Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Reality Through the Eyes of Other People
I have been reflecting a lot during these days about the reality of other people. I’ve read, watched, and heard several facts leading me to think: “What if it was me?” I just finished reading a post (Carta à minha aluna, Elisabete “Letter to my student, Elisabeth”) at the blog "Escrever é Transgredir" (“To Write is to Infringe”) (http://escreveretransgredir.blogspot.com/) that led me to think deeply about this. How many times are we blind to the reality and perspectives of other people? How many time do we think that our reality and perspectives are the only right ones?
I am reading a book by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinov, The Grand Design, that deals with Quantum Physics, a new theory on alternative histories (all the possible alternatives that could have happened, in Quantum Physics they actually happen, happened and will happen) and some other theories. But one aspect the authors bring very clear is the fact of reality maybe not be the reality. They say that I may be looking at a Picture, a moment, a circumstance and interpret it in a different way from someone else that is looking at the same Picture, moment and circumstances. See that I am not talking about the truth, as many people considered it to be relative nowadays (what is not totally wrong because in certain aspects it can be), but without considering that exist a Truth that is absolute and nothing can change her or touch her. Even when one says the truth is relative he/she is turning this statement into an absolute truth, because they would never give up this remark.
Yesterday night I was watching the news and saw a story of an Indian girl who was deceived to go to Hong Kong under the promise of marriage, but as she got there she became a Bride-slave of the “supposed” groom to be. The “groom” works at the government and brought her to Hong Kong under a work visa, in spite of declaring her to be his wife, in spite of never marrying her, in spite of having received the dowry from her family in India and promising to marry her. She was beaten, raped, locked inside his apartment... until she found a way to escape and go to the Police to file a complaint of kidnapping and abuse. The police answer? No proof enough to investigate the case. Only after some human rights organizations came to the picture is that answers started to show up. What if it was me, my son, or my sister?
This week the president of Brazil has officially recognized the Palestine Authority and its territory, joining 100 other nations that have done so. This led to a criticism made for the State of Israel, and for sure, many other Christians. I love Israel, I have Jewish relatives, I am a Christian who loves the Bible and want to see the prophecies been fulfilled. In spite of these, I though the president did well. Why? It’s our duty to defend the peace and the right to life for all. This includes the Palestinians. The Psalm 122:6 says that we should pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, not that we should force the fulfilling of the prophecies. We should pray and prophecy and seek the peace. God will cause the Scriptures to be fulfilled doesn’t matter if we are in favor or against them. What if it was me? Or what if it was in Brazil or your home country? What if they said you have no rights to citizenship, place for living, locomotion, education, etc? I will continue to pray for the peace of Israel and to defend this peace, but I will continue to pray for the peace of the Palestinians too, and for the peace of the Afghans, Iraqis, Americans, Pakistanis, Koreans, etc. Many times our prayers will have to be followed by practical decisions. Many times I will be the answer to my own prayers. So? How is going to be?
Two weeks ago I heard Pr. Silas Zdrojewski, from the Primeira Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular de Curitiba (First Foursquare Gospel Church of Curitiba) (http://www.primeiraieq.com.br/), declaring the following statement about something that is missing in many Christians: “Our life need to be coherent to our prayers... The prayer must be an expression of our hearts... The prayer will have more authority by asking for the Kingdom (of God) and living according to the laws of this Kingdom”. How many times we pray selfish prayers according to our selfish perspectives of the reality? How many times we put ourselves inside the lives of other people before we take our decisions?
May we take off the glasses limiting us to our selfish vision of the world, and begin to use lens that may open our eyes to the reality of our neighbors so that we can give a fitting answer to the needs around us and pray the right prayers to the circumstances presenting themselves. Many people want to be prophets and kings; few are those willing to take the towel and the basin to wash others’ feet. May we too seek to have a servant’s eyes.
I am reading a book by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinov, The Grand Design, that deals with Quantum Physics, a new theory on alternative histories (all the possible alternatives that could have happened, in Quantum Physics they actually happen, happened and will happen) and some other theories. But one aspect the authors bring very clear is the fact of reality maybe not be the reality. They say that I may be looking at a Picture, a moment, a circumstance and interpret it in a different way from someone else that is looking at the same Picture, moment and circumstances. See that I am not talking about the truth, as many people considered it to be relative nowadays (what is not totally wrong because in certain aspects it can be), but without considering that exist a Truth that is absolute and nothing can change her or touch her. Even when one says the truth is relative he/she is turning this statement into an absolute truth, because they would never give up this remark.
