Slow Fade

Keeping up with the Joneses!

I am sure you have seen the new Ford F-150 commercials with Jerry Jones in it. I like those commercials, although Jerry Jones has not exactly been on my favorite persons list lately. But anyways it talks about how, "to keep up with the Joneses" you may not be able to buy The Dallas Cowboys or afford your own football stadium, but you can start by driving the truck he drives in the first place. I think it is a brilliant commercial, because each one of us are guilty of trying "to keep up with the Joneses". True, most of us are smart enough to not even think about keepin up with Jerry Jones, but there are The Smiths next door or the Kumars at work or the Browns at church. I understand that it is an inherent nature of man/woman to always want what he/she can't afford/don't have, but where do you draw the line between passion and obsession. It is very hard and the line is very thin. First there will be Jones1, then Jones2 and soon there will be so many Joneses that keeping up the Joneses would have somehow become your sole reason for existence. And that my friend is a bad place to be in!

So the word to keep in mind is "content". If we are content with what we have, I tell you life will be so much more simpler and not to mention happier! Think about it! :-)

Peace!

Poem

Bumped into this poem today! Seemed very interesting and true!

First Dentistry was painless
Then bicycles were chainless
And carriages were horseless
And many laws enforce-less

Next cookery was fireless
Telegraphy was wireless
Cigars were nicotine-less
And coffee caffeine-less

Soon oranges were seedless
The putting green was weedless
The college boy was hatless
The proper diet fatless

New motor roads are dustless
The latest steel is rustless
Our tennis courts are sodless
Our new religion Godless

Peace!

Why?

Yesterday I heard 2 significant news. One was that somebody is having a baby and the other was a little boy has been diagnosed with leukemia. Although, the news of the miracle of a child being born excited me, but the news of a child with cancer troubled me and made me ponder about things of which I do not have control of. I started to ask the infamous question "Why?" Why should the little boy suffer? His parents are good people. Why Why Why? I did scientifically and psyhologically explain it in my heart, but somehow the answers seemed incomplete.

But I know the Bible says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

So I take solace in the fact that the Almighty one is in control!

"The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man." - G.K.Chesterton

Interesting Article

I, the Convert
My conversion was not a change of religion; it was a change of heart

I was born a Brahmin and am the grandson of a priest whom I dearly loved. I am educated and my current professional standing indicates that I am reasonably intelligent. I am also affluent and my income would put me distinctly in the upper middle class bracket. I guess that would make me high-caste, rich and smart. In other words, I am not a tribal, or poor or dim-witted. And yet, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The world would call me a convert to Christianity. I have no problems with that, though I see my faith more as a relationship with God through Jesus Christ than as a religion. And for the record, I can truthfully claim that no one financially induced or threatened or deceived me into converting to Christianity.

I am fiercely proud of my national identity as an Indian and I am completely at peace with my cultural identity as a Hindu. I retain the name my parents gave me. My wife, who also shares my faith, continues to go by her Hindu name. We have two children and we have given both distinctly Hindu names. In fact, many of my colleagues and acquaintances who may happen to read this column are likely to be surprised. They have no inkling about my faith, for I generally don't go about announcing it. But if someone does ask me the reason behind the joy and hope that is ever present in my life, I am always delighted to share it with them.

I write this piece to make one point—that my conversion was not a change of religion but a change of heart. To explain this, I need to go back to my childhood in Chennai, similar to that of so many other Tamil Brahmin boys like me. My grandfather, every bit the virtuous priest, had enormous influence over me. I absolutely adored him and as a toddler, always clung to him. He too loved me to a fault. There was no wish of mine that he would not rush to fulfill. But even in my early, formative years I was unable to relate to the religion he fervently practiced. Later, in my school days, I once spent my summer holidays with him in Trichy. Memories of dawn walks with him, for the ritualistic dip in the Cauvery river, cow in tow, are still fresh in my memory. I learnt many shlokas, some of which I still remember. But I never understood any of it and none of it helped me connect with God.

When I was 19, a Christian friend with whom I used to play cricket invited me to his house for prayer. If he had invited me to a pub, or party, I would have gone too. At his home, he and his sister prayed for me. It was a simple yet delightful conversation with God that lasted all of five minutes. I don't remember it verbatim, but they articulated a prayer of blessing on my life, future, career and family. It was a simple affair—no miracles, no angels visiting. All they did was utter a deep human cry out to the creator God and His only son Jesus Christ. When they said Amen, I felt in my heart a desire to follow Jesus. It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalize or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. That evening I did not change my religion, for in reality I had none. Hinduism was my identity, not my religion. It still is.

The Christianity I acquired that evening is not a religion. On the contrary, it is an intensely intimate relationship with Jesus. Over the past fifteen years, I have come to know this Jesus even closer. I know Him as the pure and sinless Son of a Holy God. And I know Him as a dear friend to whom I pray and talk to every day—about my career, my dreams, successes, failures, finances and even my sexuality.

If I read a good book, watch a good movie (Rock On is terrific, mate), or eat a good meal at a new restaurant, I would naturally tell my friends about it. In Jesus, I have discovered a truly amazing friend, guide, leader, savior and God. How can I not tell all my friends about Him? And if anyone does listen and he too comes to believe in Jesus, I am delighted. The world would call it a conversion; I call it a change of heart, like mine.

But I would never force anyone to listen to me, leave alone financially induce, coerce or con him into believing. That to me is pointless and against the very grain of my faith. But I do have a constitutional right to practice my faith and to preach it without deception, force or bribery. It pains to see such basic rights of mankind being cruelly violated every day in this great Hindu nation.
God bless India.
(Anand Mahadevan is the editor of Outlook Business.)

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20081027&fname=Conversions+%28F%29&sid=5

How Marvelous

Today as I was driving to work, I heard this old hymn over the radio. The words reminded be of a timeless truth that I so easily forget. So here it goes:

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

- Charles H. Gab­ri­el

Peace!

Son of my own

Another cool song I ran into.

RIDING THROUGH THE YARD UPON A PONY WITH WINGS
HE TELLS THE WIND WHEN TO BLOW, THE BIRDS WHEN TO SING
AND WHEN HE’S TUCKERED OUT HE CURLS UP HERE NEXT TO ME
HE IS THE PRINCE OF THE WORLD AND I’M THE KING

I COULD NEVER LOVE THE WORLD LIKE YOU DO LORD
I’VE SEEN HOW MUCH IT COST YOU AND I KNOW
I COULD NEVER LOVE THE WORLD LIKE YOU DO LORD
SINCE I’VE HAD A SON OF MY OWN

SUNLIGHT CROSSES TIME AND SPACE TO REST IN HIS HAIR
HE HAS A SMUDGE ON HIS CHEEK, WHY SHOULD HE CARE
AND ALL THE MEANEST DINOSAURS ARE TIED UP WITH STRING
HE TELLS THEM HE’S NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING

I COULD NEVER LOVE THE WORLD LIKE YOU DO LORD
I’VE SEEN HOW MUCH IT COST YOU AND I KNOW
I COULD NEVER LOVE THE WORLD LIKE YOU DO LORD
SINCE I’VE HAD A SON OF MY OWN

YES THE WORLD IS HURTING, AND CANNOT FIND PEACE
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE LOST AND IN NEED
BUT I’D LOCK HIM AWAY AND SAY YOU LET HIM BE
WELL THAT’S JUST WHAT I’D DO IF IT WERE ALL UP TO ME

SOMEDAY SOON HE’LL CHOOSE THE KIND OF LIFE HE WILL MAKE
HE’LL HAVE TO FOLLOW HIS HEART, AND I’LL NEED YOU THAT DAY
PROMISE ME YOU’LL TEACH ME HOW I’LL EVER LET GO
NOW THAT I HAVE A SON OF MY OWN, A SON OF MY OWN

I COULD NEVER LOVE THE WORLD LIKE YOU DO LORD
SINCE I’VE HAD A SON, YOU GAVE ME A SON
NOW I HAVE A SON OF MY OWN

- Ken Bottenfield

Peace!

Just Jewelry?

This is from today's ODB reading.

God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. —Galatians 6:14

Some Christians make it a habit to wear a cross. It may be on a necklace or a lapel pin. It may be worn thoughtlessly as a decoration or prayerfully to let people know of the wearer’s personal faith.

In April 2006, a Methodist church in the city of Dudley, England, found out that it would have to pay a fee to put a cross on its new building. Yes, a fee was required because under British law the cross is an advertisement. It proclaims to the world, whether on a person or a building, that the blood-stained cross of Calvary is our only hope of forgiveness and salvation.

Our Bible reading today tells us of the cross—the instrument of execution used on our Savior (Matt. 27:22-26). The crowd in anger shouted, “Let Him be crucified!” The cross is a sign of His death, and must not be taken lightly. This should cause us to examine what the cross means to us. Is it a witness to our eternal hope in the saving death of Jesus on Calvary?

While wearing the cross may be a challenging mark of discipleship, far more challenging is our Lord’s command that we “take up [our] cross daily” and learn what it means to follow in His footsteps (Luke 9:23). And that includes a willingness to practice costly discipleship. -- Vernon C. Grounds

“Take up thy cross and follow Me,”
I hear the blessed Savior call;
How can I make a lesser sacrifice
When Jesus gave His all? —Ackley

Because Jesus bore the cross for us, we should be willing to take it up for Him.

Peace!

Why did God create EVIL???

Ever been in a place when this smart person comes up to you and asks the question, "If there is a God, then why did HE create evil and suffering??". And if you have wondered like me why HE did, then here goes.

The early theologian St.Augustine quoted this:

1. God is the author of everything in the created universe.
2. Evil is not a thing or a substance; it is a privation or lack in things (blindness is lack of sight, pain is lack of health, hate or murder is lack of love).
3. Therefore God did not create evil. (James 1: 13-17)

God created you and me. And He gave us the free will to choose. And man chose evil. So evil is not God's creation, its just God's love for us, forsaken. Man does'nt necessarily have to hate his neighbour, carry a gun or fly a jet into a building to be branded as evil. He could be sitting inside a cave, miles away from civlization and still be evil. So, to end evil, God would have to destroy the cause of evil – man. God doesnt have to physically destroy us, but HE could just remove free will, the freedom we have to choose to love and to hate. But HE chose to give us an option to choose HIM instead of not. Be glad that our God is in control and not controlling.

So if somebody asks you the question, "Why did God create evil?" tell them the answer lies in the question "Why did God create me?"

- Peace

The Perfect Church

This was forwarded to me by a friend.

A man walked into a barber shop, sat down in the chair and said, “I want you to cut a huge chunk out of the back, and then hack the sides so that it looks like I had a fight with the lawnmower.” The barber looked shocked and said, “We can’t do that sir!” To which the customer replied, “Well you did last time.”

If a barber makes a mess of your hair, you don’t stop getting your hair trimmed. Instead, you look for a different barber. The same applies to finding a good church. Those who complain about the Church being filled with hypocrites should look around until they find one that doesn’t have any. But it’s been well-said that when you find the perfect church, don't join it because you will ruin it. Most don’t know that there is a difference between a church and the Church. A “church” is a building that fills up once or twice a week with church-goers (some of whom are hypocrites).

However, the true Church (known as the “Body of Christ”) is made up of people who love God, irrespective of where they fellowship or of their denomination. The Church is made up of genuine Christians (not pretenders). So make sure you are part of the Church (God knows who are His) if you want to enter Heaven and avoid Hell.

Peace

Do it Anyway!

Great words...

You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin'
One storm
can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe
it anyway


You can love someone with all your heart
For all the
right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyways

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you
believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea - sing it anyway

I sing
I dream
I love
OH Anyway

- Martina McBride

Never Been Unloved

Heard this song after a long time in church today! Amazing song! Hope you like it as well!

I have been unfaithful
I have been unworthy
I have been unrighteous
And I have been unmerciful

I have been unreachable
I have been unteachable
I have been unwilling
And I've been undesirable

And sometimes I have been unwise
I've been undone by what I'm unsure of
But because of you
And all that you went through
I know that I have never been unloved

I have been unbroken
I have been unmended
I have been uneasy
And I've been unapprochable

I've been unemotional
I've been unexceptional
I've been undecided
And I have been unqualified

Unaware - I have been unfair
I've been unfit for blessings from above
But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me
To show that I have never been unloved

Unaware - I have been unfair
I've been unfit for blessings from above
But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me
To show that I have never been unloved

It's because of you
And all that you went through
I know that I have never been unloved

- Michael .W Smith

Derailed Destiny!

We live in a day and age where technological and biological advances have far surpassed what the last generation could ever imagine. Man's dream to reach the unreachable doesn't sound far fetched these days. Smarter phones, faster cars, younger bodies...name it, we got it! Almost sounds perfect, doesn't it? But it is also a very scary age where man has so much power in his hands, but lacks the moral and ethical benchmarks that aid in the use of this power. Somewhere along the way man has lost the underpinning doctrine of where he comes from. We have conveniently overlooked the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a wise and loving creator. Humanity has raised to so much power, that killing babies in the womb and puling the plug on a person in coma is not only legal, but also inexpensive. We have lost the purpose for which we were created! Derailed Destiny!

I heard in church this week that one of the primary reasons for divorce these days is the "Lack of Passion". Man is so obsessed with "I" and "Me" that he has lost the passion to live life but rather exists for the next best thing to boast about. How sad? "Content" has become a very relative word. In our pursuit of a better lifestyle we have lost our identity and most of all our destiny. The Bible says,

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;

Yes sir! We are a fallen generation with a lost purpose and a Derailed Destiny! So what do we do? Is there hope at all? Of course there is! First, a solid understanding of the creation theology is necessary for thinking about moral issues today. We need to fully understand the extent of God's handiwork when he created mankind and the environment to support it. The Bible says that man was created in the image of God and to cultivate and keep the land given. (Genesis), but we have done a darn good job of demeaning ourselves and destroying that which God gave for us to keep and safeguard. So understand your Divine Dignity and Designed Duty!

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

And because our Father in heaven sent his only Son to die for us all, we have a "Derived Destiny".

For God so loved the world, that HE sent HIS only SON , that whoever believes in HIM will have an everlasting life.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

That's it! That is all we need to do, to resurrect our Derailed Destiny! Understand where you come from, your purpose here and where you are going! Think about it!!

Peace!

Swing Change?

In 2003 Tiger Woods left his instructor Butch Harmon and started to change his swing that got him many championships. While doing this the whole world was stunned as he started to slip. He lost his No:1 spot and his winless streak extended to 10 majors. It seemed like he had destroyed the masterpiece that was once his swing.

Why in the heck would he do that? How could the player who from 1999 to 2002 had produced arguably the greatest golf ever played want to change his swing?

In March 2004, he took on Hank Haney as an instructor and in 2005 he made a phenomenal comeback. He is better than ever now and is back to his No:1 and has been ever since. At the peak of his career, he decided to change his ways, went through hardships and embarassment only to come back even better!

It blew my mind and it still does! Often times, we get so satisfied with ourselves. We think we have made it. In ministry, at work, at play, in life. Unfortunately it is not so!! There is always room for improvement. Stopping and analyzing and improving, not only makes you better at it, but also divulges your humility and your willingnes to learn and be the best for Christ!

So STOP, maybe you need a Swing Change?

I Wish We'd All Been Ready

Existence!

So I watched this movie yesterday by Robert Redford "A River runs through it". It was adapted from a semi-autobiography by the same name written by Norman Maclean. Well I think it was a masterpiece, not because it revealed the picturesque mountains of Montana but because it is one of those movies which makes you imagine and reminisce at the same time. Well the movie talks about two brothers Paul and Norman Maclean who grew up in Missoula, Montana in the early 1900s. The choices they made in their lives is what made this movie very significant. Norman leaves home to study while Paul stays close to home. But when he comes back, he discovers his younger brother has gotten into a lot of trouble and debt. He pleads with him to go with him to Chicago, but he stays in Montana and is eventually killed by his enemies. Norman decided to venture into the unknown and to make his existence worth something, while Paul, scared to face the uncertainties of what lies ahead, wastes his precious life. Dr.Norman Maclean wrote many books, almost won the Pulitzer and died at the age of 87. He dared to tread into the dark tunnel and came out the other side discovering the world beyond.

Made me realize, it is easy to live a normal life, within our comfort zone, without twitching a muscle. But what makes our short existense in this world special is the risks we are willing to take. God has given us each the wisdom and the will to make choices. We can either decide to live it comfortably or we can take risks in life, achieve something and leave a legacy behind! It aint easy, but I am sure it is worth it!

Peace!

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

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!

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!

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!