Recipe Time Again...

Here is a recipe from Brazil.

Cantaloupe With Whipping Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 Medium Cantaloupe, split in four
• 1 Orange slice for garnish
• 1 Pint whipping cream, whipped by hand
  
  Whip the whipping cream in a stainless steel bowl until, thick. Place the cantaloupe in a serving dish, top with the whipping cream. Garnish with the sliced orange and serve.
  
  Anyone with a great tasting international recipe is more than welcomed to post it as a comment (I'll add it to the blog)!!!

Hinduism

After reading about the believers in India I thought I'd post some facts on Hinduism. I'm currently reading the book, Sharing Your Faith with a Hindu by Madasamy Thirumala. The author grew up as a Hindu in a small town in southern India. He believd in idols, gods, witchcraft, etc. His parents devoted their time and money to the Hindu gods and godesses. He speaks of how it was considered shameful and degrading to become a Christian.

The author was given a book "simple looking lady offered me a storybook in my own language" - it happened to be the gospel of Luke. He read it and admired the life of Jesus, yet he wasn't ready to give his life to Christ and become a Christian. He was an educated person and felt shame of being Christian. Yet, God worked in his heart and brought him to Himself.

One interesting fact in his book that he mentioned was that it is estimated that 1.4 million Indian people live in the United States; of those more than 85 percent (1.2. million) are Hindus. Talk about a mission field right here - next door, at work, etc. You don't need to think about always going to a country far away - God might have a plan for you to serve Him in the USA!


Hinduism

Meaning of name:
Hinduism, from the Persian hindu (Sanskrit sindhu), literally "river." Means "of the Indus Valley" or simply "Indian." Hindus call their religion sanatama dharma,"eternal religion" or "eternal truth."

Date founded: Earliest forms date to 1500 BC or earlier

Place founded: India

Founder: none

Adherents: 900 million

Size rank: third largest in the world

Main location: India, also United Kingdom and United States

Major sects
Saivism, Vaisnavism, Saktism

Sacred texts
Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad Gita

Original language
Sanskrit

Spiritual leader
guru or sage

Place of worship
temple or home shrine

Theism
pantheism with polytheistic elements

Ultimate reality:
Brahman

Human nature:
in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but able to escape

Purpose of life:
to attain liberation (moksa) from the cycle of reincarnation

How to live:
order life according to the dharma

Afterlife:
if karma unresolved, soul is born into a new body; if karma resolved, attain moksa (liberation)

Major holidays:
Mahashivarati (mid-February)
Holi (Spring)Ramnavami (late March)Dusserah (early November)Diwali (mid-November)
Hinduism by the Numbers

Three paths:
-karmamarga - path of works and action
-jnanamarga - path of knowledge or philosophy
-bhaktimarga - path of devotion to God

Three debts:
-debt to God
-debt to sages and saints
-debt to ancestors

Four stages of life:
brahmacharga - school years - grow and learn
grhastha - marriage, family and career
vanaprastha - turn attention to spiritual things
sanrgasu - abandon world to seek spiritual things

Four purposes of life:
dharma - fulfill moral, social and religious duties
artha - attain financial and worldy success
kama - satisfy desires and drives in moderation
moksha - attain freedom from reincarnation

Seven sacred cities:
Ayodhya
Mathura
Gaya (Bodhgaya)
Kasi (Varanasi, Benares)
Kanci
Avantika (Ujjain)
Dvaraka

Ten commitments:

1. Ahimsa - do no harm

2. Satya - do not lie

3. Asteya - do not steal

4. Brahmacharya - do not overindulge

5. Aparigraha - do not be greedy

6. Saucha - be clean

7. Santosha - be content

8. Tapas - be self-disciplined

9. Svadhyaya - study

10. Ishvara Pranidhana - surrender to God

Sources
"Hinduism." Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions.
"Hinduism." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service. 2004.
Huston Smith, The World's Religions.
Linda Johnsen, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism, pp. 222-24.


