Spiritual Dimensions

Spiritual Abandonment

2007-04-16T11:38:00.000-04:00

There have been a few times in my life when I have witnessed the time when a person was informed of the death of a loved one. The heart rending cry that shocks the day lights out of those standing around is quite upsetting. Psalm 22 was a very special Psalm of David as it was also used by Jesus as a lament as He hung on the cross. It may have been written while David was being pursued by Saul or one of the enemies of the Nation of Israel? Today it is considered by many as a prophetic messianic masterpiece by David. The Psalm sets the mood of Jesus as He hung on the cross. We walk through a sense being wrapped up in darkness as the psalmist goes through a path of intense torment and test. Does God allow us to suffer even when we trust in Him? Christ’s cry from the cross is also a reminder to us, that even when we go through trials and dilemmas it is alright to call out to God. It is acceptable to question God for why we are in that particular predicament or sunk so low.

The astounding parallel to David’s Psalm and Jesus’ trials in the gospels is certainly a prophetic revelation of God’s truth being fulfilled. David says in verse 7 of the Psalm 22 that all who look at him mock him. The soldiers stripped off Jesus’ clothes and put a scarlet robe on Him (Mathew 27:27-31). Then they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head and mocked him, screaming, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they beat Him and spat on Him. Further in Mathew 27:39 it says all those who passed by Jesus on the cross hurled insults at him and shook their heads in mockery.

David says in verse 8 of Psalm 22 that His persecutors mocked Him saying, “He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him.” This is precisely what some of the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”

David says in verse 16 of Psalm 22, “The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” It was a helplessness that David senses that prophetically Jesus felt as He was crucified on the cross (Mathew 27:35). David says in verse 18 of Psalm 22, “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” This is the scripture that Mathew quoted as he wrote, “They parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.(Mathew 27:35)”

There are many who would like to believe that when Jesus bore the sins of the world, His relationship with God that was formed way before the beginning of creation was severed or plunged into spiritual darkness. It was a point of crisis where Jesus was groping in darkness and was left with a sense of spiritual abandonment. It was not just spiritual darkness but also at noon to three o’ clock the whole land was plunged into darkness. It was then that Jesus screamed, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? If this is the way God willed Christ to die for us, God truly must have loved us greatly to allow this to happen to Christ. So also, Christ’s love for us is also greatly expressed by what he suffered on the cross for all of us.

Did Christ really think that God would abandon him (John 16:32)? Christ had warned his disciples of the impending betrayal and death. (Luke 18:31; cf. John 12:27). A change in the mood is seen from verse 22 onwards, where the Psalmist is comforted that God has heard his prayer. A prayer of thanks and praise for the experience of the presence of God. Rather than wallow in self pity He finds comfort in God’s presence that has never failed him in his time of need. A strong relationship on God is built not by being lost in the present situation but trusting in God’s past provision and hope in his abounding mercy and grace. This is a Psalm that calls us to live true to our calling with God. Whatever may be the trials we face God is asking us to endure the suffering and be strong in times of adversity. It is raising ones line of vision from present trial to the peace we have with God. It is finding comfort in the midst of tribulation.

Suffering Servant

2007-04-12T11:14:00.001-04:00

Today many of us Christians drive in cars, wear nice clothes, and live in beautiful homes. Yet Jesus our leader had no where to lay His head. The path that he chose was a path of simplicity and poverty. His 3 year ministry was nomadic and was probably a stranger to many in his early part of His ministry. He most likely did not have any worldly possessions, like a donkey or a horse. He almost certainly had only two or three sets of clothes and the sandals he wore. Isaiah says, "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” If He were to pass by us, would we recognize Him? Is there anyone alive today who can tell us what Jesus really looked like? Was it really important to us what He looked like? Probably because everybody grew beards, Judas had to be paid to identify Jesus after sundown.

We know more about the spiritual image of Jesus than his physical appearance. His spiritual beauty that was calm, peaceful, gentle, loving and compassionate was outstanding. Isaiah 7:14 says, “a virgin shall conceive a child and He shall be called Immanuel (God with us).” That is what Christ was a fulfillment of this oft repeated prophesy. God with us. Following the ascension of Christ, early Christians came to sense the joy of Christian living, by surrendering all they had to live in communities that loved and cared for each other. This living presence of Christ is still seen today in the life of those who surrender themselves to Him to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

When the movie Passion was being released many of us were fearful of going and seeing the movie because of the dehumanizing graphic violent scenes being portrayed on the screen. Did the director Mel Gibson exaggerate the suffering that Jesus went through? Was the focus more on the brutal violence or the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross? The beating that Jesus endured in the movie would probably have killed him even before He was nailed to the cross. Which is more important the suffering and death of Jesus or his new life and resurrection? Haven’t there been many innocent people who have endured brutal scourging and death before and after Jesus? What sets Jesus apart from the rest (Luke 22:19-20)?

When Jesus was led away from the whipping chambers, he was presumably bleeding and in great pain. The words of Isaiah prophesied with astounding precision, "He was so marred that it was hard to recognize Him (Isaiah 52:13- 53:9).” When Jesus repeated this prophesy before his crucifixion for the third time, the disciples did not understand what He meant (Luke 18:31-34). God greatly glorified Jesus for the suffering He endured on the cross. The way Jesus chose was not won by toppling the Roman rule on Israel, but through suffering, pain, torment, and death on the cross. What seemed like an eminent defeat was declared a victory when Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus suffered and died for us so that we may enjoy the riches of God’s Kingdom (1 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 9:22-28). God so loved the world that He sent Jesus so that we may be saved through Him and have everlasting life (John 3:16). It is like a family name, property, and traits which we inherit down through generations. We are identified by our family name. So also at the name of Jesus all of us have been invited to become a part of the family of God and have been given the gift of everlasting life. Isaiah 53:5 says with amazing precision about the reason for Jesus’ suffering, “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the punishment that brought our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Today we can affirm with all our fellow believers the words of Paul from Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Jesus: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Jesus lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Light of the World

2007-04-06T18:28:00.000-04:00

On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as King (John 12:12-19). The people hailed him as King and greeted him by waving palm branches. They had just witnessed the miraculous raising from the dead of Lazarus and were convinced that the scriptures had been fulfilled (John 11:38-43). This mighty miracle had persuaded them that Jesus had the power to redeem them from the oppression of the Roman rule. The Pharisees were flabbergasted and angrily mumbled that the whole world had gone after Jesus.

Some Greeks came to see Jesus following his ride into Jerusalem at the home of Philip (John 12:20-36). Their request was, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." How many of us have this deep desire in our hearts? What do you see in your heart and mind when you try to imagine what Jesus looks like? Do you see Him as a light to those walking in darkness?

Jesus spoke to them by saying that unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies it will be alone. But its death will produce many kernels of wheat. This parable beautifully illustrates Christ power over death. He showed us that he had to die for us all so that we maybe raised to life in Him. Jesus went on to say that, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor."

