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                                      THE   L   I   G   H   T   H   O   U   S   E
=====================================================================
 

                   ARE ASSYRIANS TRULY CHRISTIAN?
 
Recently the host of the Assyrian Weekly Magazine, an Assyrian TV show
in San Jose, California, stated that "during the Picnic Day of the
Assyrian Convention in San Jose (May 1996) a few Christians were
promoting Christianity among fellow Assyrians". He continued, "convention
is not a place to talk about God; we have our churches that we can go to
on Sundays and that is sufficient for our needs, then why are they
promoting Christianity among Christians?".  He asked the viewers if they
had suggestions about this matter. He invited them to the live program
on a Tuesday to share their opinion.  Tuesday came and about 10 people
called into the studio. Only 2 callers really made sense, which means
that more than 80% of Assyrians have no concept of what Christianity
really is! They only think that THEY are Christians. The host asked:
"Which comes first: to be an Assyrian or a Christian?"  He insisted that
we have to be Assyrian first, Christian second! That is really a hard
thing to hear from someone that claims to be a Godly person. This is the
way most Assyrians have thought for ages and still are.
 

No wonder why our kingdom has collapsed; birds are building nests in our
palaces and we are divided. Every where we go, we are treated as minorities.
What happened to that powerful kingdom? This is all because we never put
God first, and we relied on our own understanding so God left us alone
in our pride. Look what happened to us. We should  know that God comes
first no matter what. For example, if we are sick , in danger or in
need of something, do we ask God to help us, protect us, heal us, or
our nationality?  We should realize this: who created who?  Can't we
be good Christians and good Assyrians at the same time?
 
The host of the show was constantly mentioning that our good works
will take us to heaven, nothing else.  If our good works could take us
to heaven, then  there was no need for the coming of Christ to this
world, and living a perfect life so he can be a perfect sacrifice for
redemption of our sins. God says in the Bible that our good works are
filthy rags to him. They don't count for our salvation so no body can
boast. We know how we are, we do one good deed and want the world to
know about it!
 
Some callers were saying: "All the people that are good from every
religion will go to heaven."  In that case we are making Jesus Christ
a liar because he said: "I am the way and the Truth and the Life. No
one can come to the Father except through Me."  The host continued:
"Sundays are enough to go to our churches and pray" .  If you don't
want God to be in your life all the time then he doesn't want you only
on Sundays (1 hour!). We can't connect ourselves to God on Sundays and
disconnect on the rest of the week. If you go to your church faithfully
every Sunday for a year, the total hours spend is only 48, that's
only 2 full days in a year. God is saying, no thank you; keep those 2
days to yourself.  Imagine if your child remembers you, visits you, and
talks to you  only 2 days a year.  Will you be pleased with him/her? Of
course not, it is the same with God. (Our God welcomes us with open
arms when we want to go back to Him because of His amazing grace).
If we feed our body only once a week, it will get weak, sick, and
finally die. It is the same with our spirit. If we don't feed our
spirit spiritual food, it will perish.
 
Let us examine our faith . If hearing the name of Jesus Christ, doesn't
give us joy in our hearts, lighten our face, make us stop and listen and
want to know more about him; if we have no desire to read His book and
every time subject comes along we mumble "oh no, not again", we are
deceiving ourselves and His love is not in us.  If we are true Christians,
we should be zealous for our God. Some people make unpleasant comments
that irritate the hearts of believers. These people go to church on
Sundays and claim that they will go to heaven. If you can't stand God
for a short time in this world, how come you plan to go to heaven and
spend eternity with Him?
 

Being raised in an Assyrian home, being baptized and having an unopened
Bible under our pillows or a Bible in a corner of the house, and even
going to church doesn't make us Christians. We need  to be evangelized,
seek forgiveness, read our Bible a lot, and go to a church that preaches
about Jesus Christ in his true meaning, where there is nothing added and
taken away from the Bible.  When people are truly willing to come to faith
in Christ they will feel and know they are sinners, and that they need a
savior. Be aware of a person that says, "What have I done?"  God says
there is no man on this earth without sin except the son of God (Jesus
Christ).
 
