Movember

Hi All,

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) I'm growing a Mo. That's right I'm bringing the Mo back because I'm passionate about tackling men's health issues and being proactive in the fight against men's depression and prostate cancer.

To donate to my Mo you can either:

1.
Click this link and donate online using your credit card
2.
Write a cheque payable to ‘Movember Donations Account', referencing my Registration Number 1613226 and mailing it to:

Movember
PO Box 12 708
Wellington 6144

Remember, all donations over $10 are tax deductible.

The money raised by Movember is used to raise awareness of men's health issues and donated to the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. These two charities will use the money raised to fund research and increase support networks for those affected with prostate cancer and experiencing depression.

Did you know:

* Depression affects 1 in 10 men....Most people who experience depression make a full recovery. The first step is seeking help.
* Last year in New Zealand 2,700 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 600 died of prostate cancer - (that's nearly two each day).

For those that have supported Movember in previous years you can be very proud of the impact it has had and can check out the details at: [Fundraising Outcomes].

Movember culminates at the end of month Gala Partés. If you would like to be part of this great night you'll need to purchase a [Gala Parté Ticket].

Thanks for your support Andrew.



More information is available at http://www.movember.com/.

Movember is proud partners with The Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

If I could sing... any Mark Heard song.

If I could sing then i would pretty much want to sing any Mark heard song. In particular I would want to sing NO! first but there is no video of that on youtube.

Details about Mark... from www.markheard.net

Mark was a poet. He was a man who felt the weight of the world. A man who saw both beauty and ugliness, and he realized that we must see both if we see them all. Mark was a man who not only refused to be blind to the world around him, but who saw that with a clarity, wisdom, and insight that is very rare these days ...

From the deep South of Macon, Georgia, to a rare and quaint village of Los Angeles, Mark was throwing his muse/recording his experience since the 70s. Mark's songs, at once visceral and philosophical to a degree uncommon in contemporary music, consistently integrated the sacred and the profane, the spiritual and the humane and provided nourishment in a way so few others ever have. Although revered by many of his songwriting peers as simply one of the best, Mark's music, in his lifetime, never caught the attention of a large music-buying public - Mark was an artist more concerned with telling the truth than selling the truth.

When Mark passed away in August 1992 at the age of 40, he left behind a musical legacy that is staggering in scope, vision and volume. Having released 16 records in less than as many years, Mark was equally involved in supporting, producing and collaborating with many other artists such as Sam Phillips, Pierce Pettis, Phil Keaggy, Vigilantes of Love (Mark Heard and Peter Buck of REM co-produced VOL's album Killing Floor) and Michael Been of The Call. Mark's body of work has been praised by artists such as Victoria Williams, Buddy and Julie Miller, T Bone Burnett and Bruce Cockburn, who has even claimed Mark to be his favorite songwriter. Mark garnered a loyal following by penning untinted reflections on a life influenced equally by big ideas as by the small day-to-day issues with which any man, husband, father, or human has to wrestle.

~ ~ ~

On July 4, 1992, Mark was playing at the Cornerstone Festival, outside Chicago. He had a minor heart attack on stage, but finished the set. Afterwards, he went to a hospital. Mark was released from the hospital one week after being admitted. He wanted to get home before undergoing treatment for 2 blocked arteries. The doctors collectively decided he could make it home. The afternoon after being released, Mark had a cardiac arrest and died. After he got to the hospital, a doctor was able to bring him back to life and performed a successful bypass operation. Mark's heart recovered well, but because his brain was without oxygen from the time he died until he was revived, he never came out of the coma.

A lot of his music is available on itunes - go there now - buy - enjoy!


Here are a few of his songs that either he, or fans, have made videos for.

Lonely moon. (lyrics)


Treasure of the broken land (lyrics)


Is it any wonder (lyrics)

International HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE trailer

Do i really have to wait until July?

Grr argh

The pearl of the world vs the pearl of great price.

It's a "really bad bootleg" but check out the video above, check out the lyrics here if you want, do a quick read of Matthew 13:44-46 and 1 Timothy 6: 6-19 and then on with todays theology..

When I first heard this song I thought that it was about The Pearl of Great Price. That’s the parable of Jesus from the reading tonight. When Fleming McWilliam was singing “Oh look I’ve found it, don’t drop it etc” I could see the merchant in the Parable thinking the same sort of things.

