Christmas and Pagan Traditions

          Anti-Catholics make a big issue about some Christmas practices that has similarity with pagan customs (Christmas trees, candles, December 25, exchanging of gifts etc…)

       

        But all Christian practices that are written in the Bible, also have the same problem! They already existed in the pagan world, in different forms and styles! For example, Baptism by Immersion in water, for the forgiveness of sins, has existed as an old custom of ancient Hindu religion. They believed, immersion in the river Ganges, purifies them from all sins! Is that mean, baptism is pagan? The pagans bowed their knees and prayed to their gods; so Christian should not bow and pray?

Even the world `Bible’ was widely used in the pagan world, as `the books’ that are written about gods; then we should not use the world Bible?  The church construction of Iglesia Ni Cristo is a blind imitation of Catholic cathedrals of Gothic at in Europe; is that mean, INC church is a Catholic church? 

Those elements which have similarities of pagan culture, that creEped into Christmas celebrations, will never make Christmas, a pagan celebration. (The real word of `Christmas’ is Christ and Holy Mass; without that Christmas becomes meaningless.)

The Bible Basis of Christmas Celebration

The light of the Christmas starT to you

The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and goodwill of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and

God's peace to you. (Irish Christmas Blessing from The Catholic Home by Meredith Gould)

      At the time of Jesus, birthday celebration was very common as it was a practiced among the Jews. The birthday of PharaoH (Gen. 40: 20-22) Birthday of Herod (Mk.6:21-28) Birthday of Job (Job.1:4, 18-19) are narrated in the Bible.  There is no evidence in the Bible that Jesus prohibited Birthday celebrations as anti-Catholics insist now!

        Birth of Jesus was celebrated by shepherds and angels, in heaven and earth, as the Bible describes. We have to know from our commonsense that, just because the is not seen in the Bible, we can`t celebrate the anniversary of Christ`s birth! Even Protestants, who are addicted to `Bible alone Theory’ of Luther, are also celebrating Christmas!

        Jesus celebrated annual holy days and feasts that are not commended in the Old Testament but observed as a simple custom of that time. (Passover, Pentecost etc… were commented. But the celebrations narrated in Judges. 11:39-40, Easter9:19& 22 and Feast of Dedication that Jesus himself observes in Jn. 10:22-23 are not commented by the scripture. (It was instituted by Judas Maccabeus and celebrated by Jews, only as custom!)

THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS

          “Don`t celebrate Christmas. It has a pagan background!” Iglesia Ni Cristo, Dating Daan, Jehovas Witnesses and Seventh day Adventist are not ready to celebrate Christmas with the whole world as they believe the birth of Jesus is not written in the Bible and some practices related to this celebration, has it`s pagan background! In order to realize the foolishness of their stand we have to analyze some facts (historical and biblical, commonsense and reason) related to the celebration of Christmas on 25^th December.

        As we all know, the birth of Jesus is written in the bible; not it`s day and date. We celebrate Christmas on 25<sup>th</sup> of December not because the particular ` date’ is important, but the event that we remember on that date, which divided the history into two, is very essential for our salvation. The Bible doesn`t say exact date of Christ`s birth as December 25, and even the calendar that we use today was not existent at that time! Just like any other feast in the Catholic Church, (Good Friday, Easter Sunday etc…) we commemorate, are essential mysteries for our salvation.

Where to Pray

We have read in the words of the Master that we ate to close ourselves into our closet, alone, and there to offer up to Him the prayers that are due Him.

          By a closet is meant any room where we can be alone with the creator. For in being alone, with no body or nothing to distract our attention, it is easier to turn ourselves entirely over to the duty of prayer.

          Note:-I said `Duty’ and I mean `Duty ‘. For the seemingly simple matter of prayer is a Duty that all of us owe to our Supreme Creator.

          When we are alone, we can say the things that spill out of our hearts. There are no restraining influences. There is no one else around us. We are alone with our God.

          We are closed in the privacy of our closet.

          Don`t think that by getting into a room by yourself that you are trying to hide from God. That is impossible. He sees through every wall. You are not getting away from Him. You are COMING closer to Him.

          Sit quietly, make yourself comfortable. Do not strain. Keep the room slightly darkened. Too much light might prove a distraction.

          Get everything out of your mind. Try to make it perfect blank. Don`t think of things you have already done. They are the past. The past belongs to the past. That is wiped out. If we have sinned or erred and we came to God with repentence in our hearts, He will take us close to Him, comfort us and make us anew.

          Don`t think of the things that you are going to do. That`s all in the future. Live only in the present. The now. The moment that is here

          If there are any sounds coming into the room, shut your ears to them. Hear nothing, see nothing, think nothing.

