OUT OF THE GRAVEYARD (Article) by Abidan Paul Shah
OUT OF THE GRAVEYARD (Article) by Abidan Paul Shah (Published in the newspaper Daily Dispatch, Henderson on January 7, 2017) This is the time of the year when many people struggle to keep their New Year’s resolutions. According to some surveys, about 70% are broken by the end of January. This is especially true when […]
FUTURE AND HOPE (Article) by Abidan Paul Shah
Last month Americans all across the land proved with their ballots that they were dissatisfied with the direction of our country. What is being called “one of the greatest political shakeups in history” is a glimpse into the soul of the real USA. Americans have overwhelmingly declared that they do care about the economy, security, and morality of their country. They do want a better world for their children and grandchildren. Once again they are seeing a future and a hope. These are indeed exciting times in our nation’s history. Along with the other positive changes, here are some more that we cannot afford to ignore:
A TALE OF TWO PRIORITIES (Article) by Abidan Paul Shah
Imagine your life as a circle with God as its center and everything flowing out of Him. He is no longer just someone we glance at once or twice a week but our entire life becomes an outworking of His love and truth. In the process we not only love Him with everything we have but His love radiates through us to those around us. Our friends and family feel it and so do our enemies. We begin to make wise decisions that are motivated by God’s love rather than our impulse or others’ incitement. In short, a God centered life brings to us the best of times in spite of the worst of times.
AMERICA TOMORROW (Article) by Abidan Paul Shah
“What’s going on in this world?! What’re we gonna do?!” I was greeted with those words as I made my way to the church office. I knew this person was referring to the recent headlines – “police officers murdered,” “terrorist attack in France,” “military coup in Turkey,” etc. I casually responded – “It seems like people have gone crazy…I guess we just need to pray more…” As I closed my office door behind me, those words began to ring louder and louder in my mind – “What’re we gonna do? What’re we gonna do?!” Just then a quote popped into my head that I read years ago – “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
A MESSAGE TO OUR iY GRADUATES (ARTICLE) by Abidan Paul Shah
Many of you are wondering – “Who are the iYs?” They are the younger group of Generation Y or the Millennials, born between 1991-2001. Unlike the older Ys, the iYs have a very different mindset. We cannot afford to ignore or be ignorant about them any longer because they will soon be the largest demographic in the US. In fact, about half the world’s population will be 25 years old or younger, which social scientists are calling the “youth bulge.” They warn that any time there is a surge in youth population, there will also be a rise in violence. The rise in group violence in America and across the globe in recent years is proof that it has already begun! What can we do? To start with, we need to understand what made them the way they are.
LIFE IS A VAPOR (ARTICLE) by Abidan Paul Shah
Monday afternoon two weeks ago I got a phone call that I have received before as a pastor but I never imagined whom it would be about. “Sylvia Edwards died.” I thought I had misheard the name and so I asked – “Who did you say again?” I heard it right the first time. It was Sylvia. I couldn’t believe it…I saw her the night before at church! We talked about her singing at the coming Fourth of July program. She wasn’t feeling well but she was still excited about picking out the songs and getting started with the practices. If you knew Sylvia, you would know that she loved to sing and she wasn’t one to sit still very long! Now, two days later we were standing by her graveside – “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…”
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES (Article) by Abidan Paul Shah
Dear Candidates, Thank you for your desire to lead our great nation! We can only imagine the toll this has taken on you and your loved ones. Let’s get right to it – You are running for the job because you agree that something is broken with our nation and you have the answer to fix it. If you think everything is just fine, then you’re out of touch with the American people. Frankly, the worst thing that our citizens can do is put you in the office! But, if your desires are noble, then the question is – “what do you think is broken with our nation?”
CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE – Article by Abidan Shah
After my last article – “Why we love our community?” – many of the readers thanked me for refuting a report floating on Facebook that we are one of the worst places to live in North Carolina. I explained that such town rankings do not factor “population dynamics, high crime areas, and latest annual crime reports” in their raw data analyses. Some of the readers asked me to clarify further, so here goes–
WHY WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY? Newspaper Article by Abidan Paul Shah
“Embarrassed of my hometown…” “Not what it used to be…” “Not surprised…” “Wish I could move…” These were some of the reactions to a recent crime report analysis circulating on Facebook. Actually, these were some of the nicer comments. Others were too crude to be mentioned here. Why are some people so quick to trash their community? It seems that they get some strange pleasure in mocking it and talking down about it. Instead of coming to her aid, they join the assailants. They’re like that person who sees an arsonist dousing his home with kerosene and offers him a match! Such people live somewhere at the intersection of Nostalgia Avenue and Bad Experience.
