Good news for religious freedom

http://palamas.info/good-news-for-religious-freedom/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed

Sunday Psali for the Virgin (English)

moving backward

more here

Curfew in Philly due to teens' violence, violent protests in England, a massacre in Norway, Genocides in Syria and Libya, Egypt is already gone with the wind ...

economical depression, conflicts, scandals, crises, collapses ...

wars, strikes, crimes, catastrophes of an angry nature ...

diseases, hangers, droughts, hungry souls and spirits ...

looks like we (human race) are moving, with steadfast pace, backward. Towards violence, anarchism, poverty, barbarism and hating the other. All of which, believe, are rooted in selfishness, greediness and pride. Both on the individual as well as the social levels.

We need to take stand, starting by oneself. To get outside oneself...

God gave me difficulties to make me strong…….!

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shrivelled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly! I asked for Strength, And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong. I asked for Wisdom, And God gave me Problems to solve. I asked for Prosperity, And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work. I asked for Courage, And God gave me Danger to overcome. I asked for Love, And God gave me troubled people to help. I asked for Favours, And God gave me Opportunities. I received nothing I wanted, I received everything I needed! Trust in God. Always!

AGAPE LOVE DIVINE MINISTRIES

Come Discover Love Beyond Reason

All Copyrights 2007-2011 © Reserved By AGAPE LOVE DIVINE MINISTRIES

Perfect Pot & Poor Cracked Pot……….!

A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house." Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway. Out boldly, know that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes". But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (NKJV)

AGAPE LOVE DIVINE MINISTRIES

Come Discover Love Beyond Reason

All Copyrights 2007-2011 © Reserved By AGAPE LOVE DIVINE MINISTRIES

Press Release from H.H. Pope Shenouda III regarding January 25th Revolution

copied from Tasbeha.org

Tuesday, February 15th 2011

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III met with a small committee from the members of the Holy Synod on Tuesday morning 15th February 2011, and they issued the following statement:

The Coptic Church salutes the honest Egyptian youth, the youth of 25th January, who led Egypt in a strong peaceful revolution, in which precious blood was shed, the blood of the martyrs of the nation who were honoured by Egypt's leaders and army, and also honoured by all the people and ourselves. We offer our condolences to their families and relatives.

The Coptic Church pays tribute to the valiant Egyptian army, and also pays tribute to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces for what it has issued of official statements regarding the security of Egypt both internally and externally. We support its decision in dissolving the People's Assembly and the Shura (Consultative) Council, and its call for security to reign.

We all believe that Egypt must be a democratic and civil nation, choosing members of its parliament through free and fair elections, having representatives from all facets of the people. We support all of Egypt in its fight against poverty, corruption and unemployment, resisting anarchy and destruction, and for the foundation of security and safety, the principles of social justice, and the unity of nationalism, and the curtailing of corrupt and unlawful people. And the Coptic Church prays for the great Egypt, which has a glorious history and ancient civilization, and we hope that the Lord will keep Egypt safe and spread in it calmness, stability, security and prosperity.


H.H. Pope Shenouda III
Pope of Alexanderia and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Head of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church

Child Prodigies Astound: Mini-Mozart to a Three-Year-Old Pool Player - ABC News

WOW! See the painting of the 8 years old kid, the pool shots of a 3 years old, and the piano master 12 yrs old girl! I feel I wasted my life in vain!

http://abcnews.go.com/US/child-prodigies-astound-mini-mozart-year-pool-player/story?id=12922378

I reject you my age!

It is a very beautiful profound song (you can listen to it here) from 1988 by Medhat Saleh, here is my translation of the lyrics... for some reasons, I feel its words so much these days...

I reject you my age, my time and my place

I want to live on a different planet

in another world, where wishes still exist,

where human, is still human, living for the other!

This is a volatile world! strong are its winds!

it shakes my self, destroys me!

Without timing, it takes me far away,

from the meaning of my life, from my origin and identity!

and I am helpless! and I am helpless!

There is a big dam, high and horrible, high and horrible!

between me and my soul!

between my spirit and my path!

between my present and past!

and what I hoped and built, I lost in vain!

and I am helpless! and I am helpless!

Repressed and confined dreams are in my heart,

and ruins and orphan amputated destinies!

and bended hopes fighting in me,

as if it is not yet my moment!

In midst of people and crowd,

sense and mercy went astray,

and I lost m peace!

my place became narrow for me!

LIER O' MY TIME! LIER O'MY TIME!

I reject you my age, my time and my place

I want to live on a different planet

Credo: BISHOY ANDRAWES

The full article here

"Drink At Least 8 Glasses Of Water A Day" -- Really?