When Jesus prayed that God the Fathers name may be glorified, a voice thundered from heaven to the amazement of all saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." Jesus went on to prophesy about his death saying, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to me." Did they really understand that Christ was speaking of his death on the cross and his resurrection? Did they understand that Christ was prophesying about being the Savior of all the world?

They were confused and asked who Jesus was talking about because they believed that the Messiah would live forever and could not understand why Jesus was prophesying death. To which Jesus said, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." Are you walking in the light or in the darkness. Do you know where you are going? Jesus is calling you to serve Him and draw close to the Light of the World.

Gentle Servant

2007-04-04T10:04:00.000-04:00

When Christ healed the man with the deformed hand on Sabbath the Pharisee's were up in arms (Matthew 12:9-21). They cried out that the Jesus was a law breaker. He had done work on the Sabbath. The rules that the Pharisees so faithfully professed to follow, had overlooked the dire need of those sick and suffering. The law did not show grace to those who were deprived, deformed, hurting, hungry, or poor.

To their treacherous accusations Christ answered them with a small parable. If one of us had a sheep and it fell into a hole on Sabbath would we abandon it? We would definitely pull it out. So also Christ our Good Shepherd will never let go of our hands. He will gently lead us and guide us through our life journey. Just as He healed the deformed hand, He will restore our deformed lives.

This act of compassion enraged the Pharisee's so much that they wanted to kill Jesus. When Jesus came to know of their plans He just left that place; for the time had not come for Him to die. He also warned the people to not tell others who He was lest they follow after Him just to be healed, or to make Him their leader to revolt against the Roman Empire. Do we follow Christ to get ahead in this world or to build the Kingdom of God?

Lent is a time when we reflect on Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Just as Christ could heal the hand of a man that was deformed, so also has He promised that He will raise us up from the dead just as He raised Himself up from His grave by the power of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul in Romans 6:19-23 tried to make us understand our relationship with Christ by saying, that just as we used to offer ourselves to be servants of wickedness let us now offer our selves to Christ as servants of righteousness that leads to a holy and an eternal life. This is God's gift to us all, an eternal life in Christ. Christ was very gentle and kind to every body. He could easily have attacked the Pharisees with his divine powers. Yet He endured their mocking and deception and gently tried to make the whole world come to a new and strong relationship with the living God (Isaiah 42:1-9).

Divine Care

2006-12-30T19:14:00.000-05:00

Jesus said that God knows what we need. If we come to Him in prayer and ask for our needs, He will give accordingly just as parents give to their children (Matthew 7:7-12). Jesus said that the summary of the law is to do to others as we would like them to do unto us. We believe in a God who is trustworthy, good, and powerful. All things are ultimately ordered and governed by God towards a divine purpose and plan. Although God has given us free will, He works through our good or evil deeds to make us a part of His plan for His kingdom. We ground ourselves on a strong and firm foundation of faith.

When Mary told Joseph that she was carrying a child, he was flabbergasted. His natural instinct was to question whose child this was. Seeing Joseph’s dilemma God sent His angel in a dream (Matthew 1:20) to advise him to take Mary as his wife. The angel proclaimed that Mary was carrying the Messiah. If God had not intervened at that right time, Joseph may have abandoned Mary. She may have been stoned to death as required by the Jewish law for conceiving a child outside wedlock.

God prepared the entire nation for the coming of the Messiah. The prophets foretold it; the faithful were anxiously awaiting it. To a chosen few God sent His angels to proclaim the Good news. At the time that Christ was born, there was great joy in the hearts of those who understood the importance of the birth. It was the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God. Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 7:14) and said that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son, and He would be called “Immanuel”. Immanuel means God with us. Here we see God generously giving His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life (John 3:16). How many Christians believe in the virgin birth and resurrection of Christ?

God’s Son was born in a stable; the poorest and maybe even the dirtiest place was where the Christ child was born in absolute humility. God chose to reveal the Good news to poor shepherds who were awake with the flock at night when Christ was born. The poorest of the community of believers, often considered as out casts and unclean, came rejoicing to welcome and worship the Savior. Their presence and words of joy welcoming the Messiah must have filled Mary’s heart with great joy that God had sent these men to welcome her child. This was an affirmation that God cared so much.

Mary and Joseph lived at a time when Roman rule was heavily resting upon the Jews. Although Herod was their king, they were still overshadowed by the presence of Romans all over the kingdom. It was a difficult time in their history when they did not have any independence. Herod was quite a tyrannical ruler and levied a heavy burden of tax upon the people. Further when he heard that a King had been born in Bethlehem he was overcome with jealousy. He even tried to find out from the wise men where the child was (Matthew2:1-12). Although he feigned a desire to worship the child, he in actuality wanted to have Him killed. When he realized that the wise men had left without informing him where the child was, he decreed that all children below the age of two be put to death. Mary and Joseph were not only spiritually blessed by the visit of the wise men but also materially blessed with treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh. At the time of Christ’s birth there was not only great joy, but also great tragedy. Many Jews lost their babies and young children due to the birth of the Messiah.

Even during these dangerous times, God appeared before Joseph in a dream and told him to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23). Joseph takes his family to find refuge in the same country that the Israelites had fled thousands of years earlier. Here again God’s hand leads them from the dangers of the tyranny of Herod to safety. When Herod died God appeared again to Joseph and so he returned to Nazareth in Israel. God has also entrusted our children into our care, and we have a responsibility to love them, nourish them, and ensure that they are well prepared to face the world when they grow up. He will guide and help us, and has said that to those who ask He will generously give the Holy Spirit to be a source of comfort and strength to all through out our earthly lives.

Watching and Waiting

2006-12-14T22:28:00.000-05:00

There are many of us who have sensed a void in our hearts, especially during very frustrating and infuriating times in our lives. The dimensions of this emptiness, when we are left to wait all alone, are so wide and deep that they cannot be measured. It is a spiritual emptiness that nothing that this world has to offer can fill. Have you sensed fruitlessness, worthlessness, deprivation, abandonment or a void deep within you?

The Killer in the Amish settlement had crammed himself with much hatred and anger over the years. He responded with violence and murder. The path of violence results only in more violence. The only thing that darkness cannot oppose is light. The only thing that will overcome hatred and anger is love.The best way to deal with emptiness is to fill it with the presence of God and with activities that will draw us nearer to His presence. If we can recognize this emptiness as a longing or thirst for the Spirit of Christ, then we will no longer feel empty. As we pray, reflect, and study God’s word our emptiness is slowly filled with God’s presence. When we discipline ourselves to do so regularly we begin to sense a joy and love for life that we did not have before. If we invite the Spirit of Christ to dwell within us, we will find ourselves brimming with love, joy, patience, hope, and peace.

