ANDLES Issue No. 16 Please send your suggestions & Articles for the next issue of CANDLES to “Mr. Chiradeep Patra, 11A/1A, Mahendra Chatterjee Lane, Kolkata - 700 046;
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Guest Editorial
Year 4 Moses & the Burning Bush
M
oses and the Burning Bush story in Exodus 3, is very familiar and interesting. Many preachers have been interpreting this story in many ways from the very beginning. As I was studying on this story I came to know that Moses learnt 5 important lessons from the 'Burning Bush' incident, which are relevant for us even today. Those FIVE important lessons are as under: 1. The created being changes its nature where there is God (vv.2, 3): When Moses came closure to the bush he finds that the fire didn't consume the bush. The nature of fire is to consume. So from this we learn that the created being like water, air, fire, people or anything will change its nature in the presence of its Creator. So be assured that nothing will harm us in this world until God allows. 2. The place becomes Holy where there is God (v. 5): When Moses was approaching the bush God called out and asked him to take off his sandals as the place is Holy. In other words God dwells in the holy place. Holiness and evil can not co-exist. It is the same in our lives too. 3. True self-recognition comes where there is God (v. 6): When Moses came to know the awesome identity of God, he was afraid and hid his face. He recognized how negligible, insignificant, weak and unholy he is before the awesome God. When we are in the presence of God we recognize who truly we are! 4. Love & Compassion flows where there is God (vv. 7 - 9): While talking to Moses God revealed His feelings and emotion towards His chosen people. He wanted to rescue His people from the hands of Egyptians. His heart was troubled to see His peoples' suffering. Therefore, we must know that love and compassion flows where there is God. Is God there in our life, family and Church? 5. God never sends us where He is not there (vv. 10 12): God sent Moses to Egypt and said, 'I will be with you'. We don't have to question God, 'why me?' instead we can approach to the task given by God immediately knowing and trusting that God will never send me to the place where He won't be there. Our God is Great and Awesome! The lessons that Moses learnt from the burning bush is very much essential for us to learn and practice in this New Year 2009. So remember, God is there always with us (Heb.13:5) as we travel life's unknown and unexpected journey.
Sudipta Nanda, is the director of a Social Organisation. He is a good counselor, an expositor and a teacher. He can be contacted at: sudiptasapna@gmail.com
General
Can We Dream of a SMOKE FREE WORLD! NAmong young teens (aged 13 to 15), about one in five smokes worldwide. NBetween 80,000 and 100,000 children worldwide start smoking every day - roughly half of whom live in Asia. NEvidence shows that around 50% of those who start smoking in adolescent years go on to smoke for 15 to 20 years. NMore than 4,000 toxic or carcinogenic chemicals have been found in tobacco smoke. NSmoking is a prime factor in heart disease, stroke and chronic lung disease. It can cause cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, and bladder, and contributes to cancer of the cervix, pancreas, and kidneys. NAbout a quarter of youth alive in the Western Pacific Region will die from smoking. NEvery cigarette smoked cuts at least five minutes of life on average about the time taken to smoke it. NAlmost 5 million people die every year from smoking related illness. Source: WHO, Smoking Statistics - Year 2002 (You can imagine the stats of 2008-09)
S
moking is injurious to health. This caption is written on every pack of cigarette for the smokers. But we need to be aware of the fact that when people around a smoker breathe in other people's smoke (second hand smoke), which is known as passive smoking are at risk also. It is equally dangerous for the health of people who breathe in the smoke. In a single throw of a cigarette smoke has numerous amounts of tiny invisible particles that get mixed with the surrounding air. These particles are breathed in by anyone near the smoker and get right down into their lungs. And this increases the health risk, especially in children. Health Risks in Passive Smoking Scientific studies have shown that passive smoke contains many dangerous chemicals. There can be around 4000 different chemicals in tobacco smoke that may be breathed in by someone who is near a smoker. They also stick to clothes, furniture, walls and inside the car. Cigarette smoke contains, Tar made up of many chemicals, including carcinogens which causes cancer. It also contains Carbon monoxide that lowers the amount of oxygen our blood can carry. It contains poisons including arsenic, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. Following are the diseases caused due to passive smoking:
