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CSI Good News
(Church of South India Good News)
Vol. 3 / Issue 21 / June 28 2001
Contents of this issue
Editorial
Allah and Elohim - Are they same God? part 17
Bishop Rt. Rev. Sam Matthew's visit at Chicago - A Report
15th CSI family and youth Conference
News Items (Common to all issues) :
Through the Valley of Death & other Books
Download Articles in Handheld Computers
Kids Page - Free Tutorials
Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online
Your Spam Folder
Your Feedback
Editorial
Judges 6:3-6, "So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it. So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD."
And in Judges 6:11, "Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites."
We read in this passage that Gideon was trying to hide wheat from the Midianites. Why? Because Midianites were the enemy of Israelites and they used to come and destroy their crops and the produce of the earth. Gideon was afraid of them. So he was trying to hide wheat from them. Gideon was afraid that if the Midianites came and destroyed his crops and produce of earth then he and his family would be left with no food? He might have thought, "then I and my family will have to starve." Yes, it was quite natural for him to be in grip of fear.
How many times we feel afraid when we do not have enough income and when we have huge bills to pay. How many times we feel devastated and despaired worrying about tomorrow. But God wants us to be in peace. He wants to remove all our fear and worries from our hearts and He wants to give perfect peace in our lives. When the Angel of God came to Gideon, he was afraid but when he spoke to him, his fear left him and he calls God, "The-LORD-Is-Peace." (Judges 6:24)
I remember when my father was retired from his job we had no idea where to go and how to get money for our living. We were studying at that time and my father who was a big official in Govt. was laid off only with 3 days notice. One of my father's friends built his new house and invited us to stay in that house as long as we had no other place to go. So we went there and lived for almost one and half years without paying any rent. But many a times we had no money in our hand to purchase any food. Once we had limited quantity of flour and we five people had to eat. But every morning when my mother went to kitchen she prayed to God saying please bless my vessels and kneading bowl as the Bible says in Deuteronomy 28:5, "Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl." And we experienced mighty miracles. We five ate many days with that limited flour and the cooking gas cylinder which usually used to go only for 15 to 20 days lasted for more than three months... Yes, there is a God who really cares for us. Are you worried how you will provide your family? How and from where the next meal will come on your table? Look to Jesus who is still alive. When He was in this world, He was moved with compassion for those who were needy and provided for them. When He saw multitudes with Him and having nothing to eat, He was moved with compassion and provided food for them. He can do the same thing for you.
And further we read that how miraculously God saved Israelites through Gideon who was a man full of fear. He was afraid of the Midianites but only through three hundred people he could get victory over the Midianites, not because of his ability or because of his might, no, but because God gave him victory over the Midianites. The same God is still alive today and can give you victory over everything. No matter what your situation may be today or no matter how big an enemy you may be facing, God can deliver you and give you victory.
Allah and Elohim - Are they same God? part 17
By Sherly Isaac
According to Muslims and some translations of Quran angel Gabriel is considered as Holy Spirit. Is it a confusion of Allah or of people who think Holy Spirit is angel? Bible tells us that Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. The following is a portion of my conversation with one Muslim friend. MF is used for Muslim Friend and Me for me
MF: Below are just a few Quranic verses speaking of "RUH" [i.e. spirit and Gabriel]. I hope that the verses will speak for themselves in disproving your [unintentional] misrepresentation of the Quran to support your Jesus = God case. Should you fail to see the proof in such verses, then I shall know that your article was not posted due to "unintentional" misunderstanding, but rather due to pre-meditated and evil reasons.
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit [al-ruh] by Allah's permission, on every errand: [97:4]
The Day that the Spirit [al-ruh] and the angels will stand forth in ranks, none shall speak except any who is permitted by (Allah) Most Gracious, and he will say what is right. [78:38]
The angels and the Spirit [al-ruh] ascend unto Him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: [70:4]
Me: I read all the verses very very carefully which you have quoted here. But I did not find any verse which says that Ruh = Muhammed or Ruh = Angel Gabriel... And I am sure it is not there in whole Quran. Because the meaning of RUH is purely SPIRIT. Yes, I agree with you that angels are spiritual beings and that they are spirits but it does not mean that they are Spirit of God. We also have a spirit (Human Spirit) does it mean that we are angels? NO. OK, let us go through your verses one by one:
MF: Therein come down the angels and the Spirit [al-ruh] by Allah's permission, on every errand: [97:4]
Me: It says "angels" and "the Spirit".. does not it differentiate between both angels and the spirit?