Zachariah and Elizabeth had prayed earnestly for many years for a child. They were both descendants of priestly families. They were considered to be righteous in the eyes of God, as they had been faithful and sincere in following every regulation of the Jewish law. Why they were not blessed with children is puzzling. For many years they had endured the pain and disgrace within the community of being childless and had reached the point of no hope of ever having a child. When Zachariah went to the temple to serve his two weeks in the temple, hardly did he realize that it was going to be a life-changing experience. As the faithful gathered and watched the incense smoke that he burned rise heavenward as a sign of their prayers going up toward God, an angel of the Lord appeared before Zachariah in the inner most sanctuary. Zachariah was dumbstruck with an angelic vision of the good news that his wife Elizabeth would bear him a child.

In what had seemed like an unfavorable situation, God rewarded them with a child who was declared by Christ to be the greatest man born of a woman on earth (Luke 7:28). What the angel said brought great joy and cheer to hearts that had been waiting patiently. John was described as being filled with the Holy Spirit, with spiritual powers comparable to Elijah. He would herald the coming of the Messiah. Zachariah must have greatly rejoiced for he, as a faithful Jew, had also prayed for the coming of the Messiah. When Zachariah asked the angel for a sign, the angel said he would not be able to speak until the baby was born. Was Zachariah’s silence the sign that heralded the birth of his child? When Elizabeth delivered the baby, she rejoiced and said that God had shown them great favor and taken the disgrace she endured away from her. Their patient wait had led Elizabeth and Zachariah to receive one of the greatest honors in Christian history.

King David was anointed as King by Samuel when he was but a young boy. However he had to wait for many years before he became King. Davids psalms of prayer and praise have been a blessing to the faithful during their long period of waiting (Psalm 40, Psalm 23). He even had to endure the persecution from King Saul who tried many times to kill him. Patience is the ability to endure all kinds of hardships and monotonous situations until we are able to realize God’s purpose for our lives. The author of Ecclesiastes says there is a time and purpose for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). We must accept the reality of the situation that just as it takes times to grow physically; it takes time to grow spiritually.

It is the hard and trying times in our lives that truly test what we are made off. It is these times that shape and mold us into responsible and experienced people. The bottom line is that we should not get annoyed or disappointed. Christ said that if we are patient we will gain our lives (Luke 21:19). What do we hope for? What do we love? What do we have faith in? What is it that occupies our thoughts? Where does our heart lie? St. Paul (1 Timothy 6:6-12) says in his letter to Timothy that we should not get snared by senseless and harmful desires that will destroy us. He encourages us to pursue righteousness, faith, love, patience and gentleness. It is when we fight the good fight of faith that we win the race of life. Paul says that if we emulate the attitude of Christ toward each other, then God will give us the patience and encouragement we need to live in harmony with each other (Romans 15:5-6).

To invite the Holy Spirit into our lives is likened to springs of living water that well up within us with a new burst of life. To those living in darkness it is light, to those who are lost it is to be found, to those who are poor it is to be rich, and to those who are sick to be well. He quenches our thirst and feeds our hunger to do God’s will. He changes and transforms us to be more like Christ. Christ said that we should surrender all our worries and anxieties into the hands of God. It is only when the Holy Spirit comes and fills up, and cleanses all the dark crevices in our lives that we begin to lose that empty feeling. In Christ we find forgiveness for our past blunders and mistakes (Colossians 1:9-14). He gives us a new vision of what He wants us to be. If we watch and wait, God will reveal His plan and purpose for our lives. Christ offers us a new life in Him (Matthew 16:24-26). As the popular hymn goes, near the cross I will watch and wait, hoping trusting ever, till I reach the golden strand, just beyond the river.

Outstretched Arms

2006-12-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

Over the Thanksgiving weekend we had the opportunity to visit an Amish settlement. The first signs of our proximity to the Amish settlements were the traffic signs on the highways warning us to drive carefully because there may be horse buggies on the road. As the Amish do not drive motorized cars, even the local Walmart has a separate parking area for horse buggies. While asking for directions to the Amish settlements I was told by one of the girls in one of the local country inns that we were not to take any photographs of the Amish. The Amish do not take photographs of themselves as they are convinced that a photograph is the image of a man or women that may be idolized by them or others (Deuteronomy 4:15-31). The men have long beards, unusual hairstyles, and specially prescribed clothing. The women cover their heads with white prayer caps at all times. The Amish have only an eighth grade education and then go into farming or find a craft that can earn them a living serving the community. We visited a cheese factory where the cashier and the some of the staff were Amish. Later we visited a furniture store, run by the Amish, that had beautiful furniture and fittings (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). There were many references to Christ carved into their furniture and fixtures. For lunch, we ate at a restaurant and were served by an Amish lady. The countryside was full of lush green meadows and farmlands. The Amish through dedication, prudence, and perseverance, have excelled in the age old profession of farming. Their farmlands are some of the best, most productive, and highly priced in the country.

They value simplicity and self denial over comfort, convenience, and leisure. Their way of life deliberately separates them from the world, yet they maintain self sufficient lives. St. Paul says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate (1 Corinthians 6:14-18).” Can they work for a boss who does not have the same values as they do? What does the Christian do when a person of another faith gets one of their own priests to bless the business in the name of another god?

When tragedy struck the Amish settlement in Pennsylvania their response was quick and effective. They forgave the man who shot six of their children, and embraced his wife and children in their time of sorrow and tragedy. Moments before the killer committed these heinous crimes, he spoke extremely apologetically to his wife and said that he was overcome with hatred and anger toward God and mankind. The memories of a still born baby girl, and some deeds done through incest in his younger days, haunted him greatly throughout the last years of his life. The emptiness inside of him was so unbearable that he felt forced to commit these crimes. What makes a man so angry with life and toward God that he is driven to murder innocent children in broad daylight?

The Amish are a community of people who live humble lives of peace, order, and tranquility. Their faith and family are their cherished possessions. Their communities are so peaceful that they do not have police stations in their neighborhoods. Their faith lays great emphasis on practice of their beliefs. They clearly said that in a crisis like the one described above, they will not resort to violence. The Amish community live in fear of God’s judgment and wrath, for Jesus said, “That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (Fool), shall be in danger of the council (court): but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5:22).”

What they hope is that the world at large will have a glimpse of the love of Christ in their peaceful and loving response. It is said that for the funeral of the killer there were more Amish than civilians. The families of the girls that were murdered invited the widow of the killer for their own children’s funeral. The money that was given for the assistance of the Amish families was shared with the widow of the killer. The Amish did not appear on television condemning anyone. The schoolroom that was the site of the murder was razed to the ground and a field has been set in its place.

Through their actions of forgiveness and reconciliation the Amish made peace with the killer, his family, the community, and the world at large. Their Christian witness stands out in a time when there is so much of unrest all over the world. The Amish look to the life (Philippians 2:5-8) and witness of their only advocate between God and humans, who is none other than Jesus (1 Timothy. 2:5, 1 John 2:1). By remembering the forgiveness that was so generously given to them at the cross, they were able to preserve their peace with God and the world at large. Although not quite understanding why the innocent had to die, they follow the gospel message of Christ to the world leaving the judgment in God’s hands (Deuteronomy 29:29). Here we see hearts full of love toward God and their fellow beings. The Amish strongly believe that they should embrace their enemies with outstretched arms of love. (Matthew 5:44).

