Email OF The Day: 08/07/12

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

[www.keralites.net] Christian fasting

"Christian fasting - what does the Bible say?"

Answer:

Scripture does not command Christians to fast. God does not require or demand it of Christians. At the same time, the Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable, and beneficial. The book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:2; 14:23). Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus completely on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to ourselves, that we are serious about our relationship with Him. Fasting helps us gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.

Although fasting in Scripture is almost always a fasting from food, there are other ways to fast. Anything given up temporarily in order to focus all our attention on God can be considered a fast (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Fasting should be limited to a set time, especially when fasting from food. Extended periods of time without eating can be harmful to the body. Fasting is not intended to punish the flesh, but to redirect attention to God. Fasting should not be considered a "dieting method" either. The purpose of a biblical fast is not to lose weight, but rather to gain deeper fellowship with God. Anyone can fast, but some may not be able to fast from food (diabetics, for example). Everyone can temporarily give up something in order to draw closer to God.

By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can more successfully turn our attention to Christ. Fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want. Fasting changes us, not God. Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others. Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and a joyful attitude. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

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[www.keralites.net] Devraha Baba was a siddha who lived for over 250 years,

Devraha Baba was a siddha who lived for over 250 years, before entering samadhi in 1989. So elderly was he that the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, more than fifty years ago, said that his father had sat at the feet of Devraha Baba as a child - that is, in the middle of the nineteenth century - and Devraha Baba was already elderly at that time. Devraha Baba never took food, and never set foot on the ground. He lived in a unique hut that was raised off the ground by bamboo poles. This rare video footage was recorded for a russian television channel around 1987-1989, so it is not in English. A translation of the interview is below.

Reporter says: This is Devraha Baba, who lives on this wooden platform. He is not a robber or a psycho but a person highly honored and respected not only in India but also far from its borders. He was visited on many occasions by famous and rich Kashigy (?), Sultan of Brunei (?), artists and actors - Liz Taylor, Roger Moore; rulers of India that visited him were Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and ministers of the government.

So it is our turn now to see him! Let see what is happening these are high power people from Delhi that brought their children suffering from diarrhea. Conventional drugs would not help them so these people are using alternative methods to deal with their problems.

Baba cures people using only words and by touching them using his foot. Up to 3,000 people come to see him daily, some for advise, some to get healed and others just to see him.

As we can see, people are sitting by the fence and waiting for when Baba would give them a sign to approach. It happens that people being sent away by means of his young helper. Rumors about this wise man spread from eastern India, state of Bihar in the mid-1950s, when a village was attacked by a pack of wild bears eating people. That is when Baba appeared from one of the huts and stopped the bears by raising his hand. Since then Baba was seen in other parts of India.

He could understand the language of animals, heal people by his look or word, give advice and tell the future. In the past he would do predictions of political future for whole countries. For that he was once arrested and only personal involvement of Indira Gandhi helped to get him out of the jail. Some say that Baba was her personal adviser during her last days. This holy man could not protect her but predicted the day she would die (she wrote about it).

Question and Answer begins by the reporter:

Question by reporter: What do you eat?

Answer by Devraha Baba: Nothing by your standards.

Question by reporter: How old are you and do you remember your parents?

Answer by Devraha Baba: I do not have any age. I was born from the river Yamuna when it was blessed by Krishna.

(At this point somebody from the crowd commented that he is 200 years old or just under that.)

Question by reporter: People talk about the end of the world that is expected at the end of this century (this interview is dated to mid 1980s), can you comment on that?

Answer by Devraha Baba: This is a secret and the time has not come yet to reveal that. I can only say that what ever would happen will be good for the humanity, as I am praying for that.

Question by reporter: After such an answer we had little hope for our next question: What can you say about the future of the Soviet Union? And here a miracle happened as we got a long answer from this Person who does not even know how a radio or a newspaper looks like.

Answer by Devraha Baba: Litva has distorted the Baltics and the 3 Republics would separate, other Republics would follow up. You are going thru a difficult period of suffering but at the end everything will be ok as you will be purged. Your President Gorbachev will visit India this or next year. Let him come over and I would give a good advice to him and bless.

Question by reporter: Can we pass on your message to him?

Answer by Devraha Baba: No, let him come in person.

Question by reporter: Can we get a blessing from you?

Reporter says: Here there was a delay for about 15 minutes during which he would glance at us with one eye, greenish and bottomless. Meanwhile it was commented from the crowd that his last blessing happened about 1 year ago and that he does not bless when people ask for it. So we were about to leave when Baba decided to bless me. I am going to comment on my feelings while it is happening. They say that usually insulation is used between the foot and a head to be on a safe side.