          You may think this simple, but let me assure you that it is moat difficult. It requires practice and application, lots of it, before you can really control the thoughts that enter your mind.

          Try it for a few minutes each morning and evening. After you have attained that mastery for a few minutes, extend the period. Keep concentrating for longer and longer periods.

          This is called, developing your receptiveness.

          After you have developed yourself to a stage where you can clear all matter from your mind for a length of time, you are ready to go into the silence.

Somebody once asked, whether a tree falling in a primeval forest makes any noise. One wise man said that it does. Because the crash disturbs the air and sends sound waves moving in all directions. Another wise man said that here was no noise, because there was no one to hear it. He claimed that noise only existed in the ears of the hearer.

But we, who know that God exists, can say that so long as there was a tree, God was there-He heard it. For He hears our unspoken words and knows our unspoken thoughts.

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden tried to hide from God after they have eaten the apple of life. But try as they might, they could not get away from Him. He was everywhere even in their thoughts.

So you, too, will find God everywhere. When learn to look for him everywhere. Wherever you are. He will be at your side. Whatever you do, He will help you. If you let him help you.

You are closet maybe a room of your own. It maybe quit place in the fields. It may be on some deserted shore. To the world, you may be alone. But you will know that God is with you.

Develop your receptiveness. You will find yourself capable of being alone in crowd. Capable of making the contact with your God wherever you are and whenever you will it.

There is no person who cannot practice going into the silence. And there is no person who cannot be alone if he wants to alone.

So we come to the answer to the question: “Where to pray?” It is-Pray wherever you can make your contact with your God, which should be at all times, anywhere and everywhere, when you know how.

         

          

SAVED BY THE SON

“And if children, then heirs: heirs of GOD, and joint-heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”—Romans 8:17

“And if children, then heirs: heirs of GOD, and joint-heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”—Romans 8:17

          Si Hesus ay ang personal na tagapagligtas. He is personal to us because He came down and died especially for you..and He is personal to us because He is as human as us. When God chose to reveal Himself. He did so through a human body. Sabi pa nga ng Pari dito sa parokya namin Si Hesus ay 100% human at 100% God.

          Jesus is Saviour, not just on the cross but on our daily crosses. When we have our personal Savior by our side each day, we can experience a daily dose of redemption, a daily life of peace, love and joy na pwede nating isabuhay at mangyayari talaga sa atin, na kasama Siya.

          Walang eksaktong panalangin para sa ating Poong si Hesus. Kadalasan ay ito yung tinatawag na panalangin na taimtiman para sa ating sariling kahilingan bagkus ay tinuruan nya tayo kung paano magdasal sa Amang Makapangyarihan sa Lahat.

    

We have to realize that we have a CHOICE just as Jesus did in Gethsemane, about how to see and deal with suffering in this world. Let us choose to always remember that we are saved, we are redeemed, we are with Christ.       WE MUST CHOOSE TO DO GOOD.

Avvon d-bish-maiya, nith-qaddash shim-mukh.

Tih-teh mal-chootukh. Nih-weh çiw-yanukh:

ei-chana d'bish-maiya: ap b'ar-ah.

Haw lan lakh-ma d'soonqa-nan yoo-mana.

O'shwooq lan kho-bein:

ei-chana d'ap kh'nan shwiq-qan l'khaya-ween.

Oo'la te-ellan l'niss-yoona:
il-la paç-çan min beesha.

Mid-til de-di-lukh hai mal-choota
oo khai-la oo tush-bookh-ta
l'alam al-mein. 

Aa-meen.

          Ang panalanging po ito ay mas kilala bilang "AMA NAMIN". Ito po ang orihinal na bersyon na syang sinasalita ng Tagapagligtas noong sya ay nasa lupa pa sa lenguwaheng ARAMAIC. 

          Kung pipiliin natin to fix our eyes on Jesus our Savior, we will realize that our suffering is not final, and that it has a purpose, and that suffering allows us to share in Jesus’ glory. We will then find that we can go through  life more peacefully, calmly and even joyfully kahit nandito pa tayo sa kalagitnaan ng mga pagsubok sa buhay.

      

Kung atin pong iisiping mabuti dalawang pinakamalaking bagay lang naman ang kailangan nating gawin ditto sa lupa. Ang makakain para sa ating kalusuganat sambahain ang Diyos sa araw-araw ng ating buhay.

