BEST OF 2001-2002
BEST OF 2002-2003
BEST OF 2003-2004
NEWS
Episcopal priest speaks out against gay ordination
Guiding Light lights the hearts of hopeful students
Cavalier smashed in Schenley Quad
Air Force ROTC simulates POW camp
Wait is over for Guiding Light hopefuls!
Pitt students pack Destinta Theatre to watch 'The Passion of the
Christ.'
Controversial movie receives David Limbaugh's commentary!
PHOTOGALLERY
Photogallery of the funeral procession ceremony for
Reagan to the Capitol
HOTPRESSIONS
Commandments controversy is so commie and not constitutional
SPECIAL FEATURE
Top 25 reasons compiled for the origins of the candy cane
from 2001-2003 based on 65 student responses
FEATURE
Pitt Dance Team goldens Heinz Field
Pitt Dance Team rainbow Heinz Field
IMPRESSIONS
Students vote matters
Privacy or perversion in the bedroom
Israel, Israel, what have you done for Palestine!
Pitt should be proud denying same-sex benefits
Keep the Reagan legacy alive by voting for President Bush this
November
Homosexuals do not need a special bill!
Presidential candidate John Kerry lied about his heritage!
Wake up media and uncover the terrorists!
Mount Rushmore needs to be revisted to include Ronald Reagan
Clinton wants Kerry who promotes immoral issues, do you?
9-11 report should not have been bipartisan!
SPORTS
Women's softball team saw Rockets falling.
Hungry Panthers win Pittsburgh Classic
EXPRESSIONS
Engineering Auditorium Shakes
Red,
White, & Blue
Constitution supports God and patriotism
One
Numb-er
He
sees you all the time
Vote for the perfect candidate 24-7!
What if Jesus talked football?
Pitt Dance Team's colors of black, red, green, and
white give significance to the Christmas
season!
Nativity reminds tourists of Christ's birth
Both evolutionism and creationism are based on faith!
Gong Show winner recited about 'If cocaine were an alien,
what it does not want you to know!'
Gospel revealed through semantics and word play
Only
the right antidote can protect your life
God's love is alphabetically revealed in random languages
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“Walk Among Lord’s Kingdom!”
(W.A.L.K)”
Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher
Editors note: This is part of the
devotional I had with the Lord this morning of June 14, 05 that I wanted to share
with you all!
Quiet Times (Psalm 14, Proverbs
14, and Mark 4:1-20)
“Again Jesus began to
teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that
he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people
were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by
parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow
his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and
the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did
not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered
because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up
and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed
fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying
thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." (Mark 4:1-8, NIV)
“Then
Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." When he was alone,
the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He
told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But
to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that," 'they
may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never
understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'" (Mark
4:10-12, NIV)
Yesterday, I focused on
P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S. Today, I decided to focus on the
meaning of the parable itself.
Observations:
I asked
myself what kinds of places did the seed fall?
-
Along the Path (v.4, 15)
-
On Rocky places (v. 5, 16)
-
Among the Thorns (v. 7, 18)
-
On Good soil (v. 8, 20)
I asked
myself what happened to the seed that fell, ‘Along the Path’.
The birds came and ate it up!
I asked
myself what happened to the seed that fell, ‘On Rocky places’.
-
It did not have much soil.
-
It sprang up quickly, because the soil was
shallow.
-
When the sun came up, the plants were
scorched.
-
The plants withered because they had no root.
I asked
myself what happened to the seed that fell, ‘Among the Thorns’.
-
They grew up and choked the plants.
-
They did not bear grain.
I asked
myself what happened to the seed that fell, ‘On Good soil.’
-
It came up.
-
It grew.
-
It produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty,
or even a hundred times.
Now I
decided to focus on verses 13-20 to find out why things happened this
way!
“Then
Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will
you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are
like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear
it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others,
like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it
with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When
trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall
away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the
worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for
other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others,
like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a
crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark
4:13-20, NIV)
Interpretations/Implications:
I learned the path I choose will
determine my walk with the Lord. In every path, the seed refers to the
Word that is sown. The Sower is God who represents the farmer. The
question is how the Word of God will be handled.
There are four ways the Word of
God can be handled but only one of them is the right way that will
produce a crop --- thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.
That is amazing to know that the Word of God will produce a crop in us
when we handle it properly in our lives.
I ask you
now dear friend where are you at your walk with God?
Dear friend, your walk with God
is dependent on what you do with the Word of God that is sown in your
life. I have learned four things that can happen to us in the 21st
century but lasting happiness only comes from one of those four things!
To desire that one thing, it
helps for us to know about the pitfalls the other three can cause so I
want to share them with you using the University of Pittsburgh campus as
a context but it does not have to be limited to the University of
Pittsburgh campus.
Soil 1: Along the Path
Many people hear the Word of
God. Right here on Pitt Campus, we have classes called ‘Bible as
Literature I & II’ that are offered. No one can say those students have
not had exposure to Scripture. Each one of them has had exposure to
Scripture. Many in the world have had exposure to Scripture. Yet, not
all of them are saved or come to the knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ
as their Lord and Personal Savior.