"Today, if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts as you did in
the rebellion" Hebrews 3:8
 
Doris Babassi
San Jose, California
 
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 G  O  O  D    M  O  R  N  I  N  G    B  E  T - N  A  H  R  A  I  N
=====================================================================
 

            CILLER & SADDAM DISCUSS NEW PLANS FOR IRAQ
 

(ZNRU: Ankara)  Turkey has urged President Saddam Hussein to reassert
his authority in northern Iraq and crush separatist Turkish Kurds
based there, to the dismay of the United States, which wants to keep
Saddam boxed in, The New York Times reported yesterday.  Turkish Foreign
Minister Tansu Ciller said that Ankara would drop its plan to create a
``security zone'' inside Iraq if Saddam took steps to crush Turkish
Kurds waging a guerrilla war against Ankara from camps in northern Iraq.
Ciller said Turkey was having talks with Saddam on the issue.
Senior U.S. administration officials were ``dismayed'' by Ciller's
remarks. A senior State Department official comments that ``This does
not accord with the discussions the United States has had with Turkey.
Perhaps it is Turkey's way of signaling to the Unite States that it has
alternatives.''  Turkey announced plans early in September to create a
security zone in northern Iraq up to six miles deep, and Washington said
it would not object if Ankara went ahead with the scheme.  The emerging
policy differences suggest that relations between Turkey and the United
States may be entering a new and possibly difficult phase in the wake of
recent power shifts in northern Bet-Nahrain.
 
=====================================================================
                  S   U   R   F   S     U   P   !
=====================================================================
"I am a Semitist with a great interest in the Pshitta.  In fact I
have just completed a book THE SEMITIC ORIGIN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
which might interest you."
 

Dr. James Scott Trimm
jstrimm@flash.net
 

[Pshitta (Assyrian "Simple"), an early form of the Aramaic language,
 was used in the writing of the books of the New Testament.]
 

                            ****************
 

"I loved the Dark Eyes story.  It was very romantic and very
nationalistic.  I would like to ask "Atoraya" to continue with his
writing; I am looking forward to read more of this kind of writing.
Congratulation "Atoraya" and good luck."
 

Lena Mushell
San Jose, CA
                            ****************
 

"I am a 16 year-old Zenda reader that loved you magazine. Teens
that like video games should check out my web page! It is loaded with
PlayStation related info.  I also think it would be great if Zenda
added a special area for Teens-only related info!"
 

Source Unknown
The PlayStation News Network (PNN)
http://www.accesscom.com/~gek/
PNN@JUNO.COM
 

                            ****************
 

"Sargon would want his home address and home phone number to be given
out.  He sends his regards to all the Assyrians around the world, and
asks to please contact him at anytime:
 

Sargon Lewie    4318 W. Birchwood    Skokie IL 60076
                847-679-6350  Home   847-679-6224  Fax  "
 

Pauline Jasim
Chicago
 

[Sargon Lewie is the newly-elected president of the Assyrian American
 National Federation and Ms. Jasim is a former executive secretary of
 this organization.]
 

                            ****************
 

"Thanks for the update (Assyrian Prisoners in Turkey). This type of
concerted action needs to be done more often.  Not every week. But on
a carefully targeted basis.  For example, SIXTY MINUTES and other
national programs recently ran in-depth pieces on the plight of the
north Iraq Kurds.  This was a golden opportunity for the Assyrians to
get their oar in.   Not to say anything against the Kurds, but to remind
the media in question that they failed to mention a Christian Assyrian
component to the situation.  That sort of statement is also best made
in unison, from different points of origin.  When it is just a single
letter or two, it has less impact, if any at all."
 

Francis Sarguis
Santa Barbara, California
 

                            ****************
 

"I have some booklets printed by the Daughters of the American
Revolution that are excellent for anyone wanting to ready themselves
for U.S. Citizenship or anyone teaching citizenship classes.  The
booklet is free, but the cost of sending it first class mail is about
$1.25 (one dollar twenty five cents).  It can probably be sent book
class mail for less, but at this time I do not know how much it will
take.  I will furnish the envelope and address and mail same without
cost as my pro-bono contribution to Assyrians who wish to become
American citizens.  I only have about 75 (seventy five) of these
booklets so that it will have to be on a first come first served
basis.  You need not send me any money, just send the $1.25 in U.S.
postage stamps.  My name:  Paul D. Newey, Esq.; address: 1034 W.
Altgeld Street, Chicago, IL. USA 60614-2209; Tel: 312-327-0484, FAX
same as phone, e-mail [GYQS35A@prodigy.com].  This offer is only for
those in the U.S.  Baseema Raba."
 

