Religion and Theology

The following are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, taught in the catechism of the holy Catholic Church. These gifts were stated in the Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas. They are also present in Isaiah 112-3.Christians believe that they receive these gifts after receiving the Life of God, that is, especially after receiving the holy sacrament. The Catholic Church believes that these giftscomplete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them .Below is a description of each of the gifts.

Body
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and their Roles
The first gift is Wisdom. This is considered as the most important and the highest gift. Through it, we are able to value what God created thereby strengthening our Faith. We get a better meaning of the earthly things, the nature of life and also any historical events that ever happened. Our minds are opened and we can therefore choose between the wrong and right. Understanding is the second gift. It helps us live as followers of Jesus. It gives people power to understand what life is all about and not be confused by the different cultural practices on the way people should live.

The third gift, known as Counsel is also called the gift of right judgment. As the name suggests, it enables one to choose between the right and wrong. It is believed to be supernatural. It helps people make the right decisions and avoid sinful behaviors. Fortitude is the forth gift of the Holy Spirit. Some people call it the gift of Courage. Christians are given this gift by the Holy Spirit to enable them overcome all fear. They can therefore stand strong with the word of God despite the many challenges they might meet. Through this gift, they get the firmness of mind and can proclaim the name of Christ without any fear of the evil.

The last three gifts are Knowledge, Piety and fear of God. Through knowledge, we are able to understand Gods revelation and its meaning. We are able to determine what God meant by the life of Jesus Christ. We are able to lead our lives according to Gods purpose of creating us. Piety is also known as the gift of Reverence. This gift mainly deals with respect. We are able to respect god as our creator and also have respect for the Church as the temple of God. Through this gift, we are able to trust in god and pray to him to answer our needs. The fear of the Lord makes us fear and respect God. We are able to know the majesty and glory of the lord. Using this gift, we do not offend God but instead we have the filial fear.

The role of the Gifts of the Holy Sprit in our Moral Spiritual Life
Through Wisdom, we are able to see Gods work in everything and also experience him through other people. It is helps us perfect the faith we have and believe in God. Understanding provides us with self principles on how to live as followers of Christ. It also helps people understand the practices of the Holy Catholic Church. Counsel makes a Christian to stand strong on hisher faith and defend it. Fortitude makes a Christian to be willing to accept rejection or any harm and even death provided heshe is doing the right thing and it is for Christs sake.

The gift of knowledge gives a Christian the desire to read more on the tradition and also the scriptures. Having this gift is considered more valuable that having a collection of many worldly facts. Through piety, we are able to love our parents and honor them and live according to their wish. This should be similar to the way we relate with god. The last gift makes us fear the Lord and have respect for him. This is clearly shown in the bible in Proverbs 17.The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It enables us to respect God as he is the source of everything and very powerful.

Relationship between spiritual virtues and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit help in perfecting the human virtues. The gift of Wisdom is usually related to the virtue of charity. This virtue helps to promote wisdom in the community through sharing hence also uplifting its mutual prosperity. The gift of understanding is related to the virtue of faith. This virtue helps one to believe in the right thing. The gift of counsel is related to the virtue of prudence. This virtue gives someone ability to budget hisher time wisely. it enables you to take good care of your money and also make your decisions wisely. It enables you to work hard and not be lazy
The gift of fortitude relates to the virtue of courage. The virtue gifts someone the ability to do difficult tasks and also no to fear anything. It enables one become selflessness and always willing to do Godly things despite the challenges heshe might go through. It does not encourage proud but instead advises that one should wait till heshe is praised. The gift of knowledge relates to the virtue of temperament. This makes a person abstain from the sinful earthly things and have self control. It enables one to be mindful of the other people and also have a good balance between hisher interest for oneself and to other people.

The sixth gift of the Holy Spirit corresponds to the virtue of justice. This is the virtue that enables one to be fair and mindful of other people. People are able to count on you when they get a problem as a source of help. It enables one not to be biased but judge accordingly. The last gift of the Holy Spirit corresponds to the virtue of hope. This virtue makes a Christian always believe that something good will happen. It gives Christians hope for tomorrow and helps them to continuously believe in the second coming of Christ and life after death

Conclusion
The Holy Spirit is a gift giver. These gifts make us live and become what God wants us to be. They enable us proclaim the word of God on earth, hence become his ambassadors. Once the spirit manifests in us, it gives us these gifts. This manifestation is the salvation we need as Christian and therefore if you do not possess these gifts, the Holy Spirit does not dwell in you. It is therefore clear that every Christian should have these gifts as they direct and guide us on how to live sinless lives.

Paul worked his way steadily towards Antioch with a caravan, serving as
the primary repairman for tents and harnesses. The owner of the damaged item would
gladly sit with him and listen to his thoughts on the new following that had grown out of
the teachings of Jesus from Nazareth. His talks were compelling and forceful, weaving a
line of truth that drew some to his beliefs. He would sit, the canvas straddling his lap and
talk as he pulled the waxed thread through the holes created by his awl, the curved needle
cradled between two fingers.

The day was steaming, the sun bearing down on the caravan as they crossed
a barren area and stopped for the afternoon to rest. As the tents were being erected to
block the suns rays, a rider came through and stopped to ask for water for himself and
his beast. As he drank from an animal skin flask brought to him by a young woman, he
noticed the balding man who sat in the shade, sewing a leather harness. The stranger
approached the man, Good day to you. Mind if I take a seat

Paul looked up, squinting at the face, Please, feel free. Where are you
headed The man sat gratefully, wiping sweat from his forehead and pulling another
draw of water from the skin. A small village outside of Antioch, where my family
resides. Paul nodded and pulled another stitch through, giving the thread a sharp
jerk to pull it taut. He looked up, I am headed to Antioch myself, to check in with a
church that I helped establish there.

