Little Messenger: India's Most Uplifting Kids' Magazine

LITTLE MESSENGER

INDIA’S MOST UPLIFTING KIDS’ MAGAZINE

Faith-edifier for fun-loving children

Vol. 1 No. 2 28 Pages 30

How good a person are you?

Kids’’ Kitchen

5 DIFFERENCES

What did Jesus eat?

They go to places where you could not go!

They live a life of sacrifice that you can never dream of living!

And, now their children need help only you can give!

For Rs.1000/- month, you can meet the educational needs of a Gospel Worker’s child.

We are counting on you to give the children a better tomorrow. Because, they deserve a better life!

Your regular support will help our Gospel Workers’ children to finish school and enrol for higher studies.

Your donations can be made in favor of MESSENGER MISSIONS by Cheque/DD and sent to our address below: Messenger Missions, No. 20/20, Bharathiar Street, Srinivasa Nagar, Padi, Chennai 600 050. Phone: 044-26247598. Email: contact@christianmessenger.in 2

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LITTLE MESSENGER In this issue!

Pet Zone

Sidelights out 4 10 Cool Things Ab me Ho t a et P a Having Jesus eat?

7 The Bible Diet: What did 18 Kids’ Kitchen or different?

22 Are these pictures the same

es from 23 Crossword: Find the nam Gospel of Mark

Pg.4

Kids’ Kitchen Pg.18

BIBLE HERO Pg.20

Have you read yet?

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2018 Vol. 1 No. 2 of Published by Elsy Robin on behalf .

Ltd Pvt s tion a nic u Messenger Comm m Sa in Editor: Rob Office: , Messenger Communications Pvt Ltd. ar, Nag a ivas Srin et, Stre 20/20, Bharathiar .

050 600 i nna Padi, Che 345 Phone: 91-44-26247598 | 0-7299063 ments Editorial, Circulation & Advertise 7 334 906 -729 0 Phone: 0-7299063345 | in ger. n esse ianm t s chri Email: promos@ Website: www.christianmessenger.in scriptions by Payment for advertisements and sub er seng MO or DD in favour of Mes Chennai.

Communications Pvt Ltd payable at

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10 Cool Things About Having a Pet at Home

1. They are great mood enhancers They are a great way to improve your mood and temperament. People who suffer from various diseases have lesser chances of depression if they keep pets as compared to those don’t have pets at home.

2. They help you with your blood pressure Pet owners have less blood pressure and heart rates. This also results in reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

3. They’re an antidote for loneliness Feeling low or lonely? Pet dogs and cats know how to cheer you up. Pets offer unconditional love and are always faithful.

4. They’re a source of exercise Dogs are great companions on daily walks. They will happily go out for walks – sometimes even urging you for a walk – and thus keep you fit and active.

5. They’re great stressbusters Researchers say that pets can help you in reducing your stress and anxiety levels. They can relieve depression.

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6. They improve your social skills Children with pets display improved impulse control, social skills and self-esteem. Pet owners stand out in their locality by their empathy.

7. They make you live longer Studies have shown that people who spend their time with pets outlive those who do not.

8. They decrease the risk of asthma and allergies Children growing up with furry pets – cats and dogs – are less prone to allergies and respiratory ailments. Pets indirectly strengthen your immune system.

9. They improve a child’s responsibility Feeding and caring for a pet encourages childhood responsibility. Nurturing a pet is an acceptable way for children to ‘parent play’ - to practice being caregivers.

10. They help you read nonverbal communication better Since pets cannot speak, you have to read their cues and body language. Having a good grasp of knowing your pets’ needs and moods helps you have better relationships at work and other places.

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Super Facts About Rajapayalam Dogs

1. A native of Rajapalayam in Virudhu Nagar district of Tamil Nadu, the Rajapalayam dog is the largest native dog in tropical environment. A Rajapalayam dog is distinguished from the other native dogs by its trademark features: pristine white coat, pink nose, broad chest and narrow waist.

