Ashoka Newmedia

For the average reader we are going to be exploring things that may indeed be new to you but for the more advanced reader these things may have been in your "quiver" of how to study the bible techniques but perhaps this can give you the opportunity to enhance and polish the skills the Lord has already blessed you with. We are going to briefly cover the 7 steps that I feel are the most important when approaching bible study. Get ready (preparation): Let us look at Ezra 7:10 for a brief moment: "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." Now what are some things that might stand out to you about preparation? Well how about...

Fear is the number cause for defeat in a Christian. We do have many reasons for fear in this world. We fear health and wealth issues more than anything else. Health has become a number one cause of concern for many today. Epidemics and obesity can trigger many fearful consequences. Wealth is another that can challenge and cripple us with fear. Christian websites should contribute articles and teachings on true security of a believer. Wealth issues relate to our finances. Our financial worries depend on our source income. For the majority it is primary the job situation. Most work as employees. There is no secure job in this world. A job security is the thinnest and mist uninsured of all. Any time...

It's tax time. Yeah! No? For some of us this means we will be getting some money back, and for others, not so much. If you are a fellow Christian, then you know God wants us to be free from the love of money and to be content with what we have, or don't have (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). God wants us to use the spiritual gifts as well as the monetary gifts He has given us wisely. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-28 describes 3 servants whose master gave them each 5, 2, and 1 talent (a talent is equal to more than a thousand dollars) respectively. The first two servants invested their talents and doubled what the master gave them. To these two servants the master then gave more. The last servant was...

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -- Hebrews 11:1 If faith is the substance of things hoped for, what, then is hope? I turned to Miriam Webster to see what the dictionary definition of the word "hope" is, and this is what I found: 1: to cherish a desire with anticipation 2 archaic: trust OR 1: to desire with expectation of obtainment 2: to expect with confidence: trust - hope against hope: to hope without any basis for expecting fulfillment So, we see that hope involves anticipation and trust in the desired outcome. It isn't the wishy-washy term that it seems to have degenerated to in our common street language. Apparently, hope used to actually mean...

Here is a question from a brother in Christ. Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Why did God speak in the plural when He made man? That's a sign, that every unrepented sinner will perish in the judgment, that the righteous shall be saved by the mercy of God. He gave another sign at the burning bush. What was it when He caught His runaway prophet? "I have heard the cries of My people, and I've remembered My covenant"? He gave another sign there, that He was a covenant-keeping God...

In my ideal church, everyone would be welcome; help would be offered to all. The church would not pressure or guilt anyone into making donations, or make people feel they need to give more, to get more. Our church wouldn't be built on money like so many others are today; we would seek to build a nice simple church that would make people feel comfort and at ease when they enter, and full of joy and hope when they leave. Our mission is to give the hope, guidance, and unending support needed to all we meet, inside or outside of the church. My belief is that God does not want to be feared or worshiped as so many religions would have us believe. I have to believe that God is like a father watching over...

I was preparing for our Praise Team practice tonight, and was swept into the presence of God in total abandon. I was listening, playing, and singing this song called The Stand from Hillsong, and I was overwhelmed with God's Word, God's Love, God's Providence, God's Holiness, need I go any further. I was reminded of when I first heard the good news of Jesus Christ and totally understood it. I was at Bayonne First Assembly of God, and I was in the basement of the 15th Street church in one of the small rooms with an accordion door. I was about 5 to 6 years old, and I was sitting in class, scared to death of everyone. My mom and dad just decided that it was time to go to church and teach their kids...

If the saying that says that a picture is worth a thousand words has any real meaning, can one imagine the value of the original item contained in the picture itself?! We live in a world of sight (amongst our other senses.) When it comes to pedagogic teaching methods, if we're going to really succeed in teaching someone else about something, there is simply no better way of doing it than by actually showing them what it's all about. It brings to mind the strangeness experienced by so many at school level - and higher education, where the professor walks into the room, rambles off the biggest words they can think of, then gives the students a thick textbook to read, and not only expects them to have...

