Category: Religion - PRISCILLA CL RAJ

90 MInutes In Heaven

3/2/2016

"90 Minutes in Heaven" is a best selling book, but it was also turned into a movie. A movie that being based around a religious Pastor who has an accident that changes his life.

It's a movie being based around pain-unimaginable pain and car wreck that shocked everyone he actually made it out alive. The movie is quite graphic basing it on his physical pain along with his emotional journey with his self and God.

But the pain was the main focus as most of the movie was based on him being in a hospital bed. The hardest part of this book and movie was reading and visually seeing the pain. 1 year of pain and positive moments of recovery, but going through moments of misery. What did this religious man do or say to put him in such excruciating pain?

Of course, the title "90 minutes in Heaven" indicates that he spent that time in heaven. There was meaning and purpose behind it to spend 90 divine moments in heaven with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Seeing the long lost souls he lost connection with and unexpectedly never got to see again.

When or if we get the chance to see heaven, who would want to come back after witnessing a place so glorious? It's unreal to be able to experience such a place and then come back to earth singing and praising God in the back of a totaled and demolished car with a priest praying for him. Donald said that someone was holding his hand through this transition and who was holding his hand? Who was comforting and telling him don't worry you are going to live. It's not your time. You have a life of knowledge, experience and preaching to share.
When Donald crashed he was reading his notes to preach and listening to Christian music. He was alive at that time and praising God and in a split second God entered him into heaven and then the worst pain he will ever know.

He was 38 years old with three beautiful children and a loving and supporting wife. He had just discussed plans to start his own church before he entered the Kingdom of God in heaven.
When it comes to my thoughts, it's always hard to witness Gods people go through such pain and suffering. The learning experience to gain insight and share the experience with purpose is there, but why the worst pain?

Why does the woman get cancer?
The young preacher have a sudden heart attack?
The Sunday Christian school teacher and dedicated woman to charity and volunteering die from a sudden robbery or shooting?

Bad things happen to good people for the learning, but why such extremity? All I can say is that they all have, not just 90 minutes in heaven, but a lifetime. And from what Donald says we should know that speaking for all of us that are religious and committed to Jesus, we can reach heaven and it will be glorious a experience to share with our friends and loved ones in heaven.

2016 is Your Due Season!

1/3/2016

Joel Osteen has a great video on this being your Due Season.

A Year of Favor
A Year of Increase
A Year of New Beginnings

Just click "It's Your Due Season"
You do not need to pay to watch these videos!

https://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/WatchOnline.aspx

It's Just Different.....

12/27/2015

It has just been different...The past few years....Christmas just changed.
It didn't happen intentionally rather it happened with a growth of self through experience, travel, people, moments, and a beautiful relationship with up above bursting with joy. An awareness into a day that has nothing to do with the four letter word....."gift."

It was so exciting years going to my Grandma's house for Christmas and anxiously waiting til the morning to open up beautifully wrapped boxes. Wrapped in red, green, blue, and white with reindeers, Santa Claus, snowmen, snow flakes, red bows, and ribbon. The curiosity of what would be in that box-something of need or something of want.  As a child, who really wanted something of "want"-the toys, the dolls, the jewelry-it felt like Christmas receiving gifts. What would Christmas even be without gifts?

As you get older, the gifts still have a bold presence for Christmas. It's important to buy for children, but adults want that Ipad just as much as children. People are in stores fighting over sales on an Xbox rather than Christmas caroling or standing in church. The gift has dominated the meaning of Christmas and without a religious connection to Christmas-it probably will continue to dominate. It's become overwhelming to me as a religious person who identifies what she needs and what she wants very clearly. This does not mean I don't engage in materialism, but as addressed in many of my blog posts- I know when to disconnect and connect with what I want.

What happened for me is that the needs dominated and opening up a gift became less important overtime because I knew that I don't need gifts.  Gifts come and go everyday. I see people in unfortunate situations who could use hundreds of gifts-gifts I can't provide them.  Many who are happy just the way they are, my Simply Happy people around the world who live with their basic needs and don't require gifts to make them happy. They may or may not be religious and many are in love with life without materialistic means.

For me, these people are contagious to my spirit. They make me grow and learn about myself-connect me to God, and make me believe in true humanity. Many times traveling I have bought these important gifts for people and they WILL NOT ACCEPT MY GIFTS. Their character and spirit is so beautiful that they can't accept gifts because they feel it's not right. It's not acceptable to accept something that is not theirs and it could be a toy or something they even need, food-they decline.  These people decline my gifts and it appears they are lacking so many.

How can I accept gifts at Christmas with all that I have? Some people may think "Oh look at Priscilla holier than now." It's not stepping on a holy pedestal trying to present myself in a certain manner to others or even a decision. It's an internal feeling of discomfort and guilt. Opening up a gift is conforming to a societal norm that Christmas is about materialism and it's something I can't justify in my belief system.

