Christmas ih lungawinak thuthangtha cu Jesuh in, a sinak mawi le duhnung, a thianghlimmi cu misual kan mah kha in hruk ter ih, Amah in kan sualnak pawl hmuahhmuah kha a mah in a lak ih, cross par ah a nunnak liam in a kholhfai theh. Cu ti ih, sinak thleng aw ding ih a rungtumnak cu kan hrangah lungawi thuthangtha a si. Curuangah, tuisun ni ah zo ka si ti na thei awk duh ahcun, Jesuh ih thisen man le nunnak na man a si. Ziangah tile, Jesuh in a man in a lo lei zo. Nangmai ta na si nawn lo.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Christ-centered Christmas
Duhdawtmi Unau pawl,
A hlan lai ih, an rak sunloihmi le an hmuahmi cu Khrih Jesuh a si bang in, tui kum Christmas caan khal ah, kan sunloih bikmi cu Bawi Jesuh si hram seh!
Khrih lawmtu si dingah himi zukte thawn ka lo sawm: Click
Sanno
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Amazing Skin Writings Appeared to A-Ching, my relative!
A-Ching is a Chin (Burmese) high school student who lives at Frederick, near my apartment. I saw her skin writing while I was visiting their house once. If somebody asks if that is God's revelation or not, I will answer him/her that only God knows the exact answer.
The conclusion should, I think, depend on its fruit. We have to ask some questions before we draw a conclusion: Does this glorify God's truth? Does this lead others or at least A-Ching herself to be like Christ? If yes, it may be the revelation of God as no one can limit God's revelation.
Want to see more: Click here.
It means "Love"
It means "Faithfulness"
A Submission Problem
Read: James 4:1-10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. —James 4:10
Bible in a year:
Amos 1-3; Revelation 6
Amos 1-3; Revelation 6
During a talk-show interview, a celebrity confessed that she spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours each year on her hair and its styling. She recognized that it had become an addiction and admitted that her problem was “submission to the hair.”
The word submission means “an act of yielding to the authority or control of another.” Because of her desire to look and feel beautiful, this celebrity was allowing her hair to be in control of her life.
This woman’s story could lead us to wonder about our own hearts’ desires and what we’re submitting to. Do we at times want something so badly that we submit to doing anything to get it? Are we submitting to admiration? Possessions? Self? Food? Money? Pleasure?
In his epistle to the Romans, Paul said, “to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves” (6:16). When our desires “war” within us (James 4:1), we are to submit ourselves to God as “slaves of God” (Rom. 6:22).
Humbling ourselves before the Lord (James 4:10) and asking Him to show us our heart will help us to recognize our own submission problems.
Lord, help us to submit to You,
To follow and obey;
And give us strength to fight the urge
To do things our own way. —Sper
True freedom is not in choosing our own way,
but in submitting to God’s way.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Ziang ruangah Christmas Puai kan tuah?
By San No Thuan
The Reasons of Celebrating Christmas
Minung tampi in Christmas kan thlen tikah, kan thinlung khal a danglam. A hleice in Laitlang ahcun, Cherry par tete a hung mum ih, zilthli dai te in mi an seem, Carol hla veeng tin in an sak ih, a phun dang ngaingai. Asinan, zumtu tampi hrang ih kan nomnak cu Christmas ih puai um daan le ni le khua um daan ah a tthum aw theu. Cutikah, puai a cem cun, kan lungawinak khal a cem viar theh theu. Cucu ziangruangah tile, Christmas kan tuah duh sannak ngaingai kan theih lo theu ruangah a si. Asilole, kan sunloih thangthatmi kha puai neitu hnak in, a puai a si sawn theu ruangah a si. Christmas timi cu Christ le Mas (puai) a kom awmi a si ih, a sullam cu Khrih ih puai a si. Ziangruangah, Jesuh Khrih hrangah puai kan tuah?
Luke 2:10 “Tih hlah uh! Nan hrangah thuthangtha ka run keng; cui thuthangtha cu mi hmuahhmuah hrangah lungawinak ngaingai a si. Tuih zaan rori ah David khuasungah nanmah Runtu Bawi Khrih a suak zo.”