2. Vella moonji naai (the white faced dog) as the natives call it grows up to a height of 26 inches to 30 inches.

It is said former Defence minister George Fernandes took a fancy for it when he was in Tenkasi for an election campaign several years ago and bought two Rajapalayam pups for his home.

3. An extremely handsome and graceful dog, the Rajapalayam is said to be fiercely loyal to its masters. It has a gait similar to the trotting of a thoroughbred horse. In olden days, they were predominantly used for hunting wild boar and deer by the Madurai Nayak dynasty. Even today, the dog has retained some of its hunting instincts. It has a great sense of smell and hence are known both as sight hounds and

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scent hounds.

4. The Rajapalayam dogs were used in the Carnatic Wars and Polygar wars against the British in the early 19th century. Although it prefers open spaces to roam around, it is easy to maintain these dogs at homes and apartments. The dog does not require any special diet and can be raised as a pup by feeding them with what you eat at home.

5. Rajapalayam dogs make excellent guard dogs for the family. Their large size can intimidate intruders. The dogs are vary of strangers. They do not like to be petted or even touched by strangers.

6. They do not have much problems with humid conditions. They can withstand scorching summer heat and because they are a native breed you may not have to make many visits to the vet.

7. This first thing that you would notice in your Rajapalayam is their milky white coat that is almost a standard for the breed. This is one of those few breeds that does not come in a multiple colors but has a distinct white-only coat. This breed has a characteristic pink nose and skin, which is absolutely different when compared to other dogs around the world.

One drawback though is that there is a high incidence of deafness in this breed.

Although not a serious problem, many Rajapalayam dogs suffer from mange. A fully grown male Rajapalayam dog would weigh 30 to 40 kg while the female would weigh 28 to 35 kg. Its lifespan is 10 years.

The Tree Grower A man had planted an apple tree by the wayside. After many years, he came that way.

Wow! look at that!

What a beautiful tree it is now.

I was the one who planted it.

But I was the one who watered it regularly.

However, what was not known to that man was that a little boy in the neighborhood was regularly tending the tree.

At last I can see the fruit of my hard labor.

You went away after planting it but I made sure, it lived and prospered.

The man who planted the tree came back to lay claim on it.

Little boy! This tree belongs to me.

How do you say so, sir?

1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

Story & Drawing: Steven Robin 6

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The Bible Diet: What did Jesus eat?

Bread was the staple food of the Israelites.

Although a variety of crops were available in ancient Israel, wheat, barley, olives and grapes were the chief crops.

Since the people also raised sheep, goats, and cattle, and fished from the Mediterranean and the Sea of Galilee we can safely say the Jews who lived in the time of Jesus Christ also consumed fish, beef and mutton. Wine from the grapes was the main beverage.

And, they had figs – lots and lots of them.

Jesus Himself must have been fond of them as we read in the Bible He went looking for fruits in a fig tree even though He knew it was not the right season for figs to bear fruit.

A typical day in the time of Jesus Christ began with a light breakfast (no high-calorie Pongal or aloo parathas for the Jews). They had bread or a fruit. Bread, like in our days, were kneaded and baked by the womenfolk. Although the males were the breadwinners, it was the women who were the bread givers! That was one of the main chores of the women.

At midday, the people of the Holy Land would eat a light lunch of bread (again) and grain, olives and figs.

In India, we prefer the lunch to be the main meal. Not so for the Jews. Their main meal was

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the one they ate at the end of the day. So, what did a typical dinner in Jesus’ days consist of?

Well, for starters they had a one-pot stew. They used a large piece of bread as spoon to dip into the stew. The stew itself was a thick porridge of vegetables, chickpeas spiced with herbs and lentils. Meat was also on the dinner table. More than meat, fish was a staple food. The wealthy

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Jews raised lamb and calves in their stalls so they could be killed and their meat used during the feasts.