Probably the most well-known Hindu saying about religion is:
"Truth is one; sages call it by different names."

However, there are some beliefs common to nearly all forms of Hinduism that can be identified, and these basic beliefs are generally regarded as boundaries outside of which lies either heresy or non-Hindu religion.

These fundamental Hindu beliefs include:

• the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts)
  
• the Brahmans (priests); the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation)
  
• the law of karma that determines one's destiny both in this life and the next.
  
  Note that a specific belief about God or gods is not considered one of the essentials, which is a major difference between Hinduism and strictly monotheistic religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. Most Hindus are devoted followers of one of the principal gods Shiva, Vishnu or Shakti, and often others besides, yet all these are regarded as manifestations of a single Reality.
  
  The ultimate goal of all Hindus is release (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). For those of a devotional bent, this means being in God's presence, while those of a philosophical persuasion look forward to uniting with God as a drop of rain merges with the sea.
  
  

Children Passing Out Tracts...

Children are a wonderful "tool" in passing out tracts and witnessing. People are willing to take tracts from a little child and hear things they have to say because "they're so cute". Yet, words are words and the words of the Lord can't be ignored whether spoken by a child or an adult. The unsaved may try to let it pass by, but you are planting a seed and farther along the road God may bring someone around to water and tend to that little seed you planted.

Since I've been on the topic of tracts and since I just got an e-mail this morning telling of Christian children attacked in India by Hindu extremists because they were passing out Bible tracts at school. I thought I'd post it on here so you can pray for those Christians around the world that are standing firm in the Lord.

Christians Attacked, Children Beaten for Distributing Bible Tracts -
" On April 2, pastors and members of the Manna Ministry in Krishnapuram, Andhra Pradesh, were beaten by a group of 20 Hindu extremists. "Believers were returning from an evangelistic outreach when their car was stopped by the attackers. One of the ministry's leaders, Pastor Gopal, sustained serious injuries. The militants also tore up the Christians' evangelistic tracts." Ask God to heal Pastor Gopal. Meanwhile, on March 17, school children from Toopran School in Telungana Village, Andhra Pradesh, were threatened and beaten by Hindu extremists while they were distributing Bible tracts in the school compound. "A group of Hindu extremists stopped the school children from further distribution of tracts. The extremists beat the children and threatened them." Pray believers in Telungana Village will be encouraged and protected. Pray that Indian Christians will continue to share the gospel with boldness despite increased persecution. Ask God to use their testimonies to draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Him."

Tracts

I know that many people have different views of tracts, but I think that tracts are a great thing to pass out to those that we come in contact with. Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China gave his life to the Lord after reading a tract. I have just posted a list of links with great gospel tracts - that use the KJV....so look down at bottom of this blog.

Gospel tracts have the amazing ability to deliver their message to many souls that the distributor of the tract will never even meet. Hudson Taylor, who was used of the Lord to reach countless souls in China, was one such soul. What a marvelous harvest was reaped from just one seed sown!

Seeking something to while away his time, Hudson Taylor turned over a basket of tracts in his father's library and selected one that looked interesting. While reading it he was struck with the phrase, "The finished work of Christ."

Immediately the words attracted his attention. "What was finished?" he asked himself. Reading further, the tract explained the finished work as "A full and perfect atonement and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. "

Then Hudson thought, "If the whole work was finished on the cross of Calvary, and the whole debt of sin paid, what is there left for me to do?"

Hudson was thus convinced, as the light of God's truth flashed into his soul by the Holy Spirit, "There was nothing to be done but to fall down on my knees and accept the Saviour and His salvation and praise Him forever."

Hudson Taylor was seventeen years old at the time. He then went on to faithfully serve His Saviour for many years in China.