Science News

"Drink At Least 8 Glasses Of Water A Day" -- Really?

ScienceDaily (Aug. 9, 2002) — Hanover, NH -- It has become accepted wisdom: "Drink at least eight glasses of water a day!" Not necessarily, says a DMS physician Heinz Valtin, MD. The universal advice that has made guzzling water a national pastime is more urban myth than medical dogma and appears to lack scientific proof, he found.

...

Valtin emphasizes that his conclusion is limited to healthy adults in a temperate climate leading a largely sedentary existence -- precisely, he points out, the population and conditions that the "at least" in 8 x 8 refers to. At the same time, he stresses that large intakes of fluid, equal to and greater than 8 x 8, are advisable for the treatment or prevention of some diseases, such as kidney stones, as well as under special circumstances, such as strenuous physical activity, long airplane flights or hot weather. But barring those exceptions, he concludes that we are currently drinking enough and possibly even more than enough.

continue reading

Looking For a Church As Old As Christianity

I would love to introduce to you " Looking For a Church As Old As Christianity" Facebook page.

Here is the link for New Year's Resolution article:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/looking-for-a-church-as-old-as-christianity/early-church-and-new-year-resolution/143093822410498

Blessed 2011!

+Sh

Do We Need New Year Resolutions?

By: Victor Beshir

Before year end, many people write resolutions for the New Year to achieve certain goals that could lead to personal satisfactions. Yet, after the New Year starts, these resolutions gradually disappear and life never changes to better.

Behavioral psychology set the rules to change a habit or to start a new habit. Briefly, you need to practice or repeat the new habit for six months at certain times. Afterwards, this new behavior becomes a habit. Same rules were discovered 1500 years ago by the Desert Fathers who insist on concentrating on applying only one new habit a year. As one of the Fathers says, "Let's learn this year humbleness or meekness, or whatever you need to master." Then, they establish a disciplined daily routine to enforce daily repetitions regardless of mode, conditions, or even health status. This is how our Fathers became masters in all spiritual virtues.

Where to start? The Fathers say, "A person without prayers is a dead person." So, the beginning of spiritual life is a continuation of a prayful life. To make prayer a part of your daily routine, establish a time to pray regardless of your physical condition and give it priority number one for that time. Start by reading from the Bible to meditate in a few verses, following by a touching hymn, then pray. It is a great idea to add Agpya to your prayer. The best way to establish the habit of praying with Agpya is to start small and once it becomes a habit add more psalms.

Happy Blessed New Year.
In Christ,
Victor Beshir

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

By Father John Abdalah

As Orthodox Christians, we greet one another with this confident exclamation during the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord. With this seasonal greeting we affirm that Jesus, who took on flesh and was born into our world, is indeed the Christ, and worthy of glorification.

This greeting is unlike other seasonal greetings about being merry (Christmas), glad (tidings), or happy (holidays). Not that I have any trouble with being merry, glad or even happy. I enjoy a spiked eggnog or a traditional Christmas shot of whiskey or arak as much as the next guy. But there is more to the preparation and celebration of Christmas than that. In this feast we celebrate our salvation through the good news of our Savior’s advent. When we greet each other with the news of Christ’s birth, we seize the opportunity to glorify the new born Savior. This greeting carries within it the promise of salvation, and the very meaning of life.

We will not escape the secularization of this feast. We will not change the marketing of goods, the office parties and the exchange of gifts. We will not avoid the need to spend money we may not have, eat too much or party ourselves silly. But with a little work to understand God’s revealed truth, we can transcend and baptize the now secular images to bring us deeper meaning. I offer the following examples of what I mean: Let every twinkling light on every bush and window remind us that Christ is the Light that brings us from darkness into light. Every light can bring us to him who is Light, just like the star that guided the Magi. Every light can remind us of the Christ child who enlightens us with Divine truth. This is the truth that sets us free. He is our light and our resurrection, the light of truth that will guide us from the manger to the empty tomb. This season of Christ’s birth is ultimately the season of salvation.

Let every sale in every department store remind us of how God loves us more than the world can understand. The retailers draw us in with sales so that we will come and shop with them. How much more does Christ draw us close? Christ took on flesh to call us home to Him. He suffered at the hands of his own creation, humiliated and murdered. This is the epitome of love. Every retailer, every jingle, every commercial can remind us of God’s own love for us.

Let every seasonal party remind us of the Joy of Salvation. To save us Jesus voluntarily came to take on flesh and suffer in his body. His sacrifice and his gift are reasons to celebrate. When we celebrate, we can remember all that God accomplished for us. We can remember His nature of love and mercy.