For instance, the previous year I bought my Mom an overload of gifts maybe 15 or so to give to her as much as I could. What I want to do and am quite short of providing. It was the very least I felt I could do. Gifts aren't very important to her either, but watching her face light up makes me keep giving. To know that people feel happiness and contentment with that gift-it is worth "giving."

To be positive, people do give because that face of pure joy is priceless, especially when it's seen on a child, but if people did more giving and less receiving they may feel that same way, "Do I really need this watch when I have five?"
The beauty of gifts is definitely the giving. I remember last year I went above and beyond for ministry, baking, cards, parties, gifts, and felt so good with giving. It's quite a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment when you are able to give and make people feel good especially with a spiritual component attached.

This year was interesting opening the gifts as I literally looked miserable opening the few gifts I was given. I told my Mom that I wanted one thing to open on Christmas Day, but I kept delaying on opening it. It was a scarf and another gift was a blanket-things I need-not so bad. Still, there was a lack of motivation and meaning to even open the few gifts received. But watching her open my gifts made my face fill with such joy. It was the joy I see with "giving" whether it's a gift, a smile, a high five, or help with homework-giving is worth it....

Unfortunately, Priscilla can't engage in the American version of Christmas much anymore. It's just not purposeful with her being that God created. Priscilla doesn't look forward to the decorated, pretty boxes. She thanks the Lord for her natural gifts with people and simply being alive among life's beauty and challenges.

This is not a post to make people feel bad rather it's a post to help people understand me a bit more and to influence people to think about the meaning of the word gift.
How does a gift make you feel?

How many of your gifts are meeting your needs vs. your wants?
What purpose is the gift serving and is this something you are actively going to use?
Are you engaging in materialism and need a break?
Are you a giver?
Do you feel thankful, blessed?

Think a bit about the Simply Happy around the world and how they respond to gifts with the little they have. It's incredible to know that people are just thankful and blessed everyday with five percent of what we have......  PCR

Jubilee Year of Mercy 2016

12/27/2015

"This year's call to mercy is not only a call for us to receive God's mercy in our lives. It is also a call for us to be merciful to those around us. What better way to begin this year of Mercy is there than our celebration of the Holy Family. It is often in our own family that we need to show mercy.

Perhaps it would be good to begin 2016 by reconciling with someone in your family who is distant. Maybe you are unable to see everyone who is estranged but New Year's Eve would be a good time to pray for those who have hurt you. Leave that pain behind so you can begin the New Year on the right foot. We are called to a year of mercy.
As Our father reminds us that we are to be forgiven in the same way that we forgive others.

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us.

Love this Quote

11/13/2015

"True religion doesn't hide behind stained glass or fancy clothes. It goes to where the needs are....."

I have to go because the needs are calling me every day, every night, every hour...

Sunday Indian Brunch

11/9/2015

At Willow Creek, there is a sub section "Compassion and Justice" working to fight local and global poverty and injustice. Our small group volunteering with "Compassion and Justice" started a project to deliver warm clothing to refugee children and families from Mynamar in Chicago. We had a session of brainstorming, task delegating, and sharing and overly enjoying the amazing food of Shanti.

Diana did some cake shopping and had our cake decorated with this lovely blessing!

Lovely Shoji and I

Bible Spelling Bee

11/8/2015

Our ministry had it's annual spelling bee where children from each grade level compete spelling words from the Bible.
Words cannot describe how proud I am of these children and youth from the ministry of my good friend and mentor Dr. Paul. They are kind, polite, intelligent, witty, caring, fun, curious, lively, enthusiastic and they are true blessings to this world.
These children and their loving families are headed in the right direction with God by their side. They have such potential that the world is their runway. They will thrive with their families incredible love and support. They will be leaders living in their purpose and bringing out the brightest colors in a world turned dull. J'adore!!!

The Incredible New York Blessing

9/13/2015

Pope Francis

Sitting in mass today at St Mary's Church, our pastor made an announcement that might just be the best one of the year. I felt my heart beat a bit faster and a wave of joy run through my spirit as he spoke the words. "Pope Francis will be visiting the East coast in ten days," I sat there with my hand covering my mouth and counting the days down with my fingers.

The thought is rushing through my head, "Where in the East Coast? New York? Boston?

The phone stays off in church, but I had to feed my curiosity- New York City September 24. This lifted up my below average mood and I couldn't believe it.
It just so happens that my cousin is getting married that weekend and I(Priscilla Raj) is flying into New York LGA on September 24! What a blessing!

What is amazing is that when I flew into the Philippines I had just missed him by 8 days. This news was so disappointing, I could barely look at the posters throughout the city!
Immediately after church, I started looking for tickets with the procession ones going through lottery alone and some random tickets on Craigslist. Not by any surprise, people were selling free tickets for astronomical prices. Absolutely ridiculous and disrespectful on so many levels, but that's the unfortunate truth of those broken.