The man crooked an eyebrow, A church To what god Paul laced the
needle again, and tugged, saying, For followers of Jesus Christ, who is the son of the
one true God.

The man was intrigued, Jesus Who is this Jesus Paul warmed to the subject
and began a narrative of his conversion, I was blinded by my own desire to control and
destroy, but Christ fashioned me anew and now I travel all over, helping others to come
to Christs light. It is a challenge at times, especially when I find others as blind as I
was to the truth. There are many who can see clearly now, and follow us in worshipping
God and his son.

The man rubbed his chin, deep in thought, This Christ, he sounds interesting.
Did he perform miracles Paul pulled another stitch through with a heave and then
leaned forward, Yes, he did. He healed the lame, showed kindness to the outcasts and
brought sinners to salvation. Im a walking example. The strength of the love of God
has even allowed his disciples to do the same.

The strangers eyebrows raised, and he spoke, Well, if you are one of his
miracle workers, you will find a task for yourself in the next village. There is a man
who lives in a scattered state of mind there. He thrashes about the area, yelling curses
and hurting himself. He yowls and screams like a wild animal. Other times he acts
normal, like you or I. There is something evil in him.

Paul listened intently, laying down his needle. How long has this man been
this way

Most of his life, since he was a child. People have tried to help him, but he can
become violent if approached. Most live in fear of getting near him, and he has been cast
out of the town.

Paul shook his head sadly, I will see what I can do when I arrive. May Gods
blessings be with you. The stranger nodded, stood and headed back to retrieve his
animal. Later that day the caravan broke camp and headed out. Paul pondered the
troubled man he had heard about, praying that Gods strength would be with him when
he arrived. They traveled on through the afternoon, arriving that evening in the village.
The caravan stopped not far from the border of the village and began to pitch their tents.

Paul packed up his things and tucked his curved needle, waxed thread and awl
inside a small, leather pouch, stowing them safely until they were needed again. He left
the caravan and walked toward the first row of small dwellings. The sun descended lower
in the sky, sending sharp shadows reeling up the road. As he passed the homes, he
watched as villagers were finishing up the last chores for the day. A voice drew him up
short, and he turned, Would you like to join us for a meal The man stood
in his doorway, holding a small boy in his arms.

Yes, I would. Thank you for your hospitality. He walked over to the modest,
mud brick home and came in, removing his sandals at the door. He set his pack down,
taking in the modest accommodations. There was one room, four walls that stayed warm
in the winter and cool in summer, with two rectangular windows that sat high on
the side wall. The table was hand hewn and had recently been set for a meal  bread,
fish and a jug of wine.

We dont have much, but I can see you need something. You are welcome to
stay the night as well.

You are a kind individual. I hope that God brings many blessings to you.

The man set down his small son, who scampered toward the table. Sit down,
but dont touch anything. Wait until were all at the table. He turned back to Paul and
said, My name is Tamar, and this is my son Naphtali. You look as if youve come a
great distance.

Paul nodded, Yes, Im headed towards Antioch. I am grateful for the food and
the and the bed for a night. The man smiled, and showed Paul where to wash. Removing
his shoes, he poured water into a wood bowl and cleaned his face and hands. He found a
seat at the table with Tamar and his son, and bent his head in prayer. Tamar waited
patiently until Paul finished, then he doled out food to his guest, himself and his son. The
fish steamed on the plate after having been cooked over a fire outside, and Paul ate
ravenously, glad for hot food.

You are Jewish Paul set his cup down, replying, Yes, I am, and a follower
of Christ. Have you heard of him Tamars head turned to the side, They are some
in Antioch that have spoken of that name and his teachings, but I am not there very
often.

Christ opened my eyes to truth, one beyond what I was seeing when he first
found me. I was blinded by hatred and power, but he stripped me of my pride and
brought out my true self, one bathed in his love and blessings. He showed me a
different path. Tamar studied him Paul intently as he broke off some of the bread
ate on. You are aware that I am a Gentile. Paul nodded, Yes, but doesnt everyone
have a place at Gods table Jesus taught us to love each other. This is part of the
message that I teach as I travel. You showed me the kindness he wants all of his
children to show one another.

Tamar smiled, considering the words. You will have to speak to me more
about this Jesus, but please, eat. The meal continued in silence, and when done,
Naphtali helped his father clear the table. Tamar lit a small lamp as dusk let the
last few rays of the sun fall over the sill. The small boy was laid to bed on a straw
mat on the far side of the room, and the two men sat up until late in the night, discussing
Pauls work and the village.

The next morning at dawn, Paul awoke refreshed and hungry once more. He
joined his host and child for a small meal. Thank you once again, I hope to repay your
kindness one day. Tell me, I heard a story about a man in the village who is afflicted with
madness. He runs around, yelling and screaming one day, and then calm and sane the
next. Have you heard of him The child piped in, The madman Tamar turned and
sharply spoke, Naphtali, what have I told you Hes not a madman. He is a sick man,
tortured by who knows what. The young boy dropped his head, and stayed quiet.

Yes, I have heard of him, and seen him. He is called in town Nabal, and you
have described him correctly. He appears, running into the street, yelling curses and
full of rage. He will tear up anything in his path. When he appears, the street clears and
then the soldiers have to come and remove him. The next day, he is seen quiet and sedate,
listless on the corner. Many are cruel to him, but I do not know what afflicts him. Be
careful if he comes, for no one who gets near him is left uninjured or without bruises.