The attitude of early Buddhism to the spirit world is a peculiar one. Their existence is assumed, but the truths of religion are not dependent on them, and attempts to use their influence by sacrifices and oracles are deprecated as vulgar practices similar to juggling. Later Buddhism became infected with mythology and the critical change occurs when deities, instead of being merely protectors of the church, take an active part in the work of salvation. When the Hindu gods developed into personalities who could appeal to religious and philosophic minds as cosmic forces, as revealers of the truth and guides to bliss, the example was too attractive to be neglected and a pantheon of Bodhisattvas arose...

The modern science tells us that the ecosystem of the earth is driven by energy received from the Sun. This ecosystem is steadily functioning on its own without any other stimulus. The entire cycle of birth, growth and death continues in this energy driven planet. This confirms that energy is the most important component for keeping a system in a functioning state. The same philosophy was prevalent in the earlier periods also when modern science had not taken roots. The rishis and sages of yesteryears also visualized a system in which birth, growth and death took place. They did not keep them confined to the earth only but thought about the creation of the whole "Brahmand" (Universe). They connected...

Man's physical body belongs to nature. You are a part of nature. You have a right to be here. There is an order to nature. No one has to make rules, laws or other structural systems in order for the survival and balance of nature. God provided for all nature. The Earth was made complete. Actually, most of mans so-called improvements have only lent to upsetting the balance of nature. All men get to experience the physical world, automatically. The flesh is attracted to earthly pleasures. The mind becomes aware of these pleasures. The mind begins to make possible all the desires of the physical world of which will make the body happy. The mind ( that is you ) tend to neglect your soul. The soul seeks...

Memory verse Matthew 1:21 Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. The man who Mary was going to marry was called Joseph. He was a carpenter by trade and a good man. Everyone liked him. He also came from the race of Abraham and was a descendant from the royal family of David. He loved Mary and was looking forward to the day when they would be married and would be together living at his home. He like Mary, was also looking forward to the day that the Saviour would come and save them from their sins, as he loved God and believed His promises. Joseph had not seen the angel or heard his message to Mary. When he heard about it and knew that Mary was to be a mother, he...

What do you think of when you hear the word freedom? Obviously everyone pictures it completely different, right? You may imagine doing anything you would love at any time without any hindrance of finances, time or ties. You would not notice any angry, envious or judgmental glances; nor would you care! You'd just be free as an eagle and loving every single moment! It's comforting to know that it's not all up to you to work out your salvation and get it all right. You're not left alone to come against all the temptations rushing at you and trying to take you out of communion with God. Jesus said that He would send you the Comforter. "Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it...

The prophet Daniel gave us a 2300-year prophecy that spanned up to the year 1844, depicting when the end-times of earth's history would begin. There are several prophecies in the book of Revelation that tell us about the very last days and the signs to look for and with these comes a severe warning of the consequences of taking the Mark of the Beast Revelation 14:10-11 "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor...

In this world of materialism, people look for wealth and happiness and very often neglected their health. Health is wealth but when one is young, he may not think about his health and pursue on material comfort. Some can be seen and some cannot. Most people want immediate result, unfortunately the reality is not that simple but if we are born with two hands and two legs, able to walk and talk and can think properly, we are considered very lucky. But how many really know and be grateful to God for their good fortune? If one is not lost in the jungle, he may not appreciate how safe he is when he is resting in the comfort of his house. If one is not fighting for survival in the deep ocean, he may not...

Kotmale in the Development in Sri Lanka Kotmale oya river with its origin in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 2134 m (7000 ft.) running between the two hills of Tispane and Kadadora resulted in the valley having a fertile soil, the ideal good earth for cultivation. During the glorious days of ancient kings of Lanka too, the valley had been of immense vibrancy: paddy cultivation took root in clusters of villages amidst the industries of pottery and carpentry. It was home to goldsmiths as well as blacksmiths. Pidurutalagala Oya stream, Nanu oya river, Greogory's tank rush in their waters to the Kotmale Oya river. So are Devon falls, St Clair's falls, Puna falls and Cat Snake...

