Monday 2 June 2008

Sunday Blessings - Abnerspeak

Abner watching telly Had church in the evening as the stand -in Pastor was free only in the evenings.
Its good to see how teaching in church and Sunday school creates an awareness in children.
A Hindu friend of ours came to see us.When the adults were not there Abner (Sonia 's 6 yr old son) had a talk with him
Abner: Are you a Hindu or a Christian?
Ravi (jokingly) : I am a Christian.
Abner: No you can 't be a Christian because you are wearing a temple thread on your wrist. Christians don 't wear that.
Ravi: I believe in Jesus, and I believe in all religions.
Abner: But you must only believe in Jesus.
The Bible says God will use little children to spread His truth.
Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.

12 Fertilize my soul:

Jeanette said...

How I love this post, Amrita! Thank you for sharing it. What an encouragement!

Curious Servant said...

That is the attractive part of Hinduism... they believe in everyone, everything, all are welcome.

Jesus? Sure! We'll just make a little room on the altar and put his pic there as well. Always room for another avatar.

Perhaps one of the toughest parts about Christianity is that it pushes me... makes me think honestly about who I am. It is bigger than me. If my beliefs are so encompassing that they allow me to do whatever I will and welcome everyone else to do the same, then they are no larger than me.

My God is much bigger than I am.

And what is weird is it isn't aboout putting others down, or marking myself, my faith, my God as larger, but rather about loving harder, giving more, being kinder than I want to be.

Ah well...

I didn't come here for that, bbut I thought I'd drop my two cents woorth.

I came by too thank yoou for the nice comment.

I'm unsure if you have my email, but if you ever want to email me directly, you can at:

greenleaf.will@gmail.com

Later Sis...

(I'm sleeping on the couch tonight because I don't want to share her moood.)

love,

Will

Julia Dutta said...

Dear Amrita,

Abner: Are you a Hindu or a Christian?
Ravi (jokingly) : I am a Christian.
Abner: No you can 't be a Christian because you are wearing a temple thread on your wrist. Christians don 't wear that.
Ravi: I believe in Jesus, and I believe in all religions.
Abner: But you must only believe in Jesus.
The Bible says God will use little children to spread His truth.
Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.

Was that for me The Lord spoke through you? I too have had the same question put to me when I was all but 5 years old by my matron. I too had said both, not Christian or Hindu. But in the years that went by, I realised that faith, pure faith in God, does not have a name; it is a surrender to the will of God, whether one read that in Hindu texts or on Christian texts or on any texts for that matter.

My councelor is Christian, Gujrathi who took to The Seventh Day Adventist and is liberal to understand that I come from another religion by birth, but have faith in all.

Am I confused? Do I ache for the kingdom of God? In my hours of darkness, I do. But, then those hours are only few and far between. The rest of the time, I belong to a compelling faith that I am beinging guided....being lead...

Does it then really matter, "where" I come from? Who I am, by birth and practice.

Warm regards,

Julia

Susan Skitt said...

Your last comment with John 14:6 sums it up well! Jesus is the only way! There is no other! The Bible is very clear. How sweet and simple the Gospel is... if only people would believe!

Praise God for His little ambassadors like Abner :)

Thanks for sharing!

Amrita said...

Dear friends thank you for your valuable comments and the special input by Will and Julia.

That is true Will our God is much bigger than us. We cannot put Him in a box.And we all are His creation whether we believe in Him or not.

I am amzed at your patience and forgiveness Will.i don 't know what I would have done in your place.You love your wife as Christ loves the church.We are so unfaithful and slippery, but Jesus loves us the way you love Brenda.

I give your axample to others.

My dearest Julia,thank you for sharing so openly.We all are the children of the one true God. And Christianity is not a religion, its a way of life.Pray to the one true God to reveal Himself to you my friend and He will in His own way and time.

Seventh Day Adentists are not based on Biblical doctrines. They are not considered a mainline Protestant denomination. We stay away from their doctrines although we have discussions with them and have them as friends.I know about the Spicer College in Pune.

The great thing about our Hindu friends is that they are very tolerant towards other faiths.

have you read the biographies of Pandita Ramabai (Brahmin) and Sadhu Sundar Singh (Sikh)? Both found the light in a miraculous way.I recommend them to you.

God bless you Julia. God loves you you very much.

Dick said...

Nice post, watching TV...I like it too.

Pat said...

I love Abner's boldness and conviction...a little child shall lead them.

Renae said...

Good for Abner! Oh, that we all would speak with such bold innocence!

Sita said...

I have always found it interesting that it was to the apostle Thomas who went to India that Jesus said those words: "I am THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life, not a way..etc...Julia, I would highly recommend books by Ravi Zacharas to you--a writer for the thinker.
One of my friends from a Brahmin Hindu family thought he was pretty much OK--almost perfect. Then one day a flower caught his eye and when he examined it closely, he was struck by its beauty and the intricate details that went into making it beautiful. It was then like a light turned on and he realized that the Creator of this flower was not only intelligent and creative, but He was very much a PERSONAL God who bothered with details. That was the beginning of his journey into an intimate relationship with Jesus. He now sees his flaws like never before, but through the loving eyes of Jesus.

I am so glad that God opened the eyes of my parents to recognize that Jesus is the Way.
May God open our eyes to know Him more.
Take care, Amrita. You show the love of Jesus.
~Love, Sita~

Julia Dutta said...

Amrita,
Thank you for your kind wishes. I will try to get hold of those books you recommended.

I want to share a story with you - It is said that Vivekananda who was on his search for God, was looking for a God that one had seen, like one human sees another. It failed him for a long time. On his wanderings, he came across a temple in a village and the goddess inside was uncared for, left to herself there. But it was an old temple and so Vivekananda went to see it. As he turned to leave, he heard, I repeat, he actually heard, a voice calling out his name. But there was no one at sight. He listened carefully. Yes, she was calling out his name. His life was transformed!

I say, one never knows, where the voice of God will come from. Even the most stone hearted, the non-believer, is wax in His hands. When He decides to change the stone to magic metal, is also in His hands.... Thank you friend!
Julia

JO said...

WONDEFUL POST! Smart little guy!

Shari said...

What a great story. It's wonderful how the Holy Spirit works through children.