MEye irritation MPneumonia MBronchitis MCoughing MAsthma MHeart disease MCancer Page 2
Protection from passive smoking In recent years, the dangers of passive smoking have become more widely known. As passive smoking is as dangerous as smoking itself we need to think of protection from it. Following are few tips through which we can avoid the risk of inhaling or breathing in of cigarette smoke:
GSpreading awareness for smoke free public places. GRequest the smokers not to smoke in public places. GUse posters with 'NO SMOKING' signs in offices, trains, buses, even at homes. GThe smokers should smoke outside. GDo not smoke in front of other people especially in front of the children. GThe best thing is Please Stop Smoking; it is dangerous for you as well as for others. We need to know that in India, exposure to passive smoking has fallen from 49 percent to 40 percent since the ban on public smoking began, according to a survey conducted by the World Health Organization. So friends! In this New Year 2009, can we dream of a SMOKE FREE WORLD? Can we be responsible for what we are doing to our beautiful society by smoking a cigarette? Let us be serious about this and join hands to build a smoke free world. (All data & stats are from internet)
Chiradeep Patra, is an Accountant of a Social Organisation. He is a counselor and an author of many articles. He can be contacted at: chiradeeppatra@hotmail.com
DRAW NEAR
I have been given a cross to carry, The load of which gives me worry. At times it seems to become heavier, This is when HE says “Draw Near�. This world to me has lots to offer, But for you my Lord I prefer to suffer. Teach me how to wait upon You, Till your answers make all things new. Doubts & Fear always block my way, By the staff of faith I try them away. Trials & temptations are bound to come, But the Word of God makes them numb. Lord give me strength to bear all pain, So that all may see your blessings rain. Touch my heart and make it clean, Whenever I tire give me shoulder to lean. I know not God what you have for me, But things are store will be best from thee. Teach me how to accept your ways, So that in You my faith never sways.
Dipti Prakash Sahu, is into corporate services. He loves writing poems and short stories. He can be contacted at: prakash1401@gmail.com Page 3
Our Family
Practical Advice for a Married Woman But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine... the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:1,3-5
For some women this Scripture sounds ridiculous - I remember when I first came to know the Lord, someone told me that I should obey my husband no matter what. Well, my response did not put me in the category described above. But as I saw God's design and His plan, I came to realize that God gave women - in this case, married women, a very special privilege and responsibility. The last sentence in this verse says, "That the word of God may not be blasphemed." This means that our words carry a tremendous amount of weight. We should not be spending our time gossiping and tearing other women down. We should be spending our time looking for opportunities to encourage one another, especially younger women. If we claim to be Christians, our hearts should be in tune with the Lord's. We should walk humbly before him, lifting up our husbands for the tough responsibilities they have and we should be an example to the younger women who are watching us. I hear many women ridicule their husbands and it is heartbreaking. How we talk about our husbands will make or break our homes. The more we share the "lesser" qualities of our husbands, the more we will be discontent, and pretty soon, we can talk ourselves into just about anything; our "Prince Charming" has suddenly become "A good for nothing ______." I speak from experience. Do not be deceived by the devil. Do not give him a foothold into your marriage. He is the great deceiver - very cunning and subtle, sometimes you don't even realize you are a pawn in his nasty little game. It brings him great pleasure when he succeeds in destroying a marriage. This verse is so practical - every part of God's word to us is. Whether Christian or not, adopting new attitudes and sharing the greater qualities of our husbands will resolve a lot of petty problems in our relationships and will help to stop serious issues from developing. Most importantly, our marriage will not grow cold and we will be using our power in a positive way and maybe - just maybe, we will be a light for a struggling marriage. (C) Teresa Ortiz In Season Ministries All Rights Reserved
Teresa Ortiz, is an author, speaker and teacher. She is an excellent encourager and a counselor. To know more about her, visit: www.inseason2tim.com
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