Prayers preceded their meals. The Jews waited and welcomed the presence of God during every meal. Although, they had worked hard by the sweat of their brow God was the ultimate provider – Jehovah Jireh! And meal fellowship meant God’s Name was invoked and His presence invited.

How Can I Eat Like Jesus?

So was Jesus a vegan or did He eat meat?

In Luke 24, we read about how when Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection the disciples had trouble believing it was the Lord. He showed them His hands and feet to make them believe it was indeed Him. ‘But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.’

A few days later, Jesus showed Himself to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. When the disciples came to the shore after no success at fishing, Jesus said to them: “Children, do you have any food?”

They had none. Jesus told them where to find fish. They fished again and caught 153 big fish.

But, Jesus had broiled some fish for them already.

In John 21:13 we read: Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

So, how did Jesus get bread and fish at the Tiberias beach? Although it sounds incredible, we have to realize Jesus is God. Psalm 50:10-11 says: ‘For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.’

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Based on the Bible and historical records, Jesus most likely ate a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet, which includes foods like kale, pine nuts, dates, olive oil, lentils and soups. They also baked fish.

Here’s how to eat like Jesus?

1. Calculate Your Breakfast Time and ‘Break Your Fast’ accordingly: Jesus ate breakfast very early so he could have the energy and fuel for a full day’s work. You should be breaking your fast every morning 12 hours after your last meal the previous day. If you had you dinner at 6 p.m., you should break your fast the next morning at 6 a.m.

2. Linger Over Lunch: Many people rush through lunch, eat at their desks at work, and wolf down their food. The key to eating like Jesus today is making lunch your biggest meal and eat in as much of a relaxed atmosphere as possible.

3. Eat a Light Dinner at 4 p.m.: Your digestive system should not have to work on overdrive when you should be sleeping. Eat dinner as early in the evening as possible.

4. Wine and Walk: This should not be confused with wining and dining.

Wine played an important role in Jesus’ life and health. The Jews drank non-alcoholic red wine with meals. It’s good for the heart. But don’t overdo it!

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How good a person are you?

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Find the hidden person Follow the arrow mark directions, identify the letters and write them down in the blank spaces. Then rearrange the letters according to the numbers given.

You’ll find the hidden person. No.1 has been solved for you.

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(Heb. 2:10).

Puzzle by: Sandra Robin

1. M 2. T 3. Y 4. R 5. N 6. A __ __ __

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Kids’ Kitchen

Dahi Vermicelli Bath Dahi Vermicelli is best suited for ending guest dinners and parties and is a great alternative to curd rice. It has many variations. Here’s one.

Ingredients: Vermicelli/Semiya Chilled curd (dahi) Milk Cashew nuts Raisins Ghee Apple Pomegranate seeds Grapes Cucumber Corriander leaves Water 18

– 1 cup – 1 ½ cup – 1 ½ cup – 5 whole – 10 Nos – ½ tsp – ½ cup – ½ cup – ½ cup – ½ cup – to garnish – 2 cups

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To Temper: Cooking oil Mustard seeds Urad dal Green chillies Curry leaves Ginger

– 2 tablespoon – 1 tsp – ½ tsp – 2 finely chopped – a small spring – ½ tsp finely chopped

Boil water. Add vermicelli and salt and cook for about 10 minutes until it becomes soft. Drain water and set aside to cool down completely. Run cold water over vermicelli to avoid stickiness and drain again. Fluff it with a fork.

Heat ghee in a pan, fry cashew nuts and raisins till they turn golden brown and set aside. Heat oil in the same pan and add the ingredients listed under ‘to temper’. Let it splutter. Switch off the stove. In a wide mixing bowl take cooked vermicelli, add curd, milk, apple, cucumber, pomegranate seeds, grapes and fried cashews and raisins along with required salt. Add the tempered ingredients and mix. Garnish with coriander leaves. Add more curd if vermicelli gets thickened. Serve cold.

Models: Pooja, Devakumar, Viji & Uma. Co-ordination: C Jennifer.