Yesterday night I was watching the news and saw a story of an Indian girl who was deceived to go to Hong Kong under the promise of marriage, but as she got there she became a Bride-slave of the “supposed” groom to be. The “groom” works at the government and brought her to Hong Kong under a work visa, in spite of declaring her to be his wife, in spite of never marrying her, in spite of having received the dowry from her family in India and promising to marry her. She was beaten, raped, locked inside his apartment... until she found a way to escape and go to the Police to file a complaint of kidnapping and abuse. The police answer? No proof enough to investigate the case. Only after some human rights organizations came to the picture is that answers started to show up. What if it was me, my son, or my sister?
This week the president of Brazil has officially recognized the Palestine Authority and its territory, joining 100 other nations that have done so. This led to a criticism made for the State of Israel, and for sure, many other Christians. I love Israel, I have Jewish relatives, I am a Christian who loves the Bible and want to see the prophecies been fulfilled. In spite of these, I though the president did well. Why? It’s our duty to defend the peace and the right to life for all. This includes the Palestinians. The Psalm 122:6 says that we should pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, not that we should force the fulfilling of the prophecies. We should pray and prophecy and seek the peace. God will cause the Scriptures to be fulfilled doesn’t matter if we are in favor or against them. What if it was me? Or what if it was in Brazil or your home country? What if they said you have no rights to citizenship, place for living, locomotion, education, etc? I will continue to pray for the peace of Israel and to defend this peace, but I will continue to pray for the peace of the Palestinians too, and for the peace of the Afghans, Iraqis, Americans, Pakistanis, Koreans, etc. Many times our prayers will have to be followed by practical decisions. Many times I will be the answer to my own prayers. So? How is going to be?
Two weeks ago I heard Pr. Silas Zdrojewski, from the Primeira Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular de Curitiba (First Foursquare Gospel Church of Curitiba) (http://www.primeiraieq.com.br/), declaring the following statement about something that is missing in many Christians: “Our life need to be coherent to our prayers... The prayer must be an expression of our hearts... The prayer will have more authority by asking for the Kingdom (of God) and living according to the laws of this Kingdom”. How many times we pray selfish prayers according to our selfish perspectives of the reality? How many times we put ourselves inside the lives of other people before we take our decisions?
May we take off the glasses limiting us to our selfish vision of the world, and begin to use lens that may open our eyes to the reality of our neighbors so that we can give a fitting answer to the needs around us and pray the right prayers to the circumstances presenting themselves. Many people want to be prophets and kings; few are those willing to take the towel and the basin to wash others’ feet. May we too seek to have a servant’s eyes.
Realidade nos Olhos dos Outros
Estou muito reflexivo estes dias com a realidade dos outros. Li, assisti , ouvi diversos fatos que me levam a pensar: "E se fosse eu?" Acabei de ler um post (Carta à minha aluna, Elisabete) no blog "Escrever é Transgredir" (http://escreveretransgredir.blogspot.com/) que me levou a pensar nisto mais fundo. Quantas vezes estamos cegos para a realidade e perspectivas dos outros? Quantos vezes achamos que apenas a nossa realidade e perspectiva é a única correta.
Estou lendo o livro de Stephen Hawking e Leonard Mlodinov, The Grand Design, que ainda não foi publicado no Brasil, que trata sobre Física Quântica, e uma nova teoria sobre a histórias alternativas ( todas as possíveis alternativas que poderiam ter acontecido, em Física Quântica, na verdade, acontecem, aconteceram e acontecerão) e outras novas teorias. Mas um aspecto que os autores deixam bem claro é o fato de que a realidade talvez não seja a realidade. Que eu posso estar vendo um quadro, um momento, uma circunstância e interpretá-lo de maneira totalmente diferente de outra pessoa que observas o mesmo quadro, momento e circunstâncias. Observe que não estou falando sobre a verdade, que muitos hoje consideram como relativa (o que não é totalmente errado pois em determinados momento ela pode ser relativa), mas sem considerar que existe uma Verdade que é absoluta e nada pode mudá-la ou mexer nela. O próprio fato de dizer que a verdade é relativa é uma verdade absoluta pois a maioria das pessoas não abrem mão desta declaração.
Ontem a noite estava assistindo o jornal e vi a história de uma moça indiana que foi enganada a ir para Hong Kong na promessa de casamento e ali chegando se tornou escrava da família do "suposto" noivo, que trabalha no governo e que a trouxe com visto de trabalho para Hong Kong, apesar de declarar que ela é a sua esposa, apesar de nunca terem se casado, apesar de ter recebido o dote da família dela na Índia. Ela foi espancada, abusada sexualmente, trancada dentro de casa... até o dia que conseguiu escapar e dar queixa na polícia de seu suposto sequestro e abuso. Resposta da polícia? Não há indícios suficientes para investigar o caso. Só após grupos de direitos humanos entrarem em cena é que algumas respostas começam a surgir. E se fosse eu, ou meu filho, ou minha irmã?