“Nan hrangah thuthangtha” a ti. Cui thuthangtha lungawinak ngaingai a si a ti. Cui thuthangtha cu Runtu Bawi Khrih a suak zo timi a si a runti. Runtu Bawi Khrih suah cu ziangah saw kan hrang ih lungawinak ngaingai, puaipi tuah ih, kan lom a tulnak a um? Himi cahram ah, Khrih a suahnak hi kan hrang ih lungawi taktak a sinak thu pathum in sim ka duh. Cui thu pathum cu nitin kan nunnak lungawinak a thlen tertu thu pawl an si.
Kan hrangah Runtu Bawi Khrih a suahnak kan lomnak cu:
1. Christmas cu Pathian in ka lo duh ti ih a lang ternak saangbik caan a si. Cui duhdawtnak cu kan sunloihnak a si. (Celebrating God’s love to us)
John 3:16 … Pathian in leilungmi a duhdawt tuk ruangah a fapa neihsun a pek.
Pathian in a sersiammi pawl tampi an um. Asinan, thil dang hnak in minung a duhdawt bik. Curuangah minung ah a rung cang. Ramsa pawl kha duhdawt sawn sehla, ramsa ah a cang ding. Asinan, minung ih a rung can duhsannak cu ka lo duhdawt bik timi in theih ter in duh ruangah a si.
A duhdawtnak kha kaa lawng in a langh ter lo. Ka lo duhdawt in timen lo. Jesuh Khrih naute vek in um ringring men sehla, Pathian ih duhdawtnak kan thei lo men ding. Asinan, Bible ca in, mi sual kan si lai rori hman ah kan sual ngaithiamnak ding hrangah a nunnak pe in a thi a si a ti.
Rom. 5:8 Sikhalsehla Pathian in ziangtlukinso in duhdawt ti cu a langter: misual kan si hrih na cingin kan hrangah Khrih cu a thi!
Cui thinglamtah parah cun, kan sual leiba a kuan theh zo. Jesuh in ka theh zo tiah a au, (John 19:30). A theh suakmi cu kan sual ngaidamnak hrang ih a tulmi pawl hmuahhmuah ka tuar theh zo timi a si. Cun, Pathian ih thinhennak khal a parah a thlen ter theh zo. Curuangah, Jesuh ih thinglamtah cun, Pathian ih sual ngaithiamnak kan par ah a thlen ter. Cucu na fel ruangah a si lo. Khrih ih tuarnak ruangah a si. Cumi Khrih in vancung ram na kai theinak ding hrangah na bet tum ciamco ahcun, khui tik khal ah ka thih le vanram ka co pei maw timi na fiang dah lo ding. Na bet tum le tum lo na theihnak dingah, na sual tikah thi sehla, hell ram, na that tikah, vanram ti ih, na ruah awk a si ahcun, cucu, Jesuh ih theh sak cia zomi kha bet na tum tinak a si.
Christian le biaknak dang pawl ih kan dan awknak cu hi tawk ah a fiang zet. Biaknak dang pawl cun, Pathian an hawl. Asinan, Pathian ih duhdawtnak cun, misual pawl in hawl. Biaknak dang cun, Pathian ih mithmai tha ngah ding in, thil tha tuah aw tiah an zirh aw. Asinan, Pathian ih zaangfahnak cun, na si bang in ka lo cohlang tiah in ti (fapa tlanhlo pa ih thuanthu khi ruat sal aw la na fiang sin ding). Biaknak dang cun, vanram co dingah, na sualnak pawl phiatfai sal ding zuam aw an ti. Pathian ih duhdawtnak cun, “Na sualman cawh kuan pawl ka kuan theh zo ih, zum aw tiah in ti.
Curuangah, Jesuh in na sual man a kuan theh cia zonak kha na zum ahcun, cui na zumnak cu Pathian in vanram kainak hrangih a tulmi na dingfelnak ah a lo pom sak a si.
Rom 4:3-5 sungah:
3Ca Thianghlim in, “Abraham in Pathian a ring ih cuih a rinnak ruangah Pathian in miding ah a ret a si,” tiah a ti.
4Mi pakhat hna a ṭuan tikah a hnaṭuan man cu an pek; cumi cu laksawngah ruah ding a si lo. Amah ih a hlawhmi a si. 5Sikhalsehla ṭuannak si loin zumnak a neitu, mawh-nei mi kha mawh-nei lo ah a tuahtu Pathian a rinsantu ih zumnak cu Pathian in amah thawn rualremternak hrangah a co sakmi a si.