Ngunit ang pangalawa ang syang pinakaimportante sa lahat. Ang ibang mga ambisyon na hangad natin sa buhay habang tayo’y andito pa sa mundo ay mga decoration lang sa life yan at garbage baggages lang sa langit. At minsan pa nga ito pa ang nagiging hadlang para tayo ay malapit sa ating Diyos.

EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts Chapter 2

            The Holy Spirit dwells in us at all tmes. He is the love of the father and Son living in us.

      

Though He manifested Himself in a powerful way, more than being a GOD of power, the Holy Spitir is primarily a God of Love. He was recognized first by the apostles in the form of love as He ministered to them in love. Only then were they able to recognize His Power.

      

Each is meant to have a share in the Spirit. Sinner and saint alike. The Spirit leaves no corner of the world untouched because of its omnipotence. Not only the corners of the world but the corners of our lives each of us is to have a complete share in Him.

             

Though the Spirit is meant to consume us, it will not do so without our permission. Our cooperation and surrender to the Spirit is crucial para matanggap natin ang kalubusan ng Kanyang kapangyarihan.

  ABLAZE-LUKE 12:49

            Palagi pong pinag-usapan ang kadakilaan ng ating AMAng Makapanyarihan sa lahat, ang ANAK na tagapagligtas at ang banal na ESPIRITO SANTO o mas kilala natin sa SANTISIMA TRINIDAD. Kaya ito ang napili ko na ilalahad ngayon at ibahagi ang aking paninindigan tungkol dito.

EMBRACED BY THE FATHER

“See what love the father has for us, that He has called us Sons of God, and so we are. We are truly children of GOD.:--I JOHN 3:1

      The King and Creator, who made heaven and Earth is also our Father. He wants us to savor the word “Abba, Daddy, Papa, Tatay” from his great names of “Abiste, Aram, Otheos.”

       From the moment of our conception, and even before that. God loved us. Sa loob ng sinapupunan na ating ina, doon nya tayo binou, nerve by nerve and cell by cell, carefully fashioning us into a unique handiwork. He put His utmost dedication to our personal formation. Kaya kilala tayo ng Diyos every pieces, every molecules and every atoms of us kasi sya ang lumikha sa atin.

       Life with the Father is meant to ba a life of abundance, peace and joy spiritually, emotionally, physically and materially. That is best achieve through developing a close, personal relationship with the Father.

          Ang panalanging “ABWOON DE BASHMAYA” o mas kilala sa "AMA NAMIN" ay iniwan sa atin ng taong pinakamalapit sa Ama, si Jesus. Sa dasal na ito ay nakasaad ang clear directions on how to deal with that Father, what to expect from the Father, what the Father expects from us. Harinaway, matuto tayong isapuso ang bawat salita na nakasaad sa panalangin.

         

Sa mga susunod ko po na postings ay ilalahad ko po ang lihim na dasal para sa panawag na dakilang AMA..AnG AMA  na panginoon ng nunong Abraham, Isaac at Jacob.

PAGPAPALA SA LAHAT!!!

ANG NUNONG JOSE AT ANG ALAMAT NI NEKROS--- part 1

       Ang kwentong inyong matutunghayan ay tunay na karanasan ng isang tao kung meron man itong pagkakahawig sa tunay na buhay ay iginagalang ko sapagkat ito’y maaaring gawin nino man ng may taimtim na pananalig at masasabing nanunuot na sa kanyang kalamnan ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos.

       Sa tao ding ito nagsisimula ang ilan sa aking mga aral. Matagal kong pinag-isipan bago i-post ito sa blog sapagkat ayon sa kaugalian ng aral ko ito ay tagong-tago at pinipili lamang ang dapat pagkwentohan.

       Ang unang bahagi ng kwentong ito ay naganap sa probinsya ng Surigao del Sur sa pagitan ng 70’s-80’s. Ito ang iilan sa mga kabanata ng buhay ni LOLO JOSE.

        Ang bayan noon ng Surigao del Sur at ay pinamumugaran  ng mga rebeldeng NPA. Ngunit si Lolo Jose ay isang masugid na tagasuporta sa pamahalaan. Sa mga panahon ng magkaroon ng digmaan ang dalawang grupo at doon sa puntong matatalo na ang militar ay bigla na lang susulpot sa gitna si lolo at makipaglaban sa mga rebelde. Ayon sa kwento bigla na lang hindi tinatablan ang mga sundalo at may kung anong pwersa na lumalakas ang kanilang loob na makipaglaban. Papasok din sa gyera si lolo at makipag-away ng hindi rin tinatablan. Ayon karipas sa atras ang mga kalaban na walang kalaban-laban.