Esta semana o presidente do Brasil reconheceu a legalidade do Estado Palestino, se juntando a outros 100 países que já o fizeram. Isto levou à crítica do governo de Israel, e com certeza de muitos cristãos. Eu amo Israel, tenho parentes judeus, sou cristão que ama a Bíblia e que quer ver as profecias serem cumpridas. Apesar disto eu acho que o presidente fez bem. Por que? É o nosso dever como cristão defender a paz e o direito à vida a quem quer que seja. Isto inclue os palestinos. O salmo 122:6 diz que devemos orar pela paz de Jerusalém, não que devemos forçar o cumprimento das profecias. Devemos orar e profetizar e buscar a paz. Deus vai fazer as Escrituras se cumprirem independente de nossos esforços a favor ou contra. E se fosse eu? E se fosse no Brasil ou no seu país de origem? Se dissessem que você não tem direito a cidadania, moradia, locomoção, educação, etc? Vou continuar a orar pela paz de Israel e defender esta paz, mas vou continuar a orar pela paz dos palestinos também. Pela paz dos afegãos, dos iraquianos, dos americanos, dos paquistaneses, dos coreanos, etc. Muitas vezes a oração vai ter que ser seguida por decisões práticas. Muitas vezes eu vou ser resposta às minhas próprias orações. E então? Como vai ser?
Duas semanas atrás eu ouvi do Pr. Silas Zdrojewski, da Primeira Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular de Curitiba (www.primeiraieq.com.br), uma declaração que está fazendo falta para muitos que se dizem cristãos: "Nossa vida precisa ser coerente com nossas orações... A oração deve ser uma expressão do coração... A oração terá mais autoridade pedindo o Reino (de Deus) e vivendo de acordo com as leis deste Reino". Quantas vezes oramos orações egoístas dentro das nossas perspectivas de realidade egoístas? Quantas vezes nos colocamos dentro da vida dos outros antes de tomarmos decisões?
Que possamos tirar os nossos óculos limitados à nossa visão de mundo egoísta, e passar a usar lentes que abram os nossos olhos para a realidade do nosso próximo para darmos uma resposta adequada às necessidades ao nosso redor e podermos orarmos de maneira adequada às circunstâncias que nos apresentam. Muitos querem ser profetas e reis, poucos estão dispostos a pegar a toalha e a bacia para lavar os pés dos outros. Que possamos buscar ter olhos de servos.
Estou lendo o livro de Stephen Hawking e Leonard Mlodinov, The Grand Design, que ainda não foi publicado no Brasil, que trata sobre Física Quântica, e uma nova teoria sobre a histórias alternativas ( todas as possíveis alternativas que poderiam ter acontecido, em Física Quântica, na verdade, acontecem, aconteceram e acontecerão) e outras novas teorias. Mas um aspecto que os autores deixam bem claro é o fato de que a realidade talvez não seja a realidade. Que eu posso estar vendo um quadro, um momento, uma circunstância e interpretá-lo de maneira totalmente diferente de outra pessoa que observas o mesmo quadro, momento e circunstâncias. Observe que não estou falando sobre a verdade, que muitos hoje consideram como relativa (o que não é totalmente errado pois em determinados momento ela pode ser relativa), mas sem considerar que existe uma Verdade que é absoluta e nada pode mudá-la ou mexer nela. O próprio fato de dizer que a verdade é relativa é uma verdade absoluta pois a maioria das pessoas não abrem mão desta declaração.
Ontem a noite estava assistindo o jornal e vi a história de uma moça indiana que foi enganada a ir para Hong Kong na promessa de casamento e ali chegando se tornou escrava da família do "suposto" noivo, que trabalha no governo e que a trouxe com visto de trabalho para Hong Kong, apesar de declarar que ela é a sua esposa, apesar de nunca terem se casado, apesar de ter recebido o dote da família dela na Índia. Ela foi espancada, abusada sexualmente, trancada dentro de casa... até o dia que conseguiu escapar e dar queixa na polícia de seu suposto sequestro e abuso. Resposta da polícia? Não há indícios suficientes para investigar o caso. Só após grupos de direitos humanos entrarem em cena é que algumas respostas começam a surgir. E se fosse eu, ou meu filho, ou minha irmã?