Paul Newey
Chicago
 

                            ****************
 

"Subscribe me to Zenda (Incredible and Informative Assyrian electronic
magazine that no Assyrian should be without.)"
 

John M. Hyaduck
 
 

=====================================================================
              S  U  R  F  E  R  S      C  O  R  N  E  R
=====================================================================
 

A ZENDA reader asks:
 

I'm trying to start an Assyrian Teen web page. But I have no idea what
the theme would be about. Can you give me some help?"
 

How about some nifty ideas ZENDA readers!  Send your thoughts to
George Khawahie at  GKhawahie@juno.com  and cc a copy to ZENDA. Here
are a few ideas from ZENDA:
 

-A Forum where teens can exchange ideas discuss social issues related
 to themselves living in the Assyrian communities
 

-A Directory of Assyrian High School students around the world
 

-Assyrian On-Line Cultural Club:  members exchange facts about the
 Assyrian history, language, and culture
 

-An online Assyrian history class with links to related websites
 

-A Directory of Assyrian Youth Groups around the world with links
 to all existing Assyrian "teen" sites
 

 Let's hear some more good ideas, for today's teens are tomorrow's
 leaders.
 
=====================================================================
              N   E   W   S       D   I   G   E   S   T
=====================================================================
 

              ASSYRIAN MARONITE CHARGED WITH BLASPHEMY
 

(ZNUP: Beirut) The internationally famous Lebanese Maronite singer
was charged Thursday with blasphemy for having included a verse
from the Koran in one of his songs, a Beirut prosecutor said. Marcel
Khalifeh, 46, who draws thousands of people to his concerts across
the Arab world, is alleged to have ``insulted Islam'' for singing a
Koranic verse about the Biblical figure Joseph in his song ``Oh, my
father, I am Youssef (Joseph),'' the prosecutor said.  The chief
prosecutor of Beirut, Abdullah Bitar, also charged Thursday Lebanese
writer Andre Haddad with blasphemy for a book that allegedly questions
the relevance of Islam, the prosecutor said.  A prosecutor said the
charge against Haddad was based on a passage in his book which says:
``Islam is not qualified to accompany the development that the world
is witnessing and does not give room to those of other religions to
hold public office.''  Both Khalifeh and Haddad are Maronite-Assyrian
Christians and face sentences of 6 months to 3 years in prison if
convicted.  Khalifeh's song was released in 1995 on the album ``Arabic
Coffeepot.'' Haddad's book, The Entry To Arab Union, is not a recent
work.
 
=====================================================================
D I  R  E  C  T  O  R  Y  OF THE  N  E  W  S   S  O  U  R  C  E  S
=====================================================================
ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNUP (United Press International)
 

=====================================================================
  C   A   L   E   N   D   A   R     OF     E   V   E   N   T   S
=====================================================================

Thru April 6    The Ain Ghazal Exhibit
                Smithsonian Institute
                Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
                Washington D.C.
 

Nov 13          Babylon & Syria in the time of XENOPHON
                Lecturer:  M. Stolper
                Oriental Institute
                University of Chicago
                Chicago, Illinois
 

Jan 15          Ashur & Marduk:  The State Gods of Assyria & Babylonia
                Lecturer:  G. Frame
                Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
                University of Toronto
                St. George campus
                Toronto, Canada
                8:00 p.m
 

Mar 12          Guardians of the Gate:  The Assyrian Winged Colossi
                Lecturer:  A. Harrak
                Near and Middle Eastern Civilization
                University of Toronto
                St. George campus
                Toronto, Canada
                8:00 p.m
 

April 9         Recent Excavations at Gordion, Turkey:
                An Achaemenid Persian Imperial Town in Central Anatolia
                Lecturer:  T.C. Young, Jr.
                Royal Ontario Museum
                Toronto, Canada
                8:00 p.m
 
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  R E G U L A R  C L A S S E S  &  M E E T I N G S
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursdays        Assyrian History Class
                 Fall 1996 Session
                 "Assyrian Biographies"
                 Instructor:  Wilfred Alkhas
                 BETA of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose
                 20000 Almaden Road
                 San Jose, California
                 7:30-9:00 pm
                 Info:  Wilfred_Alkhas@3mail.3com.com
 

Fridays          Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
                 Modesto Junior College
                 1:00 pm
                 Founders Hall 108
                 Modesto, U.S.A.
 