The People’s New Testament Commentary describes the language of salvation in three dimensions (Romans 5:1-10). The first dimension is the past where we see Christ’s death and resurrection on the cross. The second dimension is the present where we experience this forgiveness and reconciliation to God through Christ. The third dimension is the future when we will all be saved through Christ from the wrath of God. The killer of the Amish children felt alienated from God. He was living in hostility toward God. He had no peace in his life. The Amish follow the path of reconciliation through suffering as shown by Christ, where they are able to preserve their state of Shalom (Colossians 1:20).

Paul goes on to say that life does not make any distinction between sinner and saint. We all have to learn to face our share of stress and adversities in life. He exhorts us to remember that Christ died for us even while we were in our state of sinfulness. He shows us that the purpose for our lives is to find this peace and joy that has been so freely given to us by the grace of God in Christ. If the Amish had stressed on their own emotions then they would have exalted their own selves and not Christ (Exodus 20:4). The Amish revealed the image of Christ in their lives by showing compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.

This ministry of reconciliation has been given to all of us as Christians to go out into the world and be reconciled with God and humans (2 Corinthians 5:18). To a chosen few are given the way of the cross through great suffering and hardships (Ephesians 2:16).

Turning Away

2006-11-03T23:50:00.000-05:00

Today, countries and their leaders are living under the constant threat of a nuclear war. The greatest fear is that some terrorist faction will get hold of nuclear weapons. The tragedy is that if and when they do, they can use it as a bargaining tool. Nuclear power was a status symbol for the super powers in the sixties. Those were the days when there were a few countries that were safe from threat. Now this power has flowed into the hands of even developing countries like China, India, and Pakistan, and the scenarios have changed. When countries realize that they face a nuclear threat from one of their enemy nations they decide they too need to acquire nuclear weapons so that they will not be held to ransom. The only way out today to prevent a nuclear war is if countries can live in peace with one another. Countries should live as open societies so that they do not inflict harm on each other. The extent of the enmity between nations has boiled down to the possible destruction of the entire world or a large part of its resources. There is a close correlation to the end of the world and a nuclear war. There is not going to be much of a warning, only the signs as we see them now. Is it not time that countries stop making threats and wars, and find amicable solutions so we can avoid the possible destruction of a large part of human civilization. Why does there have to be so much of violence and hatred?

Greed, anger, lust, obsession, hatred, envy, and covetousness will eventually turn our hearts away from God. These same emotions can drive us to war, murder, rape, conspiracy, and other acts of violence. Eventually we find ourselves estranged from God and people. The root cause for terrorism according to some is deprivation of rights of one faction of people. The only way to address these issues is to compensate those who have been deprived in some way. When Mahatma Gandhi fought for freedom, he was very firm that he would achieve his goals through non-violence. Spurred by Gandhi’s example Martin Luther King Jr. also fought for equal rights for African-Americans through non-violence. Can declaring war on a faceless enemy bring about peace? Causes for the terrorist’s acts must be clearly identified and justice must be speedily brought about.

When Saul turned away from God’s commandments he lost favor with God and the prophet Samuel. David was anointed King while he was still a shepherd boy. When he ascended the throne of Israel, he started well as a king; his humility, courage, psalms, and loyalty were touching. David was described by Samuel as a man after God’s own heart. But in time pride, power, and prominence slowly crept into the heart of David. There are many lessons to be learned from these stories of strife and discord in the life of the family of David. He married many women and worse, overcome with lust David murdered one of his own men, who served in his army, in order to marry the wife. His reckless lifestyle caused much turbulence in his household. He had so many children that they started to fight amongst themselves. One of his own sons, Amnon, raped his half-sister Tamar. David did not bring Amnon to justice, thus angering his other son, Absalom. This in turn led to conspiracy and murder; Absalom, Tamar’s brother (II Samuel 13-19) murdered Amnon for his scandalous act. Why did David have so much trouble disciplining his own children?

Absalom slowly won the people over with his good looks, opulent lifestyle, keen interest in social justice, and effusive personality. His charisma was so overpowering that he stole the hearts of many of the people of Israel (II Samuel 15:1-6). Why did David allow Absalom to openly flaunt his lifestyle and campaign against David without reprimanding him? With the David’s permission Absalom went to Hebron to perform a religious ceremony to God, for bringing him back to Jerusalem after his exile for murder (II Samuel 15: 7-12). While he was performing this ritual he secretly sent messages to stir up a rebellion against his own father, David. David on the other hand truly believed that his own son would do him no harm, and gave him a lot of freedom. Nonetheless Absalom deceived David and tried to gain control over the throne. Did not his righteous behavior deceive David into thinking that his son was a God fearing person? Have you seen through the deceit of some of the religious and political leaders who cause more strife than peace? How many of us evaluate the real goals of our leaders? Are we so overcome by their charisma that we do not look any further than what we see on the outside?

David, who was leading a sedentary life, was forced to take charge of his army again. His lifestyle of deceit and immorality had overcome him and he could no longer function ably. Confronted with a conspiracy to kill him, he was forced to defend himself and all those who supported him. Joab was appointed as one of David’s generals to fight against Absalom. Joab was also a cousin of Absalom and a nephew of David. Joab and the other generals were expressly told to not harm Absalom. Although the others feared David’s command, Joab killed Absalom when he found him helplessly dangling from a tree. Here we see a man who set his own standards and did what he thought was right. This again is a dangerous position to be in. Being ingenious and having a fine expertise to win battles, without the proper direction from one’s superiors and advisors could have disastrous results.

Then we see an excessive show of emotion from David. He cried his heart out and made all those around feel terrible about their victory and guilty for something they felt they had done wrong. Often an obsessive love for one’s children causes us to ignore their insolent and defiant behavior. Nevertheless David comes to his senses when Joab, brought home to him the reality of the situation they were in.

We see that even among David’s own family members there was so much violence and hatred. Even though David was greatly blessed by God, he turned away from God after a while. He pursued his own evil desires and became embroiled in controversy, conspiracy, and murder. Yet the greatest credit can be given to this great king. When he was confronted by Nathan, a prophet, for his sin with Bathsheba he opened his eyes and had the humility to repent. Forgiveness from God filled him with great delight, but for the rest of his life he had to live with the cost of his transgressions. Is the grace we seek from God costly or cheap? It is this that God is searching for in our hearts – a willingness to repent and return to God. Do we learn from our blunders? It was this quality in David that gave him the honor of being the one after God’s heart (Acts 13:22). Do we follow God with only our words or are our hearts loyal to Him (Psalm 78:36-37)? It is from the royal family line of David that God brought Jesus the Messiah into the world.

Jesus referred to this in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24). When the prodigal son returned home and repented, he said to his Father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” The father immediately called for a grand feast, making merry, and reinstating the position of the prodigal son. He said, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” The father and son relationship was restored. We see God as a loving father who reaches out and restores sinners immaterial of what their sins may have been. The father embraces the son in his state of nothingness, worthlessness, and emptiness and fills him with love, joy, and peace.