I asked
myself why?
Jesus Himself gives the reason
which is evident by v. 15
“Some
people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as
they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in
them.” (Mark 4:15)
Why do you
think that happens?
Many people believe there are
many paths to God and do not take the ‘Words written in the Bible’
seriously. Those who do not take the Bible as the Word of God seriously
have already hardened their hearts to the Truth and lose the Word from
their hearts as Satan takes it away.
Soil 2: On Rocky places
Friend, do
you receive the Word with joy?
Maybe you are very excited to
hear the Word of God at Church or wherever it is being proclaimed! That
is awesome and great!
What do we
do with the Word of God in times of testing?
Many people do receive the Word
of God with joy when they hear it. It is joyful for them to have the
Word. They believe they can hold on to the Word with all their heart.
Yet, how
many people do we know that have been raised in a Christian home fall
away from the faith or those that have come to college fall away from
the faith?
Why?
Jesus gives the reason in verses
Mark 4:16-17:
“Others,
like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it
with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When
trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall
away.” (Mark 4:16-17, NIV)
Let me tell you if there was a
place of persecution for our faith, it would mostly be on the college
setting with our professors, with peer pressure, etc.
Why do you
think that happens?
Many students who come to
college shun their faith as they cannot handle trials and tribulations
and the testing of their own faith in classes such as Philosophy,
Biology, Geology, Astronomy, Anthropology, etc.
The problem is not with the
classes themselves for many followers of Christ are philosophers,
biologists, geologists, astronomers (not astrologists), anthropologists,
etc for we need God’s people in every field of academia to make a
difference.
The problem here is that those
who listen just to the professors’ remarks and what textbooks say take
it at face value. If they would take the same approach to the Word of
God, they will see the difference. However, they never allow God’s Word
to take root in their lives. Many just take what professors’ feed them.
Not everything they say is the truth. If we disagree with our Prof’s we
need to challenge their thinking courteously. I have always done that as
I have sought the Lord and the professor’s start to respect that.
Through my college years, in my
philosophy, psychology, poetry, General Writing classes, I wrote about
Jesus. In my legal classes, I have talked to the professors about
Jesus. In my internship in legal studies, I have focused on the Ultimate
Law Giver! The key is taking the Word of God and allowing the Word to
make the difference in our lives through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Soil 3: Among the Thorns
You are a
follower of Christ and do not allow Satan to take the Word from your
heart or let testing to let you fall away, yet do you feel stagnant in
your Christian walk?
Why?
Jesus gives the reasons in Mark
4:18-19:
“Still
others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of
this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things
come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18-19)
Many students allow the
pleasures, comfort zones, and the need for fun, fame, and fortune to
crowd out Jesus from their life. This however does not mean that
followers of Christ cannot have any fun, become famous, or try to amass
a fortune. There is nothing wrong with fun, fame, and fortune when they
come in God’s timing and the way they come is not through sinful means.
The problem is even though
people on this soil may come to Jesus now and then with a Quiet Time
here and there, it is not consistent though. Their time with the Lord
through study of His Word, prayer, and church life is not consistent.
Hence, they never become mature as Christians but feel like their faith
has become stagnant.
Soil 4: Good soil
What is
different about those on good soil?
I like the way Luke 8:15,
describes those on good soil:
“But the
seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear
the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Luke 8:15, NIV)
We see 5 important points here:
-
They have a noble heart.
-
They have a good heart.
-
They hear the Word.
-
They retain the Word.
-
They persevere with the Word in their lives.
This results in an abundant
Harvest.
The Parable of the Sower,
chronologically the first of Christ's parables, is a prophecy about the
acceptance of the good tidings of the Gospel by mankind.
In it is narrated how men accept
the Word of God in different ways, and how this Word acts differently on
men, depending on the state of their soul.
So, I ask
you now friend what kind of soil are you on?
What is
the condition of your heart?
How
seriously do you take the Word of God?
Are you
Along the Path?
If you have been on the path and
feel the Word is taken away from you, it does not have to be that way.
Satan’s purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. But, Jesus’ purpose is
to give you life in all its fullness. If you have never had God’s solid
Word in your heart, you don’t have to wait. You can start in the Word
from now on. Spend time in the Word of God daily!
Look for a Bible study to go
too! If you are in the Pittsburgh area, I am part of a Bible study at a
Pastors’ house and they would love to have you there! Let me know!
Are you on
Rock?
If you have been the one who has
received the Word with joy at one time, but now you are so confused and
hurt because of all the testing you have been facing, it does not have
to be that way. Many of the classes you take can test your faith,
confuse you and make you doubt. But God offers you a solution.
“So then,
just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in
him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were
taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes
you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on
human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on
Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily
form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over
every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:6-10, NIV)
You do not have to be confused
and hurt. Jesus never promised we would escape from testing, trials and
tribulations but He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
He has promised,
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end
of the age." (Matthew 28:20, NIV)
You can be rooted in the Word by
being committed to the Word of God, no matter what is happening. God
will not forsake you. Please do not forsake your daily Quiet Times with
the Lord. If you have trouble with your Quiet Times, I have free
booklets that will help you with your Quiet Times.