Vegetarianism is defined as the avoidance of food which is obtained by killing animals. Over the years vegetarianism has gained a growing number of followers. In my own native country of The Netherlands the percentage of vegetarians has increased from 1.9% of the total population in 1999 to 4.5% in 2005. What can be so attractive about the vegetarian diet? Vegetarianism goes back a long way. History's first famous vegetarian was the Greek statesman, mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras (569-475 BC). He abolished the sacrificing of animals under his rule and was a fervent advocate of meat abstinence throughout his life. He is considered the founder of vegetarianism in Europe and even until the...

Do you feel nervous when you meet new people? Maybe it even makes you feel nervous to be around people whom you've known for a long time. Regardless, if you suffer from anxiety in social situations, then here are a few steps that you can take to help yourself feel better. First, identify what you are afraid might happen in social situations. For example, are you afraid that you will embarrass yourself? Say something inappropriate? Have nothing to say? Next, identify a social situation that has very little risk of confirming your identified fears, along with the potentially positive outcomes. For example, you might consider saying "hello" to the grocery store cashier. The worst outcome might be...

Imagine closing your eyes for just a few minutes and getting all the benefits you get from sleeping? This probably perked up your interest huh? You could probably go clubbing long after the roosters made their first wake up call. Or shuffle your time between two high-paying jobs without worrying how many hours of sleep you can get in between. What is Circadian and Circadian Meditation Before we go into the circadian meditation let us first understand what circadian is. Circadian rhythm is an internal 24-hour biological clock. Therefore, the Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders are those associated to the time of sleep within the 24-hour period. Sometimes these disorders are brought about by instances...

Whether you are buying cigarettes from your local gas station or the smoke shop that next town over it can really begin to put a large hole in your wallet. What many of those who smoke are starting to realize is whether you are smoking Marlboro, Camel or Virginia Slims it is very possible to buy cheap discount cigarettes online. Now you might just be wondering what the benefits are of purchasing your tobacco products on the Internet? Saving money of course is a huge benefit when you are looking for an online retailer of your favorite brand of smokes. While looking through any online tobacco shop on the World Wide Web, you are bound to see that many offer their cigarettes at a cheap discount price...

Jiddu Krishnamurti is an enlightened mystic, born in India in the last century. J Krishnamurti strongly denied being a Master and He always criticized the master - disciple relationship in his talks. He was always in favour of individual freedom. In His talks, He strongly spoke against the tradition of Master - Disciple and asked the seeker to find truth on their own. J Krishnamurti often used to say that no one can give us truth. However, in the name of truth, so called masters keep on fooling people and we should always ask ourselves - why we need a master for seeking truth. In the current era when every day a New spiritual Guru surfaces in the religious news, Jiddu Krishnamurti's teachings have...

Moksha is a term used in many Indian religions. Someone who is thought to experience Moksha is absolved of the suffering and constant rebirth (reincarnation) that life brings. Constantly going through life and death is not considered to be a good thing according to many religious Indian people. In Hinduism, Moksha cannot be obtained until one reaches a state of full self realization. A Hindu is likely to practice at least one form of Yoga. They also realize that God shows up in many different forms and is unlimited. He shows up personally and sometimes impersonally. Four Yogas will take someone on the path to Moksha: 1. Karma Yoga - Work for the supreme. 2. Jnana Yoga - Realize the supreme. 3. Raja...

AN BUDDHISM TAKES A NEW TURN Though a small country with a small population, Laos was strong religiously. Before the Communist takeover in 2518/1975, Buddhism was the state religion under royal patronage and the Sangha was unified, with no division into sects or denominations, under the leadership of the Supreme Patriarch. In spite of the absence of current statistics, it can be said that in 1975 nearly 100 percent of the 3 million Laotians were Buddhists. Not only were they unified in their faith, they were also strong in their faith. Laotians were devoted Buddhists of the Theravada School. They adhered to the traditional Buddhist culture that they had shared with the traditional Thais. Laos stood...