Jesuh in kan ai awh ih a thihnak ruangah sual ngaithiam ka si ti na zum ahcun, Jesuh Khrih khal zumtu na si tinak a si. Jesuh zumtu cu, kumkhua nunnak nan nei ding a ti lo, nan nei zo tiah in ti. 1 John 5:13 sungah:
Pathian Fapa a zumtu in kumkhua nunnak kan nei ti nan theihnak dingah hi cakuat hi nan hnenah ka ngan.
Cui duhdawtnak cu ziangti in kan lawm ding? A pakhatnak ah, Pathian in ka sinak bang in I duhdawt ih, a fanu/fapa ah I cohlang ti zum aw. Cucu a lo duhdawttu Pa Pathian ih duh bikmi a si. A pahnihnak cu, Pakhat le khat kan duhdawt awk asile, Pathian ih duhdawtnak kha kan sunloih ter bik a si.
Curuangah, Christmas cu ka sual I ngaithiam ringring theitu Pathian kan nei timi kan sunloihnak a si. Pathian in I duhdawt lo ding tiah na ruah tinten, Jesuh ih thinglamtah ih kut zapharhmi kha zoh aw. “Hi tluk in ka lo duh” tiah a lang ternak a si. Tui sun khal ah Jesuh in na sual thilrit lo ngaithiam dingah a lo hngak lai:
Matt. 11:28 Thilrit a phurmi le zonzaih a tuartu pawl, ka hnenah ra uh, colhdamnak ka lo pe ding.
2. Christmas cu in umpi ringringtu Pathian, kan lomnak a si.
(Celebrating that God is with us)
Caan tampi ah Pathian in kei cu I umpi nawn lo tiah kan ti. Ziangah ti a si le, “Ka khaansa thei lo. Ka mithlam khal in ka hmu lo” tiah kan ti. Asinan, Pathian in in umpinak cu kan nih in kan taksa le thinlung ih kan khaansa thei/hmuh theihmi thawn a seng aw lo.
Minung ih kan feeling/ruahnak cu mi a bum thei. Vei khat kan khua pa cu, mithi topinak in a ra tlung. A innkiangah a thlen tikah, thil pakhat a hmu. Cumi cu mi pakhat in a kut in I zaap, a caan le a to, a caan le a ding a ti ih, a ning a tih zet. Cumi cu a hei naih ih thingtan in a vuak ciamco tikah, a hmuh suakmi cu an nui lo fehnak hni sia kha an ar bawm par ah a zar ih, thli in a hran ruangah a caang vek in a ummi a rak si ta riai. Minung cun, kan ttih tikah, kan thinlung cun mi a bum thei.
Na thinlung ih Pathian a um le um lo kha na zum ah, zum lo khal ah, Pathian cun a lo taansan dah lo. A lo umpi ringring. Asinan, na zum le na hna a ngam ding.
Kan biakmi Pathian ih hmin cu Vancungmi in an sak ih, a hmin ah Immanuel tiah nan ko pei tiah an sim (Matt 1:23). Immanuel timi Pathian kan hnen ah a um timi a si. Kan Pathian ih hmin cu Immanuel a si. Cui Pathian cun, ka lo taansan dah lo ding tiah thu in kam (Isai 49:15, Heb 13:5).
Kan mit in kan hmu lo nan Pathian ih in umpi zia hi tawk ah siar aw (2 Siangpahrang 6:8-23). Dothan khua ih um Elisha a rak um. Elisha timi ih hmin sullam: Pathian cu rundamnak ti a si timi a si. Syria pawl in Israel do ih laak an tum tikah, Pathian in Elisha cu Syria ralkap pawl ih umnak Israel pawl a sim ter. Syria pawl in a thupte in kan do ding ih kan neh ding ti ih an bawhnak khal Elisha in Israel pawl in a thei ter ringring tikah Israel pawl kha an neh thei lo. Cui thu cu Syria ral bawi pa in a theih tikah, that ding in, Dothan khua ah an feh ih an kulh. Zingkhat cu a hnen um pa a hung tho ih, inn leeng a hei zoh tikah, Syria ralkap pawl lawngte a hei hmu. A thin a phangtuk ih a pupa Elisha cu a tthang.
Cutikah Elisha in, “Na thinphang hlah; annih hnenih a ummi hnakin kannih hnenih a ummi an tam sawn,” a ti (2 Siangpahrang 6:16).
Elisha in a salpa ih mitvang ding in Pathian hnen ih thla a cam tikah, a salpa in a hei hmuh salmi cu Syria ralkap pawl hnak ih tam Vancungmi in, an mah an kulh timi kha a hei hmu fiang a si.