        Masyadong nagalit ang mga rebelde kay lolo kaya pinagdiskitahan din nila at hinanapan ng tyempo para patayin. Sa gitna rin naman ng gubat nakatira si lolo kaya……

        Isang gabi, habang nag-iisa si lolo sa kubo ay plinano ng mga rebelde ang pagpaslang na palibutan ng mga rebelde ang kanyang  kubo ngunit papalapit pa lang ang mga rebelde ay nalaman na nya at naghagis ng isang kahong posporong RIZAL  sa labas ng bahay. Pagdating ng mga rebelde para isagawa ang plano ay hindi na sila nakalapit at hindi na itinuloy ang kanilang balak. Sapagkat ng makita nila ang kubo ay may bantay itong humigit kumulang 48 na sundalo na nakagwardiya sa kanyang kubo. Halos insaktong bilang sa mga palito ng isang kahong posporo……itutuloy!!!

       Sa aral ay kung sino man ang mapagkalooban ay nakabubuti na kumampi at ang suporta palagi sa pamahalaan.

When To Pray

      

Prayer, like breathing, should be a continuous process in every well-ordered life. We should endeavor to make our lives, one continuous prayer. One endless spiritual contact with the source of our spiritual strength and guidance.

When this is done, we become the instrument  through which God manifests the miracle of daily re-creation.

Naisip ba natin minsan na tayo ay ipinapadala dito sa mundo para gawin ang mga bagay para sa Kasiyahan ng Panginoon?

            Each of us have our work to do. How well we do it determine the reward that our Heavenly Father will bestow upon us. And the greatest reward of all are the words that will greet us when we appear in His presence. Then He will say to those of us who have fulfilled our duties, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

            For no matter what our apparent station in this life may be, no matter how humble it may seem, we are but the instruments of His will. Working out the details of His plan. Helping to make this world a better place for those who will follow after us.

            We all have God within us. Since He is the Father of us all, we are His children. Being His children, we all have Him within us. Having Him within us from the moment we enter this life, we begin our lives sinless, a continuation of His sinless self.

            We should keep our bodies, our souls and our minds fit places wherein He can dwell. That is our work, and if from time to time we are perplexed, bakit hindi tayo lalapit sa Kanya na ating Panginoon at itanong ANG TAMANG DAAN.

            There is no better guide, no better teacher, no kinder parent to point out the way for us.

            And as in our daily work, we have duties to perform, so in our daily lives we have our spiritual duty to ourselves, to our neighbors and to God.

            Hence, each morning, before we enter into the work of that day, we should set aside a space and devote it to our meeting with God. We should retire to the privacy of our own closet and then and there ask Him for His aid. We can ask Him to show us the way. Since it is His work that we are doing, nararapat lamang na itanong natin sa Kanya kung paano ito gawin.
           

If we ask, seriously and sincerely, the way will open for us.

            Then at night, after our work is done, we should again retire to the privacy of our closet and there make our report to Him. Telling Him how we have, during the day, done in His work, and ask that we may be re-created so that we might continue in service to God and our fellows.

            May iba naman na nagsasabi , “Wala na akong panahon sa umaga at pagod na ako sa gabi”

God measures not your devotion by the length of time that you give to your prayers. But by the fact that you come to Him humbly and ask.

            Surely it is not too much to ask of you to arise a few minutes earlier and after you have prepared yourself for the day, to go into silence with Him. And there open your soul and let Him fill it with joy  and good resolution.

            Go to your God, as you go to your lover. Clean, fresh, awake and groomed.

            At sa gabi bago ka matulog, there in the silence and the stillness, let Him feel you with peace so that the miracle of re-creation may become your daily reality.

            Yun lang ba ang sa mga panahong yaon kinakailagan ang panalangin?
No, During the day in those moments when we are alone, when we can sit and see Him in our mind’s eye, let us offer a silent prayer of thanksgiving, or a word or two for help and assistance for the work that is before us.

We should also carry our prayers with us all through the day. And at night, take them to sleep with us.

Ang Kagamitan Ng "The Song Of The 144,000"



juiciodecristo



Maaring magtaka kayo kung ano ang kadahilanan bakit kailangan pa anting malaman ang kantang yaon sa moderno at makabagong panahon ngayon. Ang nakasulat sa ibaba ay isa sa mga nakuha ko na halaw sa isang bahagi ng lihim na aklat.

The main purpose of the Song in this age is to protect the Lights as a group from the negative energies that would like to see them being thrown to the modern day lions, but it's power also extends to many personal benefits.

²  The prime reason for the the Song of the 144,000 is to protect the Lights from the destructive forces of the "Beast."