But as I kept listening to the song and then looked at the lyrics I realised this Christian band were singing about something quiet different than Jesus’s parable. Why would they want to throw away the Kingdom of Heaven, how could it be doing such bad things, consuming them and making them want to kill?

Confusion reigned until I watched an interview with them and I discovered the song is based on a book by John Steinbeck called “the pearl”. A quick check and I found out the library had a few copies so I read it and it all became clear as to what they were singing about.

Also while reading the book I realised that I was also reading a parable…

Adrian Plass once described a parable as a story that keeps your brain busy at the front door while the truth slips in through a side window and sandbags you from behind…

John Steinbeck’s parable was about a very different Pearl than Jesus’s. So todayt I’m going to write about the two parables, two parables about two very different pearls and the truth that is trying to slip in through our side windows.

Let’s start with John Steinbecks

Once upon a time there was a subsistence Pearl diver called Kino…

Kino lives in a village in Mexico at the beginning of last century. He loves his wife, Juana, very much and they have a small baby boy called Coyotito. Even though he only manages to find enough pearls to keep them fed and housed - together they are very happy.

One day however he manages to find it… a pearl the size of a sea-gulls egg and as perfect as the moon. It was the greatest pearl in the world. As he looked at it he could see his dreams form – he saw an education for his son, he saw better equipment for his pearl diving, he saw stylish clothes for his wife…. He saw his hopes his dreams his life.

He called it the pearl of the world

The pearl brought him instant celebrity status in his village. His friends and relatives crowded him and were awed at his find, they all felt a little jealousy and envy.


Also looking on were the various “independent” pearl merchants… (the middle men who would buy the pearls and sell them on (for a lovely profit) to the jewellers in the city.)

The merchants looked on with greed in their hearts. That evening they talked behind closed doors and therefore Kino did not have a good day when he went to sell his pearl.

You see Kino’s dreams had been growing. With each moment that he held the pearl his dreams, his hopes and his life plans they all grew. He was going to use it to buy equipment like a bigger boat and maybe a stronger knife. With those he’d dive and find more and more pearls. Of course he’d also need a gun…

So with his heart pounding he went to the first merchant. “It’s flawed” the merchant said “too big – it’s worthless – but I like you so I’ll take it off your hands and get rid of it…” Over and over he heard the merchants say this – and his anger grew…

He knew it had to be worth more, it just had to be. He wasn’t going to give up. The next day he and his wife would go to the city and sell it themselves. That will show the greedy parasites.

Back at his grass hut someone had been there and looking for the pearl of the world. That night he did not sleep well. He hid the pearl but he was waiting for the thieves to come. He wouldn’t let them have. If he wasn’t some poor diver they would not do this to him.

Thieves came in the night, they fought... Kino, Coyotito and his beloved wife Juana escaped. Their hut caught fire and so all they escaped with was some clothes and a few provisions they had prepared for the journey. And of course Kino still had the pearl of the world. He wouldn’t let it go

That night they set off before more thieves could try to take his pearl. Part way down the road they were attacked. Kino fought well and in the dark he took the attackers knife and killed him.

He was just a diver, no one would believe him, and he had to run, run and hide.

Into the jungle the family went and headed to a mountain with caves. Behind them Kino heard followers so he sent his baby son Coyotito and Juana ahead while he laid an ambush.

From behind he struck. The knife going into a someone’s back, Kino then turned on the other – he had a gun. A shot rang out. It missed Kino and bark from a tree spat at him, up the mountain Coyotito frightened awake began to cry. The last man turns to the sound and Kino attacks. In the struggle Kino kills again but from the gun a random blast. The babys terrified cry ceases. The mother’s mournful wail begins.

In the morning, carrying the bloody bundle of Coyotito - Kino and Juana walk numbly through the village towards the sea.

At the shore Kino throws the pearl of the world with all his might into the ocean. It sinks and settles under the mud never to be found again.

it could be the pearl
it could be our hope our dream our lives
it could be the pearl
the end of all our pain and strife could be the pearl
or it could be a demon in disguise

So what is the truth in the Parable of the Pearl of the world?