10 Benefits of Eating Curd Every Day 1. It improves digestion 2. Eating curd daily will boost your immunity 3. It improves your skin tone 4. It can heal sunburns 5. Having curd daily will prevent heart diseases 6. It can help you lose weight 7. It helps you maintain the strength of your teeth and bones 8. It is a great stress-buster 9. It is the perfect food if you are suffering from diarrhea 10. It is helpful in bleeding disorders.

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Artwork: Karpagam Gopinathan

BIBLE HERO: Moses

COLOUR THIS PAGE

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What you should know about Moses but didn’t know who to ask 1. Moses was the first abandoned child mentioned in the Bible Moses’ godly parents hid him for three months to protect him from the Egyptian edict that said all male Hebrew babies must be killed. When they could no longer hide him, they set him afloat in a basket on the Nile River (Ex. 2:3).

2. Pharaoh’s daughter paid Moses’ mother to nurse him after she rescued him from the Nile River (Ex. 2:8-9).

3. Moses was the youngest of the family He had an older sister, Miriam, and an older brother, Aaron.

4. Moses was a murderer Seeing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, Moses intervened and killed the Egyptian (Ex. 2:12). To hide his crime, he buried his victim in the sand.

5. Moses worked as shepherd To escape punishment for the murder, he fled to the desert of Midian where he met Zipporah, the daughter of a shepherd, and began working with her father, Jethro. He married Zipporah and had two sons.

6. Moses gave God five lame excuses for why he couldn’t be Israel’s deliverer (Ex. 3-4). Not surprisingly, God rebutted every one.

7. Moses probably stuttered Read Exodus 4:10 and find out for yourself.

8. Moses insisted he couldn’t be Israel’s spokesperson God agreed to allow his older brother, Aaron to speak for him.

After the first assignment, however, Moses was front and center, and Aaron took a backseat to his little brother.

9. Moses was 80 years old when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt Eighty is when people rock their grandchildren on their knees. Not Moses. He was commissioned by God to lead Israel out of Egypt, the land of slavery, at 80.

10. Moses’ family was not with him during the desert journey Moses sent his wife and sons back to his father-in-law’s house. They were reunited after the exodus as the Israelites camped at the base of Mt. Sinai. (Ex. 18:7).

11. Moses was a songwriter Music co-ordinator, if you will. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, God composed a song and instructed Moses to write it down and teach it to the congregation. It became known as “The Song of Moses” (Deut. 32:1-43).

12. Moses saw God He was not alone when he saw God, however. His brother Aaron and nephews Nadab and Abihu and the 70 elders of Israel were with him when Moses saw God on Mt. Sinai. Read Exo. 24:9-11. (Adapted from an article by Lori Hatcher)

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ARE THESE PICTURES THE SAME OR DIFFERENT? THERE ARE 5 DIFFERENCES. HOW MANY CAN YOU SPOT?

Artwork: Karpagam Gopinathan 22

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FIND THE NAMES FROM GOSPEL OF MARK There are 26 names of people from the Gospel according to Mark hidden here in this crossword. You will be able to find them top to bottom, bottom to top, diagonally, sideways and in reverse.

Clue: Read from Mark 1 to 6 to identify the names.

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The answers are given below. Check them out only if you are stuck.

1. JESUS CHRIST 2. JOHN 3. SIMON 4. ANDREW 5. JAMES 6. LEVI 7. ABIATHAR 8. BOANERGES 9. PHILIP 10. BARTHOLOMEW 11. MATTHEW 12. ZEBEDEEE 13. THOMAS 14. ALPHAEUS

15. THADDAEUS 16. JUDAS 17. ISCARIOT 18. LEGION 19. JAIRUS 20. JOSES 21. ELIJAH 22. HEROD 23. HERODIAS 24. MOSES 25. DAVID 26. MARY

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Same snake, different skin

Snakes have the curious habit of shedding their old skin in favour of a new one.

Yet no matter how many times they shed their skin they are still the same old snake.