Flame of Faith

2006-10-18T07:27:00.000-04:00

One of the joys of family gatherings is the recollection of old memories of growing together, sharing intimacy, learning new experiences, enduring hardships, and reliving our achievements. These occasions are important for families to meet and to honor one another, and their customs and traditions. From outdoor barbeques to indoor banquets, birthday parties to graduations, baptisms to marriages, we enjoy food, wine, games, music, and dance as we celebrate. The strangest thing is that this is how people have celebrated special occasions from time immemorial. This is what brings about continuity in family and values. Is it possible to continue these customs and celebrations in today’s world of nuclear families? Is it possible to connect our faith with these celebrations of life’s experiences in an era that seems to function less and less on faith? Wise parents plan for the future of their families’ spiritual nurturing.

Abraham took his faith in God very seriously. When Sarah died he realized that it was time to arrange the marriage of his son, Isaac. Abraham was convinced that he did not want his son to marry a local Canaanite girl. He entrusted the task, of finding a suitable wife from his homeland in Mesopotamia, to his most reliable and the oldest man in charge of his household, Eliezer. Do you have a friend who will stay closer to you than your own kith and kin? Eliezer had lived his entire life with Abraham and had seen his blessed relationship with Sarah through its peaks and valleys. He was one of Abraham’s most faithful and trustworthy servants.

Abraham wanted Isaac to have a married life similar to the one he and Sarah had enjoyed for more than a hundred years. He wanted to ensure that his son would preserve the same faith and traditions that he and Sarah had lived by all their lives. He was sure that a woman from his native land would ensure that Isaac lived according to the faith of his forefathers. It is no surprise that when Moses instructed the Israelites on living a devout life, one crucial instruction was the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). This was later ratified by Jesus who said that to love God and one’s fellow beings are the two greatest commandments (Mathew 22:37-39).

Abraham was confident that the same God who had blessed him with a child would provide a wife for his son. “Jehovah Jireh - God will provide “ was the name that Abraham gave to the mountain that he had taken Isaac to be sacrificed. Abraham was absolutely sure that with God as his guide, Eliezer would accomplish the search for a bride. Eliezer’s prayer to God was, “Help me accomplish the purpose of my journey. (Genesis 24:12)” Have you ever prayed a prayer that went like that? Where better to look for a wife than near the watering well, where the herds of animals come to quench their thirst? Isaac being the wealthy owner of many cattle would certainly need a wife who could manage and understand cattle rearing.

What Eliezer was searching for was not external beauty, but an inner beauty that would tide Isaac through his valleys. Eliezer subjected the young woman to a test on hospitality and prayed that God would lead him to the right woman. Scarcely had he finished praying than a very beautiful girl offered to draw water for him and all his camels to drink. Unable to believe that his search was coming quickly to its end, he asked her who her father was. When he realized Rebekah was an unmarried granddaughter of Abraham’s brother, he knew that she was the one. His first response was to thank and praise God for answering his prayer. Do you remember to thank God when He answers your prayers? Later, when Eliezer asked her if she would go with him immediately, she showed the same faith that Abraham did when God called him to move away from his native place, and willingly agreed saying, “Yes, I will go.” Eliezer’s journey ended well with Isaac falling in love with Rebekah and finding comfort in her after his mother’s death.

Spiritual leadership in a family always plays a key role. Often strong traditional families have matriarchs and patriarchs who hold them together. They are the ones who bring stability and structure to the families. Over time, sometimes tragically, the relationships of the family changes, with death, disease, dissent, distinction, distrust, disapproval, disgust, divorce, division of will, disinheritance, disaster, displacement, or debilitation. These are times when younger generations or others in the family should step in and try to bring order back into the family. When Sarah died, Abraham was too old to travel to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac. Eliezer stepped up to set out on the mission.

When old traditions are not learned and remembered they are lost over time. Families stay together when there are clear lines of communication between the members. When spiritual leaders and parents speak to children often of the need to stay together and meet at family gatherings, over time these become part of the family heritage. Who knows? Tomorrow may be your turn to take care of your sick parent because of Parkinsonism, heart attack, cancer, or stroke. What they teach us today by way of example always comes handy as we grow older. It is those memories when remembered that bring life back into their aged bodies.

Growing up in Christian families our parents expect us to marry Christian spouses from our community. Our parents hope that in time we will adopt the faith and traditions that they have followed, to ensure that from generation to generation we will be blessed by the presence of God in our lives. Do you recall any early encounters with your parents while they nurtured you in your faith? Some common ways in which families live faithful lives are by being part of a church or Sunday school, reading the Bible together, family prayers, singing hymns and songs of praise, and above all creating an environment of love in their homes. With the families spreading out all over the world there are so many new practices and celebrations that come into the family’s life. The need to integrate the past with celebrations of the present becomes crucial for the preservation of familial bonds.

If our children grow up in an environment where bad tempers, impatience, sulking, childishness, fault finding, grumbling, and ill nature are the norm, it is very easy for us to find ourselves swamped with similar behavior from them. Is your children’s only source of entertainment from some electronic media or do you spend time together as a family? Who are their role models? If we teach them to respect God and one another, and to care for one another’s needs, we can make them a source of blessing for many. What in the old days was called austerity, chastity, and prudence are now called self-discipline, self restraint, and self-control. Are these not some of the disciplines that we must teach our children to live by? If children are not raised by God fearing parents, it is less likely that they will desire a relationship with the Lord. Do you inculcate in them a desire for the fruit or gifts of the spirit? Or do they only crave for new age electronic games, movies, or music? When we raise our children to have faith, surety, respect, and responsibility toward God and humans, we help them develop strong characters. When we shape them to lead disciplined lives, we form them into lighthouses that others can see and aspire to be.

Our lives are like candles with a flame burning at the end of it. One day we will all burn out. Yet our flame lives on if we have other candles to burn for us when we are gone. Such is our faith in God. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows after me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).” The passing on of the flame of faith from generation to generation unites us with God, our spiritual ancestors, our earthly ancestors, and all the others who become a part of our family over the centuries. St. John says, “And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:5).” We live in hope of one day being together in Christ who is the eternal light, who said, “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2).”

Whale to Swallow

2006-10-11T18:14:00.000-04:00

As the story goes, a pastor was on a ship from Chicago to London when they ran into some very severe turbulence. As it got worse, the passengers became more and more alarmed, and even the ship attendants began to look concerned. Finally, one of them noticed that the man of God had 'Rev.' in front of his name on the passenger list, came over to him, and said, “Sir, this is really frightening. Do you suppose you could, I don't know...do something religious?” So he took up a collection.

Do you know what to do when faced with a difficult situation? Do you see the streams of living water rushing through the lives of all classes and creeds of people as they live their lives as an expression of their faith in God? Sometimes we see our world becoming more violent and sometimes we see it at peace. But we all hope to see the day when we can live calm and content lives united in Christ.