MF: The Day that the Spirit [al-ruh] and the angels will stand forth in ranks, none shall speak except any who is permitted by (Allah) Most Gracious, and he will say what is right. [78:38]
Me: It says the same thing!!
MF: The angels and the Spirit [al-ruh] ascend unto Him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: [70:4]
Me: It says the same thing and I think it is making it clear that angels and the spirit are different things.
MF: Thou wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, loving those who resist Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred. For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit [bi-ruh-in] from Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allah will be well pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Truly it is the Party of Allah that will achieve Felicity. [58:22]
Me: OK, now this verse says that, "and strengthened them with a spirit [bi-ruh-in] from Himself" Notice here, A spirit from Himself means "Spirit of God." So obviously it is not angel because it is Spirit of God.
MF: He doth send down His angels with inspiration [bil-ruh] of His Command, to such of His servants as He pleaseth, (saying) "Warn (Man) that there is no god but I: so do your duty unto Me." [16:2]
Me: This verse says about angels with INSPIRATION and again it does not say that angels are spirit of God or angel Gabriel or Muhammed.
MF: NOTICE THE "TO ANY OF HIS SERVANTS", NOT ONLY TO "JESUS" ABOVE.
Me: If Holy Spirit is coming upon every servant of God, does it mean that Holy Spirit is Angel Gabriel? I think not!
MF: With it came down the Spirit of Faith and Truth [al-ruh al-ameen], [26:193] Say, the Holy Spirit [ruh al-qudus] has brought the revelation from thy Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims. [16:102]
Me: This verse simply talks about spirit of Truth i.e. Holy Spirit or Spirit of God. If you read all these verses you can notice that these verses are distinguishing the Spirit of God and angels..
MF: Then will Allah say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! recount My favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit [bi-ruh al-qudus], so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it, and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: This is nothing but evident magic.' [5:110]
Me: Now notice, here it says Holy Spirit and the word in brackets are the same that was for Spirit of God. And the same thing Bible says that Jesus was anointed by the mighty power of Holy Spirit and did mighty miracles. When Holy Spirit (Spirit of God) comes upon a person he/she does mighty miracles by the mighty power of God. And it is happening even today itself.
MF: You start by misleading the reader, as usual! Where in the world did I say [or any muslim for that matter] that ruh=Muhammad? Then you reiterate your false notion that there is no where in the quran where it says that ruh=gabriel! Let's see your misrepresentation and lack of understanding of the quran from your words:
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit [al-ruh] by Allah's permission, on every errand: [97:4]
Me: Can you please show me where it says Ruh= Gabriel? Gabriel is a "NAME" of an angel. Is it possible that a name can be spirit (ruh)? In every language there are two different words for "angel" and "spirit" like in
English "angel" and "spirit" and in
Urdu "Farishte" and "Ruh" and in
Hindi "Swargdoot" and "atma"
And I am sure there are different words in Arabic for Angel and Spirit. And yes, they are both different things. You can not say that spirit and angels are one thing. If Quran says this it means, Allah is confused in this matter.
MF: O People of the Book! commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) A Messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding [ruh-un] from Him: so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is One Allah: glory be to Him: (far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs. [4:171]
Me: In this verse, Jesus was called "HIS WORD" and "SPIRIT FROM HIM" so these two sentence makes it clear that Jesus is the very God and there is no doubt in it. This is Christian Trinity all about
God Himself
His Word (Jesus)
His Spirit (Holy Spirit)
If God has a spirit and God has a word in Quran then God of Quran also is a triune God. Without your knowledge you are worshipping a 3 phase God but I do not think you are worshipping the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob!
MF: We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of Messengers; We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit [bi-ruh al-qudus]. Is it that whenever there comes to you a Messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride? Some ye called imposters, and others ye slay! [2:87]
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our angel [ruhana], and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. [19:17]
And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our Spirit [ruhina], and We made her and her son a Sign for all peoples. [21:91]
But He fashioned him [Adam] in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give! [32:9]
NOTICE HOW ADAM HAD A BREATH OF ALLAH'S SPIRIT, SO MUCH FOR THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS AS MISREPRESENTED IN YOUR ARTICLE [FROM A QURANIC VIEW]!
Me: Sure Adam had, God breathed into his nostrils, His Spirit (Holy spirit) or breath of life it does not mean that God breathed an angel into his nostrils. I do not think that an angel went in side the body of Adam and made him alive.. NO, but God breathed His Spirit and made him alive. Angel and Holy Spirit are different things..
MF: No, it does not! Based on the following facts:
1. Angels are God's creatures entrusted to serve God, they carry out what they are ordered and have different ranks and responsibilites. Al-ruh (the spirit) is the archangel Gabriel, who is entrusted by God to deliver the revelations to God's prophets. Why would we have "angels" & "the spirit" if they meant the same?
Me: True, angels are God's creation but it does not mean that al-ruh (The Spirit) is the archangel Gabriel. The verse you have quoted does not say so. But it says "angels" and "the Spirit" means two different things. It does not say "angels" or "the Spirit"
MF: Read 2 below;
2. Who was the angel that visited Mary to give glad tidings of Jesus? It was Gabirel. Who visited Daniel in his vision? Gabriel. Who is gabriel? An angel of God. Why does the bible say angel of God at times, and says Gabriel at other instances? Isn't an angel just an angel?
Me: True, Angel visited Mary and Daniel and the angle's name was Gabriel. Nowhere in the Bible it says that angels and spirit are the same thing. Nowhere! Not only the Bible but Quran also differentiate both 'angel' and 'spirit' because they are two different things. But either you are confused with this matter or Allah gave this type of confusing message.
MF: You start by misleading the reader, as usual! Let's see your misrepresentation and lack of understanding of the quran from your words:
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit [al-ruh] by Allah's permission, on every errand: [97:4]
Me: Yes, Again you could not prove to me that Ruh = Gabriel. The verse you have quoted does not even mention the name of Gabriel. Again Gabriel is the name of an angel. It does not mean that angel Gabriel and Holy Spirit are one. Let me tell you that, there are different types of SPIRIT.
1. Human Spirit - we are made up of 3 parts i.e. soul, spirit and body.
One day we all will die it would be our physical death but spirit will live forever no matter whether in heaven or in hell.
2. Spirit of God - Holy Spirit, Bible describes about Holy Spirit that He is the Spirit of God and God is Holy, God is truth so do His spirit. Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
3. Angels are spirits too. But they are different as our Human Spirit is different from God and angels..
4. Demonic spirits or Evil spirit which torments people.
So we can see that Ruh-al-Qudus" Holy Spirit and angel Gabriel are totally different things. If we take the literal meaning of Ruh-al-Qudus then also we can see that it is no where showing any sign of angel Gabriel. Let us see what does these words mean?
Ruh = Spirit and Qudus = Holy
angel = angel and Gabriel = Gabriel (name)
So when you are comparing Holy Spirit and angel Gabriel then you are saying like this:
Tomato = Mango = Chair
And there is no way to prove that Tomato = Mango = Chair
So angel Gabriel cannot be Holy Spirit. If Allah spoke this means he is another god who does not really know what Holy Spirit is and who is the Spirit of God. If Allah is the same God then he should have known it.
Bishop Rt. Rev. Sam Matthew's visit at Chicago - A Report
By Vinod Isaac
Bishop Rt. Rev. Sam Matthew Thirumeni graced CSI Christ Church of Chicago with his presence and with his wonderful messages on last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When I am writing this report on the visit of Bishop Rt. Rev. Sam Mathew thirumeni I have no words to express how I felt sitting there and listening to his three messages.
The messages sent a thrill through my heart.
On Friday in the Praise and Worship service he spoke from Acts 16th chapter discussing about the lives of three persons, (1) Lydia, (2) a woman possessed with divination and (3) the Keeper of the prison. He pointed out that Lydia was an educated business woman who still needed repentance and turning to God, the woman possessed with divination needed to repent and turn to God and the prison officer also needed to repent and turn to God. He
emphasized that what ever may be the position in which we are, who ever we may be still all of us have the need to repent and to turn to God. His heart cry was that our CSI churches need a renewal, a fresh vision of God and a fresh perspective towards God. When it happens our life changes, our priorities change, and our thinking
changes.
On Saturday speaking at the fasting prayer service he again expressed that our CSI churches need a renewal by having a personal encounter with the Lord. While speaking he shared one of his life experience how he went for a medical check up and the doctors prescribed surgery assuring that it's a very simple process which will take only 45 min. He went through surgery and the doctors however operated on him for 3 hrs. He was in severe pain even
after weeks since surgery and doctors put up a bag to collect the liquid and it used to get filled every hour. Now the doctors said that there is need for another surgery. The doctor came checked him and fixed up the date for surgery for next day.
He prayed and slept and in the night he saw somebody standing in the room. Although he could not see the face of the person but he knew that something supernatural was taking place. He checked the bag that it was empty and completely dry. He woke up every hour and checked and found that the bag was still empty and dry. God healed him completely and miraculously. Bishop said that he being a theologian had never believed in all these things as he had the thinking that all the visions and visitations are just physiological things and has no reality. He now realized that the miraculous healing by God even today cannot be denied seeing such a great miracle.
On Sunday he gave confirmation to 10 young people. The Church was overflowing with people and it was Historic to see so many people attending. He once again reminded what confirmation means. One thing I liked the most was Bishop saying "I do not have an answer by myself but Bible has an answer for any problem or any question. He spoke from Acts 2:37,38, 'Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Again emphasizing on the need to repent he said that when a person comes for confirmation he/she needs to repent and then come for confirmation because confirmation is the completion of baptism. He gave the meaning of the sacrament that it is an outward expression of the inner grace received from God. So the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion should follow the inner grace (unmerited favor) from God. (What I understood from it while listening is that it means without the inner grace i.e. repentance there is no use of sacraments. Because not having received the grace of God a person is expressing nothing)
Once again an emphasis that rituals take us nowhere but turning to God takes us into the grace of God which gives things that we do not deserve. Soon after the church service there was a send off meeting as Bishop Sam Mathew thirumeni is going to retire. Rev. Oommen George Achan, Rev. M. P. Joseph Achan and others spoke on the occasion describing the great progress made during the tenure of Thirumeni. A gift was presented to thirumeni in honor of his great service.
It is the prayer of CSI Web Team that Lord may use Thirumeni in a mighty way even after his tenure as Bishop ends. I urge all to pray that the next Bishop should be God fearing and fully dedicated to lift the name of Jesus. And that the Lord may select the next Bishop according to His choice.
15th CSI family and youth Conference
The 15th Annual C.S.I. Family and Youth Conference of North America will be held from August 9 - 12, 2001 at Camp Allen Retreat and Conference Center Houston TX. For more info click here
Through the Valley of Death & other Books
As many of you know that in the year 2005, our dad was very sick even unto death. God miraculously healed him. We have compiled it in a book form. I sure believe that it will inspire you and encourage you greatly.
This book is available for purchase at JasmineCorp Store
Also read these two books by Sherly Isaac "Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God" Available at JasmineCorp Store, and "Is Jesus God?" Available at JasmineCorp Store,
Both books compares the Bible and the Quran and read eye opening facts about Jesus, God of the Bible, Allah and Islamic faith. I am sure that you want to read this.
Download Articles in Handheld Computers
You can now download articles in Palm Doc format for your palm handheld computer. It will work with any devise that has Palm OS and Palm Doc Reader installed. To download click on the link named "Palm Doc Format" i.e. at the top of this page by the side of each articles.
Kids Page - Free Tutorials
Now you can learn Graphics and web designing online at Kid's page. These tutorials are free for kids who subscribe for CSI Kids Newsletter. Currently tutorials for Paint Shop Pro, HTML and Dreamweaver are available.
So please enroll your kids by going to http://kids.csinewsletter.org/member/join.asp
And visit CSI Kid's page at http://kids.csinewsletter.org
Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online
Now you can read Bible in Hindi online at http://www.hindibible.org
in Malayalam online at http://www.malayalambible.org
in Tamil online at http://www.hindibible.org?ver=tamil
Your Spam Folder
If you are getting this newsletter in your bulk/junk/Spam folder please hit the "not junk" or "not spam" button so that you could receive it in your mailbox. Also adding news@csinewsletter.com email address into your contact list can avoid this email from ending up in your bulk folder.
Your Feedback
Your feedback and comments are Welcome. Please send your Parish news & articles to Editor (Sherly N. Isaac) at this address News@csinewsletter.comThe messages submitted will be checked whether they are correct according to the word of God. Editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit the messages. The writers are responsible for the contents of their writings.
 
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