In Kino’s pearl of the world he did not find hopes he did not find his dreams and most certainly he did not find life. Instead he found corruption, deception and evil. Which together destroyed him and his family. The treasure of this world acted as a lure to the sinful nature in himself and the people around him.

Like Kino we have things that we put our hopes, dreams and life into. Like Kino if we focus too much on those things it will bring out the sinful nature within us and the corruption in the people around us. Hopefully we will differ from Kino in that we won’t end up as killers but our “pearls of the world” will not satisfy us.

We invest time, effort and our hearts into things of this world in the end they really have no value and they will destroy us.

For example. Money: It can’t buy happiness – at best you only get to rent it for a short time. In the late 80’s the decade of selfish ambition the catch prase of the Yuppie was “He who dies with the most toys wins” It was a phrase that showed no care about the future or eternity or other people just the purchase of more and more things for yourself. It showed people’s attitudes were that there is nothing after this life so we had better do what we want.

Christian’s at the time countered this phrase with one of their own “He who dies with the most toys – still dies”

What good is the Lamborghini, the plasma TV, and the mansion when you are dead? Nothing at all, they go to someone else and your body rots in the ground.
Life is more than just this body, there is an afterlife and without Jesus all the money and “pearls of this world” are just dust and ashes

Another example of a pearl of the world is Fame
Fame – I’m gonna live forever, light up the sky with my name Fame!

That was some lyrics from the title song to a movie and TV series for all you people looking confused… doing such great things that you are remembered long after you are dead and gone. Having everyone looking up to you while you are here. A real boost to the ego – people literally worshiping the ground you walk on. Not to mention auctioning your used towels on ebay.

Of any pearl of the world that’s has to be the one to go for – but then again how does that explain all the famous people with drug addictions, rock stars killing themselves, not to mention Michael Jackson.
They might be able to do some stuff astoundingly well but their lives it seems are still hollow, they want something in their lives and fame doesn’t do it. They feel all the inadequacies in them and it doesn’t match the public image – adding the guilt of a type of hypocrisy onto it all as well.

These are a couple of obvious examples – there are pearls that are a little more insidious. You base you life on them but in the end they by themselves mean nothing.

How about doing good things? You go through your life, treating others as you would like to be treated, you are generous with your money, you get a good education and a good job and you use it to benefit others, you live humbly and are not arrogant at all.

Great things- wonderful things but in the end they are still pearls of this world – what would make them a treasure in heaven is if you had the Pearl of Great Value that Jesus told a parable about…

the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Kingdom of Heaven – to put it simply is where God is in control. It is in Heaven itself where He is, it is in the lives of all the Christians on Earth here and now, and in the past and in the future. If you are a Christian then you are a member of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

The merchant was on the lookout for fine pearls – and he finds one. Not just any pearl but a great pearl – one that he just had to have. Being the canny merchant that he is – he sells everything he has to buy this pearl. It must have been an amazing pearl for him to risk such an investment. If it fell through he had nothing.

Humanity is the merchant. Everyone on the planet seeks something, some sort of answers to where did we come from, what is wrong with this planet and where are we going?

Some choose to ignore the questions, some acknowledge them but say we will never know, some seek answers in science, and science alone, while most of the planet have some sort of religion. A belief in something higher and greater than we are.

Christianity is one of these belief structures and it has many many unique things about it. The most major and important one is Jesus. Jesus himself is God coming to us. Through Jesus, God reaches down to us to bring us to Him. In all other religions you have to try to reach their version of god.

Because of this and what God wants in our lives and how He interacts with us – Christianity is not a “religion”, not just some sort of belief structure it is a relationship. A relationship with Jesus Christ who is God. Christ is the centre of everything we say and do and believe – that is why we are “Christ”-ians

Jesus wants us to “sell everything we have” and by that He means give up all our “Pearls of the world” and give them to him. He becomes our Lord and we his servant. Our hopes are to be what He hopes for us, our dreams are to be His dreams and our lives are his.

There are no good deeds enough for us to buy this Pearl of Great value – in actuality it is a gift to us from God and all we can do is surrender our pearls of the world back to Him.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. To confess is to state a true thing – criminals confessing to crimes – so when we confess that Jesus is Lord that means He “owns” us and the rest of the universe. We do what he wants, when he says jump we jump. We are just stating the facts.
Believing with your heart that Jesus rose from the dead is important. You see Jesus rose from the dead because he was God, Jesus died because he was paying the price for our sins and through that we have forgiveness. Part of the gift of Salvation is forgiveness. Again nothing we can do to purchase that – it is all from God – what we do is respond.

