If someone wants to take your coat, don't try to keep back your shirt.
Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you.
Treat others just as you want to be treated.
If you love only someone who loves you, will God praise you for that? Even sinners love people who love them.
If you are kind only to someone who is kind to you, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners are kind to people who are kind to them.
If you lend money only to someone you think will pay you back, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners lend to sinners because they think they will get it all back.
But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel.
The WE concept is the middle way. The ME concept is the low way. The YOU concept is the high way. Which will you walk?
Our desire is to be like Jesus. To love like he did. To treat others better than ourselves. To give not because we will be given back but to give because God loves a cheerful giver. If you want to live an ordinary life, then the WE factor is good enough. You can take the middle way.
But if you want to live like Christ, to experience that glorious life he promised, then the high way is the only way for you. Allow the Holy Spirit to grow the YOU concept in your spirit. It is the perfect way.
God bless you.
Sam Tinagyei 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
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