Cui Pathian cu kan Pathian a si ve. Pathian ih vancungmi in amah zumtu pawl cu Elisha bang in kil a si (Saam 34:7). Ziangah tile, A hmin ah Immanuel a si.
Cui Immanuel Pathian cu ziangti in kan sunloih ding? kan sunloih daan ding cu, mi ih harsat lai ah mi a taansan lo ih a bawmtu cu Immanuel Pathian ih phuan langhawknak hmanrua an si. Immanuel a sunlawi ter biktu a si.
3. Christmas cu kan lam ih a tangtu Pathian asinak kha kan lomhnak asi. (Celebrating that God is for us)
Minung tampi in Pathian cu police vek ah kan ruat. Kan sual hawl ringringtu ah kan ruat. Asinan, Pathian cu kan sual hawltu a si lo. Bible cun, Pathian cu kan lam ttangtu, in bawmtu a si tiah in zirh. Jesuh in a ruangpum le thisen a luan tikah, in timi cu, “hihi nan hrang ih ka phel kuaimi ka ruangpi a si” (1 Cor 11:24) tiah in ti. Kan sual hawlnak ah a si lo, kan sual ngaidamnak hrangah kan lam ah ttang in, a pekmi taksa le thisen a si.
Paul in cumi cu a hmu fiang tuk (Tirhthlah 9:1ff). Damascus khua ih zumtu pawl hrem ding ih a feh lai ah tleunak in kah a tuar ih a mit a caw. Van in aw pakhat a thei: “Saul, Saul, ziangah so I hrem.” “Bawipa zo na si?” a ti tikah, “Na hrem reromi Jesuh ka si” (Tirh 9:5) tiah a ti. Cu tikah, Damascus khua ih um Annanias timi dungthluntu pakhat in, thla a rak cam sak ih, a mit a hung van sal tikah, Paul cu a thinlung le nunnak a thleng aw theh. Ziangah tile, Paul in a fiang tukmi cu, Jesuh Khrih cu a thih lo ih, zumtu pawl ka hrem hi Jesuh hrem rero maw ka si ti a hung fiang tuk.
Curuangah, Paul in, 1 Kor 12:12f sungah, zumtu pawl cu Khrih ih taksa then kan si tiah a ngannak a si. Kan par ih a thlengmi hi Pathian in, a rak tuar ringring a si. Kan tuarnak in thei. Kan lam ah a ttang ringring. Zumtu pawl a ttan ringringtu Pathian cu kan Pathian a si. Curuangah Paul in, Rom 8: 32 …. Pathian cu kan lam ih a ttan ahcun, khat lam ah zoso a tang ngam ding tiah a tinak a si. Curuangah Christmas puai cu kan lam ih a ttangtu Pathian asinak kha kan lommi a si.
Ziang tiin Pathian ih in ttanpinak hi kan sunloih ding? Kan sunloih daan ding cu Pathian ih fa le pawl, pakhat le pakhat kan somdawl aw, kan bawm maw ih, kan ttanpi awk le, in ttanpitu Pathian kan sunloihnak ngah taktak a si.
Thunetnak:
Ziang ruangah Christmas puai hi kan tuah ciamco? Ziangsi kan sunloih ciamco? Kan sunloihmi cu a puai a si men ahcun, puai a cem le na lungawinak a cem ve ding. Asinan, na sunloihmi cu Puai neitu Jesuh Khrih ih, duhdawtnak, umpinak le ttanpinak a si ahcun, na lungawinak a ziam dah lo ding.
