Mike’s Faith and Religion Blog

Thou shalt not steal — Exodus 20:15

The words were clear! God hates stealing. He hates it very
much. And yet most churches around the world are stealing.
And you ask, “How?” And I say…

By using pirated copies of music, videos, and software.

Let me tell a secret which is no
longer a secret! The very moment that Jesus Christ instituted the
church, Satan already
started devising plans. Plans on how to break the church and make
it
ineffective. The devil knows that the gates of hell can’t prevail
against the church so he thought of other ways. Ways of planting
the seed of unrighteousness into the hearts of the believers. And
tell you what, he had some successful attempts which left the church
disabled for some time.

Satan tried dividing the church, he threw back too much tradition, and
some other things. Not he is teaching the church to steal.
Not just steal from God but steal from both God and man. Worst,
the church openly accepts it! We must do something about
it. We must act now.

What am I talking about? Again, I am talking about piracy.

Take a good look at the computer you are using. Are you using
legal and licensed copies of the softwares installed on your PC?
Are you using Windows? Is it licensed? Are you using
MS-Word and the rest of the MS-Office suite. Is it
licensed? If you can’t afford to buy them, then use alternative
software such as Linux and OpenOffice.

Take a good look at your collection of Audio CDs, VCDs and DVDs.
How many are pirated? How many of them are original? How
many are pirated?

Get my point? OK, if you have pirated CDs, VCDs, DVDs, and even
softwares, then you are stealing. This type of stealing is
against the law of both man and God. You’re offending both.

Now, do you profess to be a Christian? If you do, then I urge you
to talk to God. Repent. And what to do with those
CDs? You know what to do with them.

The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy - John 10:10

You don’t want to be Satan’s ally, do you?

God bless you.

Have you watched The Passion of the Christ? If not, I recommend
that you watch it. Nonetheless, this article is not about
watching the film but rather how God was disgraced by many who watched
this film. I’m sure Mel Gibson too was disgraced.
How? Read on…

I must say that the film itself was great. It deeply touched my
heart. I first had an idea of it when a pastor showed me the film
in a computer. I said, this film is great! But then I
realized that the film that was showed to me was a pirated copy.
Pirated for sure because the film wasn’t even in the movies yet!
Imagine that!

As soon as I realized that it was a pirated copy, then I decided not to
continue watching it. Rather, I’d wait for it come out on the
movies. However, even while it was “SHOWING” in the movies, there
are still many people who profess to be Christians who are watching it
at home with their pirated copies. That’s disgusting!

I should say that watching a pirated copy of this film which is
supposed to give glory to God is worst than watching a pornographic
film. Imagine what disgrace has been attributed to God in
pirating this film? But you will say, “even then, I was still
touched by the movie.” I have no questions about that. The
truth still remains that while you were being blessed, you were still
disgracing the ONE who blesses you.

Months ago, the film was finally made available in VCDs (and DVDs I
think). But still people are buying pirated copies of this
film. Worst, CHRISTIANS are buying pirated copies from
UNBELIEVERS! How disgusting. I can already imagine Satan
laughing loudly in victory for this particular battle at this very
point and if you own a pirated copy of this film (or any other film)
then he is most probably laughing at you.

So, let’s stop this non-sense. Let’s all throw unrighteousness
from our midst. After all, what you could be owning is not “The
Passion of the Christ”. It might be “The Piracy of Christ!”

If this article blessed you, then please show it to your friends and church workers.

God bless you!

Accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Saviour is one thing.
Being a matured disciple of the Lord is another. So, how mature
should a Christian be? What is God’s definition of the word
MATURE?

Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, Philippines, there
lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this route to school
everyday: He has to cross the rugged plains and cross the dangerous
highway where vehicles are recklessly driving to and from. Once past
this highway, the boy would take a short cut, passing by the Church
every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully
say his, “Magandang umaga po” in Bicol dialect. He was faithfully being
watched by a Priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting in the
morning,

“Thank you father …”

“Why don’t you go home … do you stay in this church
right after school?” “I just want to say “Hi” to my friend, God,” and
the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking
to himself, but the priest was hiding behind the altar to listen to
what this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.

