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CSI Good News
(Church of South India Good News)
Vol. 3 / Issue 44 / December 6 2001
Contents of this issue
Editorial
No salvation through own effort
First Christmas
Praise Him...
Prayer Request
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
Deuteronomy 14:7, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He."
Bible compares the God with rock. David says in 2 Samuel 22:3-7, "The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. When the waves of death surrounded me, The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears."
God is a mighty rock in whom we can take our refuge. He hides us in the clefts of rock in the times of trouble. He protects us from all evil. That's why psalmist says in Psalms 9:9, "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble." Psalms 31:3, "For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me."
Once I read a story of a small bird that makes her nest in rocks. She carefully builds her nest so that her nestling may live in that nest without fear. When storm comes and strong wind blows, when heavy rain falls she lives with peace in her small nest with her nestling in peace. Storm, rain or heavy wind does not bother her because her nest is built in rock. In the same way God is our refuge who hides us or saves us from all evil. If your trust in almighty God who is the rock of ages then you need not to worry or fear anything because He will protect you. No matter what may happen, no matter how hard the wind blow or mighty storm come to destroy you but there is a God who can protect you. David cried out to God in the time of trouble and God answered his prayers and delivered him from all his problems. He is the same God who has not changed a bit. What he did for David He can do for you today.
Second thing we see that God is our shelter and a strong tower from the enemy as we read in Psalms 61:3-4, "For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings."
Just like mother bird hides her young under her mighty wings to protect them, God protects His children. Psalmist says in Psalms 91:4-6, "He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday."
If God is your shelter then no enemy can snatch you from the hands of God. He is the strong tower in which we can run and hide. Who can fight against God and win? No one! If you are hiding in God then He is your refuge, shelter and protection. But if you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Rock then today is the day when you can invite Jesus in your life. When He will come in He will protect you from all evil and will care for your needs.
No salvation through own effort
By Vinod Isaac
Recently I heard a story from Hindu Mythology, story goes like this. When Human beings did wrong Brahma was trying to hide knowledge somewhere man cannot reach. Brahma thought if he hides in sea man can reach there. if he hides in Sun or Moon man when reaches there will be able to grab it so finally Brahma decided to put knowledge in the back side of the human head thinking man will not look back to his own mind. After quoting the story one person explained that this story is very much like the story of fall of Adam and Eve. He further said that knowledge is already there if man looks into himself he can do anything and everything.
I am not sure if Hindu Scriptures really have this story like this or not. If they do then there it is in total contrast to the fall of Adam and Eve.
Every religion in the world speaks of trying to do good works to reach God. Hinduism also speak the same Gita says "karm kiye ja phal ki asha mat kar" means "Go on doing works and don't expect the result". Yes all the good works we do cannot guarantee us leading to God. Because man by his own ability cannot be perfect.
Bible Clearly speak that our good works are just like filthy rags.
Isa 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
Genesis 6:5 says every thought of man is only evil continually.
Gen 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
That is what exactly happened in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve instead of trusting Lord their God they moved away from God's will because temptation was too great to become like God and knowing everything by themselves. Instead of focusing on God they focused on themselves and result is they lost the relationship with the Almighty God. This is what happens when we begin to concentrate on ourselves and shift our focus from God.
While all the religions are trying to reach God by good works. God of Bible reached down to embrace and restore them who are lost. He was even willing to pay the highest price - death of his only precious Son on the cruel Cross. So that some how he can restore the human beings to the original status.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
You can experience this great love in your life by repenting from your sins and turning to Jesus. Jesus is waiting for you to take you back and to restore your life. Are you ready to surrender your life in His hand? then pray this prayer from the bottom of your heart. Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner. I believe that your blood that was shed on the cross is for my redemption. Please forgive me of my sins and wash me with you blood. Please make me a new person so that I may walk in your ways. Please come into my heart and you be my Lord. In Jesus name. Amen
First Christmas
By Sherly Isaac
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."
Now Christmas is 19 days away. Christmas countdown has begun. Bible tells us about the first Christmas in Luke 2:13-14, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
When Jesus was born in this world, angels and heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" In this world were there is no peace instead turmoil and sorrow surrounds us, God sent His Son to come and bring peace and good will toward men. Jesus who is the prince of peace wants to fill your life with His divine peace that world can not give, the peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus came to give us perfect peace. He came to remove worries and fear from our hearts. How it is possible? When the prince of peace comes into our hearts and our homes, He brings peace and good will in our lives and our homes. If you are living in sin, you can not be in peace, if you are going through sicknesses and sufferings, you can not live in peace. But when we invite Jesus in our lives He comes in and removes the scars, stains and guilt of our past life. He fills our heart with His peace. In the midst of terrible problems and sicknesses His peace prevails in our lives. Psalmist says in Psalms 23:4, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
If you are going through problems, sicknesses and tears and have no peace in your life then invite Jesus in your life. When Jesus who is the prince of peace will come into your life, He will fill you with His peace and goodness.
Praise Him...
We would like to thank you for your prayers. My father has contacted us by phone and we are in touch with him. He was missing since 4th July, 2001.
Riyaz
Prayer Request
K.K. Philip (Joy), Queens Village, of CSI Malayalam Congregation of Greater NY has been admitted in the Rehabilitation facilities of North Shore Univ. Hospital since September 16th, 2001. Joy was diagnosed with Brain Cancer on Jan. 1997.
............
Please keep My DAD and family in your prayers. "The Joy of the Lord is My Strength... "
Thank-you
Jophry Philip
Please pray for me. I am a very jealous person.
Terrie
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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