Through the bible, history and experience we have found that Jesus is a loving and kind and forgiving master – he will give us no task that we are unable to accomplish. He is there with us guiding, leading and helping us – another reason Christianity is not a religion but a relationship

Jesus has said not to worry about the Pearls of the World… Just worry about him

Matthew 6:28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus will provide the things of this world that we need. As He is our Lord then he may judge it right that we become rich or famous or whatever– but we have to use those things in his service.

For example Michael Jones when he was an All Black used his fame to promote Christianity – He still does in fact. The Bible Society of Australia a few years ago produced a special edition New Testament in which Michael, Inga Tuingamala a whole host of others. explain what Jesus means to them and how to become a Christian.

If we are a Christian then many, many things will try to come between us and Jesus. Money may make us feel like we don’t need him. Fame could distract us from his tasks. We may even be so wrapped up in learning and studying the bible that we forget to do what it says..
For you, for me, we all have to take a look at our lives and ask “Are we serving Jesus fully? What is there in our lives that keeps us from Jesus? What can we do for Him?”

Jesus warned “MT 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”


Where we go from here is nicely summed up in tonight’s second reading from 1 timothy chapter 6 beginning at verse 6. I’d like to read it again… Where Timothy talks about money – substitute it with whatever Pearls of the world you may struggle with…

1TI 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1TI 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.

1TI 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.


Let that be our prayer - amen

I'm not in hibernation - just

Sorry about the delay - I just haven't gotten around to posting anything.

Anyway found this and had to post - normal service shall be resumed as soon as we work out just what normal is.

Prodigal son - running Father

I have a Fob watch that my grandfather bought a long time ago. When he died in 1971 it was in his will that it be given to his son - my father. This watch along with a few other things was his inheritance to my father.
It was in my fathers will that when he died this watch was to be given to me. This watch along with a few other things was his inheritance to me. However I got the watch early, the reason is that when I was in Invercargill a couple of years before his death my father was worried that if anything were to happen to both he and my step-mother, someone else would pick up the watch before I got there and that I would not be given it. He wanted to ensure that I got my inheritance - although not in the normal manner of waiting for him to die first.

In the bible the are a couple of times when this normal manner of the giving of the inheritance as gone awry. The one I will focus on is the story Jesus told. Luke chapter 15:11-32 also known as "the parable of the prodigal Son. Prodigal means wayward and in this story Jesus tells, the son was certainly wayward. Quite an understatement when we look at his behaviour.
This son was in a wealthy family. A family that had servants and had special animals set aside to be killed just for a party. Other poor families had no servants and all they had went to just feeding them day-by-day.
This son goes up to his father and says "Father give me my share of the estate" Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that rude? "Hey dad I can't wait until you're dead so give me my money now. "I don't care if you are alive or dead Pops - I just want your money."
For reasons we don't know the father give the son his inheritance and watches as the son leaves with it. We see that the son went off and spent it all in decadent living. "Wild Living and prostitutes" is what the text tell us he spent the money on.

Then the money is all gone, and famine also hits the land. The wayward son is in trouble. He gets a job feeding pigs and seeing the food given to the pigs in his hunger he longs to eat the pigs food. Jesus was telling this story to Jews and a quick look through Leviticus and Deuteronomy will see that to the Jews pigs are unclean. Not just icky - don't step in that unclean but - banned and an affront to your holiness and standing before God if you were to touch one - let along eat one. The disgust the Jews would have felt hearing that this son wanted to eat the pigs food would be akin to us hearing of a person who found a half eaten week old banana sandwich in the bottom of a rubbish bag and wanted to eat it. Stomach churningly disgusting.

Anyway he doesn't eat the sandwich he comes to his senses and thinks that if my father doesn't accept me back as his son at least I could be his servant. So he heads back seeking forgiveness and a full stomach.

Years ago, Price Harry, it was revealed, had been going down to the pub for some underage drinking and to smoke marijuana. When the media caught on that he had gone into a hospital they started asking questions - his father, Price Charles, said "This is a family matter and has been dealt with in private".