Esta semana o presidente do Brasil reconheceu a legalidade do Estado Palestino, se juntando a outros 100 países que já o fizeram. Isto levou à crítica do governo de Israel, e com certeza de muitos cristãos. Eu amo Israel, tenho parentes judeus, sou cristão que ama a Bíblia e que quer ver as profecias serem cumpridas. Apesar disto eu acho que o presidente fez bem. Por que? É o nosso dever como cristão defender a paz e o direito à vida a quem quer que seja. Isto inclue os palestinos. O salmo 122:6 diz que devemos orar pela paz de Jerusalém, não que devemos forçar o cumprimento das profecias. Devemos orar e profetizar e buscar a paz. Deus vai fazer as Escrituras se cumprirem independente de nossos esforços a favor ou contra. E se fosse eu? E se fosse no Brasil ou no seu país de origem? Se dissessem que você não tem direito a cidadania, moradia, locomoção, educação, etc? Vou continuar a orar pela paz de Israel e defender esta paz, mas vou continuar a orar pela paz dos palestinos também. Pela paz dos afegãos, dos iraquianos, dos americanos, dos paquistaneses, dos coreanos, etc. Muitas vezes a oração vai ter que ser seguida por decisões práticas. Muitas vezes eu vou ser resposta às minhas próprias orações. E então? Como vai ser?
Duas semanas atrás eu ouvi do Pr. Silas Zdrojewski, da Primeira Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular de Curitiba (www.primeiraieq.com.br), uma declaração que está fazendo falta para muitos que se dizem cristãos: "Nossa vida precisa ser coerente com nossas orações... A oração deve ser uma expressão do coração... A oração terá mais autoridade pedindo o Reino (de Deus) e vivendo de acordo com as leis deste Reino". Quantas vezes oramos orações egoístas dentro das nossas perspectivas de realidade egoístas? Quantas vezes nos colocamos dentro da vida dos outros antes de tomarmos decisões?
Que possamos tirar os nossos óculos limitados à nossa visão de mundo egoísta, e passar a usar lentes que abram os nossos olhos para a realidade do nosso próximo para darmos uma resposta adequada às necessidades ao nosso redor e podermos orarmos de maneira adequada às circunstâncias que nos apresentam. Muitos querem ser profetas e reis, poucos estão dispostos a pegar a toalha e a bacia para lavar os pés dos outros. Que possamos buscar ter olhos de servos.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
"Too Busy"
I received this in my e-mail. So true!
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church.""We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth...."
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with Their SAVIOR."
"Once they gain that connection with JESUS, our power over them is Broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop arelationship With JESUS CHRIST.."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:"Distract them from gaining hold of their SAVIOR and maintaining that Vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable Schemes to occupy their minds," he answered....
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty Lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from The pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.""Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod whenever they drive." To Keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see To it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical musicConstantly."
"Let them play Lil Farm, Farmville and other Facebook games in their computer the whole day so that their time got consumed in that activity alone"
"This will jam their minds and break that union with CHRIST."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and Every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services And false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands Will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll Become dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night." "Give them headaches too! ""If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to Look elsewhere.""That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the Real meaning of Christmas.."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about HIS resurrection And power over sin and death..."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive.""Have them return from their recreation exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on GOD'S creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies Instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and Small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. "
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek Power from JESUS."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health And family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!" "It will work!" It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere To get busier & more rushed, going here & there.
Having little time for their GOD or their families.Having no time to tell others about the power of JESUS to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes? You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?Please pass this on, if you aren't too BUSY!
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church.""We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth...."
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with Their SAVIOR."
"Once they gain that connection with JESUS, our power over them is Broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop arelationship With JESUS CHRIST.."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:"Distract them from gaining hold of their SAVIOR and maintaining that Vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable Schemes to occupy their minds," he answered....
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty Lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from The pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.""Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod whenever they drive." To Keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see To it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical musicConstantly."
"Let them play Lil Farm, Farmville and other Facebook games in their computer the whole day so that their time got consumed in that activity alone"
"This will jam their minds and break that union with CHRIST."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and Every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services And false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands Will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll Become dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night." "Give them headaches too! ""If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to Look elsewhere.""That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the Real meaning of Christmas.."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about HIS resurrection And power over sin and death..."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive.""Have them return from their recreation exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on GOD'S creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies Instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and Small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. "
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek Power from JESUS."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health And family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!" "It will work!" It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere To get busier & more rushed, going here & there.
Having little time for their GOD or their families.Having no time to tell others about the power of JESUS to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes? You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?Please pass this on, if you aren't too BUSY!
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