If you were asked to use one word to describe the Christian life, which one would you choose? Many of us would pick faith because believing in Jesus is the foundation of Christianity. But did you know that the believer’s life should also be characterized by good works? While we aren’t saved by anything good we’ve done, genuine salvation always results in a changed life, complete with new thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. Every Christian should be a living, walking example of good deeds.

When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he commended them for their “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3). Everything we do should be motivated by faith, hope, and love, which are rooted in our relationship with Christ.

So now the question is, What qualifies as good work in the Christian life? Scripture is filled with examples: caring for others, meeting needs, giving our time and treasure, and engaging in activities like worship, prayer, and Bible reading. These are the activities that should characterize us as God’s children and Christ’s representatives in this world.

As we consider the topic of good works, we must remember four important truths. Otherwise we may assume that we are the ones who define what’s good, what needs to be done, and how it should be accomplished.

First of all, God determines what He wants each of us to do. According to Ephesians 2:10, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Since we belong to Christ, who purchased us with His blood, He has full authority over our life. There are specific tasks we are appointed to accomplish as we walk according to His will. If we think believing in Christ means attending church on Sundays but living as we please all week long, we’re wasting our life. Christians are the people through whom the Holy Spirit is carrying out the work of Christ here on earth. He redeemed us from sin and purified us for Himself so we could be people zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:14).

Second, God equips us for whatever He calls us to do. He “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20).  In every opportunity God gives and every act of service He calls us to perform, He has already provided whatever we need to accomplish the task before us.

Just consider the many resources the Lord uses to empower us for good works. His indwelling Spirit gives us direction and strength to obey, as well as spiritual gifts that enable us to serve Him. He uses the Scripture to teach, reprove, correct, and train us in righteousness so we’ll be adequately equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). And He uses our brothers and sisters in Christ to motivate us toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). Even our wealth becomes a tool in His hands when we use it as He desires—“to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Tim. 6:18).

Third, our good works are to glorify God, and not ourselves. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called His followers “the light of the world” and said they were to let their light shine so others would see their good works and glorify the Father (Matt. 5:14-16). But just one chapter later, He warned them: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them” (6:1).

The difference is motivation. Although we should never seek the approval and praise of other people for what we do, our life should stand out and be characterized by good deeds in the midst of a dark, self-centered world. If commendations come our way, we need to remember that apart from Christ, we are nothing. Then we can simply pass the praise on to Him in a silent prayer of recognition and gratitude.

Fourth, God will one day judge our good works. What we do in this life will have a tremendous impact on our eternity. As believers, we will be called before the judgment seat of Christ to account for our deeds (2 Cor. 5:10). Some of our works will be worthless and burned up like wood, hay, and straw in the judgment. But we will be rewarded for the good works done in obedience to God, according to His power, and for His glory (1 Cor. 3:10-15).

Although we don’t know exactly what these rewards will be, one thing is certain: They will signify a life of good deeds that glorified and pleased God. Nothing could be more valuable than receiving praise from our beloved Savior. So let’s each spend our life living for Him.

When it comes to good works, remember that these are not just religious activities. Christ takes into account whatever we do that flows from obedience to Him—at home, work, school, church, and beyond. Also, we must resist the temptation to compare our works with the achievements of others. We’re responsible only for the tasks God has prepared specifically for us.

Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on February 18th for Ontario.

Most Mandirs will have Poojas from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The intervals between  Poojas are usually 4 hours apart.

Happy Shivratri to all those who are celebrating.

1. The duties of a Hindu:
2. If you perform the duties of a Hindu, it does not mean you are a Hindu.

In South America, the Caribbean nation of Guyana is home to a small but thriving Muslim population, and Ramadan is as important to the faithful there as anywhere in the Islamic world.

African slaves first introduced Islam to Guyana in the 17th century, but the majority of today's Muslims descend from indentured Indian labourers. Muslims contribute to all sections of Guyanese society.

The country's first Muslim president, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, credits his election to Guyanese respect and tolerance. Shalimar Ali-Hack, the country's longest serving director of public prosecutions, believes Guyana may have a Muslim woman as president one day.

This film celebrates faith and festivities during Ramadan in an unexpected part of the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLpzjxT4OSA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHCVWzF-fXY

Judge for yourself.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2928468887432956

Prehistoric India

One of the world's oldest civilizations was born in India, a highly developed culture that had a profound influence on the subsequent development of the country, and reflected in a lifestyle of many inhabitants of the East. The of Asian most ancient artifacts of Paleolithic era were the stone tools and three animal bones with marks left by these tools, aged 2.6 million years old, were found 180 miles north of New Delhi. This era of the early agricultural period in the 20th Century BC. This period saw a marked development of agriculture, hunting, and incipient herding. Dravidians created the first Indian civilization, called the Indus or Harappan. Stone tools of the Lower Paleolithic discovered in many parts of the country. Two centers of Lower Paleolithic culture came into existence independently of each other. In the northern portion arose the culture of Sawan (the valley of the Indus and modern Pakistan, while in the southern the so-called culture of Madras came to be. A characteristic monument of the Mesolithic settlement with terracotta figurines, pottery and copper items in Langnadzh, Gujarat, was defined the age of 17th through 16th Centuries BC by the radiocarbon method.

