Here is a video from Lamb & Lion Ministries that gives details about what life here on planet Earth will be like AFTER the Rapture off of this Earth of every truly saved, born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ: -- "Jesus Came. What's Next? "


Chess Fan

And now, for everyone here who is still NOT yet truly saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, and, who **wants to know** just HOW that they can avoid having to be left behind here on planet Earth AFTER the Rapture, (and thus have to face the utter *horors* of having to live here on planet Earth *during* the Tribulation period that comes after the Rapture):

Well, during this morning's, (Sunday, August 23rd, 2009), morning service at The Central Church of God in Charlotte, North Carolina, Pastor Loran Livingston shared a powerful Gospel message from the Word of Almighty God that tells every un-saved person just what that they need to do in order to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and become truly saved; which, (once that person is *truly* saved through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ), will then mean that that person WILL NOT be left behind when the Rapture takes place to face the horrors of the Tribulation period that are described in that video that I linked to in my previous post, and, which is also once again linked to in my quote above in this post.

So now, here IS that message from Pastor Livingston, with the main Bible text for this message being from The Book of Acts, Chapter 17, Verses 22 through 31.


Chess Fan

Here is an interesting and thought-provoking article by Jan Markell: -- "WAS GOD IN THE WHIRLWIND?"


Chess Fan

Here is the August 24th, 2009 edition of the Rapture Ready website's weekly newsletter, which is titled: -- "Nearing Midnight."


Chess Fan

And, here is the August 24th, 2009 edition of the Rapture Ready website's weekly newsletter, which is titled: -- "Israel Watch."


Chess Fan

Ed, I am not really surprised about your friend's incident. Cultures are different and so are the people. In India, most people would not know anything about Judaism for instance. So, if you try to say something funny that requires your listeners to know Judaism, then India would not be the place. In India, there is something called "sardar jokes". 'Sardar' is commonly used word for a Sikh man. They are generally stereotyped as brave but very dumb. Often times, Indians (including Sikhs themselves) make sardar jokes. But, if I were to tell this to an American, he may not find it funny and may even have a bad impression of Indians. So, that gap does exist.

For me, personally, my jokes and discussions would depend upon the person I am with (Indian or American or European). Even among Indians, state/linguistic things could make a difference. So, one has to be a bit conscious of he/she says.


Not sure how to answer this question. More than religion, culture of a country or region makes a difference. Among the striking differences between US and sub-continental values (that I found are) the following:

1. Invite an Indian guy for lunch/barbaque and give him spicy food. Ask him how it tasted and he might say "Man, very spicy. I cannot eat this spicy man". Substitute the Indian with a US guy, he will mostly tell you "It's really good" no matter what. A great etiquette/value, but the host is not going to know if he liked it. Frank answer from Indians vs. polite answer from US folks. Both good and bad in their own ways.

2. US folks are usually timely unlike Indians whether it is for work or a meeting etc. They respect others' time. Not that Indians don't respect, but are culturally a careless bunch in this aspect.

3. On a related note, there is always this stress on human interaction in US, which is not there in the sub-continent (either because of a busy life or population or historical problems). For example, you should say good things about people of other culture. Indians don't stress this culturally (although a slave mentally sub-consciously exists for Indians towards Europeans somehow).

4. On the negative side for US (particularly staunch Christians), they love to annoy others talking about their faith. Even worse, they talk badly about others' faith even at work place (sometimes, not always). Indians (irrespective of any religions) almost never do this. Also, Indians usually are reluctant to talk about religions including their own, for whatever reasons. Not just workplace but generally anywhere.

5. Finally, and very interestingly, in the sub-continent it is fine to ask anyone his or her age. Most of the times, they would tell you and wouldn't be offended. Although, the general rule "Never ask a man's salary and woman's age" exists, it is still ok to ask.

Hi Krish,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I'm kinda burnt at the moment, so I'll have to post a longer response later.

No, Krish, actually, we "staunch Christians" love to talk about our faith, NOT to "annoy" others; but, because we want people to know the *ONLY* way that their sins can be totally forgiven, and, thus, the *ONLY* way that people can go to Heaven!


Chess Fan

Here is a good article by Mike Taylor: -- "WE SHALL BE MEMBER'S OF GOD'S FAMILY."


Chess Fan

Hi Krish,

Context is important for humor, just like any good art form. I wouldn't understand a Sardar joke because I wouldn't know the word, and would probably miss the cultural reference. A lot of American jokes went down the drain because the context was agricultural, and modern Americans don't get them because they are not agriculturalists any longer.

So are there jokes of a religious nature in India? If so, feel free to share the jokes you are comfortable with--some jokes are of course only funny because they are offensive.

Now on to your points.

1. Americans are polite? Holy cow! The French must be really rude.

2. That' true that Americans are on time. When I worked in a convenience store no one ever came in and said "come on, be a pal, sell me some beer after hours." They always said "Hey man, I still got two minutes!" I worked with a Somali immigrant, who, of course, came from a Muslim country where alcohol is unknown. The closing time beer rush was a complete mystery to him. "They have 19 hours a day to buy beer. Why do they always wait to the last minute?" No American can answer that question because it would never occur to an American to ask.

3. I have a friend from Roumania. He confided to me after he had been here six months that at first he was very apprehensive about American life. On his bus trip from New York City to Arizona, he sat next to a Frenchman (a real Frenchman, not a guy who plays the French Defense). He asked the Frenchman how he could survive in America, since many of the social services that are commonplace in Europe don't exist in America, e.g. labor services. The Frenchman, and older guy who had lived in America several times on extended stays, told the Roumanian not to worry. "Americans," he said, "are not like Europeans. They are very open-hearted and anything you need you will find the Americans are very eager to help. They will instantly turn about to find help for your from their networks of friends and acquaintances." He didn't believe the Frenchman at first, but, he said, having lived in America he was quite surprised to find out that not only was this true, but that Americans were even more helpful than the Frenchman said. If you read Tocqueville's Democracy in America you will find that Tocqueville said the same thing about Americans 200 years ago.

4. I suspect that the reason CF gave isn't correct. Most Americans love to talk about religion, work, sex, diet, all sorts of things because Americans are driven by a utopian impulse. We never say "well, it can't get any better than this,"; instead, we say "how can I make it better?" That's why we went to the moon, and if anyone goes to Mars it will be Americans. We're never satisfied and we are always searching. Sometimes it leads to great things, like two vaccines for polio; sometimes it leads to ridiculous things, like the Hair Club for Men. (Note to CF: You may contradict me now with your evidence-free assertions.)

5. There used to be certain social mores like those you mention, but they gradually eroded under the pressure of American utopianism. If one American finds a solution for something--flat feet, grey hair, balding head, bad breath, weight loss--we're eager to share. Age, however, is a bit of a taboo because young people want to be older (to enjoy the access to opportunity that adulthood confers) while older people want to be younger (to enjoy that potential for growth that the young possess). Again, it's part of our utopianism.

Thanks for the comments!