Ziangruangah Pathian in in duhdawt, umpi, ttanpi si pei? Ziang lungput a nei ih si pei? Khrih ih lungput cu ziang in tuah sak thei pei timi hnak in, ziang ka pe thei pei timi lungput a neih ruangah a si (Mark 10:45). Cui Christmas lungput kan neih a si ahcun, kan duhdawt aw ve ding, kan tlansan aw lo ding, ih kan ttanpi aw ding. Cutikah, vuncung ih kan Pa a lungawi ding ih, vancungram cu kan innsang, kawhhran, le kan umnak hmun kip ah a thleng ding a si.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
12 Steps towards planting a church
 |
| Church planting can be more closely compared to a long distance race than to a short sprint. It is necessary to make many single steps in order reach the finish line. Endurance is an imperative ingredient in achieving success. Following are 12 concise steps towards planting a church. These steps are not meant to be followed strictly in chronological order. They are to be seen as milestones in the process of planting a church. They should also not be understood as "the method" to planting a church, but rather as spiritual principles that, in differing degrees, play an important role in church planting. 1. Receiving a vision and burden Church plants as a rule, are not started as a result of a committee decision, but rather through the vision of people. Often, it is an individual, or a small group of people (eg. home group or prayer group), who have a burden or vision for a location God has laid upon their heart for the purpose of planting a church. We hear many reports, where it was the result of many years of prayer and holding fast to a vision, which prepared the spiritual soil for planting a church. 2. Imparting the vision A vision needs to be communicated in order to be caught. People of like mind discover one another. It is important that the church leadership and where possible, the whole church develop a vision for church planting. This vision must be preached and imparted, because faith grows out of the proclamation. Through communicating the vision, more people in the church can catch the vision. 3. Clarify who is responsible It is not good that any child be born without responsible parents. The same goes for the planting of a new church. From the beginning, it is important, that the church understands its responsibility if it plants a daughter church. That includes intercession, coaching, investment and the releasing of members, co-workers, leaders and finances. If one church feels overwhelmed with this responsibility, it can join together with another church in providing this responsibility. Without support, covering and protection from the outside, a church planting initiative is much more difficult. 4. The formation of a prayer ministry Because of the large spiritual challenge faced in all phases of the process of planting a church, a strong prayer support is imperative. While Joshua fought the battle against the Amakelites, Moses, Aaron and Hur were on the mountain interceding. (Exodus 17) Every church plant needs the support of a network of intercessors, in order to win the battles and experience God's guidance. A flow of regular communication between the church planting team and the intercessors is of utmost importance. (eg. prayer letter) The more feedback the intercessors receive from the church planters, the more they will identify with the project as a whole. 5. Local research The goal here is to gain perspective of the local situation through demographic, geographic, cultural and spiritual research. The following questions for example, will be considered:
6. Building a church planting team Highly dedicated and motivated people need to come along side of divinely called and enabled church planter, if the church plant is going to be successful. The team meets regularly for sharing prayer, as they seek God's guidance for the next steps. It is important that this team grows together into a spiritual unit. They carry one another's burdens, as well as protect and complete one another. In this phase, the regional GGW network, could be of great assistance in training, coaching and consulting the church planting team. 7. Evangelism From the very beginning, the purpose of the church plant is to reach unbelievers with the gospel. There are different ways in which the population can be systematically reached. For example: street evangelism, information stand, house to house evangelism, Alpha Course, teaching meetings with relevant themes, social or sport activities, children's festivals, Royal-Rangers, concerts, tent evangelism etc..... In this phase, many teams start holding regular church services. For example, they might hold a monthly evangelistic or praise service. 8. Small groups Through the formation of home groups, home cell groups or similar small groups, the fellowship with one another is nurtured. The purpose is to help one another in practical discipleship, Bible study, prayer, spiritual growth, the growth of relationships and the development of an evangelistic lifestyle. New believers are to be won and integrated into the group. It is important that leaders and co-leaders are developed and mentored, in order that the small groups can multiply as quickly as possible. 9. Building a core group With numerical growth comes the necessity of expanding the group of co-workers. A core church develops. This core group is comprised of committed members and co-workers of the future church. Ministries are developed. Eg. teaching, preaching, childrens ministry, worship ministry, counselling ministry, evangelism, administration etc. In this phase, the core values and their understanding of church life is clarified. Questions like "What kind of church do we want to be? " are clarified. Theological issues, form of worship, leadership structures etc. are discussed and clarified. 10. Formation of the leadership team Through the observation of many church plants, it has been proven true, that it is not wise to set in leaders too quickly. It is better to set a temporary leadership team in place (eg. consisting of members of the church planting team and leaders of the mother church) in order to give the necessary time for personal development and maturity. The leadership structures must be clarified with the mother church. (eg. Leadership team, leader, the setting in of elders or deacons…) Three important criteria are important in setting in leaders.
