The Roads Not Taken...

Can Goal setting ruin your life? A Different Thought...

2011-11-30T12:06:00.001+04:00

A whole movement, which studied the psychology of success over the past 40 years, has taught us that the only way to “success,” is to set clearly defined goals.

But the truth is – not only is the outcome not guaranteed, but the very process could be ruining our lives.

That’s according to Sarah Alexander, an expert in intuition and the author of “Spiritual Intelligence; The Eight Pillars of 21st Century Business Success”.

“There is no doubt that the human mind is hugely powerful and if we consistently focus our mind on a chosen result, there is a possibility that we will achieve a certain outcome. For a few, this approach has brought material success and financial gain, but for most it has led to disappointment, frustration and misery as intended goal after goal has not materialised,” says Sarah.

So why is this? Why could goal setting be ruining our lives?(Read More...)

Teenagers would rather lose TV than internet or mobile

2011-10-27T16:04:00.000+04:00

Young British teenagers would be less worried at being deprived of television than losing access to the internet or their mobile phones, as attachment to the medium slides among the young, according to new research from Ofcom.

Yet Britain's youngsters also watch more TV than at any time in the past five years, the survey found – though a growing amount comes through using online catchup services such as the BBC's iPlayer. On average, they watch 17 hours 37 minutes per week, up from 15 hours 37 minutes in 2007.

Internet use has also become pervasive, with 95% of 12- to 15-year-olds having internet access at home through a computer. But the research by the communications watchdog also points to a "digital divide", in which only 80% of children in lower socioeconomic groups have access to the internet at home, compared to 98% in the richest ones.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "The almost universal use of the internet at home by 12 to 15s – both for their education as well as their entertainment – is a positive step forward."(Click for more...)

Changing the face of Google!

2011-10-12T18:01:00.001+04:00

Google is all out to have a new look in the virtual world! Now they have lately launched to have a dynamic view of the blogs. Actually don't have a clue what this is all about and how this is going to turn out.

However, definitely worth a try!
And so the new layout.

As of now, a lot of the old features are missing such as text, colour customization and applications support.
They have assured that all is coming up as they have yet to integrate it to the dynamic content.
So then does this have something to do with Google Plus.
Well, we'll have to wait and see....

"If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."

2011-10-06T11:53:00.000+04:00

This is a prepared text of the Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005.

.....My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Click the video link to see the full commentary

Not a drop of water nor a Morsel of food through her lips, for 11 years and still counting...

2011-09-21T11:58:00.002+04:00

In and out of jails forthe past 11 years, Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Sharmila has a tube running down hernose as the government alternately force feeds her and incarcerates her forattempting to take her own life through her hunger strike.

Irom SharmilaChanu (born March 14, 1972), also known as the "Iron Lady ofManipur" or "Menghoubi" ("the fair one")^[1] isa civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian stateof Manipur.Since 2 November 2000, she has been on hunger strike todemand that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act,1958 (AFSPA), which she blames for violence in Manipur andother parts of India's northeast.^[2] Havingrefused food and water for more than 500 weeks, she has been called "theworld's longest hunger striker".^[3]

Manipuris far removed, in more ways than one, from the political nerve centre of thenational capital. But Irom is not a stranger to Jantar Mantar in the heart ofDelhi, where she herself has launched a series of protests in the past to seekthe repeal of a law that gives the state army draconian powers.

Thougha recipient of many awards and international commiseration over her ironresolve to fast unto death unless the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958) isrepealed, Sharmila's movement has somehow failed to capture the imagination ofIndia's burgeoning urban middle-class who can better identify with issues thataffect their lives directly.

Talking about just 1 minute of the 1440 Minutes in a day!

2011-09-06T17:43:00.001+04:00

It only takes a minute to tell a loved one you adore them

It only takes a minute to run towards a fear

It only takes a minute to set a big goal

It only takes a minute to drink a glass of water

It only takes a minute to read a great idea (that just might rock your world)

It only takes a minute to write the most beautiful thank you note you have ever sent your parents (or a teammate or a customer or a high school teacher who blessed your life)

It only takes a minute to smile

It only takes a minute to connect to a friend or a co-worker

It only takes a minute to help a human being in need

Courtesy: Stunning Success by Robin Sharma

Another success story of a team work?

2011-09-06T16:36:00.000+04:00

2011-08-21T12:45:00.000+04:00

8 Dangers Every Leader Must Face and Overcome

Above 26,000 feet life takes on a whole new meaning. It’s known as the death zone. At this height, the air holds only 30 % as much oxygen as at sea level. The air is so thin it is not life-sustaining. Within hours, judgment can become impaired. People get confused. Issues, that at sea level, we feel we can choose not to deal with, become deadly. At this height, the importance of character becomes black and white. Leadership mistakes are fatal.

Schmincke and Warner have identified eight dangers that can sabotage anyone at some point in their journey and put at risk careers, projects, or even companies. Overcoming these dangers requires implementing specific survival tips that are outlined below:

Danger	Survival Tip
Fear of Death	*Embrace death.* A metaphor to accept and not resist, avoid, or ignore the inevitable death of a situation. Instead of freezing, free yourself to take action. Some call it “die before battle”.
Selfishness	Develop *a compelling saga*, a passion greater than the ego’s agenda. Focus on the greater good than your personal agenda.
Tool Seduction	*Improve your behavior* versus getting seduced by new performance theories or models. Run your tools, don’t let them run you. Getting off on new ideas, but not on implementation, distracts professional focus.
Arrogance	*Humility*. Offensive displays of superiority, self-importance, or treating others as inferiors never engenders success. Achieve success by not stepping over weak climbers, or leaving them for dead.
Lone Heroism	*Partnership*. Instead of feeling you’re the only one who can do it right, avoid missed opportunities and demoralized colleagues by engaging and leveraging everyone’s strengths.
Cowardice	*Bravery*. Cowardly professionals don’t challenge the status quo, hold others accountable, and expose weaknesses in the organization. Don’t be a coward. Take bold action
Comfort	*Perseverance*. No professional accomplishes a goal worth the pursuit without surviving the stretch—and often painful stretch. How uncomfortable are you willing to be to achieve your goals?
Gravity	*Luck*: Did you think any plan would survive its impact with realty? When gravity propels you, you’re invincible. When it pulls you down, you fall hard. Gravity is that uncertain push or pull regardless of what you do. Execution involves too much risk; and this causes expert opinions to fluctuate with the winds of uncertainty. Accept that luck happens, and prepare to seize it when it happens to you!