Paul nodded. You have my gratitude, and consider Jesus. He can show you a
way you have never imagined. You are already walking it now. Tamar smiled and Paul
left the small home, heading towards the main village on foot. As he neared its center, he
saw a large well surrounded by women who were retrieving water for the day.
A busy market curved round the well, full of street vendors selling produce, meat, fish
and wares of all kinds. People moved to and fro, laborers pushing carts and driving oxen
through the street. He approached the well, hoping to get a drink when a shriek resounded
throughout the area.

In an instance, the bustle stopped and deathly silence fell. A voice nearby him
hissed, The madman. Get inside, go. Paul turned and watched as people fled the square,
heading for cover as if a storm was ready to roll through. The shriek filled the air again,
and it turned to a stampede as the once bustling area fell almost empty. Paul watched as a
raving man lunged from a side alley and knocked over a cart. He was tall, his hair matted
filthy, wearing clothes that fell in tatters around his skeletal frame. Sweat poured down
his face, and his eyes tracked wildly around the area. He let out another shriek and
rammed his fist into a another cart, sending small trinkets spilling to the ground.

Tamar switched the bag to his opposite shoulder, Naphtali, come on, keep
up. I want to get this to the market early, so we can sell it and get home. There is
much to do today. You stay with me, and no wandering off. He turned and raised an
eyebrow at the small boy, who nodded quickly. Tamar reached down and
affectionately ruffled his hair. They were just getting near the market when they heard
the yelling. Grabbing Naphtalis hand, he looked into the market center and saw Nabal
knock over a cart and send people scurrying for cover.

He was shocked when his eyes caught sight of the man standing near the well,
the slightly bald head and clothes he knew. The visitor from the night before stood
by, calmly watching the raging, maddened man tear the market apart. The rest of the
people in the market had crammed themselves behind carts, underneath tables and in
nearby buildings. Paul could feel their fear resounding in him, but he didnt allow it to
overwhelm him. He focused on his thirst and his original purpose for coming to the
well.

Paul walked over calmly and pulled began to fill his leather flask.
Are you crazy Come over here and hide Hell kill you hissed a man from underneath
a nearby table. Paul stared at him, took a drink, and then spoke, I have nothing to fear
with God. He put the stopper in the skin and threw it over his shoulder. He turned,
staring straight at the raving man who was now facing him from far side of the square.
Nabal Why are you so angry The mans eyes were a deep gray and were shadowed
by dark, black lines underneath. Nabal was drenched in sweat, his eyes locked on Paul.
He began to run, rage twisting his face, tumbling like an avalanche towards him.

Tamars breath caught as the challenge rang out through the market. Hell be
killed. He gripped his sons hand tighter, pulling him close. What is he thinking

Paul stood stock still, waiting. Suddenly, Nabal stopped and grabbed his head
with both hands and dropped to his knees. He shook it back and forth, growling and
grinding his teeth collapsing to the ground. Paul walked towards him and kneeled down
at the troubled mans side. A local vendor ran over, Stay back He may get up. The
guards will be on their way soon to take him out of town. Hopefully this time for good.
Paul turned on knees, Whats the matter with you Have you no compassion The
vendor drew back sharply, stunned at the rebuke.

Paul turned back and pushed the matted hair from the mans dirty face. Sweat ran
in rivers, leaving streaks of cleaner skin below. He laid his hands on Nabals head, God
knows your pain, he knows you. Let this illness be cast out of you. Stand, and walk with
Jesus. Stand. The mans tensed muscles seemed to collapse, and Nabals eyes opened,
squinting at the bright morning sunlight. He stared into Pauls gaze, and sat up slowly
with support. Where am, who are you

My name is Paul. Can you stand up
Nabal nodded, and slowly got to his feet. Thank you, Im sorry. My head He
put a hand on the side of his head and ran his fingers through his hair, The pain is gone,
it doesnt ache any more. Pure joy spread over his face, How

God healed you, and now he wants to live without torment. He pulled the skin
up and popped out the stopper, helping Nabal to pour some in his mouth. The man gulped
it, feeling his parched throat relieved with the fresh, cool water. Paul let him rest a
moment, and then helped him drink again. He then looked out to the crowd, Can
someone take this man and help him Paul stared around the market, then scowled, Do
none of you hear Gods message Are you so closed to love, even after what He has done
here for this man His words burned the air, but no one stepped forward. Paul glared in
defiance.

Pauls words hung heavily in the air. Then those from the previous
evening dropped into Tamars mind, and consider Jesus. He can show you a
way you have never imagined. You are already walking it now. A spurt of joy
hit him, and he know exactly what he had to do. Naphtali, stay here, I will be back.
A voice spoke from the far side, Ill take him. Looking behind them, Tamar
stood on near the entrance to the market with his son, a bag slung over his shoulder. He
walked over, laid down the sack and draped Nabals arm his shoulder. Naphtali grabbed
the bag, struggling to carry it, and followed his father. Paul glared at the crowd, LOOK
Watch this man, a Gentile, taking hold of Gods love and lifting up another that you
spurn. He knows more about Gods path than any of you. Are you not ashamed Are you
not compassionate Remember your actions today, for God turns His back on no one,
unlike you. His love is for all  the afflicted, the sinner and those who are turned aside.

He grabbed his pack, slung his water skin over and his shoulder and left the
market. As he walked by a crowd of people, he noticed a man standing on the outskirts,
watching the event. Pauls eyes narrowed, then widened as he recognized the stranger
who had spoken with him while he sewed the harness. The stranger nodded his head
slowly, smiling. Paul returned the gesture and smiled back, an understanding beyond
words passing between the two of them.