Jonah was a prophet who lived during the time of King Amaziah (2 Kings 14:23-25). There are some today who doubt whether Jonah ever existed. His story seems to be very farfetched since it is difficult to imagine a person surviving in the stomach of a large fish. Was Jonah a coward? Was he really afraid to give the message to the people of Ninevah or was he just appalled that he had to give the message to one of his enemies?

Jonah was placed in a very difficult situation, one that would not have brought him any comfort or pleasure. The more he thought about himself, the less he wanted to do what God was calling him to do. When our focus shifts from what God wants us to do to what we want, or what our neighbor has, we get agitated and start to grumble or feel sorry for ourselves.

When Jonah turned away from what God wanted him to do, he found himself in a ship in turbulent waters. Ordinarily men of God are calm and content in these situations. However, Jonah was burdened with the guilt of having moved away from God. He admitted his guilt to his shipmates and asked to be thrown overboard. When he found himself in the stomach of a big fish, he began to desire the presence of God. His prayers were to seek and know God’s will. He prayed for forgiveness. God in His abundant mercy forgave Jonah and set him back on his mission to Ninevah. Do you do the same when faced with a situation that you lack wisdom or understanding for? Do you see God as your heavenly father? Do you confess your trespasses to God and to those you have wronged?

Jonah 3:4 & 5 Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “In Forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!” So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Here we see God as one who loves both Jews and Gentiles, so much so that He asks Jonah to spread the message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. The fact is that if they repent God would forgive them. How many of us really pray for our enemies to be blessed or forgiven? How many of us readily confess our transgressions when we realize we have done something wrong? How many of us are ready to listen to God when He asks us to do something?

God said, "What's this? How is it that you can change your feelings from pleasure to anger overnight about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You neither planted nor watered it. It grew up one night and died the next night. So, why can't I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike people who don't yet know right from wrong (living in spiritual darkness), to say nothing of all the innocent animals? (Jonah 4:10-11) "

We see God in a new light when He questions Jonah as to why He cannot delight in and take pleasure in the people of Ninevah. Scarcely had Jonah been rescued from the perilous sea, and successfully accomplished his mission, than he began to grumble and protest. Like the elder son of the prodigal son’s father, he was unhappy that God so easily forgave the people of Ninevah (Luke 15:11-31). Did Jesus not say,” I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”(Luke 5:32)

Does God have to prove his powers through miraculous signs to us humans? Did the Jews look upon Christ as a sorcerer or wizard? We see Christ as a loving and caring God, yet there were times in the life of Christ when he was harsh with his critics (Mathew 12:38-41).When some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you", He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” The sign that Christ was speaking about was that just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of a fish, so will Christ be buried in the heart of the earth for three days. He went on to say that even the people of Nineveh, who were lived in spiritual darkness, would stand up on judgment day and condemn those who do not repent when the gospel message is preached to them.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15: 14 & 19, that if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people. This is our hope, that in Christ we inherit eternal life. Believers know that Christ is the resurrection and the life. For 2000 years Christians have followed in the way set for us by Christ. Just like Jonah preached to the Gentiles, we also have been invited to God’s table to share the joys of our new lives in Him. May Christ be our resurrection and life.

Oaks of Mamre

2006-10-06T09:33:00.000-04:00

The Bible takes us to probably a hot sunny afternoon in the life of Abraham when, as he was probably relaxing under the shades of the Oaks of Mamre, he sighted three weary travelers walking towards him. Being a man of faith he sensed God speaking to him through these three strangers. He showed the depth of his love through his hospitality to the strangers. Abraham washed the feet of the feet of the strangers, just like Christ did to the disciples before the last supper 2000 years later. Does Abraham’s hospitality later become a benchmark for the faithful to follow in his footsteps (Hebrews 13:2)? Did Abraham know that the strangers were angels? Or was it on later reflection that he realized that he had unwittingly entertained angels? Yet deep down in his heart was this longing to care for the strangers. Was it because he himself had been a stranger in many places and been recipient to the hospitality of kind souls? Or did the inhospitality of people like those in Sodom and Gomorrah generate in him a need to be kind and loving to strangers?

What did St. Paul mean when he said, Abraham is the father of us all (Romans 4:13-16)? God promised Abraham that he would be a blessing to all the nations (Genesis 12:2-3). Abraham’s righteousness was described as being based on his faith and not on the law. For the law only brings forth the wrath of God, while where there is faith there is no transgression. Thus to all who have faith in the God of Abraham the grace of God has been abundantly provided. God called Abraham even before he circumcised himself and his household. Rituals and ceremonies did not have precedence over his faith. They were just outward signs of his inward commitment. God looks at the heart of a person – is it the heart that longs to be close to the Lord and do His will?

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said that the Priest and the Levite, both men of God, passed the wounded traveler by. However, the Samaritan’s hospitality was commended, because he showed mercy toward the wounded traveler. Samaritans were considered to be enemies of the Jews, yet it was a Samaritan who tended to the wounds and paid for the lodging and care of the injured traveler (Luke 10: 29 – 37). Jesus said that it is on such as these that the favor of God is said to rest. There is a close correlation between the actions of the Samaritan and Abraham. They both acted expecting nothing in return. They acted although the people involved were strangers. It does not matter whether it was 4000 years ago or 2000 years ago or today, there are always people who are in need. We as Christians are called to do what we can to ease their burdens and provide for their needs.

Whatever the emotions may have been that were touching Abraham’s heart, he clearly saw God speaking to him through these strangers. Abraham was greatly blessed for his kind hospitality. The prophecy of the birth of a child was received with mixed emotions. These were the very words of assurance Abraham had been waiting for. Sarah laughed but denied it when questioned about her reason for doing so. Sarah’s denial was received disapprovingly. Fear of discovery has caused countless people to lie. Sarah too, human as she was, lied. Abraham on the other hand, was truthful about the reason for his laughter. For Abraham this was an affirmation of the promise given to him by God earlier in Genesis 17:7, following which he had circumcised all the males in his household including himself and Ishmael. So in his own spiritual realm he felt it was God that was speaking to him through these very strangers. Even though Abraham may have had his doubts (Genesis 17:17) about the promise of a son, he continued to obey God by doing exactly what was asked of him (Genesis 17). Have you found yourself laughing incredulously when you are led by God to do certain acts of faith? This faithful commitment to God made him one of the leading men of righteousness (Romans 4:3).

Abraham and Sarah had no children until the ripe old age of almost 100 years and there was very little likelihood of them bearing a child. Yet they stand under the Oaks of Mamre like shinning examples of strength and endurance. They were like Oak trees thriving in the house of God. Their trust was completely in the unfailing love of God forever and ever. We have to realize that God does not place a trial or difficulty that he thinks we cannot handle ourselves. We have to wait for God's mercy and time when He will fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives. The omnipotent power of God is revealed in the question that is posed to Abraham, “Is anything too hard for God?” (Genesis 18:14) This has been the basis for the faith of many who face impossible situations.

