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
Friday, November 14, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Date Night!
My son is now 16 months and 10 days old. Unbelievable! And it has been 16 months and 17 days since my wife and I went out on a date! So yesterday we decided to go out for dinner. We asked our neighbour's daughter to baby sit J, decided on a restaurant and were so excited like it was our first date. I was talking about the whole day. Then I got home, played with J a lil' bit and Tessa came @ around 6:45 PM. And soon we were on our way after giving her a few instructions. But guess what from the minute I left home I started talking about J. When D asked to shut up and stop worrying, I said ok, but that didnt stop me. Will he be ok? Did he eat? Maybe he is crying a lot! What if he hates us for the rest of his life? Boy it was driving me nuts. I was so sure Tessa is going to call any minute asking us to come back. But the call never came. And through all this my wife remained so calm. I was suprised and super jealous. So anywas we had great Thai food. The waitress was so that nice she gave us a free entree even though we did'nt have the coupon. Elated, we decided to go to target to get a Console table that D had her eye on for a year now. We found it and it was on sale and was almost $20 less. Wow! Amazing! Picked it up. Then we decided to go to the clothes store. Found the pair of shoes I was looking for for half the price. Man, everything was just perfect. Then we decided to go home a little early cos I couldnt take it anymore. Got home as fast as we could to find my sweet little son already asleep . And Tessa told that he was perfect. Apparently, it took her just a few minutes to put him to sleep, the task that takes us almost an hour each day. So everything was perfect. But guess who was upset now. The strong mommy who asked me to shut up earlier that evening when I was freaking out. She didnt expect him to be asleep already. Now she was upset that she had left him behind. But now that I was home, I could care less, I happily settled down on our couch with the remote in hand to watch history being made in world politics. Interesting eh? Anyways thats how our first date since J was born, went about.
Peace!
Peace!
New Day
First Black President of United States of America. Wow! I never thought I would say that. Somehow I had taken joy in watching Morgan Freeman playing president in many movies and settled to the fact that, thats as good as it gets. But today it has finally happened, a new day is here where a black man (ok semi black man) has taken over the reigns of the most powerful nation and possibly the world. It does make me proud to call myself an Indian-American. I see hope and future. If a man born to an immigrant Dad and a white mother, raised pretty much like anybody else, can reach the pinnacle of political greatness then anything is possible in the great nation. But, it does sadden me when I think of what he stands for. That's what scares me. I just hope & pray that the good Lord will give President-elect Obama the wisdom and knowledge to run this country efficiently. But today, we celebrate. May HIS will be done.Peace!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Endorsements
Today newspapers endorsed the presidential candidates. The Arizona Republic endorsed Sen.McCain. No suprises there, with Arizona being a red state and Sen.McCain's home ground. Chicago Tribune endorsed Sen.Obama, going democratic for the first time ever. And guess who the Anchorage Daily News from Alaska endorsed? Interestingly they endorsed the democratic ticket.
Peace!
Peace!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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
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
Weak Week!
Wow what a week it has been already! I have been dodging curveballs since Sunday. Beginning with the Cowboys' inexcusable loss to the Rams to the uncanny trip to the ER on Sunday night, to the terrifying event of my wife passing out in the hospital, to an old lady banging into my car and to the sleepless nights when Jay woke up every hour it has been quite a ride. It is amazing how much the human body gets used to things going fine and dandy. But suddenly, things go a little crazy and thats it! Your whole world seems to be falling apart. But you know what, thank God for crazy days, it makes you appreciate the not so crazy days even better! It's all good!
Peace!
Peace!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Welcome Roy!
Jerry Jones has done it again! His quest to win the Superbowl is now an obsession. And I am down with that! With Roy Williams joining TO, the franchise has become an offensive powerhouse. Not to mention Felix Jones, Patrick Crayton, Jason Witten & Miles Austin who have been excellent performers as well. So, now all we need is a healthy team to go all the way. And word is that Romo is considering playing this weekend. I think the excitement is getting to everybody. Oh well, no complaints there, as long as we win. I know defense wins games, but with an offense like this, dude, who cares?? GO BOYS!
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