While Americans celebrated the American Revolution, as a Canadian, I was having the best time of my life living in Venice Beach, California in the Spirit of ´76. It was my first winter in the warm sun in my lifetime. The Times and Winds of Change were favorable toward me since this unexpected Day.
At that time, Venice Beach was the self-proclaimed, last bastion of Freedom in the un-United States. The idea was anyone was Free to do anything, as long as there was no harm done to others, or diminished their equal rights.
One Day, I decided to test how real this right of Freedom of Speech was practiced in Venice? Sitting on a bench on the Boardwalk with my back to the ocean, I started to read from the Bible in a very loud voice. It seemed as though the Wind from the sea carried the words so that they reverberated among the buildings and along the Beach.
Watching the passersby, there were so many comments to the effect, ¨You can´t do that here. Go some place else.¨ People actually covered their ears, saying ¨Stop that! Stop that!” It was appearing more and more, many people don´t practice what they preach or believe in Freedom of Speech except for their own.
Continuing to read, someone came up to me sitting on the bench and cracked an egg on my head!
I was temporarily stunned, as the yoke dripped down my hair and face, onto my shirt and the Bible in my hands.
How to react? Should I stand up in the anger and wrath of God? Should I condemn him to Hell? It took a few seconds, but recovering, I stood up and said,
¨Have you never read these words in this Book? Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly. Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden IS Light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
After that, others came apologizing for that one and cleaned me up.
“Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper.” [Qur’aan 7:157]
I just learned of this scripture in the Koran Today and I just thought it interesting and relevant to this Day in the Life.
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Great come back! Hard to believe this really happened, but if it did it’s a true piece of inspiration. The scriptures teach even as puns.
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Welcome, jj to this site. It is good you take some inspiration from the Spirit of this story. Thank God we can all learn from each others experience.
Making the 1st comment on it, you might imagine my surprise and Joy to discover the Koran has the similar thought and view.
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them to babes.
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in your sight.
All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:25:30
The verses from the Koran and the Bible in my understanding of the English language, while expressed in a different way with different words, record the same Truth, and no believer in the God of Truth should fear the Truth. It should be embraced with Joy for the Truth does set us Free.
Christ was revealed in Jesus to the world 2000 years ago, and Christ says to this very Day, I am the Way, the Truth, and The Life. In this fast paced, hectic, rapidly changing world, Faith in Christ will be the anchor of the soul when the winds blow, and the rains beat upon the houses built on both sand and Rock. The houses built on rock will withstand the winds and the rains when they come to all, and will remain standing. The houses built on sand will crumble and be washed away. This is the Word of The LORD.
As much as I experienced surprise and Joy in finding those verses in the Koran, while I was just as surprised, I was disappointed and saddened when I was recently ex-communicated from a Jews for Jesus Christian site for posting this verse from the Koran in relation to this experience of one Day in the Life. The owner of the site cited my use of this one verse as evidence I was infiltrating his group to deceive and lead his regulars astray from the Truth of Jesus as he perceives it.
http://ivarfjeld.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/the-papal-throne-to-shift-from-rome-to-jerusalem
http://ivarfjeld.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/iran-general-no-enemy-has-the-requirements-to-carry-out-military-attack-against-powerful-iran/
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