Corresponding with Missionaries

O.k. perhaps by now you have finally found a missionary whom you can correspond with, perhaps you have already written them and received a reply. For most people the problem is what to talk/write about in order to keep a corresponding relationship going you must have something to say. Sometimes you may not have anything to say except, I'm praying for you, or I prayed for you today. That is VERY important. Do not become discouraged because you are a quiet person and have no idea what to talk about with this newly found missionary friend. I have found from experience that a quiet missionary that visits the church and you cannot seem to strike up a conversation with them often will write the longest letters/e-mails in reply to your cards, if you write to them.

EVERYONE has time to write - there are no excuses (missionaries included)!!! God has given us 24 hours a day to serve Him. We can serve Him by encouraging other fellow believers in our church or on the mission field. There is not a single person in this world that cannot take the time out of their day to write a note saying, "I'm praying for you or I've prayed for you today, write a verse, or a thinking of you card or e-mail. We must prioritize our life. Being too busy can become an excuse for laziness. When we become too busy in the things of the world that we neglect time with the Lord and fellowship with His people - we must stop everything at once and refocus our goals so that we can be in sweet fellowship with the Lord and do His will.

What can you ask a missionary? Here are just a few things to get you going...

• Ask them questions related to daily living.
• Do not generalize about missions or missionaries.
• Ask about financial needs.
• Ask for specific prayer requests about their personal lives & families.
• Do not forget to ask about the missionary's spiritual life.
  
  Remember, depression is a terrible tool the devil uses to discourage the people in the front line of evangelism.
  
  -Take a minute to encourage someone today!
  
  Write to a shut-in (perhaps a older missionary couple that had to come off the field because of health problems), a sick member of your church or in your neighborhood, a young mother dealing with challenges of raising a Christian family in this ungodly world, a thank you for all you do note to your Pastor and/or wife....the list goes on and on.
  
  

Building Relationships with Missionaries

Take a moment to think about.... the last time you had dinner with a missionary family that is on furlough or deputation, the last time you called them up on the phone just to let them know that you are thinking and praying for them, when the last time you took the time to write an encouraging note to those far away from family and friends?

As Jim Elliot put it, " Missionaries are very human folks, just doing what they are asked. Simply a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt Somebody."

Getting to know a missionary is a great blessing, but yet how does one get to know missionaries?
Basically the list is this:

• Start receiving a missionary newsletter.
  
• Write personal letters (missionaries long for news of home)
  
• How about a phone call? (Call them up on b-days or just to encourage them)
  
• Be faithful in prayer. (Pray daily for the missionaries)
  
• Invite missionaries into our homes
  
• Visit missionaries at their field of work.
  
  First, take a look at the list of missionaries that your church supports. Take notice of the following: the country they serve, take in consideration of the age of the missionary and their family, how long they have been serving and what their mission goals are for their future ministry. Now ask questions like, when will they be in the States and when will they be speaking at my church.
  
  Second, grab a pen and paper and start writing a note to a missionary family (perhaps one that has children the same age as your own, or those serving in a country that you have an interest in learning more about, or whatever). Introduce yourself and tell them what church you are a part of, tell them that you are praying for them, give them little bits and pieces of interesting things going on in your family or city. Missionaries love to receive letters, but yet are also very busy so it may take them a while to reply to your note. BE PATIENT.
  
  If you know that a missionary family is coming to speak at your church or visit in your area take the time to offer your home to them. Invite them over for a meal or perhaps even invite them to spend a restful night at your house. Don't use the excuse, "I don't know what to talk about"..... We are all humans that work in different workplaces for the Lord.
  
  Pray not only for them, but also with them.
  
  - I will post another section on this topic of corresponding with missionaries later this week.
  
  

Pray Without Ceasing...

PRAYER

Last night I was typing the web address for this site, but forgot to add blogspot.com so it looked like: pray-without-ceasing.com. I must say that the sites that I found on the search engine were quite interesting. I found a site on C. H. Spurgeon. To my amazement I found that he had preached a sermon in 1872 with the topic of "Pray Without Ceasing" using 1 Thessalonians 5:17 as his text. ("Pray without ceasing."—1 Thessalonians 5:17). Since this blog address is focused on 1 Thessalonians 5:17 I read through the sermon with great interest to see what he had to say on the topic of prayer without ceasing.