Later When saying goodbye Baba told us not to leave Delhi quickly after we would return there. We forgot all about it and went off to another assignment. Just recently we found that a train near Bombay was derailed. We were planning to take this train. Well, it could be just a coincidence, or maybe not?

Ravi

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[www.keralites.net] Ramadan Recipe-20

Chicken stuffed cheese balls recipe

Photo: Chicken stuffed cheese balls recipe

The Arabic Food Recipes kitchen (The Home of Delicious Arabic Food Recipes) invites you to try Chicken stuffed cheese balls Recipe. Enjoy the Arabic Cuisine and learn how to make Chicken stuffed cheese balls.

Ingredients

¾ Cup feta cheese, grated
¾ Cup mozzarella or Cheddar cheese, grated
Salt and pepper
1/3 Cup flour
1 Egg, beaten
½ Cup breadcrumbs
Chicken, cooked, diced and seasoned with salt and pepper
Frying oil
Fresh vegetable sticks (carrots, celery, cucumber) for serving

Method

-Mix the cheeses in a deep bowl and season with salt and pepper.

-Shape the cheese into balls and dig a hole to form a cup shape.

-Stuff the cheese balls with the chicken pieces and close firmly from all sides (Cheese balls can be made without stuffing and other stuffing can also be used such as boiled shrimps or cooked minced meat).

-Immerse the balls into the flour until completely covered then place in the beaten egg then in the breadcrumbs. Be sure that the balls are completely covered and remove any excess flour and breadcrumbs.
Deep fry until golden. Place on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

-Serve with vegetable sticks or various dips such as ketchup or mayonnaise.

Engr.Sulthan

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[www.keralites.net] ISLAMIC MANNERS-20

ISLAMIC MANNERS-20

Visiting the Sick

8.4 THE MANNERS OF VISITING A PATIENT
The visitor ought to wear clean clothes with a fresh scent in order to make the patient feel better both spiritually and physically. At the same time, it is improper to wear fancy clothes that are more appropriate for parties and festivities. Wearing a strong perfume may annoy the sick.

Visitors ought to keep their conversation light and avoid gloomy talk that might exacerbate the patient's distress. Avoid conveying bad news such as a failing business, a death, or similar bad news. Also, visitors ought not to inquire about the details of illness unless the visitor is a specialized physician. Similarly, visitors should not recommend to a patient any food or medicine that might have helped them or someone else. Such recommendation might lead the ill person, out of ignorance or desperation, to try it, causing further complication or even death.

Do not criticize or object to the treatment by the physician in the presence of the ill person for it might cast doubt in the mind of the sick. If you are a specialized physician, you may want to discuss the case and its treatment privately with the doctor in charge.

8.5 How the Ill express their complaints
It is recommended that when asked about our condition, a sick person should start by thanking Allah and then proceed to list his complaints. This is to avoid the appearance of complaining of Allah's will. This was the etiquette of the followers as reported by Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi in his Tarikh Baghdad in the biography of Abdul Rahman Al-Tabib who was the physician of Imam Ahmad and Bishr Al-Hafi. Abdul Rahman said both Imam Ahmad and Bishr became sick and were treated at the same place. When I visited Bishr, I asked how he felt, and with thanks to Allah first, he then proceeded saying I have this pain or that complaint. When I visited Imam Ahmad and asked how he felt, he would say I feel all right.' One day I told him, your brother Bishr is also ill, but when I ask him of his conditions, he thanks Allah first, then tells me his condition. Imam Ahmad said, Please ask him from where did he get this.' I answered, His presence makes me reluctant to ask.' Imam Ahmad said, Tell him your brother, Abo Abdillah asks from where did you get this.' Abdul Rahman asked Bishr as told. Bishr said, Abo Abdillah wants everything with authority. I heard this from Azhar who heard it from ibn Aoun who heard it from ibn Sireen; If a person thanked Allah before complaining, it will not be a complaint but as if telling the acts of Allah. Abdul Rahman said, I
told this to Imam Ahmad. After that, if asked how he felt, he would start by thanking Allah, and then describing his complaints.'

The answer of Bishr indicates that when asked about their health, the sick preferably should praise Allah first then explain their complaints. By this approach, it is not considered complaining against the acts of Allah.

from the book ISLAMIC MANNERS
By Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah (RA)

Engr.Sulthan

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[www.keralites.net] 10 Absurd Laws From Around the World

10 Absurd Laws From Around the World

The rules which govern all nations universally (exempting an interesting few). They protect ordinary citizens and provide consequences to those who break them, providing order so that the country may be stable and not anarchic. There are, however, an abundant amount of countries with laws that are just downright ridiculous, ranging from the United States to Swaziland.

10. China One Child Policy