kosarajuraj

Have you ever stopped to think about the amount of violence we’re exposed to in our culture? I read a recent study that said the average child today will see 200,000 acts of violence (including 6,000 murders) on television by the time he or she reaches age 18. It’s alarming! This epidemic of violence in the media is hardening our society to the point where many have become numb when they hear about real problems. We see genocide around the world, murders in our cities, and infanticide in the wombs of many mothers right here in America, and many people don’t even care. Thousands of years ago, God gave the commandment to the Israelites, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). And throughout history, the act of wantonly taking the life of another has been condemned… all the way back to Cain and Abel, the children of Adam and Eve. That’s because one of the most horrific results of the sin is hatred between people, which often fleshes out in murder. So what can we do to cou...

The digital world is driven by its entrepreneurial and ideological pioneers and cheerleaders, and they are a multitude. The numbers are staggering. The World Wide Web is, for all practical purposes, less than twenty years old. It now reaches every continent and country, linking over 2 billion people. There are now 5.9 billion cellular subscribers, and that means 87% of the world’s population. Cell phones, originally the toys of the very rich and powerful, are now more popular than landline phones in the poorest regions of the globe. The telephone pole will soon be an antique. The blogosphere was unknown to humankind until the last fifteen years, but just one blogging platform (WordPress) logs over 300 million users each month, who blog more than 2.5 billion pages. The world now turns to Google before even thinking of reaching for a dictionary or encyclopedia. Most Americans under age 30 cannot imagine a time when you had to go to a brick and mortar library for information...

In their new book The Hyperlinked Life, David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, and Jun Young, founder and CEO of ZUM Communication and former Microsoft employee, explore some of the data and trends that are producing this new iWorld. More importantly, they look at what it means for God’s people to thrive and bear witness to something greater than ourselves and the plethora of information at hand. In the past fifteen years a revolution has taken place. You know about it because you’ve lived through it, but you may have missed its profound implications. Everyone’s heard of the digital revolution, but this is so much more. It’s the knowledge revolution. Here is what this revolution looks like: Not so long ago, we had to wait for information about our world to come to us. Books and other print items were among the first media that collected and distributed information in a relevant package for humans. Then came radio and television — electronic media that helped satiat...

To unsaved people, Christianity is nothing more than a philosophy. So when they decide to change their philosophy, they are sincere when they say... “I used to be a Christian.” Now, they may have once been in a Christian church, and had learned Christian teachings; but they certainly never found Christ as their personal Savior. Many people join a church, listen to the Gospel message, but they have NO faith in God. This is exactly what happened to the Jews in the Wilderness in Moses' time... “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Many people hear the saving Gospel message of Christ crucified, but they have no faith in what they are hearing. Our churches are packed full with such Christ-rejecters. What a sad paradox! The fact is that many who claim to be Christians have never been born again. They wear the label of “Christian,” but there has been no true chan...

“You have cancer.” “I want a divorce.” “Your position has been terminated.” “Your electricity has been shut off until you make a payment on your bill.” “You have not been accepted into our program.” “I’m sorry, there has been an accident…”Sometimes we come face to face with complicated matters that we simply are not expecting. Life can turn us upside down in a moment’s notice and leave us gasping for breath, grasping for strength, and searching for answers. Have you been there? Are you or is someone you know is there now? Keep reminding and try to recollect.... The Bible tells us that God will never leave us nor forsake us. But this does not mean that bad things won’t happen. And it also does not mean that we will never experience pain, disappointment, or devastation. It means that no matter what we face, God – Emmanuel – is always with us and His peace is always available… whether He chooses to deliver us from the trial, through the trial, or in the trial.   ...

I recently read an article on “Morality is definitely on the decline”. It reflected the reality of issues in everyday life.  Where can you find relief? Alcohol, drugs, relationships, work, money, sex... the list goes on? If so, you've found relief that simply won't work long-term. The Bible says, 'Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down', causing hopelessness and depression. Let me ask you something. Have you watched TV lately? There are shows like Jersey Shore, Skins, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and last but not least, 16 and Pregnant. I also fail to mention that all the reality TV series that are aired are not even "reality", those shows are full of lies. Every time I turn the TV on, there is at least one sex scene on almost every show. Sex is everywhere on TV, and don't forget those movie trailers. The shows are one thing but the music that is played now a days is trash. The lyrics are full of filth, like getting drun...

I liked Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein’s article on Personal Responsibility. Maybe you’ve seen the following satirical illustration about personal responsibility. The first frame shows a picture of an obese man eating a burger and fries with the text, “McDonalds made me fat.” In the next frame, the same man is seen chain-smoking cigarettes with the text, “Phillip Morris gave me cancer.” Next, the man is pictured driving his car into a wall while the text explains, “Jack Daniels wrecked my car.” In the last scene, the man appears livid as the text reads: “Now they must pay for all the suffering that they caused!” It’s much easier to blame others than take responsibility for our own actions. But in the end, we harm ourselves more than those we blame. God knows the truth. God knows who is responsible and who is innocent. Those who shift the blame will ultimately bring damage upon themselves. While it may be tempting to shirk responsibility, we cannot escape the results of our act...