If we think we would get into Heaven by changing our ways on our own and without believing the work of Christ on the Cross (shedding our skin by morally reforming) we have failed to understand the message of the Gospel – the Good News.

When Adam lost the rulership of the world to Satan (a spiritual snake) all mankind suffered the repercussions and became citizens in the devil’s kingdom.

Through Adam’s original sin we inherit a corrupt (sin) nature which God cannot allow into His heavenly kingdom (Romans 5:12).

No matter how righteous we think we are or how many good deeds we have accumulated, we will always fall short of God’s perfect and absolute standard He demands (Romans 3:23). We may impress other people with our reformed ways but to God we are still the same old snake. The only way we can possibly get to Heaven is by turning into a new creature.

To become a new creature we have to be spiritual ‘born-again’. This spiritual rebirth occurs at the moment we accept Jesus Christ as savior. We can do nothing to earn or deserve salvation – we are totally dependent on what God has done on our behalf. God made salvation easy for us because Jesus Christ did all the work on the cross by paying our entire penalty for sin.

When we believe in Christ, we accept God’s sacrifice on our behalf and we are imputed with Christ’s perfect righteousness. At that moment we are spiritually reborn (in Christ - a Christian) into the family of God for eternity. The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8-9: ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith (belief), and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works (good deeds), lest anyone 24

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should boast’.

If we were able to save ourselves, there would have been no need for God to come to earth as a Man in order to pay the price for redemption. The good news of the Bible is we become heavenly creatures by simply accepting the gift of salvation by believing the Lord Jesus Christ died as our substitute on the cross.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Ian Coate.

Shedding of skin: Wow Facts!

Shedding of the skin is a process observed not only in snakes but also in insects and lizards. It is called molting the skin. The scientific term of snakes shedding their skin is ecdysis. Shedding usually takes about one to two weeks in snakes. On an average, snakes will shed their skin three to four times a year.

Humans shed their skin too. Humans shed their entire outer layer of skin every 2-4 weeks at the rate of 0.001 – 0.003 ounces of skin flakes or 600,000 particles of skin every hour. By 70 years of age, an average person will have lost 105 pounds of skin. Humans shed and re-grow outer skin cells about every 27 days - almost 1,000 new skins in a lifetime.

The boy who likes particle physics At 9, he completed one third of the credits needed for a college degree at the American River College (ARC) in Sacramento, California. ARC allowed him only to be a part-time student, although the boy wanted to be with them fulltime.

Tanishq Abraham attracted media attention when he joined the Mensa programe for gifted children. He was only 4 years and six months then.

The boy likes particle physics, anti-matter, the fate of the universe and the Big Bang theory. His mother, Dr Taji Abraham, is a veterinarian, while his father Bijou Abraham is a software professional. They live in the US. The American child prodigy with Indian ancestry became the youngest to attend and speak at a NASA conference while he was 9. At 8, he co-discovered supernovae, an exoplanet candidate and a solar storm watch using NASA data.

At the moment, Tanishq is a soon-to-be biomedical engineering graduate. And, he is only 15.

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ON A CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE TO TRIALS -

“WHEN A TRAIN GOES THROUGH A TUNNEL AND IT GETS DARK, YOU DON’T THROW AWAY YOUR TICKET AND JUMP OFF. YOU SIT STILL AND TRUST THE ENGINEER.”

MY MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION... IS MY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, FOR WITH HIM AND NOTHING ELSE YOU CAN BE HAPPY, BUT WITHOUT HIM AND WITH ALL ELSE YOU’LL NEVER BE HAPPY.”

“I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE ALMIGHTY HAS HIS PLANS, AND WILL WORK THEM OUT; AND, WHETHER WE SEE IT OR NOT, THEY WILL THE BEST FOR US.”

aBRAHAM lINCOLN

“THE DEVIL PROMISES HEAVEN BUT DELIVERS HELL”

- STEVEN J. LAWSON

- PATRICK HENRY 26

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