I believe that prayer is essential in all our lives. To become a strong Christian one must pray. To grow deeper in love with the Lord we must talk with Him and allow Him to speak to us. We must pray and seek His direction in all things.

Here are some notes I took from the sermon.

-The posture of prayer is of no great importance, for if it were necessary that we should pray on our knees we could not pray without ceasing, the posture would become painful and injurious. To what end has our Creator given us feet, if he desires us never to stand upon them? If he had meant us to be on our knees without ceasing, he would have fashioned the body differently, and would not have endowed us with such unnecessary length of limb.

- Praying on one's knees expresses humility, but that is not to say that you cannot pray while flat upon your face, pray while sitting, pray while standing, etc.

- "Pray without ceasing." It would be impossible for us to pray aloud constantly.
There would of course be no opportunity for preaching and hearing, for the exchange of friendly intercourse, for business, or for any other of the duties of life; while the din of so many voices would remind our neighbors rather of the worship of Baal than that of Zion.

-God did not design our throats, lungs, and tongues should be for ever at work.

-Audible language is not essential to prayer. We may speak a thousand words which seem to be prayer, and yet never pray; on the other hand, we may cry into God's ear most effectually, and yet never say a word.

-The place where you pray is not essential to prayer. If there were only certain holy places where prayer was acceptable, and we had to pray without ceasing, our churches ought to be extremely large, that we might always live in them, and they would have to comprise all the arrangements necessary for human habitations.

- If I am to pray without ceasing, then every second must be suitable for prayer, and there is not one unholy moment in the hour, nor one unaccepted hour in the day, nor one unhallowed day in the year. The Lord has not appointed a certain week for prayer, but all weeks should be weeks of prayer: neither has he said that one hour of the day is more acceptable than another.
Therefore I can pray while driving, while in the shower, while lying awake in the middle of the night, doing housework, while mowing the lawn, etc.

-It is good to set aside a certain time of the day to pray.

- Pray without ceasing means that you may pray without ceasing. There is no time when we may not pray. You have here permission given to come to the mercy-seat when you will, for the veil of the Most Holy place is rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and our access to the mercy-seat is undisputed and indisputable.

- Never abandon prayer!
"Never abandon prayer. Never for any cause or reason cease to pray. Imagine not that you must pray until you are saved, and may then leave off. For those whose sins are pardoned prayer is quite as needful as for those mourning under a sense of sin. "Pray without ceasing," for in order that you may persevere in grace you must persevere in prayer. Should you become experienced in grace and enriched with much spiritual knowledge, you must not dream of restraining prayer because of your gifts and graces. "Pray without ceasing," or else your flower will fade and your spiritual fruit will never ripen. Continue in prayer until the-last moment of your life.

"Long as they live must Christians pray,For only while they pray they live."

- Never give up praying!
Do not abandon the mercy-seat for any reason whatever. If it be a good thing that you have been asking for, and you are sure it is according to the divine will, if the vision tarry wait for it, pray, weep, entreat, wrestle, agonise till you get that which you are praying for.

- Loving is praying.

-Prayer is hard work. Satan tries to distract and discourage us in our prayer life.

- Spurgeon, believe that no man loves prayer until the Holy Spirit has taught him the sweetness and value of it. If you have ever prayed without ceasing you will pray without ceasing.

-Let us pray without ceasing; carry our swords in hand, wave that mighty weapon of all-prayer of which Bunyan speaks. Never sheathe it; it will cut through coats of mail. You need fear no foe if you can but pray. As you are tempted without ceasing, so pray without ceasing.

I hope that as you read these few notes that you were encouraged as much as I was. Praying is a spiritual battle as the devil trys all that it is in his power to keep us from talking with our Lord.