Let every Santa on the street collecting money, or posing for photos with children, remind us of the gifts God has given us and the opportunities God gives us to share with others. Think too of the example of St. Nicholas who taught us to fast, share our resources and love God with fervor.

Let every gift we present to one another remind us of the gift of life that Christ is for us. Christ gives us life as we are born anew into Him. Remember also that the Eucharist is life-giving and is given in his name.

Let every snowman, made of ice or styrofoam, remind us of how cold the world can be and how we need the warmth of our Savior. The world needs your example, your love and your witness in order for it to be warmed by God’s love.

Let every ribbon and bow on every package remind us how Christ has put Satan in bonds and freed us to love him and stay with Him. He who was born in a manger is He who could not die and defeated Satan in Hades.

Let every Christmas carol and seasonal song, remind us that we are called to praise God from the depths of our beings. Our soul wants to call out to Him who created us and who comes to us in this feast as a baby. Sing out, and let God hear your voice. Sing out and let others hear your testimony God has taken on flesh and dwelt with us as the prophets foretold. This is a time to sing out!

Perhaps you could add to my list and share your illustrations with our readers. Take a few moments to write down some secular images that you think can be given new meaning and send them to The WORD. By reading them next year, others may find practical ways to use secular images to be less distracted, and to focus more on the real meaning of this Holy Season.

Christmas comes at the end of the secular calendar. It is for us more than the end of one year and the beginning of a new year, and now a new century. It is for us a call to rededicate ourselves as we make God our Lord, and call him our Savior. Rededicated to Christ, let us charge boldly into the next century. Let us not be ashamed to proclaim that Christ is Born! Glorify Him! He is our God and we are His people.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

From: this site

$10 for old bird cage

I received this story this morning.

Enjoy!

+Sh

+ + +

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak....

"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, "What do you have there, son?"
"Just some old birds," came the reply.
"What are you going to do with them?" I asked.
"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."
"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?"
"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."
The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?"
"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister.
They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"
"How much?" the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"
The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story:

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait
I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"
"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.
Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"
"And what will you do when you are done with them?"
Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.
"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.
"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"
"How much? He asked again.
Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."
Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.
The pastor picked up the cage and walked from the pulpit.

+ + +

The Title of the story: God's Grace!

from CNNWorld:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/11/25/egypt.christians.clashes/index.html

Christian protester killed in clashes in Egypt

By the CNN Wire Staff

November 25, 2010 6:05 p.m. EST

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• The clashes with police erupted over permission to build a church
• Police fired tear gas and arrested 93 people
• Building permits for churches are often a source of tension

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Egyptian authorities have rounded up 156 people in connection with this week's deadly protests over plans to build a church near Cairo, the government announced Thursday.

Those arrested have been ordered held for 15 days while the investigation into Wednesday's clashes continues, Egypt's official Middle East News Agency reported.

Police battled about 150 demonstrators outside a government building in the Cairo suburb of Giza on Wednesday. Police turned to tear gas to break up the melee, while protesters responded with Molotov cocktails. The clashes left a Christian protester dead.

Tensions have been running high between Egypt's Muslim majority and minority Christians, who make up about 9 percent of the people. Copts, who are adherents of an Egyptian sect of Christianity, complain of discrimination, including the lack of freedom to build houses of worship. The government denies those accusations.

However, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has expressed concern that the Egyptian government and media have deliberately promoted sectarian friction ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for December.

"We've seen a clear uptick in recent weeks of incitement coming from media outlets and clerics espousing sectarian hatred and violence," said Leonard Leo, chairman of the independent, bi-partisan commission. "This kind of rhetoric goes too far and stokes the fire of extremists looking for ammunition to justify violent acts against religious minorities."

The commission said that earlier this month, ten Coptic Christian homes and several businesses were burned and looted in Qena province in southern Egypt following rumors of a romantic relationship between a Christian man and Muslim woman. Security officials imposed a curfew and arrested several Muslims, the commission said.

CNN's Ben Wedeman contributed to this report.

Beauty of Mathematics!!

I received this today:

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it? And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321


Now, take a look at this... 101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:
What Equals 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.
How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

ΤHEN:

H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K
8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

God of my silence

Insightful! Enjoy it!

by FrAntonios Kaldas

http://www.frantonios.org.au/2010/10/10/god-of-my-silence/comment-page-1/#comment-562

Cultural Inheretance

Diocesan Assembly

Smallest Stop Movie

Amazing:
http://gizmodo.com/5643705/worlds-smallest-stop+motion-video-was-filmed-with-a-nokia-n8-phone?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29

30 Impossible photos

A must see: http://gizmodo.com/5643192/30-impossible-scenes-that-actually-happened?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29