³  The second stanza of the Song protects from attacks on the Spirit by filling us with the "fires of Love."

⁴  The songs we may sing are but symbols of the new song that the soul of every man is waiting to sing as he becomes one of the redeemed and firstfruits of the Lamb, and tunes in to the "music of the spheres."

⁵  We are told that only the 144,000 can sing the Song. Those who are not ready may try it for a while, but will drop it or lose interest. Then there are others who will quit singing it by changing the meaning through altering the words.

⁶  The Song is more than words. The true song is sung through the attunement and the harmonious vibration given off by the seeker.

⁷  The true disciple may be sitting still and silent, yet singing the Song with his radiating being.

⁸  To attain the vibration of the Song one must be redeemed from the carnal mind and be dominated by the spiritual.

⁹  When the higher consciousness is achieved the vibration of the Song radiates throughout the mind (the throne)the lower self and the emotions follow it (the four beasts) and the wise people (elders) of the earth acknowledge the wisdom of the disciple.

¹⁰  Each person singing it [the Song] according to original intent creates a note which is a part of a great symphony that we are beginning to create in time and space.

¹¹  The Song does not have a physical melody and would probably be difficult to put to regular music, but is a song of the soul and the music is exuded in physical silence.

¹²  No group of people who say this song need ever fear mother earth.

¹³  The power of negativity as a natural consequence and also as directed by the Dark Brothers is a powerful reason for the Song of the 144,000.

¹⁴  From my experience those who "sing" the Song regularly are the most pure in heart people I have ever encountered.

¹⁵  All should be willing to say the Song of the 144,000 as one voice.

¹⁶  By focusing Attention on the Light with the Song you do not destroy the darkness, but you shine a great light, which reveals the illusion of the darkness and as you are thus filled with light you create a place where darkness cannot penetrate.

¹⁷  True negative destruction is retrogression or paralysis on the spiritual path and this is where the Song will help.

¹⁸  No great destruction will occur until there are 144,000 that will correctly sing the Song of the 144,000. Notice the word "correctly."

¹⁹  I personally find it interesting that whenever I seem to have a bad day it is during a time when I did not say the Song for at least a day.

²⁰  The grand purpose of this earthly verse of the Song is to reverse the tremendous blockages caused by negative and illusionary thoughts of all kinds.

²¹  Evidence that the Song is inspired is contained in the Song itself.

²²  Singing the Song [of the 144,000] with the Soul and directed thought can cause over a thousand negative thoughts surrounding you and others to flee.

²³  It is important that when saying the Song we say it with the visualization that everyone else saying it is present with us. This will cause the power of the Song to amplify in power individually and collectively.

²⁴  It is easier to feel the full effect of the Song when two or more can physically say it together, but this is only because it is easier to direct our thoughts and feelings in this situation.

²⁵  When you sing the Song you can think of loved ones who are troubled in spirit and see the light and love as descending upon them and elevating their spirits.

²⁶  When saying the Song we should only visualize Light and Love descending on people who are open to it and will use the energy for good.

²⁷  Because the thoughts of the person saying the Song directs Will in a positive way, he or she has power to counteract many thoughts which have a negative effect.

²⁸  Imagine the day when 144,000 here on earth will sing the Song at one time for the first time? I'm not sure myself the full implications of this, but I know the results will be wonderful.

²⁹  The third stanza [of the Song] protects against destruction through illusion for if you are one with God you then see through the eyes of God and with such vision you will see through the illusions that attempt to steer you off the Path.

³⁰  Various problems will still come even with the Song, but the Song provides three points of focus thatwill give you power to guide your ship safely to the new land or new age.

³¹  Another extremely important reason for the Song to be sung in this age is for the protection of the workers of light.

³²  In every age in recorded history the negative forces have prevailed against the light. This time it will be different. The Song will give the workers the power to peacefully prevail against the dark ones for the first time in a very long time.

³³  I would advise everyone who is saying it regularly to memorize the song so the right words will come out without even trying to remember. That way you can put your full attention on the meaning.

³⁴  Those who do it [sing the Song] in union focus on the same Song, but sing it according to their own individuality and tone. Two singing it has a different effect than one and three different than two and so on.

³⁵  By forming your own local study groups you can then say the Song of the 144,000 with others in your physical presence and receive more energy than saying it alone. When you feel the charge of saying it with a dozen or more then you will never want to retreat from moving forward.

³⁶  Remember this. Anyone who is willing to say the Song of the 144,000 on a regular basis has good potential for peaceful group work. These people will come from many backgrounds.

KAPAYAPAAN PO SA LAHAT!!!