His schedule:
Thursday- 6:30pm at St Patrick's Cathedral Mass with the clergy
Friday- Central Park procession 3:30 General Public Lottery tickets
Saturday- Mass 12:30 to 5:30 General Public tickets
Sunday- Mass Unknown Time General Public tickets

While I am so happy that my cousin is getting married, I am having a spiritual conflict because I adore Pope Francis. Religious leaders usually take priority over everyone as it's important to connect with their spirit and just be in their presence. It contributes to my spiritual journey and a deeper connecting for being. This may not even be the case for other believers as it may not hold such importance, but.....it does for Priscilla.

Wedding comes first and Central Park procession is going to be missed-upsetting.
But I am going to work hard to get tickets to the mass Saturday and Sunday.
God works his miracles behind the scenes and I hope this can be one of them.
It's an opportunity that I can't and won't miss! One of these events is going to happen as I'm not going to miss him this time!

I

Indian Independence Day!

8/16/2015

Indian Independence day(celebrating the nation's independence from the British Empire on 15 of August 1947) is quite a day for my fellow Indians with lots of cultural festivities.

Our ministry of Indian Christian Children, Youth, and Families had our own float for the Devon Avenue Indian Independence parade. Devon Avenue is the "Little India" of Chicago kind of like the Taylor Street for "Little Italy."

Arriving early, I was on the hunt for our float #17 walking back and forth next to 25 floats. It was a mystery as to the location of our float and I sat watching everyone set up their sound system and decorations. After a search for the driver, we located our float just in time for festivities.
We had our usual Indian families(parents of kids and youth), family members, Pastors, and the R and R Ministry leaders(superman and superwoman).

It was quite interesting trying to get Indians to all sit on the float in a timely manner. Let's just say that Indians, especially those who are older, can move a bit slower and are slow on the listening. Unfortunately, our driver was not very patient or culturally competent for that matter. When he was ready to move, he was ready to move with people on or off the float. It was entertaining for the youth trying to run and catch up, but not the safest as well as the space on the float...There was barely space for a child to sit down. It was authentic with the crowded float and the 95 degree weather. I just so happened to be running around the float taking floats, keeping banners up, adjusting speakers-I'm just fine the heat doesn't bother Priscilla.

After the event, I had mild raccoon eyes and felt ill from simply drinking a hot bottle of Smart water.

Although, important to Praise the Lord for the weather because it was planned to rain!

The kids enjoyed themselves, but the heat did get to a lot of people and our float was more the religious one with prayer and singing. The one behind us(also associated with the ministry) had the Bollywood music and Indians dancing with their traditional outfits and big smiles. Of course, the youth wanted to have some fun coming out on a early Saturday morning-so that is what we did! We were all dancing with the spectators smiling and envying our fun time.

The Pastors are so beautiful in this ministry-it can just be witnessed for believers who appreciate the true dedication that people have to Christ.
It was a successful event full of love, joy, peace, and hope. It's was a time to Pray for India, to Pray for our country, but also pray for the success of businesses in Little India.

One of the most beautiful Pastor's and people I have ever met.

Love, Faith, and Charity

8/12/2015

Should Someone Beg Forgiveness for harboring an impossible love?
Because God's love of us is also impossible. It's never requited at the time and yet he continues to love us. He loved us so much that He sent His only son to explain how Love is the force that moves the sun and all the stars. In one of his letters to the Corinthians(which we were made to learn by heart). Paul says:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a thinking cymbal.

And we all know why. We often hear what seem to be great ideas to transform the world, but they are words spoken without feeling, empty of Love. However logical and intelligent the might be, they don't touch us.

Paul compares Love with Prophecy, with knowledge of the Mysteries, and with Faith and Charity.

Why is Love More Important than faith?

Because Faith is merely the road that leads us to the Greater Love.

Why is Love more Important than charity?

Because Charity is only one of the manifestations of Love. And the whole is always more important than the part. And Charity is also only one of the many roads that Love uses to bring closer to his fellow man.

And we all know that there is a lot of Charity out there without Love.
Whenever I interview artists, politicians, social workers, or doctors, students. I am always asking "What is your objective or goal?" Some say: to start a family. Others say to become accomplished in my career. But when I probe deeper and ask again the automatic response is: to make the world a better place.
Those who work for the good of humanity must have love in their hearts. There is nothing more important we can give than the Love reflected in our own lives.

In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells us, in three short lines, that Love is made of many elements, like light. We learn at school that if we pick up a prism and allow a ray of light to pass through, that ray will divide into seven colors, those of the rainbow.

Paul shows us the rainbow of Love just as a prism reveals to us the rainbow of light.

And what are those elements? They are virtues we hear about every day and that we can practice in every moment.

Patience: Love is Patient
Kindness:....and Kind
Generosity: Love does not envy...
Humility:.....or boast; it is not arrogant
Courtesy:....or rude
Unselfishness: It does not insist on it's own way
Good temper: It is not irritable...or resentful
Sincerity: It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth