Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Weekender!

So have you ever wondered why every weekend zips past fast? Or have you complained that the longer the weekend, the faster it flies by? Or have you found yourself in a position where you chant the phrase "Time Flies Fast" over and over again? If you have done any of the above, then you have what I call the "Weekender Syndrome". Yes sir we are all Weekend People! The minute Monday comes, all we can think is Friday! And once Friday blooms, we say "TGIF"! Our lives surround around waiting for the weekend! But the funny part about a weekend is, it is a moving target! There is always another weekend! So trying to accomplish a shifting goal, is never-ending! So the week-days are a blur! They go by fast! So days, months and years pass by quickly! And then we find ourselves saying..."How did we get here?" or "Man! Time sure does fly fast". We expect the weekend so much, we forget the weekdays! That is sad, because everyday is a great day! A gift from GOD! If we are constantly expecting for a better day, then we tend to overlook "Today"! Today is a great day! You cannot go to "Tomorrow" without going through "Today"! So folks, "Enjoy today" and you will realize everyday is a weekend!

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. ---- Ps 118:24

Friday, May 25, 2007

Principles Vs Tolerance

So I have a few principles right? I would'nt call myself a highly principled dude, but I have my own principles. One of those is trying hard to be on time! I remember my Dad would wake us up by 7 in the morning, even if it was a holiday! And if you ask something about my Dad, thats the one thing that always stood out. He was always on time. And I guess that part just stuck to me through all these years! But have you ever noticed one thing? Principled people are always intolerant! For some reason they expect everybody else to be on the same page. If I can then, he/she can too! So most of the time I remember my Dad sitting all grumpy in church or meetings or weddings, either because we were late because my Mom delayed or because we were the only ones sitting there! Quite ironic! A wonderful character of being on time is quickly swapped by a crazy character of intolerance and petulance! And I have found myself in that very place time and again! For instance today, I had to wait for one of my car-pool guys for almost 35 minutes! Ticked me off big time! So I came to work all late and not to mention, grouchy! While I was in the middle of this vicious and cantankerous mood, I mentioned the inequitable happenings to my colleague! After patiently listening to my cry he just said one thing, "Nobody is perfect". Bam! It hit me hard! Wow! Nobody is perfect! Just because I come on time doesn't make me a great person, nor does it make others crazy! I have my own inabilities and slip-ups! So my inference: The greatest of all principles is "Tolerance" towards people and "Intolerance" towards the principle!


Peace!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

One of those days!

I feel miserable today! I thought my cold had subsided yesterday, but apparently not! I am clearly more sick than yesterday! And here I am sitting in my cube, staring at my computer being absolutely unproductive! Maybe I should just get up and go home! Maybe not! Anyways I know tomorrow will be a better day! Thank God for days like these, makes me appreciate the normal uneventful days even better!

Peace!

Sunday, May 20, 2007

A Shift_ has been made!

In their song "What if I stumble", DC Talk starts with these lines:


"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today
Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips
Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.
That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."


Profound yet simple! I am not sure if you are an Atheist or a Christian, but either way, I am sure you agree with this to a certain degree. Christian folks do get into this inescapable web of legalism, where adhering to the very acts of Christian living becomes the criteria for being a Christ follower! Thats when a SHIFT_ has been made when following Christ has become a Religion rather than a Relationship! Now the result of this is a blind, irrational ego. And the consequence of this ego is pride. And that is what the world sees! A Christian as a proud, egoistic individual. A SHIFT_ has been made!! How contradictory to what Christ proclaimed!

So all you Christians out there, wake up! When you use the last name of our Saviour and call yourselves Christians, make sure you really are one, in every aspect of trying to be a Christ-Follower and not just your pastor or leader! So be proud that you are a Christian and not because you are a better human being!

A SHIFT_ has been made! Whats yours gonna to be?

Peace!

Friday, May 18, 2007

Amazing Grace

When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award--yet receives such a gift anyway--that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the Grace of God. G.W. Knight, Clip-Art Features for Church Newsletters, p. 53.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

John Newton, 1772


Peace!

Monday, May 14, 2007

Mother's Day

First off, want to wish all you Mommies and to-be Mommies out there a very Happy Mother's day! I respect Mommies around the world for their sacrifice and dedication and their sincerity in what they do in everyone of our lives. I am sure it is a challenge and a pleasure being a Mom! I want to thank my "Amma" for being there for me, when I needed the most, in times of sickness and pain and in times of joy and triumph! I also stand in awe of the way she raised Jeeths and me up with great patience! Thank you Ma!

So yesterday all the men suprised their wives, by giving them a dinner-out at the Reunion Towers! Though the other men claim it to be a suprise, I have a pretty good feeling that it was'nt! But either way, I am sure the Mommies loved it! And when they came back there was cake and a performance by the kids. Though D & I are not officially Mommy and Daddy yet, we not only got a chance to understand the value and importance of being parents but also the beauty in it! So my hat's off to all the parents in the world, especially the Mommies! Happy Mother's Day!!


Peace!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Law of Non-Contradiction

In logic, the law of noncontradiction (also called the law of contradiction) states, in the words of Aristotle, that "one cannot say of something that it is and that it is not in the same respect and at the same time". (Wikipedia)

So what that means is that. no two directly contradictory statements can be true. For example, I can't say, "I was home all day, today" and also say "I was at work all day, today". That makes me either a liar or mentally unstable! This is the basic principle in crime solving too. Once a suspect has established the fact that he/she was elsewhere during the time of the crime and has an alibi to back that up, he/she is not a suspect anymore. (thanks to CSI/Law & Order).

So what's my point? Well here it goes!!!

For all who have the "All roads lead to Rome" attitude towards God, I want you to stop and think! Does all roads really lead to Rome? The Quron says, Christ was merely a prophet! While the Bible says "Christ is the Son of God, Saviour of the World". Hinduism has many Gods, including the Sun, the cow, the snake, while Christianity says, "Christ is the only way, the truth and the life!". Other major religions claim certain facts that are directly contradictory to each other!

Now applying the Law of Non-Contradiction, all can't be true! Only one HAS to be true! So if you think all are the same, and anything works, then you are badly mistaken! Either you are a liar or a nut or just lazy! So today I challenge you to think, ponder and get your facts straight! I did and I found that "Christ works for me". But if you have reasons to think otherwise, then try to prove it to yourself! And if you sincerely seek, I know you WILL find the truth! But just don't tell me "All roads lead to Rome". That just doesnt fly!

“Anyone who denies the law of non-contradiction should be beaten and burned until he admits that to be beaten is not the same as not to be beaten, and to be burned is not the same as not to be burned.”

- (Avicenna, Medieval Philosopher)



Peace!

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Spidey! Spidey!

Well finally we got to see Spiderman 3 yesterday! It was'nt all that bad! A typical Spidey movie! But it had some good messages to convey!

**********DISCLAIMER**********
If you have'nt seen the movie and intend to see it, stop reading this! Go watch the movie!

Anyways I liked the part when Spidey shreds his black outfit with great difficulty when he realizes his selfish avengeful nature. And the event occurs in a church instigated by the sound of church bells.
Well, for some reason it reminded me about how the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and when we run to the Lord, how we try to overcome the sin and the temptation to do it again! I thought it was pretty cool!

And also the notion of forgiveness in this movie! Not only man's unending need to forgive but also the need to be forgiven!

But it was hard to see my man, Topher Grace as one of the bad guys! Yes sir bad "guys"! Plenty of villains in this movie!

So Spidey...good stuff!

Peace!

Monday, May 7, 2007

Love God Love All

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Cor 13:4-8)

Now thats the kinda love we need to love everyone with! Now wait a minute! Are you telling me I need to love everyone like that? Even the crazy guy from work or the demented driver on the road! Surely not that dude whose aspiration is to see me mortified or my neighbour who thinks that freedom of speech refers to volume! Come on, you can't expect me to love the dude who makes sure he tells me about everything he is better than me at! No way!

Well, nobody said that it was easy, but remember this. There was somebody who loved all! The ones who betrayed HIM, the ones who denied HIM, the ones who spat on HIS face, the ones who stripped HIM, the ones who flogged HIM and even the ones who mortally wounded HIM. So it aint impossible!

John 13:34,35 says:

“I (Jesus) give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another.”

For that sake try to love one another! Inspite of the differences, inspite of spiteful words, inspite of conniving motives, inspite of partiality, inspite of violence, inspite of barbaric behaviour, inspite of unfairness, love one another. For by this everyone will know you and I belong to the almighty, all-powerful GOD of the universe.

Peace!

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Thank You!

One of the songs that recently got added to my 'WOW' list! Awesome words! (Thanks to Sanjith)

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end

Lover of my soul
I want to live for You

Peace!

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Parenting

Here are a few things I learnt recently about Parenting!

Tips for Motivating Your Child

  1. Allow Your child to fail.
  2. Give your child regular chores.
  3. Limit what you give to your child.
  4. Teach and model respect for people and property.
  5. Build into your child the habit of completion. [How do we help kids finish more things? Start fewer things—do more my doing less.]
  6. Limit and monitor exposure to media [TV leads to irritability and non-motivation]
  7. Model virtues over conformity.
  8. Hold your child personally accountable.
  9. Work together (service projects) [Helps them not become “gimme” pigs.]
  10. Play together
Tim Smith, The Relaxed Parent, p. 18

S E V E N Ways to Impact Your Child’s Faith
  1. Model a growing and personal faith. [If they don’t see it, they won’t catch it.]
  2. Include faith in normal conversations.
  3. Be well-rounded. [Don’t compartmentalize your faith.]
  4. Be authentic.
  5. Serve together
  6. Pray for your children and with them.
  7. Learn and communicate love in their language.
The Relaxed Parent by Tim Smith

The Five Love Languages of Children
  1. Words of Affirmation
  2. Quality Time
  3. Receiving Gifts
  4. Acts of Service
  5. Physical Touch
“The Five Love Languages of Children” by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell, quoted in The Relaxed Parent by Tim Smith, p. 23