What a completely different picture we read of the father in Jesus' tale of a wayward son. "When he was still along way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he RAN TO HIS SON, threw his arms around him and kissed him" And then he decided to throw a very public party. This father loved his son so much, that even in his disgrace, the father threw away the social norms and his dignity and RAN to his son - in plain view of all. And then partied.
Can you imagine the shock if we were to see Prince Charles run to Prince Harry kiss him and hug him as he came out of the hospital?

This story ends with a disgruntled brother being told off by his father - but still being loved by his father, for not being happy for what he has and for thinking of himself instead of the joy that the return of the prodigal has brought.

Adrian Plass once wrote that "A parable is a story that keeps your mind busy at the front door while the truth slips in through a side window". So what is the truth in this story?

Looking at who Jesus originally told this story to in Luke 15: 1-2, we can see that in the immediate context the lost son was the tax collectors and sinners. The ungrateful brother would have been the pharisees and the father would have been God - the Father.

But that was then - this is now. Who are we in this eternal drama of love?

We all have been, at some time, or currently are, the prodigal son. Before we gave/give our lives to God and asked forgiveness, we were/are the ones saying "I don't care that Jesus was live or dead, so what about the cross - I'll live my life my way just give me the good things." In our lives of disobedience to God our lives were so unholy that we were the ones wanting to eat the week old rotted banana sandwich. Of course I assume that those of those reading this here have made the journey home. So we, therefore, need to be careful not to become the ungrateful brothers - and sisters. We mustn't look at the "sinners" out there and consider us as superior. "There but the grace of God go I."

The father in this modern story is still God the father. God is still the one who lets us live our lives till we come to our senses. God is the one who looks for us, God is the one who throws away social norms and dignity and runs to us in our depravity.

How does He run to us. He runs to us in the form of Jesus Christ of Nazareth - God The son. Jesus was born, lived his life as an example to us, taught us about the father and how to live and then died. He died in disgrace and humiliation.He died as the atoning sacrifice - to pay for our sins. God the Son died to be the instrument that bridges the gap so we can be forgiven by God the Father.

God runs to us, he kisses us and put the ring on our finger calling us his children. "John 1: 12 Yet all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

God runs to us, kisses us, calls us his children and has a party. "Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is more rejoicing in the presence of angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Tom Wright once said that this parable should be renamed. Instead of calling it the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It should be called the Parable of the Running Father. and I agree.

Wayward children we see every day,
Ungrateful, jealous siblings we see often as well.
How often do you see the Father throwing away his social status and dignity to love his child? Not as often as God would like I"m sure.
It is up to us sensible siblings to tell and show the love of the father to all those wayward brothers and sisters who are yet, to "come to their senses".

Now they tell me!

Why why why did they not tell me this before! :-)

Shall I put some music on for you?

I work for an organsiation that as part of it's many services has a geriatric hospital.

Often I have to go over there and they have CD's playing and today there was even a concert with live musicians. (better than a concert with zombie musicians I suppose). The music they play is of course of the "golden oldies" genre. i.e. anything that is from, or sounds like it is from, around 70 years ago.

So I wonder.... what is the music going to be like in these geriatric homes in 40 to 50 years time?

I can imagine it now, the nurse comes up to me, makes sure I'm securely in my chair and not about to fall out. and asks ever so nicely. "shall I put some music on for you? Would you like a nice bit of AC/DC - maybe some Metallica - would you like U2 instead? That would be nice wouldn't it?"

Then the grandkids come in to visit their old poppa, and behind his back roll their eyes at the dreary music.

How many mountains?

Here's a question. “It is apparent that I wholeheartedly believe in Christianity but what about the people in the eastern countries they wholeheartedly believe in their religions as well. Isn’t it arrogance to say that I am right and they aren’t? Does it really matter what you believe as long as you are sincere about it? “

Will all the religions in their various forms (Jesus, Mohamed, buddha and co.) get you to heaven?

I would say no they won’t. Let us examine this.

Many young Muslim men are very sincere and wholeheartedly believe that strapping explosives to themselves and detonating them in public areas is the will of Allah in their lives.

They are wholehearted about their beliefs… so does it matter? Well most Muslim clerics and most of the rest of the world would say it does matter and that these sincere young men are wrong to be suicide bombers. Let me stress that the majority of Muslim clerics say that suicide bombing is against the teaching of Islam.