11. Clarifying administrative questions Here it is important to clarify what kind of legal structure the church is to have. For example, a question that should be asked is what criteria are necessary in order for the church plant to be considered autonomous (e.g. Number of members, leadership structure, ministries, and financial budget....). A good and transparent bookkeeping system helps to produce trust with regards to the finances and can encourage the mother church to release the daughter church. 12. Making it official Through a good public relations ministry, contacts with other churches, local politicians and the media are formed and nurtured. Suitable space will be chosen for the church services. Important considerations include adjoining space for the children's ministry as well as available parking space. In order to avoid unnecessary financial burdens in the initial stages, many church plants do without long term rental agreements or purchases. Instead, they rent available space from public institutions or hotels for their church service and meet in their homes during the week. Public officials, representatives from other churches and the mayor are invited to the dedication service of the new church. The organisation of a service to send out and bless the new daughter church could complete the initial process of the church plant. The first important milestone is reached. The church is birthed and now things really get started. Manfred Lanz, Leader of the "Church Planting Ministries" (GGW) |
God loves you just the way you are!
A 54 year old woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God she asked "Is my time up?"
God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live."
Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, liposuction, breast implants and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and change her hair color and brighten her teeth! Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it. After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance!
Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 43 years? Why didn't you pull me from out of the path of the ambulance?"
God replied: "Girl.....I didn't recognize you."
Moral of the story: God loves you just the way you are!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Mifim pawl ih tipalh pang ruangah! (Matt. 2:1-12, 16)
“Bethlehem le a kiangkap khua ih a ummi
mipa nauhak kum hnih le a thuailam hmuahhmuah
that ttheh dingin thu a pek” (Matt. 2:16).
Thil tipalh (mistake) timi hi mikip: mi-aa te ihsin mifimbik nunnak ah siseh, mi nautabik ihsin mi maksak le mi upa lungfimbik ih nunnak khal ah siseh, a cang thei ttheumi a si. Mah bulpak nunnak, Innsungsang, Hrinhnam, Kawhhran, Association, Convention le Fellowship ihsin kan Laimi miphunpi huap tiang mi pakhat asilole hruaitu ttuanvo nei mi pakhat in thu a ruat palh, a ttong suak palh, ca a ngan palh, thu a zirh palh, hna a ttuan palh pang asile harsatnak le buainak a thleng thei. Curuangah raalrin a ttulzet. Ttuanvo fate nei khal in amah tawkte’n raalrin a thiam a ttul ih hruaitu upa ttuanvo tumpi neitu le thiltitheitu sinsin cun nasazet ih a raalrin ringring a ttul.
Bible (Matthai 2:1-12) sungah Nisuahnaklam ih mifim pathum pawl ih thuanthu kan hmu. Ni le Thlapi, Arsi umtu daan zoh thiam, mifim le milian, mi maksak hlir an si ding timi cu Christmas neitu naute Jesuh an ton ngah tikih an pekmi laksawng mankhung pawl zoh in kan ruat thei. December thla, a thlummi (Sweet December) Christmas Caan sunglawi ahhin mifim pawl ih nunzia le thiltuahmi pawl zoh in tuni zumtu in kan cawn dingmi pawl cu: Messiah naute (Rundamtu Jesuh Khrih) tong ngah rori dingin an hawl, Laksawng kenmi an nei (kut lawngin an feh lo). Nang le kei teh Christmas caan ah Pathian ih laksawng in pekmi tampi ruat phah in Naute laksawng ziang na pek pei? 2010 kum khal ah Christmas hmangfuhtu si zuam cio uhsi!
Asinan riahsiatza ngaingai thil ummi cu mifim pawl ih thil an tipalhmi hi a si. Ziangso an tipalh? Lamzin an palh tariai. A thokpek ih an hmuhmi le an thlunmi lamzin ihsin an pial. Vanlam Pathian lamhruainak Arsi rinsan ih an fehmi lamzin zawh ringring loin anmai’ minung fimnak le ruahnak hmangin an feh. Tusan mifim cathiam le zir saang hruaitu tampi pawl tla Bible ih simzirhmi le Thlarau Thianghlim ih hruainak hnakin, mai’ fimthiamnak le hmuhtonnak sawn rinsan in, Pathian hnakin milai rinsan ih hnattuan an hmang ttheu tikah buainak le harsatnak tampi an suahpi ttheu.
Mifim pathum in Van Arsi an thlun lo ruangah Bethlehem pan loin Jerusalem riangri an pan ngah pang. Mifim pawl ih tipalhmi ruangah Herod siangpahrang le Jerusalem khuasung mipi cu thinhar le mangbang vansaang in an um. Culawng si hrih loin sualnak nei lo nauhak kumhnih tang tampi ih nunnak a hloral. Ram pumpi ah mitthli tlaknak a thleng (Matt. 2:16). A va poi ve. Mifim ih thil tipalhmi hi! Mi nauta pakhat ih palhmi in mi a siatsuah thei ve ko nain a hngawr ngahmi a mal, a fiak deuh. Asinan mifim le mithiam, thiltithei pakhat ih thil tipalhmi cun peng le ram, miphunpi tiang a siatsuah thluh thei. Ttih a nungtuk, raalrin ngaingai a ttul.