Who were the strangers? Were they angels? Was Christ one of them (Mathew 25:35-36)? The ability to hear the still small voice of God speaking separates us from the rest of the world. If we listen to God and His word, we can do that which is impossible in the eyes of humans, as all things are possible with God. However, like Sarah, if we doubt, we may never see God’s plan and purpose fulfilled in our lives. Jesus said "Everything is possible for him who believes. (Mark 9:23)"

Christ in the Stranger's Guise

A Scottish Hospitality Prayer

I met a stranger yest're'een;
I put food in the eating place,
Drink in the drinking place,
Music in the listening place;
And, in the sacred name of the Triune,
He blessed myself and my house.
My cattle and my dear ones,

And the lark said in her song,
Often, often, often,
Goes the Christ in the stanger's guise;
Often, often, often,
Goes the Christ in the stranger's guise.

Tree of Knowledge

2006-09-27T22:49:00.001-04:00

There are many myths surrounding the creation of humans. One such myth is about the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. A common misconception is that the forbidden fruit given to Eve by the serpent was an apple. It is more likely that the fruit was from the family of the pomegranates. After Eve gave a piece of the fruit to Adam, she changed her mind and tried to stop him from eating it. A piece of the apple got stuck in his throat. The prominent ‘Adam’s apple’ on some men remains as a reminder to many of the story of how Eve prevented Adam from eating the forbidden fruit. This is not a biblical story by any accounts, and is certainly the figment of the imagination of one of our forefathers. There is a medieval Christian legend that says that the Tree of Knowledge was the source of wood for the True Cross

According to the Bible in the story on creation, God gave clear instructions that Adam and Eve were not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. God’s intention was for them to live forever in the garden. Eating from the Tree of Life would have brought them immortality (Genesis 3:22). It is no surprise that all through history man has desired and searched for ways to be immortal. How many of us have wished Adam and Eve had not disobeyed God? This disastrous failure eventually resulted in God having to send us a Redeemer. What humankind lost in Adam did we not regain in Christ, the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45)? Does not Revelation promise that to those who are victorious in Christ will eat of the Tree of Life in Paradise (Revelation 2:7)?

God told Adam and Eve that if they ate of the Tree of Knowledge they would die (Genesis 2:16–17). Was that not clear enough for them? The Tree of Knowledge can also be expanded to mean Knowledge of good and evil. Why did God say that this Tree of Knowledge is forbidden for Adam and Eve to eat? Why didn’t God tell Adam and Eve that Satan would try to tempt them to eat the fruit and that they should resist? Yet Adam probably watched Eve as she was tempted to eat the fruit and then he himself ate it, hoping that he would gain the wisdom that God had (Genesis 3:6). Can we blame only Eve for succumbing to the temptation when Adam was by her side and also ate when it was offered to him? The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). Is it not ironic that Adam's first words to God expressed fear, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid...so I hid." Do you really think we can hide from God?

Why did Adam and Eve show no fear of God and eat the fruit? What made Adam blame Eve for eating the fruit, by saying to God, "The woman you put here in the garden with me was the one who gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.(Genesis 3:12)" Is it not our own selfish pride that makes us blame all our problems on one another? When God questioned Eve she said, "The serpent deceived me, and so I ate the fruit." Did God excuse them because of the serpent's deception? St. Paul says knowledge makes us puff up and feel important, but it is only love that will help build the community (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Today, what distinguishes us from the rest of God’s creation? It is the collected knowledge that we have gained and stored from the beginning of time. Our knowledge of the good and evil that people are capable of has grown over the centuries and expanded. Further, it is our ability to link our lives with those of our ancestors for many, many, generations. Through the ancestral tree of our forebears, we see the expanding Tree of Life. We see the lives of ancestors and how they have responded to serve God or people as the case may be. The breath of God that brought life to Adam should spur us on to learn more about Him, His ways, and His plans for us each day. The wisdom of God is described as a Tree of Life to those who embrace and hold fast to her(Proverbs 3:18).

Why is it that in the abundance of the things to eat and enjoy in the garden, Adam and Eve were drawn to the one deed they were specifically told not to do? By eating the fruit of the Tree, Adam and Eve chose to replace their own knowledge of good and evil for God's. Do we have the freedom to do whatever we want? We all have physical and spiritual limitations. We face temptations in differing degrees. However, temptation becomes a trespass only when we commit to the evil deed. Doubt, obstacles, distractions, and loss are tools used by the devil to instigate us to succumb to temptations. We must always be vigilant of the devil’s attempts to lead us to shame and disgrace. We are all broken people, and have erred in so many ways and gone astray (Romans 3:23). Christ was victorious although He was tempted in the desert (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1). Adam and Eve led carefree and bountiful lives in the Garden of Eden, yet they were disobedient and fell to temptation. On the other hand, Christ was obedient even when He was tortured and hung to die on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Thus our immortality is in Christ alone and not within us. Adam gave mortal life to all his descendents, but in Christ we inherit eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Pride of Babel

2006-09-22T11:17:00.000-04:00

We live in a time when many of us try to project our pride in our community in various forms. We have Euro pride, White pride, Black pride, Asian pride, and so on. The efforts of some of these organizations to promote the well being of the downtrodden should not be ignored. They work in creative ways that promote learning, give voice to others, and are empowering. They ensure that people can overcome or challenge existing power structures that shackle them to poverty and injustice. This is one of the redeeming aspects of the gospel message that Jesus spoke of; to set the captives free.

Proverbs says that pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). What gives us self worth? Our achievements or God’s role in bringing us to where we are? It is much easier to recognize pride in another person than in ourselves. What are some of the ways pride is noticeable? Some clues are big headedness, conceit, condescension, disdain, over-confidence, egoism, haughtiness, pretension, self importance, self-love, snobbery, arrogance, boasting, and so on. The proper attitude we should have toward God and one another is humility. Proud people are rarely sorry for their mistakes and never ask for forgiveness. Timothy speaks of such people in 2 Tim 3:2-7. A proud person always boasts of what they can do. However, a child of God boasts of what God has done for them, and in Jesus Christ who has called us to be like Him.

After the flood, the children of Noah slowly spread out all over the earth. They all spoke one language. They began to have an excessive belief in their own abilities. They sought to build a city whose tower would reach up into the heavens. They wanted to make a name for themselves. Could they they have achieved immortality through the Tower of Babel they left behind? They were no longer happy to be children of God; they wanted to be self-sufficient and set apart. God saw their selfish pride and wanted to rectify it. Do we goad one another toward good works or to the downward spiral of self-indulgence and deceit? Are there not times when we keep busy with or piling up material things at the cost of the needs of our community at large?

God spoke and said that the Tower of Babel was a sign that the entire race of people wanted to become equal with God. Pride, vanity, and arrogance have been seen as the source for many other sins to arise from. Hence God scattered the people over the entire face of the earth by confusing their language. God set them up against each other. If they could not understand one another they would never be able to work together. Are there not times in our own lives when we cannot seem to understand what our family members are trying to communicate to us? When do we find ourselves in this vulnerable position? Are these times when we are close to God as a family or away from God? When do we see Nations going into chaos? God created order from chaos, yet here we see the world returning to chaos. It is strange to think that a God of law and order would set the world back into a state of chaos. Yet chaos is a state of freedom with no restrictions that has in itself the ability to be creative or destructive.

