A Note of Gratitude

This past month United People in Christ celebrated its 7 1h birthday, and I want to take this opportunity to thank the many people who donated their time, talent and money to help me helping our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle East, without their help and support we could have not done what we did, and it is with deep gratitude and love that I acknowledge these people.

Hanna Layous, Marcel Layous and Amer Biter, who through the years donated all the food for our picnics, Vera and George Layous who helped with our picnics and garage sales, Aboud Mnayarji, who always donated our drinks and wine baskets. Khalil Maalouf, who donated his talent and beautiful voice singing at our picnics and dinners, the Arabic band of Orlando under the directorship of Joe Ghannoum, Chela Jacobs and her Flamingo dancers who thrilled us with their dance and beauty during our banquets, Olga Shearer, who donated her house and garage for many years for our garage sale events, William Erdman, who continues to manage and take care of our web site at no charge. Edie Powell, who donated many items through the years for our activities, my Board members, past and present, Bassarn Mnayarji, Joe Mitri, Dr. Mikel Tuten, Richard Brooks, Jacquie Little, Christine Ferran, Brad Sargent, Marsha Childs, and Olga Shearer . Dr. Andrew Scoma and Dr. Maha Zikra who donated a lot of medical samples that I took with me overseas to the needy, Mercy James and Tony Estephan, who donated many items for our auction and door prizes, Cherbel Saab of the Cedar Restaurant, Bassarn Georgi and Joseph Georgi, my office manager Janet Williamson, who did most, if not all of the newsletter and brochures through the years and last but not least, to all the individuals who donated and continue to donate to U.P.I.C.

I am sure that there are some individuals that I forgot to thank and if I did, I do apologize, but Thank You from the bottom of my heart to all these individuals who helped me and continue to help our cause.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!!!!

Amid Habib, M.D.

Love and Light

Are you ready for some inspiration? Good! Read this carefully, it's full of great lessons. It certainly was for me! I was in a meeting downtown a few hours ago, and two men asked me for money. You know the men I'm talking about-the ones with tattered clothing, unkempt facial hair and missing teeth, the ones who, for some reason, have ended up calling the streets their home, the ones who are at the lowest point of their lives and are struggling just to survive, the ones who are digging in the trash can for scraps of food and begging change. So what did I do when these men asked me for money? What would YOU do? The lessons came because I passed these men by, I gave them nothing other than a curt "no" and a flash of my being. And then BAM! within moments I felt convicted that I'd acted like a real jerk. I didn't smile at these guys, I didn't ask them how their day was going, I didn't even give them an inkling that I care about who they are (and I do. BTW. Because they are fellow humans sharing our planet). I had hardness programmed into me in this situation. How often do up pass by people who could use a little help? As I started feeling the aftershock of how I'd acted, I call a friend of mine and asked, "What do you think about giving money to bums?" I was truly confused about my own view on this.

You see, my background says to love unconditionally and give to the poor. I read the Bible (if you don't, just stay with me - there's a point), and it says, "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). So I started thinking ... I denied a fellow brother something that he really needed and in turn denied it to my creator - the essence of my being. This goes completely counter to my very core beliefs! I believe that I am hear to spread love and light throughout the world. I believe that by radiating love and genuinely caring about people, I make a difference just by being me.

I was confused because my actions said differently.

What did I do in this case? I spread NOTHING! I put my love in a box and kept it for someone "more worthy". I didn't even give these guys the time of day. I didn't connect with them or ask them their story. If they had been in a shirt and tie, or even in a polo shirt, I would have shown them more compassion and care. THAT is not spreading unconditional love. So, I started tearing up. After all, it's hard to admit and know that I acted like a zealot!!!

We all want to give to hurricane victims, kids overseas, and so forth, what about the people -right here in our streets? Why isn't their charity enough? I go home to A/C, cable TV, a refrigerator (and cabinets) full of food, hot water, a washing machine, and a closet full of clothes (you probably do too), and I denied a man $1 because he was on the street rather than in an office? WHAT WAS I THINKING? I'll spend $4 on coffee yet withold $1 (or $5 or whatever) from a man who is digging in a trash can? DIGGING IN A TRASH CAN!!!! Boy, do I have egg on my face right now. If you asked me for $5 I wouldn't hesitate to give it to you. What made the man digging in the trash any different? Does it matter what he spends the money on? A wise man said to me, "It's my job to give, whether I do that is between me and God. Whatever the receiver does with the money he's given is between him and God.

So then I started talking with my friend about how I could "right this wrong". I can't turn back the clock...I can simply choose to behave differently in the future. And get this! The men who were on the street-the very ones who didn't held two nickels to rub together - GAVE me something I am now passing it on to you. My friend showed me that I was given the gift of awareness. I am now aware of how I have preferred one person's situation over another. I am aware that I don't always love unconditionally. I am aware that my intuition guides me to naturally love others. I am aware that the old programming is no longer serving me. I am aware that I have more room in my heart for others. What's amazing is now that I am aware, I can make a greater difference in the lives of others by loving them no matter what their circumstances are. And now you have this lesson in your hands. What are you going to choose to do with it? Will you release judgment of others and begin loving people where they are?

