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CSI Good News
(Church of South India Good News)
Vol. 3 / Issue 29 / August 23 2001
Contents of this issue
Editorial
By His strips we are healed
Answer to Email
CSI Christ Church in Pennsylvania Convention
Florida Contact Person
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
Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, what He would be like. And one of the things which he spoke about Jesus was that He is the "Prince of Peace". Today world is longing for peace. Everywhere we see, fighting, bombs exploding, nations against nations, violence and pain. But God wants us to be in peace. Jesus came down in this world to give us perfect peace. He is the prince of peace and no one else can give us peace. Bible says in Philippians 4:7, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Jesus Himself said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Sometimes things happen so rapidly which makes us so much troubled in our hearts and we feel no peace in our lives. Once a single mother wrote to me, "I lost my one year child a few days back, I do not know how I go any further. I do not know how I will live in this world. I do not have any courage to face tomorrow." And one Muslim brother wrote a few days back, "Please pray for our father who is missing since 4th July, 2001 and we haven't heard from him." How much it hurts and how much painful it is when something wrong happens in our lives. But Jesus came to take away the pain from our hearts, He came down to give us perfect peace. He shed His precious blood on the cruel cross so that we may never be in pain and suffering but in perfect peace that this world can not give. That's why Isaiah says in Isaiah 53:5, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."
I remember how broken our home was. We had everything in our lives, money, status, big house to live, nice clothes to wear, servants for work etc. but had no peace! We were lacking only one thing - peace. I searched for peace in movies, novels and in this world, but nothing gave me peace. But one day I met God, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior of my life and not only He filled my heart with His peace but also filled our home with His peace.
Are you broken today, are you thinking that you can not go any further? Are you thinking, "I am at the end of my road and I have no hope?" My friend, you may be desperate and without any peace, hope or joy; but if you look to Jesus He will heal your broken heart and home. He will fill your heart with His divine peace that this world can not give. Jesus said in John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."
Today believe on Him, He is the prince of peace. When He will come into your life, He will change everything. In the midst of your worst disaster you can enjoy in His presence. In the midst of terrible heart breaks, you will be filled with His peace. He wants to do this for you, right now. Please pray this prayer with me:
Loving Jesus, I confess all my sins which I committed in my life. I do not have any peace but I realize that you are the Prince of Peace. Please wash me with your precious blood and fill my heart with your peace. Give me your peace that world can not give. I accept you as my Lord and Savior. I know you are filling me with your peace, so I praise you. I give you all the glory and honor. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
By His strips we are healed
By Sherly Isaac
Isaiah 53:5, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."
Jesus came in this world to heal the sick, to heal the broken hearted and to wipe away all our tears. Isaiah says that by His stripes we are healed. What type of healing he is speaking about? Let us see four kinds of healing which God wants to give us in our lives.
1. He wants to heal us spiritually:
Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"
NIV translation says in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
Our heart is deceitfully wicked and is affected by the incurable sickness called sin. Bible tells us that we can not enter into heaven or see God with all our wickedness or sinful nature. If we want to go to heaven it is necessary that our sins are forgiven. Jesus came for the very same purpose. He came down to heal our wicked heart which has fallen nature in it. He gave His precious life on the cross of Calvary so that we may obtain our salvation. Because of our sinful nature He died on the cross. If you invite Jesus in your life, He will come in and forgive and forget all your sins. He will give you a new heart and a new life.
He came to liberate you from sin and bondage as we read is Isaiah 61:1, ""The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2. He wants to heal us physically:
Many think that physical healing does not take place today. But Bible tells us that, God of the Bible is the healing God who wants to heal our sick bodies and who wants to make us happy. If you are suffering physically, you can not live in peace or enjoy. But Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
Jesus came to give us abundant life - a life full of peace, joy and happiness. No matter what your sickness, He wants to heal you today. Are you thinking, "there is no hope for me that I may ever regain my health or get healing?" Which is impossible with your doctors is possible with God. He can heal you completely. He was whipped for our sicknesses. He went through terrible pain and sufferings so that we may get our healing and perfect health. He took all our sicknesses on the cruel cross and you need not to suffer anymore. It is His will that you live a blessed life. When Jesus saw people with sicknesses and in pain, He was moved with compassion and He healed them. He is looking at you with compassion. Give your sicknesses to Him and He will heal you completely.
3. He wants to heal our broken hearts:
Isaiah 61:1, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Jesus came to heal our broken hearts. For our peace, He suffered on the cross. He was wounded and went through terrible pain and finally died on the cruel cross so that we may get forgiveness of our sin and be at peace with God. When Jesus comes into our lives, He fills our hearts with Peace and He heals our broken hearts. He removes pain from our hearts and gives us joy that this world can not give.