5. The Vedic Period

The Harappan civilization was followed by the Vedic period, which lasted up to the 5th Century BC, yet many historians object that the carvings presumably belonging to Indus Valley Civilization, as they carry the images of women dressed in sari, a traditional Indian female clothing item which would have been impossible to be found in Harappan age period, so also were the cross-legged sitting figures with folded hands, a symbol of devotion in Vedic times. That indicates the Vedic culture preceded all others. The Vedic civilization was the basis for Hinduism as the religion, Rig Veda, the most ancient Vedic scripture, contained a large number of Indo-Iranian elements in language and in content, which was not present in the later Indian Vedas. The main texts of Hinduism and the main Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata were written during this period. Mahabharata is by far the longest poem style scripture in the world. Researchers attribute the strengthening of the concept of four major castes of Indian society by the time of Vedic civilization. The scriptures of Upanishads or Vedanta (conclusion of Vedas) were coming later and defined a new stage in the strengthening of Hinduism as a religion and cultural foundation of Indian society.

4. India, 500 BC To 1100 AD

Compared with the previous periods, in the Magadhi era-dated sources written works increasingly appear, such as the notes of Seleucid ambassador Megasfenes, who was at the court of King Chandragupta. In the 6th through 5th Centuries BC, a leading force in the political arena of North India, the center of Northern Indian states union became Magadha. The first time its name was found in the "Atharva Veda." The ancient Magadha (a territory of the present South Bihar) had a favorable geographical, strategic and commercial position. The sources preserved evidence of fertility of Magadha’s land, subjected to stringent processing. The country conducted a lively trade with many areas of India, was rich in minerals, in particular metals. Rajagriha was its ancient capital. In the year 327 BCE, Alexander the Great was able to subdue a part of northwest India. The Buddhist and Jain sources tell us that the first attempt of king Chandragupta come to power failed, but when the main army of Alexander left India, Chandragupta paid all the attention to the conquest of Magadha’s throne. Later King Ashoka came to power and the Maurya Empire reached a zenith of power. In addition to Buddhism and Jainism, the most significant were the spread of Hinduism, the development of which laid the grounds for the "Golden Age" of Hinduism (known as the Early Classical period (200 BCE to 320 CE) and the Late Classical period (650 to 1100 CE)). The Vakatakas inscriptions said that the king Rudrasena was a Shivaist, and Rudrasena II a Vaishnava. This religious syncretism was one of the specific features of the cultural development of southern India in the early Middle Ages.

3. India, 1100 AD To 1858

The most significant territory conquest of medieval India was the reign of the Mughals. The Dynasty of Timur (Tamerlane) in the 14th through 15th Centuries AD inhabiting the territory of Central Asia (Uzbekistan steadily expanded its presence throughout the subcontinent and sought the riches of Indian shahs. The most famous Mongol emperor Akbar was not only a conqueror of new lands but also assisted in spreading Islam. However, having a Hindu princess, Akbar did not forbid other religions in the subordinate land. Under Akbar, as well as during the reign of his son the empire reached the peak of the unique architecture and synthesis of different traditions of ancient India and the Persian cultural heritage.

2. British Raj

After the British penetration of subcontinent in a form of presence of the East India Company in all areas of county’s economy and policy, an Indian rebellion of 1857 rose, which was the revolt of the soldiers hired by the British East India Co. against those who hired them. After the uprising and rebellion, the British Raj (1858-1947) was established under the rule of the British Crown almost throughout the whole of India, including West and East Bengal.

1. Independence, Partition, And Modern India

The end of World War II laid the groundwork for the decolonization of the world, which in India coincided with a strong liberation movement and extraordinary popularity among all segments of society the leader of the independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi. In August of 1947, the independence of India was proclaimed and resulted in the territorial division of the country into India and Pakistan. It was supposed to divide the country into two areas, professing Hinduism and Islam, respectively. Pakistan soon lost East Bengal as a result of the imposition of the language policy, and this has led to the formation of Bangladesh. To the date, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are present on the political map in the territory that had once been a unified country.

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“Let us use what we have to help those who are in need” – Pres. Ali in Ramadan message

Just in time for Christmas...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/op-...le-20-110050989.html

"The scholars explain: “When context permits, NRSVue avoids translations that identify people in terms of a disability.” This brings a modern sensibility to bear, because we now believe that an illness or symptom is something a person has, not who they are. This rewording is helpful for scholarly, church and public readers. "

So since the Bible is the word of God, does this imply that God was insensitive when he wrote the Bible originally? Or are the Scholars trying to correct a previous version's scholarly mistake?

Would sure be interesting to see how the Church's values and the Bible will change over the coming centuries.

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Happy Krishna Janmashtami to all who are celebrating.