On the other side of the market, on the road out of the village, one man
supported another who was walking as if for the first time. The dirty, stumbling
man turned his head to Tamar, Who was he, the one who was kneeling over me
Tamar considered the question for a moment, He told me his name was Paul, and I
can only say that he is a man who walks with God.

As the morning sun climbed, they headed for Tamars home, the small boy
running behind, dragging the bag with him. Is the madman staying with us
Naphtali, what did I say The boy dropped his head, and they continued on. Nabal
stared at the surrounding village and homes, taking in everything.

Well get you some food and help you get cleaned up. You can stay with us until
you are on your feet again. There is more work that Naphtali and I can do together, so we
can use your help, when you are well. Nabal turned with stunned eyes to Tamar, Thank
you, you are so kind.

The road stretched out before him, but Antioch was not far off. Paul would
reach the outskirts of the great city by mid-afternoon. There was much to do when he
arrived, hopefully this time he would get to stay for awhile. He hadnt made the
authorities in the last town he had preached in very happy, necessitating a hasty
departure.  Antioch has so many that could become followers, and he had heard of others
doing work there already. He wanted to seek their assistance in setting up a new church,
one that would not be plagued, he wished, by the same strife as Corinth was suffering
from. Too many wanting to control Christs followers instead of walking with them.

Paul strode on, munching on a loaf Naphtali had shared with him before leaving
that morning. He fumed over the behavior of the village people, but smiled when he
thought of the man and his son. He prayed that Nabal would recover, and for blessings to
be given to Tamar and his son.  A good man.  Then his mind turned towards future
matters at hand. In his bag were scattered letters that needed finishing, especially the one
that had to be sent to Corinth. Paul rolled his eyes, frustration creeping into his mind.
Have they learned nothing from Christ

When we say prophecy, it describes God spirits manifestation. It is given and spoken by the people who are anointed and inspired by God. The birth of Jesus Christ was also prophesized even His death and resurrection. This means that the possibility of the return of the Messiah is really true but nobody knows when it is going to happen.

The gift of prophesy is the Holy Spirits ministry wherein it convicts sin, righteousness, and judgment to come. It also enlightens, helps build up the faith, and directs everyone to the Word of God. This gift of prophesy happens when high worship is done, there is the presence of other prophets, and the ministers laid his hand. There will be no false prophesying if everybody will understand the ways on how to judge it. There are seven ways on how to judge prophecy
According to Matthew, by their fruits you shall know them. (716-18, 20)
Ask the question if it glorifies Christ (John 1614 I Corinthians 123 I John 41-2)
It must answer the question, is it based from the Scriptures (Isaiah 820)
The prophecies fulfillment must exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. (Deuteronomy 1822)
The prophecys content is not twisted. It must be line upon line and precept upon precept. (Isaiah 2813)
Investigate if the result of the prophecy is liberty or bondage. (Romans 815)
The prophecy must known by the spirit of the believers. (I John 220, 27)

Ever since, the prophecy about Jesus and the end times are prophesized by many prophets from the Old and New Testaments like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, the writers of Gospels and of Revelation. From the book of Daniel, the end times is shown through his dreams. The complete details of the signs are mentioned in Daniel. It means even before Jesus came to the earth, the end times is already been prophesized and has known already from the Old Testament because Daniel had seen and described the things that will surely come.

The things that are happening nowadays would give us the hint if Jesus will come very soon because of the signs.  The Bible is the best and accurate based if Jesus would really come. The symbols can be read in the Holy Scriptures. It is appropriately described and symbolically mentioned. The signs would be clue of everybodys suffering or happiness. The things that are happening right now will be the basis if the end time is approaching.

All the revelations of Daniel are concluded and assured by God as genuine and sure. Based from the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar and visions of Daniel in the Old Testament, there is a concrete connection with the description of the coming end times in the book of Revelation.

According to the first dream, Daniel witnessed the four beasts coming up from out of the Great Sea. Daniel illustrates the forms of each beast. (Daniel 7 4 - 6).  The first beast was like a lion, and it had eagles wings (v. 4) the next was like a bear. It was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth (v. 5) the third was like a leopard, which had four heads and four sets of wings (v. 6) and the last beast was dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth, and it devoured everything. It made war with Gods people and broke them into pieces. This vision is clarified when the biblical scholars study the history and refer the descriptions of the beasts literally. They believe that the Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea.

The four beasts are the four kingdoms (v. 23  27). The Babylon is the lion. It is the regal and majestic kingdom. The Medo  Persia is the bear, the second beast, where in the other side is stronger that the other (the Persians are weaker than the Medes).  Greece refers to the third beast, the leopard.  During the reign of Alexander the Great, this country became known of its cruelty but divided into four kingdoms just like the leopards four heads after the death of their leader. The last one is the Rome which describes as the nasty and ferocious iron monster. It persecuted and killed many Jews during A.D. in Jerusalem. Rome Empire was involved also during the famous World War II in Germany wherein millions of Jews were slaughtered mercilessly.

As I stated awhile ago, the past has its fulfillment in the future. The futures persecution is called Jacobs Trouble or the Great Tribulation. These sufferings to come will measure the faith and patience of Gods people. Daniel also informs the people about the future 10- nation confederation of the revived Roman Empire. One of the leaders of the 10 nations will stand among them. His selfish ambition to the power will be the downfall of the three more leaders. This will be the stronghold that will overpower all the people of God. Aside from this, the Antichrist is also the center of the discussion in Revelation. This will execute the plan of Satan, together with the four beasts, that is to hound and kill all the people of God. These are the things to come. But are we aware that maybe its starting already. Remember there is a connection between the past and the future.

Many people are observing the condition of whats happening nowadays. There are individuals who are asking if the end time is forthcoming very soon because of the circumstances at the present time. From the New Testament, Jesus reveals what are the important matters to remember and watch so that everybody will know that the sign of the second coming is near and the end of the age is drawing closer.

The first clue is the appearance of the one who will claim that he is the Christ and many will be deceived. Be wise enough to know the truth.

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse and he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6 1 2)

There will be wars and rumors of wars.
 
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, come and see.
And there went out another horse that was red and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another and there was given unto him a great sword. (Revelation 6 3  4)

Be still because these things must come to pass. Aside from these, nations will ascend against nations, and kingdom against kingdom. It means there will be overpowering among nations. Another thing that an individual must be aware is the coming famines.

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
 (Revelation 6 5 -6)

Nowadays, the whole earth is suffering of scarcity, particularly to the foods, and jobs. Pestilences will also come. The news of today about the epidemic that kills many people all over the world is maybe one of the signs.

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6 7  8)

One more thing is the natural calamities that everyone is experiencing like the earthquakes, floods, typhoons, tsunamis, and sand storms. According to the Bible, there will be earthquakes in various places.

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (Revelation 6 12  13)

When the beginning of sorrows starts, there will be great mislead. False prophets will rise up and deceive lots of people. Those who will not unite will suffer the tribulation. There will be betrayal, hatred and many will try to kill them. And because of lawlessness, the love in the hearts of the many will grow cold. One must not believe if somebody will tell them that Jesus is there and even inform them the exact location. False teachers will do anything just to persuade all the people of God because they know their downfall is coming.

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Two men will be in the field one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with the hand mill one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matthew 2436, 40  42)

But those who will endure the suffering and linger to their faith to Jesus until the end shall be saved. But not all the people of God will suffer the tribulation because there will be the rapture. The Lord will spare those people who have been faithful to Him ever since and be with forever. They will not experience the tribulation just like Noah who had been saved by God to the great flood.
 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(1 Thessalonians 4 17)

All the information that I cited above can be a strong basis that Jesus is coming soon. It is really hard for an individual to believe on this. But the truth is, they are only afraid of the things to come, thats why some people keep on ignoring about the issue regarding the end times. There are lots of things that are happening right now that are written in the Holy Scripture. It seems very scary and panicky. But to overcome these things, everyone must start building and reinforcing the faith to the Almighty God. This is only the key to triumph over and endure the works of the enemy. God has a promise for those who will succeed and remain faithful until the end.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 213  4)
The labor of the people of God will not be in vain because the loyalty and the faithfulness are sufficiently given in return by the Almighty God.    

This is a critical look at the counseling theory proposed by Dr. Sandra Wilson about counseling in her book Hurt People Hurt People. It takes a literal look into the Christian perspective on counseling and the hurt people hurt people concept. Her argument is based on the premise that family shapes every aspect of ones life in how children model their parents behavior and how these family relationships can form the basis of our future relationships. An unhealthy relationship breeds formation of unhealthy adult relationships for example in choosing intimate partners in adulthood or the development of a bully mentality. She stresses the cycle of hurt that can be perpetuated from childhood victimization into adulthood (Wilson, 2001, p.124) and, projection of these feelings of hurt onto our loved ones.

THEORY CRITIQUE OF WILSONS HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE APPROACH TO COUNSELLING

Dr. Sandra Wilsons book looks at the cycle of hurt that generates from the unhealthy and hurtful environments that a child can be exposed to and how they can shape future relationships of the hurt person especially when it comes to those we love. The familial system is perhaps the most significant influencer human development and is a source of great focus for many counselors (Eaton, n.d.). She posits that everyone is a hurt person who eventually hurts someone else although those with deep wounds hurt those will inevitably deeply wound another person when he or she tries to function in areas that affect the unresolved hurts, often hurting others more severely than they were hurt (p. 10). Wilson describes these hurts as actions, words, and attitudes that are intentional or unintentional, visible or invisible, hands-on or hands-off, other perpetrated or self inflicted and barely survivable to hardly noticeable (p. 9). These hurts or wounds are characteristically of a physical, sexual, emotional, mental, and verbal nature or constitute spiritual neglect or abuse.

Wilson outlines in her book the assistance and hopes for healing that are available for hurt people in terms of how they can alleviate the hurt they feel and how they can keep from hurting others around them by doing their best as humanly possible and leaving the rest to Jesus (p.14). She outlines areas where people can get hurt and what kinds of people inflict wounds on people. She also covers how to forgive and move on.

Invisible or Unseen Wounds
This is one of the initial wounds Wilson explores. These wounds are often more harmful than those that can be seen and those that can be seen and are as real. The most common unseen wound is binding shame. As she puts it shame is, the soul-deep belief that something is horribly wrong with me that is not wrong with anyone else in the entire world (p. 16-17).  When one is bound by shame they are fooled into believing lies that call their self-worth into question by pervasive, toxic perceptions, choices and relationships. According to Wilson, God can use those hurts to mold a persons character and minister comfort to others by telling the story of Gods life-transforming grace and death transcending power (p.239). These are aspects of our life that provide testimony of Gods impact on our lives and how we can be better Christians by using this hurt for the better. This is done by identifying the wounds and depending on Gods grace to get through it.

Unprepared or Unavailable Caregivers
They impact generations as they dictate how the parent will raise the children and their childrens children. This leads to a lot of frustration on the part of the child as they feel emotionally orphaned (p.38) or they may be forced to take up the adult care giving roles due to absenteeism. The child grows up not to trust and tries hard to prove they are worthy of love and attention (p. 44).

Liars and Thieves
In these families, deception and destruction are the zeitgeist. These families are the basis of feelings of inadequacy, confusion and trust issues for the children as they are used only to meet their parents needs. They may have been subjected to physical, emotional and even verbal abuse perhaps because of the parents substance abuse or issues with rage and depression (p.47).

Childhood Fantasies
Wilson believes children believe they can control the happenings in the world where good warrants good and vice-versa. If this happens to the contrary of the belief they work effortlessly to become good enough to change the outcomes and thus prove their self worth and value and end up trying to rewrite the wrongs by forming adult relationships that are damaging so as to live up to this fantasy life.

Childhood Choices
The child makes choices based on answers to 3 basic questions which she outlines as Can I be safe, can I be me and can I be accepted The responses to these questions affect spiritual, personal and relational decisions we make in our life time (p.73).  The responses are determined by ones  level of safety, security and stability in their family. The child ends up not feeling validated or accepted if these responses are negative which in turn leads to putting up a faade to mask vulnerabilities and needs. The child will therefore be uncomfortable and insecure of what God created them to be and always seek approval from others as well as from God.

Help for Healing Hurts and Self-Inflicted Wounds
This is the step to putting away childhood solutions and seeking the Holy Spirit as our change agent to rid ourselves of past hurt. Tears are shed, it take time and letting go of old ways can be terrifying (p. 96). It also involves acknowledging our hurts and not denying emotions by drowning pain in destructive acts such as gambling, drinking, or drugs.

This can be done by seeking The Holy Spirit and embarking on a life long process of change.

The Process of Change
The change process involves seeking the Holy Spirit first. According to Adams the entire Bible is important in counseling we can neglect no part (1986, p. 55). Secondly, treating the body with like the temple of the Holy Spirit by getting enough sleep, proper nutrition and sufficient exercise and scheduling me time that involves self-care (p. 119-120). Another suggestion in moving forward from hurt is finding a safe place e.g. counseling group or individual therapy to bring healing. Wilsons H.O.P.E charts may be effective in identifying stages of recovery (p.122).

The key steps to forming healthy and safe relationships are to identify and choose the right partner. This means not settling and having self   worth. They involve accepting someone as they are and recognizing  healthy personal boundaries they do not allow everything and everyone in nor build walls that keep everything and everyone out (p. 127). Wilson suggests asking these questions in choosing a partner

If this person never changes, am I willing to spend my life with them
Would I like to become more like this person as he or she is now
Would I want this person the way they are now to be the mother or father of my children
Would I want my children to be just like this person just as he or she is right now (p. 137-138)
In conclusion, these key concepts under Wilsons model of counseling  that inject some spirituality into the therapy process by encouraging us to remember that as hurt people, we can be conduits of comfort to others rings true for me. Adams (1979, p. 133) expresses this sentiment, God delights in turning crosses into crowns, emptying tombs through glorifying resurrected bodies...and transforms tragedies into triumphs.

According to Eaton (n.d.), it is often best to take theories from a wide range of sources and integrating them into a comprehensive and non-contradictory theory. This theory is generally helpful in providing a psychological resolution to childhood scars that may have been repressed, but I find it is important to note they may prove difficult to effect in an atheists view or medical settings since it cannot be reflected in insurance papers but this makes it even more challenging for me as an aspiring biblical Christian counselor.

Yoga is now a popular spiritual practice not only in the West but also in many other parts of the world.  It has helped millions improve not only their physical health but also their spiritual life.  Much of this has to be credited to Paramahansa Yogananda who introduced Yoga to the West in the early 20th century.  But Yoganandas practice would also not have been perfected if it were not for the influence of others.  These influential people include Sri Yukteswar Giri, Sri Anandamayi Ma, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, C. V. Raman and Luther Burbank.

First, Sri Yukteswar Giri was Yoganandas guru, and Yogananda called him Jnanavatar (Incarnation of Wisdom).  He was a yogi, a Vedic astrologer, an educator and an astronomer.  He not only believed in the Bhagavad Gita but also in the Western Bible.  He also followed the teachings of Lahiri Mahasaya of Varanasi, and he also became a member of the Swami orders Giri branch.  He only had a small number of disciples however because, as Yogananda thought, his training methods were strict and drastic.  He wrote many books on topics such as English, Hindi and astrology.  He also wrote the book Holy Science in 1894, whose aim was to show that all religions or faiths are true and that all scriptures point to the same thing.   He eventually passed away at his Puri ashram on March 9, 1936.

Second, Yogananda also met Sri Anandamayi Ma.  She is a spiritual Hindu teacher from Bengal.  She is also considered to be a saint or devi, a manifestation of God, by many people, and her state of divine bliss earned her the name Anandamayi (Joy Permeated Mother).  She is also known to her followers as a miracle healer gifted with precognition.  Her states of ecstasy were often quite serious to the point that some people thought that she was demon-possessed or mentally ill.  In fact, her husband, Bholanath, called an exorcist and a psychiatrist to help her since sometimes, after coming home from work, he would find her on the kitchen floor with the food burnt or half-cooked.  This prompted Bholanaths family to ask him to leave her.  Instead, he asked her to initiate him, which led him to a state of bliss.  Anandamayi would eventually experience three years of complete silence.  She later moved to Dhaka with her husband who became a gardener there.  She continued to perform household tasks but her states of ecstasy interfered with her work.  So she set up a Kali temple to devote herself into spiritual practices where she would undergo deep meditative states and hold difficult yogic positions while she formed complex tantric hand positions and gestures.  This was when people started to see her as divine, and her early followers included Jyotiscandra Ray, who gave Anandamayi her spiritual name, Mahamahopadhyay Gopinath Kaviraj, who was the principal of Kolkatas Sanskrit College, and Triguna Sen, who was a doctor.  She then traveled to Dehradun and began moving around India after that.  During this period, many others followed her, including the French spiritual film producer Arnaud Desjardins, the English author Dr. Colin Turnbull, the German novelist Melita Maschmann, and Kamala Nehru, the wife of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.  Mahatma Gandhi also came to know her.  And eventually, Paramahansa Yogananda also met her and described her in his autobiography.  She passed away in Dehradun on August 27, 1982, and a shrine was erected in her honor.

Third, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was also influential to Yogananda.  Gandhi is one the best-known spiritual and political leaders of India, and an award-winning biographical movie was produced to document his life.  It won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture.  Gandhi pioneered mass civil disobedience through non-violence in his quest for Indian independence from British colonial rule.  For this, he is officially honored in India and is called the Father of the Nation.  His birthday is also commemorated in India as a national holiday, and globally as the International Day of Non-Violence.  It all started when he was an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, where fought for Indian civil rights.  He later organized peasant protests when he returned to India.  When he joined the Indian National Congress he fought further for equality nationwide and most specially the independence of India from Britain.  He launched movements such as the non-cooperation movement and Quit-India civil disobedience movement. And because of his non-violent protests, he was jailed both in South Africa and India.  He also fasted for long periods as another way to protest against injustice.  In the end, on January 30, 1948, Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist and extremist who opposed Gandhis support for payments to Pakistan, shot him while attending a prayer meeting.  Later, Godse was convicted and executed, but he was still successful in assassinating Indias greatest hero.  Gandhis memorial bears the words He Ram (Oh God) which is believed to be the last words that he said just before he died.

Fourth, Rabindranath Tagore was also influential to Yogananda.  Tagore was a musician, poet, playwright and novelist from Bengal.  He was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his work Gitanjali (Song Offerings).  Like Gandhi, he also supported Indian independence and called him Mahatma in reverence.  He wrote poems as early as eight and published his first serious set of poems at 16.  And his other popular works include Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World), Gora (Fair-Faced) and the national anthems of Bangladesh (Amar Shonar Bangla) and India (Jana Gana Mana).  He visited more than 30 countries and met many important people including Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann, George Bernard Shaw, Robert Frost and H.G. Wells.  He was also later proclaimed as the greatest Indian poet, and his birth anniversary is even celebrated in Urbana, Illinois.

Fifth, C. V. Raman was also influential to Yogananda.  He was an Indian physicist and physics noble laureate. He was also the director of the Indian Institute of Science.  And through his experiments on the molecular scattering of light, he discovered the Raman Effect, which is named after him. He also worked on musical instrument acoustics.  Later, he started the Travancore Chemical and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. which produced four Indian factories.  And to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect, India celebrates National Science Day every year.

Lastly, Yogananda also admired his friend Luther Burbank.  Burbank is a pioneer in American agricultural science.  He is a botanist and horticulturist who developed at least 800 plant strains, some of which are used in food processing. He was also a spiritual mystic that influenced Yogananda, who had many kind words for him in his autobiography.

All in all, Paramahansa Yoganandas life would not have been complete without all the people that he met, admired and thought about.  Indeed, we are nothing without the influence of others.

In his book, Reaching out The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life, Nouwen (1997) divides up the believers path into three stages (1) reaching out to ones self (2) reaching out to the human community and (3) reaching out to God.  In the first stage, the Christian is utterly lonely before he or she finds solitude.  At this level it is easy to hear the voice of God within ones heart.  From this point, the believer can start reaching out to fellow human beings, as his or her heart has found calm in the place of agitation that loneliness had accompanied.
   
According to Nouwen, as the believer reaches out to the community, he or she must move from hostility to hospitality.  To be hostile is to close ones heart to others.  To be hospitable, on the other hand, is to show genuine care for fellow human beings.  It is to love ones neighbor after the Christian has learned to love him- or herself.
   
Finally, the believer is ready to reach out to God.  In this stage, a Christian moves from the level of illusion to prayer.  In illusion, the self imagines that he or she does not need God.  In prayer, on the contrary, the human self seeks help from God, who answers prayers but does not necessary extinguish all suffering.

Concrete Response
I recall that my friends had referred to me as a selfish person when I reached out to myself on my spiritual path.  However, my teachers had instructed me in individualism, which allowed me to respect their opinion whilst valuing my own feeling that I needed to be alone with God for an indefinite period of time.  I enjoyed reading the Scriptures and praying alone.  There are plenty of believers in the Bible who have had unique relationships with God, and so I did not believe it was selfish to spend time with Him alone.  Moreover, it taught me the meaning of a central tenet of Christianity To love ones neighbor as one loves him- or herself.  Perhaps I did not love myself enough before this time, or did not understand why it is necessary to respect oneself before others can be loved and respected.  I reflected on this through my period of loneliness.

I did regret, however, that I was not able to spend enough time with my grandmother as I was spending time by myself, trying to listen to God.  In fact, I avoided her until she died.  I met her on her death bed, of course, and had nurtured a regret ever since.  It is only now that I realize that perhaps she too had to be with God alone during her period of illness.