The men on the street gave to me just by being where they are, in their circumstances, in their own trials. They gave a tremendous gift that allowed me to open my heart. Now I see them with loving eyes rather than hardness of heart as I was conditioned. Imagine the impact YOU have by being where you are!!! When you're struggling with something, when you feel hopeless and lost, and when you're on top of the world, just know that simply by being who you are and living in the moment, you are positively impacting, the lives of thousands of people as those two men did tonight. They had no idea that the gift they gave me was love, And that the gift I now pass on to you,

Let your light shine!!

Letter to Dio-Ginitos

Editor's note: The author of this letter is unknown. He is defending Christians to his atheist friend. It was written around 219AD. As you read this, consider how it applies today.

Christians are no different that other people in regards to country, language or dress. They have no towns or cities built just for them. They don't speak strange language. They live very ordinary lives. They are scattered among the Greek towns and cities and among the heathens, according to what the Lord has decided for each one of them. They abide by the local traditions as far as eating, dressing and the way they live; but they follow the laws of their spiritual kingdom.

Each one of them lives in his country, but is often treated as a guest or a foreigner. They abide by the laws and regulations of the country they live in. Every foreign land for them is home and every home they live in is a foreign land. They get married and have children just like everybody else, but they never abandon their children. They share food with each other but do not share husbands. They live in the flesh but not according to the flesh. They spend their lives on Earth but they know that their permanent home is Heaven. They obey their government's rules and regulations but the way they live is superior to any laws made by man.

They love everybody but almost everyone hates them, ignores them or persecutes them. They get killed but they never die. They are poor, but they make many around them rich. They don't have much but they are given more and more of everything they ask. when they are ridiculed, they find their pride in the cross. When they get accused, they are found to be innocent. When they are cursed, they bless their cursors.

In brief, the Christians in the world are like the soul in the body. The soul is usually present in every part of the body. These are the Christians. You find them in every city of the world. The soul lives in the body, but is not part of the body. The Christians live in the world but they are not from the world.

The soul becomes pure with prayers, hunger and thirst. The Christians, the more they are persecuted, the more they increase day after day. The Lord has given them a gift, a grace, that is very difficult or impossible to let go of.

Editor's Note: 1781 years later, things are no different. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Emergency Numbers

When men fail you, call Psalm 27
If you want to be fruitful, call John 15
When you have sinned, call Psalm 51
When you worry, call Matthew 6:19-34
When you are in danger, call Psalm 91
When God seems far away, call Psalm 139
When your faith needs stirring, call Hebrews 11
When you are lonely and fearful, call Psalm 23
When you grow bitter and critical, call 1 Cor. 13
For Paul's secret to happiness, call Col. 3:12-17
For idea of Christianity, call 1 Cor. 5:15-19
When you feel down and out, call Romans 8:31-39
When you want peace and rest, call Matthew 11:25-30
When the world seems bigger than God, call Psalm 90
When you want Christian assurance, call Romans 8:1-30
When you leave home for labor or travel, call Psalm 121
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, call Psalm 67
For a great invention/opportunity, call Isaiah 55
When you want courage for a task, call Joshua 1
How to get along with fellowmen, call Romans 12
When you think of investments/returns, call Mark 10
If you are depressed, call Psalm 27
If your pocketbook is empty, call Psalm 37
If you're loosing confidence in people, call 1 Cor. 13
If people seem unkind, call John 15
If discouraged about your work, call Psalm 126
If you find the world growing small, and yourself great, call Psalm 19.

Emergency numbers may be dialed direct, no operator assistance is necessary.
All lines are open to Heaven, 24 hours a day.

Committed Atheist

By: Nathan Bluhm

This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago at USC.

There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist.

His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic.

For twenty years he had taught this class and no one had ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever "really gone against him" (you will see what I mean later). Nobody would go against him because he had a reputation.

At the end of every semester, on the last day he would say to the class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!"

In twenty years, nobody ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next.

He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove he is God, and yet he can't do it."

And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All the students were convinced that God couldn't exist. Certainly a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years they had been too afraid to stand up.

Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to get enrolled in the class. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class because it was one of the required classes for his major. And he was afraid. But for three months that semester he prayed that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped.

Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor, and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the room.

The professor shouted, "YOU FOOL! If nothing I have said all semester has convinced you that God doesn't exist, then you are a fool! If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!"

He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. And as it hit the ground it simply rolled away, unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall.

The young man who stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of his power through Jesus.

Lesson from a Child

We often learn the most from our children. Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his 3 year old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning, and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier over reaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty.

He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give one a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her for forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.