Here at sea level, these dangers don’t seem to pose a very big threat. But it’s deceptive. We figure we can get by. At sea level the margin for error is greater and the consequences often take longer to be realized. In the end, they will destroy you just the same.

A Daring Feat for a Double Amputee....

2011-08-09T15:29:00.001+04:00

Double-Amputee Sprinter Oscar Pistorius Will Be First Amputee to Compete in the World Championships

Oscar Pistorius of South Africa just qualified for the 400-meter and the 4x400-meter relay races at this year's World Championships, his first trip there. That's an amazing feat in itself, but made more amazing as Pistorius is a double amputee, using two carbon-fiber Cheetah prosthetic legs to run. He'll be the first-ever amputee athlete to perform at the event.

Pistorius, at 24 years old, has had his share of difficulties in competing with able-bodied athletes. His prosthetics were at one time declared to represent an unfair advantage over the athletes using the flesh-and-blood legs they were born with, rather than the space-age sproing-y Cheetah legs Pistorus uses, though he was eventually cleared for Olympic competition.

Pistorius isn't a favorite at the World Championships--his qualifying time, a personal-best 45.07 seconds, was just barely fast enough to earn him a ticket to the games in Daegu, South Korea--but he calls it "the highest-profile and most prestigious able-bodied event which I have ever competed in."

We've previously called for a league of exclusively performance-enhanced athletes, but it sounds like Pistorius is thrilled just to compete with the best able-bodied sprinters in the world.

The Four Important Principles of Life from the book 'The Leader who had no Title'

2011-07-28T11:32:00.000+04:00

After being motivated by reading the book 'The Leader who had no Title', I have come up with the conclusion that the principles mentioned in the book can be applied to all the key areas of one's life. They are one's own PERSONALITY, FAMILY, CAREER and SOCIAL CIRCLES. So looking from this perspective, one can become a Leader in all these areas by applying the acronyms mentioned in the book, thanks to the renowned Leadership guru, Robin Sharma who is the author.The titles mentioned below are not as stated in the book, but my own views. If you feel them beneficial, you can apply it to your life and Shine out. Of course, to get the full effect of it, you have to read the book which has the complete details on how to implement it in your life.

1) Rise and SHINE every day of your life(Personality)

S - See Clearly
H - Health is Wealth
I - Inspiration Matters
N - Neglect not your Family
E - Elevate your lifestyle

2) Think HUMAN and Be HUMAN(Family)

H - Helpfulness
U - Understanding
M - Mingle
A - Amuse
N - Nurture

3) Project your best IMAGE at work(Career)

I - Innovation
M - Mastery
A - Authenticity
G - Guts
E - Ethics

4) Be the SPARK in your circles.(Social circles)

S - Speak with Audacity
P - Prioritize
A - Adversity creates Opportunity
R - Respond instead of React
K - Kudos to Everyone

Depression higher in wealthy nations, research suggests

2011-07-27T16:16:00.000+04:00

By Marissa Cevallos, HealthKey / For the Booster Shots blog

July 26, 2011, 4:34 p.m.

Some of the richest countries have the highest rates ofdepression, new research suggests.

An international team of researchers collected the results of face-to-face interviews of nearly 90,000 people considered representatives of their population. The interviews were conducted in community settings in 18 countries, and the interviewers used a standard diagnostic test from the World Health Organization to assess depression.

In the 10 countries considered high-income, an average of 15% of participants said they’d experienced a depressive episode in their lifetime. France, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the U.S. all had rates higher than 18%.

But among the eight low- to middle-income countries surveyed, the rate was 11% -- the lowest rates were found in India, Mexico, China and South Africa.(more...)

The Single Best Time Management Tip Ever | BNET

2011-04-28T15:56:00.001+04:00

By Dave Logan | April 26, 2011 I spent most of my life at war with time–and time usually won. I’d read every book and taken every course along the way, and with a few exceptions (like David Allen’s excellent Getting Things Done), most of it seemed to rehash common sense. The feeling of being overwhelmed and underproductive was relentless.

T he big breakthrough came when I was first teaching at USC and a student with severe dyslexia asked for help. Not knowing what to do, I turned to an expert on learning disorders. She advised that I let the student take the exam in my office, giving him short breaks every 20 minutes. The student did very well, surprising us both, and I was intrigued. After years of working with 20-minute segments, the Multiple Put Down technique was born. I’ve used it to write four books, a dissertation and thousands of speeches.

Here it is: work on a task in 20-minute increments, with absolute focus, and then put it down, over and over, until you’re done. In this case, the gold is in the details, so please follow them exactly:

Alert your brain that a task is coming that will require its recall, creativity, and brilliance (yes, your brain is brilliant–thank your parents). Then let some time pass–a day, perhaps.

When you’re ready to start, set a timer for 20 minutes, such as the stopwatch feature on an iPhone. Set your cell phone to airplane mode, turn off your email, and silence all other distractions. Then hit start on the timer.

During the 20 minutes, you must focus on that task without interruption. And unless the building burns down, do nothing but work on that task until the timer goes off. You may hit the wall, but keep going. The vast majority of people find they can work on that task “in the zone” until the timer goes off.

After 20 minutes, you have a choice: keep working or take a break. If you keep working, reset the timer to 20 minutes and go through the process again, without interruption until the next 20 minutes are up. If you decide to take a break, it can be short (such as refilling your coffee cup), medium (returning a phone call) or long (going into a meeting, or working out).

That’s it. You pick it up and put down over and over, hence the name “Multiple Put Down.” Some data, my own experience, and reports from the thousands of people who have learned the technique is that you are much more efficient–often finishing a task in 30-50% of the time it would take if you worked on it in one sitting. Even better, the quality of the work is far superior than if you followed your mother’s advice of “start early and just get it done.” There are other benefits, too: less stress, reduced frustration, and a general feeling of being brilliant. Multiple Put Down will save you hours and it can be even more powerful when combined with a Life Repair Day.

There are several advantages to the Multiple Put Down technique. The first is that your brain is brilliant at running processes in the background, but is awful at multitasking. While you’re driving to work, in the shower or answering email, your brain will be working in the background on the task, so that when you’re ready, it’ll drain through your fingers, into your computer or notepad, for about 20 minutes. The break allows your brain to restock the supply of brilliance. Each time you go through the process is a “productivity unit.”

Here are some tasks that are perfectly suited for Multiple Put Down: writing a report, preparing a pitch for a client or boss, figuring out how to solve a tough problem. Fans of Tribal Leadership might be interested to know that the book was written in 1106 productivity units.

If God wanted us to live in outer space, we wouldn't have balancing systems in our inner ears

2011-04-12T16:59:00.002+04:00

When the Apollo astronauts landed on the moon, many assumed that this was the first step toward permanent colonization of the moon and journeys by astronauts to other planets. From today's perspective, though, the space race was like the races to the North Pole and the South Pole. Once explorers had reached those destinations, the world lost interest.

Another parallel is ocean exploration. Back in the 1960s, visions of colonies on the moon competed with plans for domed cities on the ocean floor that gave a new meaning to the phrase "real estate bubble." Scientific exploration of the ocean depths continues to produce marvelous discoveries, like whole ecosystems that have evolved to take advantage of the heat and emissions of undersea volcanic vents. But the year 2000 came and went and millions of homeowners are "underwater" only in metaphor.

The parallel is not complete, of course. The poles and the ocean depths are far more hospitable to human life than near Earth orbit or the moon or Mars. Astronauts have learned that prolonged weightlessness does terrible things to the bones and the circulatory system. If God wanted us to live in outer space, we wouldn't have balancing systems in our inner ears. (more...)

33 miners in Chile will be stuck for months....but they are HAPPY?!!?

2010-08-23T11:40:00.003+04:00

"Patience and faith. God is great and the help of my God is going to make it possible to leave this mine alive."

COPIAPO, Chile — For 33 men found alive after 17 days trapped deep in a copper and gold mine, the toughest challenge now may be preserving their sanity during the months it may take to carve a tunnel big enough for them to get out.

Chileans were euphoric Sunday after a narrow drill broke through 2,257 feet (688 meters) of solid rock to reach an emergency refuge where the miners had gathered. The trapped men quickly tied two notes to the end of a probe that rescuers pulled to the surface, announcing in big red letters: "All 33 of us are fine in the shelter."

"Today all of Chile is crying with excitement and joy," President Sebastian Pinera said at the mine.

And where many were beginning to give up hope, the scene above ground became a celebration Sunday night, with a barbecue for the miners' families, roving musicians, lit candles and Chilean flags making the barren landscape seem festive.

But rescuers said it could take as long as four months — until around Christmas — to carve a second shaft some 27 inches (68 centimeters) in diameter, wide enough for the miners to be pulled up one by one(more...)

It's virtual meditation

2007-09-29T09:44:00.000+04:00

Too busy to breathe? Too frazzled for fun? Meditainment's for you. The strange thing is, writes GAYLE MACDONALD, it actually works

'Imagine you are the navigator of a canoe, gliding down a river on a warm sunny day," says a honeyed voice. "You are looking forward to arriving at a destination that is all your own. There is no need for any haste. This place is always here for you."

Ah. Forget virtual reality. This is virtual relaxation. I am not actually in a cedar-strip canoe, floating down a river. Instead, I'm sitting at my computer, headphones on, eyes clamped shut. The chirps of birds and the sound of water lapping against my boat is all, literally, in my head, the brainchild of a British Web designer named Richard Latham.(more...)

Workers 'stressed out' by e-mails

2007-08-15T08:49:00.000+04:00

More than a third of workers say they feel "stressed out" by the number of e-mails they receive in the office and the pressure to respond promptly.

Scottish research found some workers are viewing their inbox up to 40 times each hour, leaving them tired and frustrated - as well as unproductive.
"E-mail is the thing that now causes the most problems in our working lives," said lead researcher Karen Renaud, a computer scientist.

"It's an amazing tool but it's got out of hand."
Experts suggest a simple stress-beating strategy: check your e-mail less often.
The advice is to set aside two or three dedicated e-mail reading times each day.

'$100 laptop' production begins

2007-07-23T08:22:00.000+04:00

Five years after the concept was first proposed, the so-called $100 laptop is poised to go into mass production.

Hardware suppliers have been given the green light to ramp-up production of all of the components needed to build millions of the low-cost machines.

Getting the $100 laptop to this stage has been a turbulent journey for the organisation and its founder Nicholas Negroponte.Since the idea was first put forward in 2002, the low-cost laptop has been both lauded and ridiculed.

Intel chairman Craig Barret famously described it as a "$100 gadget" whilst Microsoft founder Bill Gates questioned its design, particularly the lack of hard drive and its "tiny screen".

Professor Negroponte's response has always been the same: "It's an education project, not a laptop project."

The view was shared by Kofi Annan, ex-secretary General of the UN. In 2005, he described the laptop as an "expression of global solidarity" that would "open up new fronts" for children's education.And as time passed, even some of the critics have changed their stance. Earlier this month, Intel, which manufactures what was considered a rival machine, the Classmate PC, joined forces with OLPC.(more...)

Statue of Christ Redeemer among new seven wonders of the world

2007-07-08T10:40:00.000+04:00

Lisbon, Portugal: The Great Wall of China, Jordan's Petra, Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer, Peru's Machu Picchu, Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid, the Colosseum in Rome and India's Taj Mahal were named the new seven wonders of the world on Saturday.

They were chosen according to a tally of around 100 million votes cast by people around the world over the Internet and by cellphone text messages, the non-profit organisation that conducted the poll said.People from every country in the world voted by internet or by phone message for the world's top architectural marvels, according to New7Wonders, the nonprofit organisation conducting the balloting.

The Colosseum, the Great Wall, Machu Picchu, India's Taj Mahal and Petra have been among the leaders since January.

The Acropolis and the Statue of Christ Redeemer recently received a surge in votes.

Muslim Youth Urged to Examine Themselves During This Ramadan

2006-09-27T08:58:00.000+04:00

Ghana,Africa : It is the commonest belief in the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Hindu societies that fasting and prayer are the only channels whereby one can speak to God or communicate with the Infinite.

For example, before Jesus started his earthly ministry, he went forth into the wilderness to be alone with God that he might look into his inner heart, and note its strength and worthiness. This took him 40 days and 40 nights. He succeeded.

In the material world, we have automobiles to speed our ways, steam engines to shorten distance and airplanes to make distance easy. The same applies to spiritual development. Fasting and affirmative prayer shorten its course. Without them no spiritual development is realized. We fast to free the soul from earthly chains and bondage. We fast to gain healing power, spiritual development, spiritual inspiration, for health, purification of one's self and obtain favour and blessing from God.

The ADM, therefore, calls on all Muslims, especially the youth to use this fasting period to examine themselves deeply, as regards to their behaviours and actions to bring their passions under control, work to give shine to their souls, remove the false sense of prestige and keep their faith in Almighty Allah a living force.(more...)

FOX HAS FAITH IN RELIGIOUS FEATURE FILMS

2006-09-21T11:49:00.000+04:00

Los Angeles: In a departure from its normal mainstream fare, 20th Century Fox is praying its new FoxFaith film productions bring in a new congregation of cinema fans as well as fill its corporate collection plates.

Acknowledging the fast-growing – and demographically desirable – number of Americans embracing Christian beliefs, 20th Century Fox will create a new division devoted to the devoted.

The new FoxFaith film division will produce a number of straight-to-DVD and theatrical releases that focus on the core values of and materials produced by evangelical Christians. Budgets for the new films will range from $3 million to around $20 million.First out of the FoxFaith stable will be LOVE'S ABIDING JOY, a western based on the novel by the Christian writer Janette Oke. It is scheduled for release on October 6.Lending economic weight to the studio’s decision was the success of 2004’s THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, a theatrical blockbuster that also sold 15 million DVDs.

Teenagers can change the world, says Tutu

2006-09-18T11:37:00.000+04:00

Denver,USA - South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu looked across a sea of cheering teenagers from around the globe on Sunday, and told them not that only can they change the world, but they must."I look at you, and I am in awe," he said on the final day of an international call for peace and action called PeaceJam."You are the ones who are going to make this a better world."

The Archbishop, a 1984 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, was one of 10 Nobel laureates to address the 3 000 young people gathered from 31 countries for the 10th anniversary of the PeaceJam movement at the University of Denver. Over the three-day run, laureates urged the world's youth to not just yearn for peace, but to take action."

The fact of the matter is, Nobel laureates don't come floating down from Heaven," Tutu said on Sunday.(more...)

Gandhi's message preserves peace

2006-09-12T09:09:00.000+04:00

By Jyoti Malhotra, Special to Gulf News

On September 11, a hundred years ago as well as today, India has a message for the world and for itself.

Malegaon, a small town in Maharashtra, India's richest state, was last week caught in the crucible of a Hindu-Muslim confrontation when a handful of bicycle bombs went off just as the town's Muslims were emerging from their Friday afternoon prayers.Forty-one people died in the bomb blasts and nearly 300 injured in the stampede that followed. And yet, 24 hours later, Malegaon's Muslims were emerging from their shell-shocked hellhole, to walk across to the Wadia hospital in the Hindu part of the town to donate blood to the wounded.

At first, the way a local resident tells it, many Hindus thought this was a mob come to take revenge. The fact that it was the exact opposite averted not only a full-blown riot, but gave hope to a nation despairing that the recent blasts in Mumbai had irrevocably strained the city's cross-religious ties.(more...)

‘The first sign of intelligence is not to talk’

2006-09-10T15:40:00.000+04:00

Sri Sri Ravishankar has been winning over ever diverse adherents to his Art of Living mode to spiritualism. He dropped by for tea with the Indian Express Group reporters and editors — with the promise of a special 15-minute meditation at the end — took an array of questions to explain his vision for morality in the 21st century. Sportingly addressing both sceptics and believers, he emphasised on the need to come to terms with guilt and to be physically enabled to embrace spiritual understanding

ON HIMSELF: The first sign of intelligence is not to talk. The second sign of intelligence is not to talk if a question is not asked. The first kind of intelligence is of course that of God. I don’t pay any attention to popularity. Whatever I say is from my own experience. My strength is that I don’t speak anything not in my experience. I’m just natural. You can’t make me feel not at home anywhere. I’m never shy of criticism-either giving it or taking it.(more...)

One godly teen dies; hundreds find new life

2006-09-07T15:33:00.000+04:00

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Nathan Johnson dreamed of starting a revolution for Christ.
“Today through His mighty power and glorious grace, God has brought me back to Him,” Johnson wrote in his diary in August 2005. “He has enlightened the eyes of my heart to His will in which He has with no doubt called me.... His will for me is to radically impact my school for Him.

But before he could see the revolution become a reality, Johnson's life was cut short by an automobile accident.

Despite his early death, friends and family say that God is using the tragedy to make Johnson’s dream a reality.(more...)

India, at age 59, gets 'must-do-better' lecture

2006-09-05T10:48:00.000+04:00

International Herald Tribune
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2006
NEW DELHI: As India entered its 60th year of independence this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh might have been forgiven for indulging in a short bout of self-congratulation.
The nation's economy is growing rapidly, analysts cast India as an emerging superpower, and every day newspaper editorials here exude breathy triumphalism about the country's booming prospects.

Outside Old Delhi's Red Fort, on the morning of Aug. 15, the stage was set for the traditional burst of nationalistic pride. Hundreds of children, dressed in green, white and saffron, lined up in stripes to form a vast Indian flag. Crowds waving plastic banners had been waiting since dawn for the prime minister to pour forth the usual cocktail of hyperbole and patriotism in the annual Independence Day address to the nation.

Instead, Singh chose to accentuate the negative.

Recalling Jawaharlal Nehru's Tryst with Destiny speech, delivered 59 years ago, Singh reminded listeners that India's first prime minister had warned of several major challenges facing free India: the urgent need to end "poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity."(more...)

Shopping centre answers prayers

2006-06-03T14:44:00.001+04:00

Glasgow,Scotland-A prayer room for visitors of all religions has opened in a shopping centre to "provide moments of peace and solitude" away from the crowds.

Braehead shopping centre, near Glasgow, has opened the room on the lower mall.
Operations manager David MacGregor said: "We want to do all we can to cater for visitors to the centre."
Religious leaders praised the move and described it as "a very thoughtful initiative" and a "welcome and a considerate action". (more...)

Pope: How could God 'tolerate' Holocaust?

2006-05-29T16:56:00.000+04:00

OSWIECIM, Poland - Pope Benedict XVI walked along the row of plaques at the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex's memorial, one in the language of each nationality whose members died there. As he stopped to pray, a light rain stopped and a brilliant rainbow appeared over the camp.
"To speak in this place of horror, in this place where unprecedented mass crimes were committed against God and man, is almost impossible — and it is particularly difficult and troubling for a Christian, for a pope from Germany," he said later.
"In a place like this, words fail; in the end, there can be only a dread silence, a silence which itself is a heartfelt cry to God: Why, Lord, did you remain silent? How could you tolerate all this?"...(more...)

Young must research sex - Blair

2006-05-28T17:59:00.000+04:00

Tony Blair has warned young people to take responsibility for their sexual behaviour and learn more about sex from the wealth of information on offer.
He told BBC Radio 1 - which has begun research into youth attitudes on sex - there were far more ways to discuss the topic compared to his schooldays.
The prime minister also laughed off one of the study's questions, refusing to say if he ever had a one-night stand.
He promised the survey's results would help to improve health services.
"When I was at school there wasn't any formal sex education at all," he said.
"People picked it up in all the ways, from friends, parents and so on, but I think there's a lot more information there now.
"This isn't just about formal structures, it's about networks where people are actually going to have a far better idea from talking to people what are the types of problems they may confront and how to behave responsibly, sexually." (more...)

The Da Vinci Code Mystery Revealed!

2006-05-17T14:53:00.000+04:00

TIME's movie critic Richard Corliss blogs live from the Cannes Film festival:

...Well, to resolve two mysteries at once (why the film was kept from critics and what my reaction is), it’s not very good — long (2hr.32min.) and mostly inert.

Howard and Goldsman have efficiently touched all the bases. But they haven’t found a way to replicate the book’s page-turning urgency. The games Brown plays — anagrams, the Fibonacci sequence, the art-history gamesmanship, the delving into Gnostic gospel lore, all the clues and miscues in his devious treasure hunt — are best savored by readers with a long night or a long flight ahead of them. They’re not intrinsically visual or movie-dramatic, however many car chases the Howard version cranks up.(more..)

Da Vinci Code movie a target for US evangelicals

2006-05-15T16:42:00.000+04:00

America's evangelical Christians who see "The Da Vinci Code" as Bible bashing at its worst are taking a cue from Hollywood to attack the story.

A boycott at this point would not do any good. When you have a tsunami coming it doesn't help to build a wall," said Dr. Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody Bible Church in Chicago.

"I have never in my 30 years of ministry had a time when so many people are interested ... We as evangelicals welcome the debate," added Lutzer, who wrote "The Da Vinci Deception" which has been turned into a video teaching kit on the subject. (more...)

From life without limbs to life without LIMITS!

2006-05-10T20:05:00.000+04:00

To inspire fellow Christians Nick gives a powerful testimony of how God's grace and reliance on scripture has helped overcome his disability and see his purpose through God's eyes. He reveals how his so-called birth defect is not a tragedy but an instrument to reveal the glory of God. (John 9:3) Nick deals with topics like overcoming fear & rejection, suffering, unanswered prayers, reaching the lost & forgotten and mediocre Christianity. Nick integrates his message with whatever current theme or topic that your church may be going through.

"It is truly amazing to see how many doors God is opening for my ministry. My burning desire is to give hope to people in any way I can. Even though I can't preach the Gospel at Corporate and School Speaking Engagements, I Praise God as I witness seeds being planted in every soul for His Glory."(more...)

Humanitarian groups worried about Amnesty International’s wide-sweeping abortion initiative

2006-05-08T10:00:00.000+04:00

Konigstein, May. 05, 2006 (CNA) - A number of pro-life organizations, including the Catholic 'Aid to the Church in Need' (ACN), have raised their voices against the international human rights advocacy group, Amnesty International, and its declared intention to spread abortion rights around the world. On Friday, Father Joaquin Alliende, ACN’s international ecclesiastical assistant, said that it was “With great regret we have learned that Amnesty International has proposed advancing abortion ‘rights’ around the world as a new mission for their organization.” (more...)

Archbishop woos hoodie generation

2006-05-03T11:02:00.000+04:00

The Archbishop of York wore a hoodie as he urged people not to judge teenagers by their choice of fashion.
Dr John Sentamu told a conference on youth work in the Church: "Ninety-nine per cent of those who wear hoodies are law-abiding citizens."

About 150 teenagers were among the 650 delegates at Monday's event at Bradford Grammar School in West Yorkshire.
"In a rapidly changing culture, many are bewildered about how to communicate with young people," Dr Sentamu said.

"There are a lot of young people here today and to me that is very telling - they play a major part in the life of the Church.(more...)

Ex-stripper does new turn -- in missionary position

2006-05-01T12:31:00.000+04:00

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Heather Veitch, a tall, shapely blonde, made a career out of baring it all at strip clubs. Now when she walks in a club, it is just to deliver her naked truth about God.

Last month she was introduced on evangelist Pat Robertson's "The 700 Club" as a "holy hottie."
At 32, Veitch still has a girlish strain to her voice, but she has done a fair amount of living, surviving a failed, turbulent marriage; having a child at 18; spending five years in the trenches as a stripper; making four appearances in "soft porn" and fetish movies; and having a second daughter with her current husband, who has brain cancer.

"A lot of people think we are trying to get them out of the industry or we're trying to help them change, but really we're trying to have them have a relationship with God.
"We want her to change her heart, and then if she changes her life because of that, then great, but it is not a requirement," she says. "We totally go by the Bible, like, we believe that the Bible is 100 percent truth."

"My goal is that I know that never again will a stripper -- or anybody -- feel like God is not for them. That's my goal," Veitch says, but she adds: "I would love them not to dance, because I know it is damaging and it is hard."(more...)

World Youth Day Themes Picked!

2006-04-30T08:49:00.000+04:00

VATICAN CITY, (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI has selected the themes for World Youth Day for the next three years.The events in 2006 and 2007 will be at the diocesan level. The 2008 event, in Australia, will be international.

In 2006, young people of the world will reflect on verse 105 of Psalm 119: "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path."

The theme chosen for 2007 is from the Gospel, John 13:34: "Love one another, as I have loved you."

The World Youth Day to be held in Sydney from July 15-20, 2008, will focus on the theme taken from the Acts of the Apostles (1:8): "You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses."(more...)

'Miracle' monk grabs show ahead of Greek Orthodox Easter

2006-04-24T19:13:00.001+04:00

ATHENS (AFP) - The discovery that Vissarionas Korkoliakos remains largely preserved -- along with his monastic robes and book of Gospels -- is being hailed as a "sign", in a country strong on religious tradition that loves miracles.
"Even (his) soft parts are intact," exclaimed the region's senior cleric, Bishop Nicholas of Fthiotis, as the Greek Orthodox Church officially deemed the event a "celestial sign, a message for our people and our time."
As word got out, thousands have flocked to the monastery near the central town of Lamia, where the body was put on display in a special glass case last month.
"We just witnessed a miracle," one woman told the Eleftherotypia daily. "This man is a saint."
"After all these years, you can still make out his Adam's apple and the veins in his feet," added a man.
Given the fervor, the church decided to keep the corpse on public view, drawing criticism from some clerics who fear the monk's exposure will lead to commercial exploitation and have called for his reburial.(more...)

SPIRITUAL REVIVAL IN GERMANY TRIGGERED BY BENEDICT XVI

2006-04-20T10:12:00.000+04:00

BERLIN, April 19 (CNA) - The German newspaper Handelsblatt is reporting that Pope Benedict XVI has triggered a spiritual revival in his native country, which he will visit for the second time in September.

In a special edition for the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate, the German daily noted that in visiting his native country twice in such a short period of time, the Pontiff has set off a spiritual awakening among many Germans.

The article in Handelsblatt points out that the September trip is "not an official visit, but rather a visit to the roots of his life." While there exists among Germans a general euphoria about havi ng the Pope so close, the article adds that "there is another perspective that many previously thought impossible and that must be pointed out: this 79 year-old wise man could spark in this moment a revival in the Church in Germany." (more...)

God is Hot!

2006-04-15T17:26:00.000+04:00

© EditieNL.nl:For many years churches all over the world were having a tough time to sort out the reasons for a tremendous decrease in the number of visitors attending church services.Moreover it was felt that the younger generation had no more interest in god. But as for now,things seems to have taken a complete turnover.

Editie NL,the most popular commercial broadcast channel of the Netherlands has put up its findings on air last day.They infact conducted a survey among the younger generation for the 5 greatest priorities in their life today.And Strange enough,they were startled to find religion topping the list(more...)

God or the girl?

2006-04-13T09:18:00.000+04:00

God or the girl is all about a choice that four young people have to make in their life.The question is a startling one and is a new addition to the trends the new generation youth are putting forward.It is being portrayed as a real life documentary and is being aired on the A&E Channel as a documentary series.

This five-part documentary series follows four young men through the emotionally wrenching final weeks that lead up to the most important decision of their lives - whether to become Catholic priests or not. Traveling with his brother to the Catholic celebration of World Youth Day in Germany, Joe also looks forward to reconnecting with Anna, the love of his life. In Columbus, Dan leads his youth group of high schoolers in protest prayer outside an abortion clinic, sparking a conflict with pro-choice college students. Mike is thrilled to see soul mate and girlfriend Aly, but her visit exacerbates tensions with his mentor, Father Pauselli. And Steve makes a nerve-wracking journey home, finally telling his best friends about his aspirations toward the priesthood(more...)

Holy Land's Christians caught in midst of conflict

2006-04-12T09:45:00.000+04:00

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - A 76-year-old Greek Orthodox monk is beaten up by villagers, his carefully tended olive trees are uprooted and his isolated West Bank monastery is defaced with graffiti depicting nuns being raped.
The land of Jesus's birth is not always an easy place for Christians to live in 2006.
The population of Christians in the Holy Land, particularly in the Palestinian territories, is dwindling as more and more leave for a better life abroad, turning the community into a tiny minority squeezed between Muslims and Jews.
The traditional merchant class, heavily dependent on tourist money, has suffered a recession since a Palestinian uprising began in 2000 and Israel walled off Bethlehem with a barrier.
The Israelis say it is designed to stop suicide bombers and Palestinians call it a land grab.
"(Christians) are suffering from both Islamic extremists and Israeli security concerns," said Canon Andrew White, a former Middle East envoy for the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Anglican Church.(more...)

Nothing's Impossible

2006-04-08T15:11:00.000+04:00

By Roselle Ambubuyog,Newsbreak Contributing writer
My long-term goal is to become established in the business sector so I can easily get in touch with people and groups that can provide financial assistance needed to initiate or promote projects for the disabled.
When I was choosing what to specialize in, I looked for a field that would not limit me to a particular industry. Since I prefer practical applications, the feasible options were math finance, operations research, and actuarial science, a science that uses mathematical and statistical methods to measure risk. I took electives in the last one and found that though most topics were on insurance (life, non-life, health, retirement benefits, etc.), other discussions on stocks, bonds, financial forecasting, and such were also relevant. I found that there are no clear-cut, formulated insurance policies for the disabled in the Philippines, unlike in other countries.
When I turned 18, my parents wanted me to get insured. We found none willing to insure any disabled person. An agent from PruLife of the United Kingdom offered to help, but the most he could get for me was a five-payment annuity, something like a pension fund. There were no riders like the double indemnity fund for accidental death. It was obviously not sufficient to meet my insurance needs, but it was all that was available(more...)
The writer was a participant in the Ayala Young Leaders Congress in February 2000, and is a master in applied math majoring in actuarial science at UP-Diliman. She graduated summa cum laude from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2001 and was class valedictorian. She has been blind since the age of six.

Are you living in a culture of death?

2006-04-05T11:44:00.000+04:00

Dear Friends,It may sound strange but we are indeed living in a culture of death.A clean example is cited below...

Saving the Earth with Ebola

Professor Pianka said the Earth as we know it will not survive without drastic measures. Then, and without presenting any data to justify this number, he asserted that the only feasible solution to saving the Earth is to reduce the population to 10 percent of the present number.
He then showed solutions for reducing the world's population in the form of a slide depicting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. War and famine would not do, he explained. Instead, disease offered the most efficient and fastest way to kill the billions that must soon die if the population crisis is to be solved.
Pianka then displayed a slide showing rows of human skulls, one of which had red lights flashing from its eye sockets.
AIDS is not an efficient killer, he explained, because it is too slow. His favorite candidate for eliminating 90 percent of the world's population is airborne Ebola ( Ebola Reston ), because it is both highly lethal and it kills in days, instead of years. However, Professor Pianka did not mention that Ebola victims die a slow and torturous death as the virus initiates a cascade of biological calamities inside the victim that eventually liquefy the internal organs.
After praising the Ebola virus for its efficiency at killing, Pianka paused, leaned over the lectern, looked at us and carefully said, “We've got airborne 90 percent mortality in humans. Killing humans. Think about that.”
With his slide of human skulls towering on the screen behind him, Professor Pianka was deadly serious. The audience that had been applauding some of his statements now sat silent. (more...)

Eyeing Vatican Tie,China may let Dalai Lama Visit

2006-04-03T14:23:00.000+04:00

BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China may approve a visit by the Dalai Lama, as long as he abandons dreams of independence for Tibet, and establish ties with the Vatican if it breaks ties with Taiwan, the top official on religious affairs was quoted on Monday as saying.
The remarks by Ye Xiaowen, director of the cabinet's State Bureau of Religious Affairs, come just weeks before a summit in Washington between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, a devout Christian who prodded China to allow greater religious freedom when he visited last November.

The Dalai Lama said last month he wanted to go to China to visit Buddhist landmarks and witness the economic progress the Asian powerhouse has made in recent years.

more....

In Africa, Islam and Christianity are growing - and blending

2006-04-03T14:08:00.000+04:00

LAGOS, NIGERIA – At first, it seems a surprising sight: inside a two-story mosque in sub-Saharan Africa's largest metropolis hangs a life-size portrait of Jesus Christ.

Yet worshipers at "The True Message of God Mission" say it's entirely natural for Christianity and Islam to co-exist, even overlap. They begin their worship by praying at the Jesus alcove and then "running their deliverance" - sprinting laps around the mosque's mosaic-tiled courtyard, praying to the one God for forgiveness and help. They say it's akin to Israelites circling the walls of Jericho - and Muslims swirling around the Ka'ba shrine in Mecca.

This group - originally called "Chris-lam-herb" for its mix-and-match approach to Christianity, Islam, and traditional medicine - is a window on an ongoing religious ferment in Africa. It's still up for debate whether this group, and others like it, could become models for Muslim-Christian unity worldwide or whether they're uniquely African. But either way, they are "part of a trend," says Dana Robert, a Boston University religion professor.
more....

Pope John Paul II’s first statue unveiled in Chennai,India

2006-04-03T10:23:00.000+04:00

Chennai, Apr.2 (ANI): A twenty-two feet tall statue of Pope John Paul II was unveiled in the premises of the Sculpture mission at Besant Nagar here on Sunday to mark his first death anniversary.
Costing Rs. four lakhs, the statute is created by eminent sculptor and Karate expert Shihan Hussaini.The statue was completed and mounted on the pedestal six days after he died, making it the world’s first statue after his death.
Sculptor Shihan Hussaini, a post graduate student of the Government College Of Fine Arts, Chennai, who shot to fame with his theme statues of Kalpana Chawla, Brigand Veerappans capture and the Jailed Shankaracharya Jeyandra Saraswati, said it is a personal tribute to the miraculous powers of the Pope which saved his life on three occasions.
more...

Great hunger for the Gospel

2006-04-01T10:21:00.000+04:00

Wei who courageously shared her faith,"I started working among universitystudents in 2003, not long after I returnedfrom my studies overseas. In myuniversity, there are seven to eight cellgroups which meet, with approximately30 students in each. We do not want to get into trouble so we hold our meetingsoff campus. There are many groups ofChristian undergraduates meeting in othercampuses as well. We all keep in contactwith each other, even though it’s a loosenetwork. On occasions when we havecombined training sessions, we gather outin the suburbs or in a village".

When these students find the Lord, lifebecomes meaningful for them. Wherepreviously they were merely living tofulfill their parents’ hopes and dreams,they now experience a greater purposefor their lives. Most of those I know aresincere in their faith and are not just“culture Christians” (intellectuals who areinterested in Christianity merely for itscultural worldview and not so much as apersonal faith).

Fashion graduate chooses to live a Jain saint's life in Chennai

2006-03-29T14:36:00.000+04:00

Chennai, March 28 (ANI): Believe it or not , Sharmaila, a graduate who holds a diploma in Fashion technology has now decided to relinquish worldly pursuits. She has joined a Jain Ashram in Chennai.

Sharmaila, 25, belongs to Jain community. She made up her mind to lead life in this fashion after meeting and listening to the sermons of Jain spiritual Guru Thatva Darhnathji in Chennai.

Belonging to a Marwari Jain family of Rajasthan, Sharmaila holds a diploma in fashion technology besides her Bachelor's degree. After initial resistance the family submitted to her decision.

"All are inquisitive about my reason of leaving the Samsara (or, the general way of living a life) and joining Ashram. There are two reasons...one being it is too difficult to live in this Sansar (society). Secondly, in the present society the happiness is illusory. It is not the real happiness. I am very happy and content," said Sharmaila.

Sharmaila' has decided to spend the rest of her life fully dedicated to the worship of God while staying in the Ashram. "When we came to know that one of our sisters is going to be a Saint (or taking Diksha), it felt great. For, it is one in a thousand who opts for Dikshayati.

Afghan Chrisitan Convert is released

2006-03-28T13:08:00.000+04:00

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- An Afghan man threatened with the death penalty for converting to Christianity has been released from prison, senior Western diplomats said Tuesday. His whereabouts were not immediately known.

Abdul Rahman had been held by Afghan authorities for his conversion from Islam to Christianity, punishable by death in Afghanistan, which follows Islamic law. Many Muslim clerics in the country called for his death, and said even if he were freed his life would be in danger.

Ahead of his release, Rahman requested asylum in a Western country, according to the United Nations. He has lived in Europe at times.

"Mr. Abdul Rahman has asked for asylum outside Afghanistan," a statement from the office of U.N. Special Representative to Afghanistan said Monday. "We expect that this will be provided by one of the countries interested in a peaceful solution to this case."

Local clerics had written to President Hamid Karzai, asking him to prevent Western nations from interfering with their religious practices and customs.

About 1,000 people demonstrated in Mazar-e-Sharif Monday, chanting "Death to America" and "Death to George Bush."

Afghan on trial for Christianity

2006-03-25T17:27:00.000+04:00

An Afghan man is being tried in a court in the capital, Kabul, for converting from Islam to Christianity. Abdul Rahman is charged with rejecting Islam and could face the death sentence under Sharia law unless he recants.He converted 16 years ago as an aid worker helping refugees in Pakistan. His estranged family denounced him in a custody dispute over his two children.
It is thought to be Afghanistan's first such trial, reflecting tensions between conservative clerics and reformists.