Reflection
Although it is true that modern society has little tolerance for God, as noise, high technology and physical needs consume much of our time, I do not appreciate the fact that Nouwen separates the believer from society from the beginning of his book, as if to say, The believers path is a lonely one.  While it is true that ignorance is bliss and the believer needs time alone to get rid of all falsehoods, that is, blissfully ignorant ways of thinking that modern-day society has conveniently fed into his or her mind, it is also a fact that human suffering caused by knowledge of reality is of little importance in the mind of God.  In other words, God has planned great things for believers in the afterlife.  And, in fact, God is with all human beings, which is why it is futile to focus on loneliness.  Most importantly, I believe that it is incorrect for Christians to dwell on human suffering, seeing that God gives happiness to even unbelievers in this lifetime, knowing that they would have no share of the eternal joys He has prepared for the prayerful.  Thus, I would like to ask Nouwen How can we, the believers, teach anything to unbelievers if we must discuss our loneliness and suffering  Shall we not, instead, focus on the joys of the afterlife

Action
I meet depressed people all of the time.  In fact, I know people who are so focused on suffering that they refuse to find satisfaction in daily living.  Having read Nouwens book, I would advise such individuals to show gratitude to God, return to the Scriptures, and start focusing on the afterlife instead.  According to the Scriptures, God keeps on giving unto those who already have enough.  But, what if we are not grateful for everything we already have, for example, our eyes, feet, hands, etc.  Not everybody in the world is gifted with eyes, feet and hands.  It is, therefore, essential to show gratitude for every blessing in our lives.  Furthermore, this is an excellent way to ward off human suffering.
   
Finally, I would advise those who reach out to me that it is blasphemous to be sad, giving that we all contain the spirit of God.  Additionally, there is plenty for everybody to be happy about and grateful for.  Of course, I cannot force the disobedient to return to Scriptures.  I can, however, remind the obedient ones that they would be grateful in the afterlife if they were not ungrateful to God in this lifetime.  Unlike Nouwen, I would offer them hope by shifting their focus from suffering to joyful gratitude.

Entwistle (2004) writes about the integration of psychology and Christianity in his book, Integrative approaches to Psychology and Christianity An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration.  According to the author, it is essential to appreciate both the Word of God through which Christian faith is birthed, and the works of God manifested as mankind on earth.  Thus, science and religion must necessary integrate as God is the author of all truth (Entwistle, 275).  Even so, people are divided in terms of their belief systems, including their beliefs about whether science is superior to religion or vice versa.  Entwistle defines groups of people according to their different belief systems about the integration of psychology and Christianity thus (1) Enemies, who cannot believe in such integration (2) Spies, who hold allegiance to either of the two disciplines, taking from the other discipline whatever is convenient (3) Colonialists, who believe in the prominence of one discipline over the other (4) Neutral Parties, who do not firmly believe in any side as they see virtues in both disciplines and (5) Allies, who believe that both psychology and Christianity were developed by God.  According to the author, the Allies model is best.  Allies are aware of the fact that whenever there is a conflict between psychology and Christianity, the problem lies with interpretation rather than truth contained in both disciplines.

Concrete Response
A dear friend of my mother, holding a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Stanford, told me once that those who know the Word of God do not need psychotherapy.  As her own livelihood depends on the number of patients that visit her at the hospital, where she has been practicing for more than two decades, by sharing this insight with me she was bound to lose the number of patients that I could have referred to her in future.  But, I was not the only person listening to her at the time.  There were around twenty people listening at the same time.  They were all discouraged from sending their troubled friends or relatives to her for psychotherapy.  
   
Perhaps Entwistle would not entirely agree with her.  However, I still trust what she had told me, knowing that the Holy Spirit had led her to share this truth.  She was not a spy, colonialist or neutral party.  Rather, she was an ally.  I can understand her belief with my knowledge of the Bible  that, in fact, there are no psychotherapists in the Bible and all people in distress are advised to approach God with sound hope and repentance.  Moreover, all mental problems can be resolved by the Word of God.  After all, He is the Healer, and He teaches correct ways of thinking to give us peace of mind.    

Reflection
As God is the author of both psychology and religion, it would be worthwhile considering Christian healing for people in distress that approach psychotherapists.  Entwistle would agree that this is perfectly plausible.  Yet, the goal of his book, Integrative approaches to Psychology and Christianity, is not to teach believers how to help themselves and others recover from mental distress by approaching God.  Rather, Entwistle seems focused on reaching out to psychologists and other secular folks through his writing.  Believers are already aware that science explains religion.  Furthermore, believing readers of Entwistles book understand that the author has great knowledge about the relationship between psychology and Christianity.  For them, Entwistle leaves many unanswered questions, for example, is it not a perfect solution for patients of obsessive compulsive disorder to start reading the Bible as soon as obsessions and compulsions start to bother them  As a matter of fact, Entwistle is in the perfect position to answer whether prayer and the Word of God offer cures for every mental illness.  Why did he have to focus on his philosophy of integration so much so that he leaves believers inquisitive minds longing to read this truth in his book

Action
I would never advise believers to approach psychotherapists, but unbelievers or those with a secular focus should be sent to psychotherapists, especially when it is clear that they make a mockery of the Word of God.  In my counseling practice with believers, however, I would recommend the Scriptures and prayer for every mental illness, even if it appears as trivial as a nervous twitch.  The Bible advises us to calm down and know that God is here.  This very thought is a stress reliever.  But, the Word of God contains cures for all other mental problems, too.  Christians can get rid of addictions with the Word of God.  It is possible, however, for a believer to search for a cure and not be able to find it in the Bible.  As Entwistle would say, the problem lies with interpretation in such cases.  It is impossible to seek from God and not be able to find.
   
Thus, I would advise all believers to keep their faith strong by never allowing themselves to despair.  Only unbelievers feel despondent as they do not have attachment with God, the source of all our hopes and wishes.  So even if everything seems to be going wrong in a believers life, as God tests his faith, the Christian is required to go on dreaming that God would fix everything as though in a fairy tale.  After all, everything is possible for God.