THE SECRET TO GROWING A CHURCH (ARTICLE)
Now that I have your attention, let me confess – it is no secret. In fact, it’s been lying in plain sight for two thousand years! History shows that whenever men and women, boys and girls actually put it to use, churches were filled and the kingdom of God grew by leaps and bounds! Read on!
SECRET TO THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE (Article)
According to popular research, this year’s resolutions were no different than the years before – “Get More Sleep,” “Save Money,” “Quit Smoking or Drinking,” and, top of the list as always, “Loose Weight.” Oh yes – there was also “Flossing!” I guess nobody wants a “Bridge Over Troubled Molars!” But sadly, most people’s resolutions go in one year and out the next. Why is that? It’s because of a three-letter word that has all but disappeared from American Christianity. It only brings up images of Bible thumping preachers in tent revivals. It conjures up feelings of guilt and condemnation. I’m talking about the word “Sin.” Now before you throw down this paper, I urge you to suspend your judgment briefly and keep reading. This may hold the secret to the best year of your life! Here’s why –
HIGH NOON (ARTICLE)
Just like the movie High Noon, we need to stand up and fight against the immorality that keeps taking over our world. With Godly conviction and courage we can. Sometimes we will have to stand all by ourselves. Let’s remember that one plus God is a majority.
LESSONS FROM RANDY (Article)
LESSONS FROM RANDY by Pastor Shah (Clearview Baptist Church) (This article was featured in the newspaper The Daily Dispatch on Saturday, June 14, 2014) There’s nothing good about a phone call in the middle of the night. Still half-asleep, I could hear my wife – “Who??? Oh no! What happened?” After a long pause her tone changed from […]
CHANGE OR DIE: A HUMBLE PLEA TO FELLOW CHURCHES (Article)
CHANGE OR DIE: A HUMBLE PLEA TO FELLOW CHURCHES (Article) by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church (Published in the Daily Dispatch, Henderson on January 18, 2014) I’ve never been more conflicted about writing an article than this one. After much prayer and consultation with my lovely wife, I felt that I must write what God has laid on my […]
DELIGHT IN GOD’S WILL, NOT DREAD IT (Article)
DELIGHT IN GOD’S WILL, NOT DREAD IT (Article) by Pastor Shah (Clearview) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 Some people have the wrong idea that they have to […]
ALL WE NEED IS TRUE LOVE (Article)
ALL WE NEED IS TRUE LOVE (article), Pastor Shah (Clearview Church, Henderson) “I love my wife.” “I love chili-fries.” “I love that new app.” “I love football.” No wonder we’re having trouble with love! We desperately search for true love in romance novels, movies, and songs…and we come up empty. That shouldn’t be a surprise since […]
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TIME WISELY (ARTICLE)
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TIME WISELY (Article) by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven….He has made everything beautiful in its time.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1,11 As we head back to work, school, and daily responsibilities, we hear—“time flies,” “time marches on,” “watch your time,” and […]
IF THE FOUNDATIONS ARE DESTROYED (Article)
IF THE FOUNDATIONS ARE DESTROYED (Article in the Local Newspaper) by Abidan Paul Shah “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” – Psalm 11:3 We are living in a time when old values and beliefs are under attack. We are being told that there is a new world coming, whether we like it […]
KEEPING YOUR SPIRITUAL FIRE BURNING (article)
KEEPING YOUR SPIRITUAL FIRE BURNING, Pastor Shah, Henderson (Article in the Local Newspaper – The Daily Dispatch, Henderson, July 20, 2013) One of the saddest sights for me is to see a Christian person or a church or a ministry that began in a fire but now living in a smoke. William Booth (Founder of […]
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AMERICA? (Article)
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AMERICA? (Article) Every day I run into people who are afraid, discouraged, and hopeless about the future of our nation. They seem to have one or more of the following three attitudes: REMINISCE, RESIGN, and RETREAT. REMINISCE – Some say, “America’s best days are over. We are just like the Roman Empire […]