Many a times people ask, "how I can live any further?" One sister wrote, "my daughter was raped and I myself went through bitter divorce and it seems, I may never be able to live a normal life. I attempted to commit suicide four times.., is there any hope for me?" You might have been crushed by terrible things which happened in your lives. You may be totally broken and have no interest to live in this world. But invite Jesus into your lives and He will heal your broken heart. He will fill your heart with His divine peace.
4. He wants to heal us emotionally:
God not only wants to heal you spiritually, physically but also He wants to heal you emotionally. He wants to wipe away all your past and wants to give you a brand new beginning. No matter how bad may be the things which might have happened in your past, forget it today and start a new beginning with Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
Yes, my friend, Jesus wants to give you a brand new life. If you come to Him and invite Him in your lives, He will wipe away all your past. He is ready to embrace you, kiss you and wipe away all your tears.
May God bless you!
Answer to Email
Mr. Jacob George member of first CSI congregation of Dallas wrote:
Hey, whoever is writing this right wing extremist newsletter: Why don't you join Baptists or some Pentecostals. You have nothing to do with CSI. You guys have no idea what tolerance is about. Please don't use the term CSI, if you don't know what CSI is about. CSI was the first and possibly the last ecumenical church formed. And fanatics like you have no place in that Church.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Take away my name from your list. I don't have time to listen to hatred mongers
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Reply by Vinod K. Isaac
Dear Sir,
Thank you for taking time to write to us. Thank you for giving us the honor to be called right wing extremist and fanatics. Yes we are fans of Jesus. He is our role model. He is our every thing. And we wish that you were also fan of Jesus.
Sir I don't see tolerance in your email. I am not sure what kind of tolerance you believe in. I see hatred toward Baptists and Pentecostals in your email. Since you are commenting on the last newsletter it looks that you do not have tolerance toward the words of Jesus either. It was better you had practiced what you preach. I have noticed it again and again that those who speak about tolerance they never show tolerance in their own life.
CSI is a United and uniting church that works under certain guidelines. For CSI Church The Scriptures are the ultimate standard of faith and practice. The historic creeds are accepted as interpreting the biblical faith, and the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper are recognized as of binding obligation.
Take the scripture i.e. Bible and read it. You will find that what we are writing is true to the Bible. Take the Historic
creeds and the lithergy you will find that what we are writing is aligned to the same. You are having problem grasping because every Sunday you just read out those confessions and worship and adoration but those confessions, worship and adoration is not coming from the depth of your heart. Every Sunday we do confession of our sins. Every Sunday we read Nicene creed that declares that Jesus is the only Savior. But when the same message comes through internet that is not acceptable to you that means that you do not believe in Bible
neither in CSI lithergy.
It is my humble request, please do some research on what our faith is, any matter that comes up check that out in light of what Jesus has to say in it and what is the will of God. If we begin to seek God's will and follow Him we will be a better person in the eyes of God. And that's what matters.
Jesus never preached tolerance instead Jesus preached patience and forgiveness. He makes it very clear in the parable of Prodigal Son. When son went astray, father waited patiently for His son to come back. He doesn't say well done my son by going away but He is waiting for his child to repent and turn back to Him. When son repents and turns back He forgives and accepts and transforms him completely. Today our churches needs to return to the Father. He is waiting patiently. But if we do not return we choose damnation for ourselves.
Unity without Jesus Christ is nothing. Because the moment Jesus is not the center of a church that church ceases to be a church because Jesus is the head of the Church and a Church without the head is dead. So if CSI church is not submissive to the authority of Jesus Christ then CSI church ceases to be a church and will turn into just a social gathering that takes the whole group to hell. For Jesus Himself said in John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
May the Lord help us to abide in the Lord so that we need not to burn in the lake of fire.
CSI Christ Church in Pennsylvania Convention
CSI Christ Church in Pennsylvania is having convention starting August 31st till Sept 2nd 2001. 31st morning 10 AM there is a fasting prayer. 31st, 1st, 2nd evening 6:30 PM Convention meetings will be held. Sunday Service 2nd September 10 AM. Venue CSI Christ Church in Pennsylvania, 500 Somerton Avenue Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19116.
Rev. Oommen George will be main speaker in the convention
Florida Contact Person
Any CSI members living in Tampa, Lakeland, St. Pete area, in FL, please contact Mr. Anand (Daniel Cherian) by email at anand1ae@yahoo.comor by phone 813 354 8455.
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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