Conservatives still dominate the Afghan judiciary four years after the Taleban were overthrown.
The BBC's Mike Donkin in Kabul says reformists, like the government under President Hamid Karzai, want a more liberal, secular legal system but under the present constitution it is hard for them to intervene.

Observers say executing a converted Christian would be a significant precedent as a conservative interpretation of Sharia law in Afghanistan.

But it would also outrage Western nations which put Mr Karzai in power and are pouring billions of dollars into supporting the country.

Youth Teleconnect With Pope to Pray Rosary

2006-03-21T16:14:00.000+04:00

VATICAN CITY, March 13, 2006 (Zenit.org).- University students from 12 cities in Europe and Africa united via a satellite connection to pray the rosary with Benedict XVI. The fundamental truth of the Christian faith is that "God is love," the Pope told the students in an address Saturday.
The Holy Father gave copies of his first encyclical "Deus Caritas Est" to some of the young people.

"In this way, symbolically," he said, "I wish to give it to all university students of Europe and Africa, with the hope that the fundamental truth of the Christian faith -- God is love -- will illuminate the way for each one of you, and through your testimony shine for your fellow students."
"This truth on the love of God, origin, meaning and end of the universe and of history was revealed by Jesus Christ, with his word and with his life, especially in his passion, death and resurrection," Benedict XVI said.
"It is the foundation of Christian experience that, as leaven, is able to make the whole of human culture ferment so that it will express the best of itself and cooperate in the growth of a more just and peaceful world," he said.
The Holy Father was heard by thousands of university students of Rome, gathered in Paul VI Hall, and by students in Bonn, Germany; Dublin, Ireland; Fribourg, Switzerland; Madrid, Spain; Munich, Germany; Salamanca, Spain; St. Petersburg, Russia; Sofia, Bulgaria; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Antananarivo, Madagascar; Owerri, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. The Pope and those gathered in Rome could also see the young people of the various countries who were leading the mysteries of the rosary. He said the event was "a beautiful gesture of the communion of the Catholic Church."

Podcasting!!The new era

2006-03-13T11:18:00.000+04:00

Those of who are into media very much might have already realised the importance of podcasting in today's technological world.Infact,it has been observed that it is the religious world who are the early birds into it realising the importance of it for evangelisation.

It’s estimated that 75 percent of all owners of digital music devices will be using them to receive podcasts by 2010, and the podcasting audience could approach 60 million people by then, according to The Diffusion Group.

The Roman Catholic Church, not usually noted for using multimedia, projection, and other tools, has actually been out front in adopting podcasts, with Vatican Radio launching its service in July 2005. Catholic Insider, a podcast series by Dutch priest Roderick Vonhögen, claims 10,000 to 15,000 weekly listeners.

Thus from the above details we can clearly see that signs are shown that it could be the next buzzword for the techy world and those who are to evangelising can surely make use of the new technology.

Proud to say,Jesus Youth has been able to enter this world much early foreseeing the importance of it for spreading the message of hope.Thanks to the dedicated team esp Shelton chettan who is behind the making, stressing out valuable time out of his work in an advertising company and not neglecting the works he has in Rex Band too.

For listening to Youth Vibes follow the link:
http://www.jesusyouth.org/podcast/index.php

For more online news of podcasting please check the sites below:

Catholic Podcasting Makes Waves-BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4734807.stm
Podcasting could be a revolution
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4566059.stm

2006-03-12T09:26:00.000+04:00

Creation!
A New Creation

Is Bollywood a Media for Evangelisation?Well decide for yourself...

2006-03-11T09:51:00.000+04:00

MUMBAI (AFP) - A song and dance movie with an
AIDS' message is set for release across India after an unlikely collaboration between the country's Roman Catholic Church and the Bollywood film industry. The film -- seen as the Indian Catholic Church's first foray into the commercial movie world -- was the brainchild of a priest disturbed by the depiction of risk-free extramarital sex on Indian television serials.

Rev Dr Dominic Emmanuel, who has twin roles as executive producer and spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese, New Delhi, said the Church had not previously gone beyond making documentaries in India.

"We thought why not make a film that is a popular medium? It is watched by peasants, workers, doctors, teachers and people from all faiths and classes." The Hindi-language film, with trademark Bollywood songs, dance and melodrama, includes an HIV-positive character and is titled "Aisa Kyon Hota Hain" (Why does this happen?") Bollywood heroine Rati Agnihotri plays the lead role of a woman who singlehandedly raises her son after finding her husband cheating on her. Her son does not believe in love and commitment and the film deals with their relationship after he discovers he is HIV-positive. The film -- made for 20 million rupees (450,000 dollars) -- will be released across India, a country with the second highest number of people with HIV behind South Africa.

India's health ministry said in May last year that the official number of HIV-positive people in the country was 5.13 million although volunteer health groups said the figure was too low.
"If Coke and Pepsi can market their products by using Bollywood stars, why can't the Church use the medium to get their message across?" said director Ajay Kanchan.

Even our Pope uses an iPod!!!

2006-03-08T20:16:00.000+04:00

Hi Friends, Check out this latest news.Guess the Pope himself will now check out the latest Christian Podcasts on the net.Cool!!!

Please visit http://www.dailybreakfast.com/ for more details.

March 5 Pope Benedict visiting Vatican Radio last Friday

Help Pope Benedict with his new iPod Nano!

"Remember I went to Vatican radio almost exactly a year ago to tell them about podcasting? This weekend, the Pope himself has started to listen to podcasts! When Pope Benedict XVI visited the headquarters of Vatican Radio last friday for their 75th birthday, the people that work over there offered him an iPod Nano, preloaded with podcasts and music. The back was engraved with the words "To His Holiness, Benedict XVI" in Italian. Since Vatican Radio offers podcasts in eight different languages, the Pope now has the technological capability himself to plug in and listen to these podcasts. "
This is a podcast by father Roderick Vonhögen, catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Welcome to this new Blog

2006-03-08T20:14:00.000+04:00

Dear Friends, Welcome to this blog!!!The main purpose of this site is to recreate the positivity of life.In this site will be listed in the future the many ways we can share this positivity...mainly the basic positives in life,the truth,light and way to abundant life. I hope u have already guessed that whom i am focusing on.Well,media has often been obstacle to me to know what is right and what is wrong.But the same media i am trying to use now to be a stepping stone..Do keep this initiative in your prayers and keep visiting!!!Till then take care.