Change your Thinking

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. T hey spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
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Eid-ul-Fitr:Festival of the Breaking of the Fast

Eid-ul-Fitr, popularly known as the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast”, occurs as soon as the new moon is sighted at the end of the month of fasting, namely Ramadan. The festival is intended to be a festive and joyous occasion. Special foods and delicacies are prepared for the day and are distributed to neighbours and friends.

This festival celebrates the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting. It is an occasion of feasting and rejoicing.

The faithful gather in the mosques to pray, friends and relatives meet and exchange greetings. Prayers, family get-togethers and feasts are the major highlights of the festival.
Legend
During the holy month of Ramadan was when Allah gave Prophet Muhammad the Holy Qur’an. One day, Muhammad had a vision in which the angel Jibril told him how Allah wanted people to live. The Allah’s words were revealed to Muhammad through the angel over a period of 23 years, and the words were written down to form the Qur’an. Ramadan is celebrated to remember this very special month.

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The Response to Da Vinci Code –> by Roger Cotton

The Da Vinci Code claims to be only a novel and as such I found it to be very engaging. It fabricates a very recent search for the Holy Grail, which it proposes is really secret documents showing that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and produced a royal bloodline. The use of a narrator, who comments philosophically and theologically on life, religion, and the church — using exaggerated language — causes those assertions within the novel to sound like truths we should consider — hidden truths we need to recover to free ourselves from the lies of the church. That interests people and sells books.

However, a leading New Testament scholar, Ben Witherington III, in his book The Gospel Code, (InterVarsity, 2004), responding to The Da Vinci Code, said: “It can be quite entertaining but also misleading. We need to treat this book as what it really is—not historical fiction but almost entirely fiction, at least when it comes to its assumptions and assertions about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and early Christianity” (p. 27).
(Also Read– ENCOUNTERING THE DA VINCI CODE)

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New Year Message

Difference between Rich/Poor People?

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to thecountry with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked. “Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So, tell me, what you learned from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing?
Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

“Life is too short ; So Live Life as if there is no Tommorow “

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New Year Traditions

Mock combats are performed to represent the struggle between the seasons, Life and Death, and Old year and New. Plant and fruit trees are beaten with sticks; water is poured to cleanse the spirit, remove impurities, and invite grace.

· There cannot be a New Year until the Old Year has gone. The Old Year is said to be evil and must be banished. A simulacrum of Death is paraded through the town or city and is buried, drowned, or burned. The effigy can be made of straw, twigs, or rags.

· Nothing should be taken out of the house as one may remove the good luck along with it. It was said to be wise to make sure that lots of things are to be carried in.

· Both one’s pockets as well as one’s stomach should be full. This was to make certain that in the ensuing year one would be prosperous and well fed. Empty pockets and un-stocked kitchen augured a year of poverty.

· Bidding farewell of the old year was originally done out of fear that the evil spirits were let loose on the last day of the year. So people would make lots of noise and have lots of fun to drive the evil spirits away, so that they could start a New Year unharmed and unimpeded.

· Another way people would drive the evil forces away was by setting of fireworks as it was believed that they were afraid of light and that they were also afraid of noise. So this was the reason why people would make lots and lots of noises at the stroke of midnight.

· Church bells are told to drive evil spirits away at the end of the old year.

· January is named for the Roman god, Janus. He is pictured with two faces one looking forward and one looking backward. This symbolizes the connection with both the ending of the old year and the beginning the new one. In America we use different symbols to represent the same things. An old man with a beard usually symbolizes the old year and a baby in diapers the new one.

· George Washington began the custom of holding a party on New Year’s Day where everyone was welcome. This became known as having an “open house” and is still done in many places today.

· Many cultures believe a tall, dark and handsome man crossing the threshold as a sign of good luck, but if the first person to enter the house is a red headed woman, the year is sure to be stressful.

· Holding a piece of silver or gold as the New Year begins is said to increase the chances of prosperity in the coming year. Some place a silver coin over the doorway or a penny on the windowsill.

· Eating pork, all kinds of greens, cabbage, sauerkraut, the Southern U.S. tradition of black-eyed peas or anything that forms a circle - such as donuts or pretzels - make for good fortune in the coming year.

· On New Year’s Day, it is believed that hair shouldn’t be washed as it would wash away good luck for the New Year. Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year’s sets the tone for the rest of the year.

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Who is Santa Claus?

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in Patara, a village in what is now Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance was said to have healing powers which fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day.
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