Saturdays        Nisibis School
                 10:30-1:30
                 The Church of the East
                 Toronto, Canada
 

                 Nisibin School
                 10:00-12:00 pm
                 BETA of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose
                 San Jose, California
 

SUNDAYS          Assyrian Boy Scouts
                 Assyrian American Association of Southern California
                 Assyrian Club
                 5901 Cahuenga Blvd
                 North Hollywood, California
                 9:30am  to 12:30pm
                 Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
                                           (818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
 

                 Assyrian Student Union
                 California State University, Northridge
                 Assyrian American Association of Southern California
                 Assyrian Club
                 5901 Cahuenga Blvd
                 North Hollywood, California
                 6:00pm
                 Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
                                           (818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
 

=====================================================================
  A  S  S  Y  R  I  A  N     S  U  R  F  I  N  G     P  O  S  T  S
=====================================================================
                          N e w   S i t e (s)
 

History of the Maronites
                http://www.connecti.com/~metabet/maronhst.htm
 

=====================================================================
               P  U  M  P    UP THE   V O L U M E
=====================================================================
                   ENGLISH                ASSYRIAN
 

                    News                khoo/baa/re        [P]
                                        tdeb/be            [P]
                                        khab/re kha/te     [P]
_____________________________________________________________________
F = Feminine     M = Masculine      P = Plural
 
=====================================================================
             B  A  C  K     TO THE      F  U  T  U  R  E
=====================================================================
 

B.C. (620) Nebuchadnezzar builds the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for
           his wife (a princess of the Medes?) who missed the hilly
           landscape of her home.
 

<< Warriors & Seafarers, Millard >>
 
 

A.D.(1920) The Maronite leadership managed to convince France to set
           up a Lebanese state which the Maronites and the other
           smaller Christian sects allied to them would dominate.
 

<< From Beirut to Jerusalem, Friedman >>
 

=====================================================================
              L    I    T    E    R    A    T    U    S
=====================================================================

O Ashur Ninevite!
Marduk of Babylon!
You have had many appellations.
Jehovah see our plight,
Do help me fall upon,
And destroy this foe of the nations.
 

My strong arm and my bow
Were your gifts, and sorrows
Of a heart so tortured night and day.
Do help me overthrow,
with my sword and arrows,
This pest, or, my talents take away.
 

To rescue all my kind,
To fulfil a great dream,
I may lose my young life, let it be.
I may die, I don't mind,
If only I redeem,
This small shoot, root of the holy tree.
 

<< Kateeny Gabbara, William Daniel >>
 
 

=====================================================================
    T  H  I  S    W  E  E  K     I  N    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y
=====================================================================
September 25, 1974:  dies, Dr. Petros de Baz, a cousin of General Agha
Petros, in Amman, Jordan.  As an official UN representative Dr. Petros
assisted the Assyrians of the Khabur region in Syria and the Palestinian
refugees.
 

=====================================================================
                      B     R    A     V     O
=====================================================================
 

              AN ASSYRIAN WINS CHAMPIONSHIP IN FINLAND
 

On September 14, Rimon Rol Yacoub, a young Assyrian from Oulu, Finland,
won the Table Tennis Championship in Finland.
 

=====================================================================
      W   E   L   C   O   M   E     T O     Z   E   N   D   A
=====================================================================
Zenda welcomes our new on-line subscribers from:
 
UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS
                        University of Texas, Austin
 
=====================================================================
  A   C   K   N   O   W   L   E   D   G   E   M   E   N   T   S
=====================================================================
Zenda wishes to thank the following individuals & organizations
whose contributions appear in this issue:
 

                Ashour Nissan           Finland
                Sargon Gewargis         Los Angeles, California
                Ashour Malek            Toronto, Canada
                Zaineb Istrabadi        New York
                Pauline Jasim           Chicago
 

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Our Next Issue will appear on Monday, September 30, 1996.
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