Just because you are wholehearted and are convinced what you believe is to be true does not make it so. I could say and believe this chair is a pig but this does not mean I will have roast pork for dinner tonight. Blowing up the infidel will not get you to Paradise.

It is possible to be sincerely and wholeheartedly wrong about something so where does that leave the major religions of the world?

Well one of the teachings of the Hindu's is that all religions have the truth in them and that they are all just different paths up the same mountain. Each separate religion heads towards eternity but takes a different method to get there.

So lets us look at the major religions of the world.

For starters one obviously noticeable thing is that there seem to be three different mountains.

Hinduism and Buddhism has it’s afterlife as a continual cycle of re-incarnation leading to Nirvana with an impersonal God which is the universe. In eternity you will have no self – no individuality you will be one with the universe in the same way that a drop of water falling in the ocean is one with the ocean.

Confusism and Shintoism the afterlife is one of spirits interacting with humans and an impersonal god or gods if a deity exists at all. Your strength in the afterlife is dependant on your descendants.

Finally Judaism, Islam and Christianity each individual has but one life and then resurrection to eternity with it's creator or separation from the God for eternity. Resurrection is where you have a body that is a combination of physical and spiritual. In 1 Corinthians the resurrected body is compared to this body as a plant is compared to it’s seed.

The Deities are also very different amongst them all as well. Hinduism, and Shintoism all have many gods with one or more main gods. Confusism and Buddism all began with the founders saying there are no gods and yet centuries later their followers have deified them.

Hinduism is the only religion to say that all religions lead to heaven all others say that theirs is the only way and that all others are wrong. Especially with Shintoism where you have to be born Japanese.

Another noticeable thing is that in all religions bar one the method to obtain the afterlife goal it is one in which the human must work. The human must climb the mountain, be pure, sacrifice, do good works and not do bad deeds to get to their reward. But Christianity is different. Ephesians 2: 8 and 9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast”.

Salvation is the Gift of God.

God came down to the cross and there is no mountain to climb. Any good works or non evil-doing is a response of the love and gratitude we have for what God has done.

If a house cat has fleas, the cat can not apply the flea powder to itself. All it can do is allow the owner to apply the treatment and be grateful. (as much as cats can be grateful) It is a gift of love from the owner. This is like Jesus’s gift to us.

In the eastern religions the founders all stated they were not divine however in the following centuries the followers have venerated them to the point of worship and have named them as Avatars of Brahman and so forth.
Jesus however stated his divinity and his immediate followers also proclaimed that as well.

John 14: 1-10 When Jesus said I am the truth the way and the life and no man come to the father except by me was He lying? Was He a lunatic or was He Lord.
John 10 28-33 Jesus Said – “I and the Father are one” and so the Jews went to stone him for blasphemy calling himself God.

The Jews holy name for God translates as “I am who I am” At one point Jesus said Before Abraham was I am. The Jews were so incensed by his words they attempted to throw him from a cliff due to his "blasphemy".

The tombs of all other founders are enshrined and worship occurs there - the tomb of Jesus is empty - the people who could have stolen his body would not have wanted to and the people who would have wanted to could not have done it. There is more logic behind it but the historical fact is that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, He performed the miracles proving he was who He said he was and He said He was God. And if Jesus i.e. God incarnate says that he is the only way then I will believe Him.

Now however this leaves us with the question of how we should treat people of other religions.

Jesus gives us two very good examples. He loves and gave miracles for Romans and Samaritans – people who did not follow Yahweh. Yet he had compassion on them, He taught them the truth. He praised them for when they did have faith in him but did not berate them for when they did not.

Paul when he went to Athens was talking at a meeting of the intellectuals of the day called the Aeropogus. Paul congratulated them on the devotion to their religions and then explained to them the truth of Jesus – but without ridiculing their beliefs.

In the same light we are called to share the truth in a loving and respectful way – choosing the appropriate times and not arrogantly trying to humiliate their “foolishness”

We to can also learn from them. The Muslims have a great devotion to prayer, the Buddhists have self-control and many have morality that we can aspire to.

We do these thing not because they will earn our way to heaven but because are grateful for the gift of eternity given to us.

I wish I had days like this.....