Are you
Among the Thorns?
If you have been the one who has
allowed life’s worries, pleasures, and riches to come in the way to
become thorns crowding out your relationship with the Lord, I say again
it does not have to be that way. You can mature in your Christian faith.
I know being in college, we can be prone to life’s worries, etc but the
Lord Jesus offers you hope.
"Therefore
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or
about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than
food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the
air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do
you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do
not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his
splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not
worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What
shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your
heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and
his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34, NIV)
You can become a mature
Christian. Take the help the Lord provides. I say once again, join a
Bible study this summer, have your Quiet Times daily with the Lord
through His Word and prayer, and most of all be involved in fellowship
with other believers. Don’t be a lone ranger Christian.
Are you on
Good Soil?
If you are the one who feels
like they are on good soil. Take heed lest you fall back into the other
soils. Satan is crafty and will try all means to get you on his side.
“Submit
yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:7-8a, NIV)
Remember,
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the
one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John
4:4, NIV)
Each of you knows where you are
at in your walk with God. You could have already known even before I
shared with you what I have learned.
No matter where you are at, if
you are not on the good soil, you can be on the good soil. It does not
have to be one day. It can be right now. Now is the time of Salvation.
”Just as
man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ
was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will
appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those
who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:26-27, NIV)
Jesus loves each of you so much
and wants you to be victorious.
“Those
whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I
am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens
the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who
overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I
overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:19-20,
NIV)
The theme of the Parable of the
Sower is to let us know the soil we are on determines our own spiritual
growth and our victorious living as a follower of Christ!
The purpose of the Parable of
the Sower is to understand the importance of looking at the state of our
own heart to see what place we are allowing God’s Word to have in our
daily lives.
This happens as we take God’s
Word seriously and cultivate it daily in our hearts by becoming a doer
of the Word.
“Walk
Among Lord’s Kingdom!”(W.A.L.K)” “Where are
you at your walk with God?”
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much how much you have taught me from your
Word. Lord, you know what kind of soil we have been on. You want us to
be on the good soil. Even now Lord, I feel I am not always on the good
soil. There are so many times I revert back to the other soils and feel
the pain and also cause others pain because I have not consistently
sought you but gone my own way. I am so sorry Jesus. I know Lord that I
cannot live the victorious Christian life on my own but need your
guidance and wisdom. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit and guide me
through your Word as I seek you in prayer. Provide the right fellowship
for me at church and away from church. Thank you Jesus! I am so sorry
for my sins and acknowledge that you went to the cross to pay the ransom
for my sin to set me free. Thank you so much for bearing my burden.
Please cleanse me with your cleansing blood and I will be clean again!
Wash me and I will be whiter than snow! Thank you Jesus for coming into
my heart as I accept you into my heart! Thank you for making my heart
your home and living in me. I will live for you and serve you the rest
of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal
Savior! Thank you Jesus that you have heard my prayer and answered me!
Thank you that I belong to you and you will help me live a victorious
life in you. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Love in Christ,
Ramesh
P.S.. If you need someone to talk to, pray with,
or study the Bible, you can email me at
reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com and we can set up a time that is
convenient for you! You can also call me at 412-720-4579
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JUNE 2005
Weather
MAY 2005
CHAPTER 1
How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y to prophecy?
(May 02, 05)
Who do you P.O.I.N.T to?
(May 03.05)
Will you take a S.T.A.N.D?
(May 04,05)
How is your P.R.A.I.S.E?
(May 05,05)
How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?(May
06,05)
Who controls your T.I.M.E?
(May 07,05)
What do you do with your P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N?
(May 08,05)
Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you listen to?
(May 09,05)
What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today?
(May 10, 05)
Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?
(May 11, 05)
Where do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?
(May 12,05)
How much important is S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time with the
Lord for you? (May 13, 05)
Where do you want to be C.L.E.A.N?
(May 14, 05)
What do your actions C.A.U.S.E?
(May 16,05)
CHAPTER 2
What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D are you?
(May 17,05)
Where does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S take hold of you?
(May 18, 05)
What are you thinking in your M.I.N.D?
(May 19, 05)
What about your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?
(May 20, 05)
Where are you looking for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E?
(May 21,05)
Who
do you I.N.V.I.T.E? (May 23, 05)
When do you F.A.S.T?
(May 24, 05)
How do you see your L.I.F.E?
(May 25,05)
What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R are you?
(May 26, 05)
What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?
(May 27, 05)
CHAPTER 3
What are your N.E.E.D.S?
(May 28,05)
What is your I.M.P.A.C.T?
(May 31,05)
JUNE 2005
What S.P.A.C.E do you give
yourself?(June
01,05)
What has E.V.I.L done to you?
(June 02, 05)
What emphasis do you put on your
R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?
(June 03,04)
Where is your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?
(June 04, 05)
Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R at?
(June 06,05)
How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y?
(June 08,05)
How do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R?
(June 09,05)
What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus?
(June 10,05)
Are you willing to do G.O.D.'S W.I.L.L?
(June 11,05)
What do P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S mean to you?
(June 13,05)
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