Cangantu pakhat in “Tipalhmi (mistakes)” thu hiti’n a ngan ih hnihsuak tla a bang na’n a diknak zawn a um: Sammettu ih tipalhnak in lu pungsan style thar dang a suak; Puantthittu ih tipalhnak in fashion thar a suak, Naingnganzitama (Politician) ih tipalhnak in Daan (Law)thar a suak; Scientist ih tipalhnak ininvention thar a suak; Zirhtu saza ih tipalhnak in theory thar a suak; Computer Programmer pakhat ih tipalhnak in computer virus thar a suak; ih asinan na Thuneitu Pu (Boss) ih tipalhnak cun nangmah ih tipalh, nangmai’ mawh ah a cangter, ti’n. ………
Nangmah le keimah ih thil tipalh ruangah Khrih le Miphun hmin sia lo ding raalring uhsi!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Good Life is Found in Jesus Christ
By Ken Connor
...I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13)
Americans spend a lot of time and energy pursuing "the good life," and thanks to the "Mad Men" of the advertising world, we have a pretty good idea of what the good life looks like: A state-of-the-art home with all the amenities, a garage full of luxury automobiles, a closet full of designer clothes, all the latest technological gadgets, a well-diversified investment portfolio, an upwardly mobile career with cushy benefits... the list goes on and on. In a nutshell, we are told that the good life consists of feeling good, looking good, and having lots of stuff.
There's only one problem with this portrayal of the good life: It's not enough. It's never enough. It's like drinking salt water – the more you drink, the thirstier you get. And let's get real: the very purpose of advertising is to foster perpetual discontentment with the status quo. Remember that shiny new iPhone you waited hours in line for last year? It's now obsolete. Still in love with your LCD flat screen TV, or are you feeling behind the curve because you haven't joined the 3D technology bandwagon? Is the trusty family minivan a beloved symbol of family togetherness, or an embarrassing reminder that you haven't yet upgraded to an SUV replete with all the trimmings?
Despite the fact that we live in the freest country in the world – a land of unprecedented opportunities, liberties and advantages – study after study reveals that the more American's have, the less fulfilled and content we actually feel. The Thanksgiving season, then, is a good time to reflect on what truly constitutes the good life, and to look back at the original Thanksgiving story to see what it can teach us about the origins of true happiness.
Even though they were facing a hard winter in a strange place, the Pilgrims set aside time to give thanks to God for His provision in a strange new land. Their attitude was key to their happiness. In modern America, and across much of the modern developed world, we do not give thanks in the way the Pilgrims did, even on Thanksgiving. How many of us live in a spirit of gratitude, with humble appreciation for the many blessings God has given us, and how many of us dwell on the perceived shortcomings in our lives? How many of us, like Martha in the famous Bible story, stress ourselves to the max striving for the perfect home and the perfect meal to the point that we completely lose sight of the reason we've gathered to celebrate in the first place?
The pilgrims were not plagued with such frenzied spirits, and for that reason they were able to give thanks joyfully despite the many uncertainties in the road ahead. Because they were men and women of faith, they knew that contentment and security is to be found not in this material world but in spiritual union with the Savior, Jesus Christ. They knew that their future was in His hands, and with that conviction they were free to joyfully celebrate the harvest and their many blessings. They also understood that the chief end of man was to worship God and enjoy Him forever. Contentment was to be found in Christ, not in their circumstances.
When we deny our design and reject our purpose, however (as we moderns have largely done), all we are left with is the spirit of discontentment and envy that Madison Avenue profits from. When we fall prey to the myth that the good life is found in the abundance of our possessions, we are setting ourselves up for perpetual disappointment.
But there is another way. Through union with Christ, there is a joy that cannot be found in material possessions: a peace and contentment that passes all understanding. This is the promise of the Resurrection, a promise that no ad-man and no amount of stuff can ever match. As we conclude this year's Thanksgiving celebration, we should all take a step back from the frenzy and chaos of the holiday season to meditate on the blessings that will last for eternity.
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