“You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did
not cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for notes… I ate one
cracker and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I can eat is
this cracker. Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten who was hungry
and I know how he feels so I gave my last cracker to him … funny but
I am not that

hungry.. Look, this is my last pair of slippers…I may
have to walk barefoot next week, you see this is about to be broken…
but it is okay….at least I am still going to school…. Some say we
will have a hard season this month, some of my classmates have already
stopped going to school … please help them get to school again,
please God? …Oh, you know, Inay hit me again, it is painful, but I
know this pain will pass away, at least I still have a mother…. God,
you want to see my bruises? I know you can heal them…. Here… here
and …. oh…blood … I guess you knew about this one huh? Please
don’t be mad at Inay, she is just tired and she worries for the food in
our table and my schooling that is why she hits us ….Oh, I think I am
in love … there’s this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita …
do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always
like me, I don’t have to be anybody just to please you, you are my very
best friend! Hey your birthday is two days from now!!! Aren’t you
excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you …. but it is
a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to go …” then he
stood up and calls out,

“Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend … you can accompany me to the other side of the road now”

This routine happens everyday. Andoy never fails.
Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to the people in his church
because he has not seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very
positive look at negative situations.

One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could
not make it in the Church, he was sent to the hospital. The Church was
left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour,
would not smile and would
always find fault in what you do, they were also very well versed in
cursing if you irritate them! They were kneeling, saying their
kilometric rosary when Andoy, coming from his Christmas party,
playfully dashed in.

“Hello God! I…”

P—-!! (a curse) bata ka!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!! Alis!!”

Poor Andoy was so terrified, “Where’s Father Agaton? He
is supposed to help me cross the street …. and to be able to cross
the street I will have to pass by the back door of this church …not
only that, I have to greet Jesus. It is His birthday, I have a gift
right here….”

Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manang pulled
his shirt and threw him out of the church. “Susmaryosep!!! (does the
sign of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi matatamaan
ka!!!

So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous
side of the road in front of the church. He crossed. A fast moving bus
came in. There was a blind
curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not
looking. There was so little time. Andoy died on the spot. A

lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body of a lifeless young boy…

Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a pure white
shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of
tears…He came and carried
the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious bystanders nudged the man
in white, and asked, “Excuse me sir, are you related to this child? Do
you know this child?”

The man in white, His face mourning and in agony, looked up and answered,
“He was my best friend …. ” was all he said. He took the badly
wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the lifeless boy, and placed it
near His heart. He stood up and carried the boy away and they

both disappeared in sight. The crowd was curious…

On Christmas Eve, Father Agaton learned of the shocking
news. He visited the house, and wanted to verify about the man in
white. He consulted the parents of Andoy.

How did you know that your son died?”

“A man in white brought him here.” sobbed the mother. “What
did he say?” The father answered, “He did not say anything. He was
mourning. We do not know him and yet he was very lonely about our son’s
death, as if he knew our son very well. But there was something
peaceful and

unexplainable about him. He gave me my son, and then he
smiled peacefully. He brushed my son’s hair away from his face and
kissed him on his forehead, then he whispered something …”

What did he say?”

“He said to my
boy…” the father began, “Thank you for the gift… I will see you
soon … you will be with me…” and the father of the boy continued,
“and you know for a while, it felt so wonderful… I cried, but I do
not know why….all I know is I cried tears of joy… I

could not explain it,
Father, but when that man left, something peaceful came over me, I felt
a deep sense of love inside … I could not explain the joy in my
heart, I knew my boy is in heaven now but…tell me, Father, who is
this man that my son talks to everyday in your church, you should
because you are always there … except at the time of his death…”

Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his
eyes, with trembling knees, he murmurred, “He was talking to no one,
but… GOD”.

I am in no way a racist nor do I say that the Muslims are bad
people. Rather, I have posted this article to just give you guys
a thought - Christians and Muslims alike. If you think that this
article is offending then please, please don’t proceed in reading it.

This article is written by Rick Mathes

Last month I attended my annual training session that’s required for
maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training
session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the
Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of
their belief systems.

I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to
say. The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam,
complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for
questions and answers.

When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked:
“Please, correct me if I’m wrong, but I understand that most Imams and
clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the
infidels of the world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is
a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven.
If that’s the case, can you give me the definition of an
infidel?” There was no disagreement with my statements and,
without hesitation, he replied, “Non-believers!”

I responded, “So, let me make sure I have this straight. All
followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of
your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?” The
_expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to
that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the
cookie jar. He sheepishly replied, “Yes.”

I then stated, “Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope
John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr.
Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to Heaven!”
The Imam was speechless.

I continued, “I also have problem with being your friend when you and
your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let
me ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah who tells
you to kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to
love you because I am going to Heaven and He wants you to be with
me?” You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in
shame.

Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the
‘Diversification’ training seminar were not happy with Rick’s way of
dealing with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslim’s
beliefs.

I think everyone in the US should be required to read this, but with
the liberal justice system, liberal media, and the ACLU, there is no
way this will be widely publicized. Please pass this on to all
your email contacts.

This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a well known leader in prison ministry.