The mystics tell us we already posses all the peace and happiness of the Universe. Our spiritual work is simply to discover what is in the way of our seeing this reality for ourselves. In India, about 500 years before the common era, Buddha began to teach a philosophy of life. Buddha told his disciples, "the faults of others are easier to see than one's own; the faults of others are easily seen, for they are sifted like chaff, but one's own faults are hard to see. Do not look at the faults of others, or what others have done or not done; observe what you yourself have done and have not done". About that same time, over a thousand miles to the east of India, Confucius began to teach his Chinese...

All the worlds under heaven, After a long period of division, Tends to come together; After a long period of unity, Tends to fall apart.   Written by Luo Guanzhong ( ??? ) in the late Yuan and early Ming period (the exact period is not known ), the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, continue to be the most popular classical novels in Chinese Literature all these years.   The period of the Three Kingdoms, from late Eastern Han to the Western Jin Dynasty (169-265 AD) lasted about ninety years, and was an extremely chaotic period in which heroes rose to compete against one another and legends were made. Among the famous incidents was one of the most decisive battle in ancient China, the Battle of the Red...

The doctrine of reincarnation is an unavoidable part of Indian religious thought, it really is the starting point of any further reflection. All the goals that religions seek are related in one way or another to this doctrine. Hindu religion view reincarnation in a certain way. When a person dies, the Atman, the essence of that person, goes out of the body that died and looks for another body to be reborn in. The Atman could be what we call in the West the soul. It is the real identity of that person that is carried from one life to the next. Buddhists reject the idea of Atman. They have a very different idea. They believe in the doctrine of no-self. What is this? They believe that nothing has a...

In Buddhism, rebirth is not transmigration.  There is no self that is being reborn.  On the other hand, rebirth in Buddhism is part and parcel of the continuous process of change, not just in our death and birth.  Rebirth is actually manifested at every moment.  When we examined our body, though and actions, our experiences are constantly characterized by birth, death and rebirth. There are various realms, spheres and dimensions of existence.  The 6 realms of existence is a common presentation.  It can be further divided into 2 groups of fortunate and unfortunate existences. (1) Realm of Gods (fortunate) (2) Realms of Demigods (fortunate) (3) Realm of Human Beings (fortunate) (4) Realm of...

What makes up the human personality? What am I? To understand what the Buddha said about this, we must understand first a very important concept of Buddhist doctrine: the concept of no-self. What does this mean? It means that nothing has a permanent identity, including personalities. The easiest way to step into this concept is to understand that Buddhists are claiming that things have no permanent identity that lies from one moment to the next. What we mean here is not that there is nothing going on. We're here. We're here trying to understand Buddhism. That's real in a sense, but it is transient and passes away. We too are transient phenomena. My personality is constantly changing, is evolving all...

In one form or another, all religions and philosophies have taught about the ultimate destiny of man, society, and the cosmos as they do about the first things or origins. Many are bibical. The one receiving attention lately is the Mayan Long Count Calendar. It calculates the date of creation as August 11,3114 B.C. The calendar is 5,125 years old ending on December 21,2012. This date has caused various people to conclude that the year 2012 is the end of the world in prophecy. Supposedly the Mayas received their astronomical calculations from "Kulcan". Kulcan was described as a white man with a beard from beyond the sea. Some people think the Maya were predicting the end of a cycle and the start of a...

'2012 ' has become a buzzword these days, thanks to the incessant end of days programs on History Channel and the upcoming movie. People are freaking everywhere and want to know the predictions in every civilisations from Mayas to Hopis to Aztecs and Bible book of Revelations to I-Ching to Nostradamus quatrains and off late the end of world connections to the world's oldest religion Hinduism. Being a Hindu by birth and brought up in a world of great Epics, Vedhas and Puranas, I'm sure I can add more light on this subject. The four yugas or ages described in the Bhagavad Gita (8.17) and the Srimad Bhagavatam (3.11.19) are satya/krita yuga for first 100, 000 years, treta yuga for next 1.296 million...