Even as the story ends with chaos we see the lineage of Abraham being listed. God is a God of mercy and grace. He preserves those who are faithful to Him from generation to generation. In the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Jesus says that the Pharisee was proud of who he was and considered himself to be a saint in relation to the Publican who was a sinner. The Publican on the other hand was so conscious of his misdeeds that he groaned and shed tears of repentance. Jesus said, “the Publican was justified because he was humble, for the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.” (Luke 18:9-14) Jesus warns us that pride is one of the evils that comes from within us and defiles us (Mark 7: 20-23). Paul urges us to be humble, thinking of others as better than ourselves (Philippians. 2: 1-4).

Psalm 104

2006-09-16T23:43:00.000-04:00

Psalms are chanted by Jews and Christians, as a congregation and individually. They are sung as the need arises to praise, worship, and give thanks to God. They are also sung or said in times of crisis and need, as a form of supplication, as a source of comfort and even as a way to express regret for trespasses. Psalm 104 is a Psalm that expresses praise and thanks to the God who is our creator, preserver and provider. The author of this Psalm is unknown. Psalms have been a very essential part of the spiritual formation of Christians from the time of the Apostles. Paul and Silas praised God in the prison at midnight when their feet were fastened in chains, and sang Psalms so loudly that the prisoners heard them (Acts 16:23-26). The apostles exhorted the Christians at Ephesus and Colossae to teach and caution one another with Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19).

Writing songs is an art. Many songwriters find it easy to modify the words of a popular song so that people can learn to appreciate them better. Lyrics of many popular songs have been modeled on the lyrics of songs sung at barrooms and by popular music bands. This Psalm 104 has a vague resemblance to the Egyptian hymn to Aten - a hymn sung to worship the Sun God.

Jesus said I am the Light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness. (John 8:12) The characteristics that the psalmist ascribes to God in the first couple of verses are honor, glory, majesty, and light. Jack Hayford served as the faculty of L.I.F.E. Bible College, and went on to become dean of students and its president. He also served as pastor at 'Church of the Way', starting in 1969; this church grew to over 7,000 members. He wrote the song Majesty based on Psalm 104:1 that has swept the world, moving the hearts of many to offer worship and praise to God.

The psalmist goes on to say that God uses the wind and flaming fire (lightning) as His messengers and servants. This shows that even the most powerful forces of nature that cause great disasters are under God’s powers. He says that it was God who set the earth on its foundations. When the disciples were with Jesus one day, they were caught in the midst of a furious storm. The waves broke over the boat and they were nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, scolded the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:35-41)

The psalmist says that God provides for the wild animals and birds from springs in the valley and the streams in the deserts. Will not God provide for humans? Every need of a person is met, with food from the earth, bread and wine to strengthen and gladden the heart, and oil to make the face shine. Does not a human being enjoy far more of the earthly and spiritual blessings than any wild animal or bird? God is our refuge and strength is a beautiful hymn that shares the same music as "America the Beautiful".

The Psalm concludes by saying, “May my meditation be pleasing to the Lord, for I rejoice in the LORD.” Let us rejoice in the Lord with Psalms and singing in God who is our refuge and strength.

Creator

2006-09-14T23:25:00.000-04:00

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

The other day as my son was listening to the TV he heard one of the current evangelists say that Jerusalem is in the middle of the earth. His nine-year-old mind told him that in science he had read that since the earth's shape is a geoid (earth-like) whereever we may stand if we take a measurement we will be standing approximately at the middle of the earth. How far should science and faith be seen as one? Does Jerusalem being the center of earth still have any spiritual significance to our faith in Christ? Christ should be the center of all our lives. Jesus says in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

The speed at which the earth is rotating around its axis is around 1000 miles per hour. The speed at which it is moving on the 940 million kilometer orbit around the sun is around 67000 miles per hour. The earth has many unique qualities, as it is the only planet with water on it which maintains temperature and atmospheric pressure. The atmosphere of the earth is unique because it has oxygen in it which is the environment for life and growth. It is mind boggling to think that God could get every detail of creation into order for the humongous task of creating the heavens and the earth. Can we ever determine His infinite understanding, authority, wisdom, and power?

Can we even try to understand the importance of a God who created heaven and earth? Do we realize, that beyond the earth, even today, we do not know for sure if any form of life exists? God had a plan, He was going to create a new world, where human beings and heavenly beings could dwell. He not only determined the speed at which the earth would rotate around its axis but also the environment that would sustain life. Some of the finest scientific minds in science such as Isaac Newton, Charles Babbage, Louis Pasteur, Blaise Pascal, Robert Boyle and so on have affirmed that God must have created the heavens and the earth. Can there ever be a real debate on creation versus science? Did the world just come into existence with a great big bang?

The Bible makes us all pause to be in awe of this God who made all of the world and humankind? Only a mystical power could possibly have been responsible for the creation of matter, energy, space, and time. In the world we live in, there is matter and energy that can be perceived with our natural senses, spirits through spiritual senses, and a large and infinite part which goes unknown. We as humans know our limitations, and know for sure that principalities and powers that are superior to us are at work. But we always want to perceive the natural reality we live in and do not want to stretch our imagination beyond to that which is impenetrable, to no purpose in the real or unknown world.

Today scientists look into their Hubble Space Telescope to explore the formation of galaxies during the first 900 million years after the Big Bang. Science is a constantly changing, and what is known today can easily be disproved tomorrow. Take for example the nine planets in the solar system. I grew up learning that there are nine planets, but today it is breaking news in the scientific world that there are only eight planets.

Our Creator is an unchanging God. His word is truth and understanding to those who are willing to believe. Is the story of creation an oral tale or the truth? It is for us to pray and reflect over these issues and come to an understanding. Moses was very clear when he said that, “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” (Ex. 31:17) Our lives should have a contemplative approach to Christian living. They should be based upon a commitment to a balance between work and rest. Jesus led a life with times for rest, solitude, and silence (Matthew 14:22:23). We are also called to lead lives committed to serving those in need. It is in so doing that we find strength and purpose in our fast changing cyber society. When we honor the Sabbath, we are enabled to be more in tune with our hearts and souls, more conscious of the Spirit of God, and more open to building communities of love.

A Tribute

2006-06-18T23:07:00.000-04:00

A cardinal once said "a mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take."

When I think back on how Amachie (my mother) influenced our lives I have to start from when she taught us how to eat, to her guidance on reading and studying the Bible. Over the years we have come to love her imagination, patience, and creativity in dealing with the everyday things of life.

When I think of the times she has had to get our house cleaned up after a battalion of kids had gone through it during the day, I can imagine that she could probably only keep her sanity by having her office more organized and in order. At home we strove not for perfection, but to learn to love and care for one another.

Amachie’s a good sense of humor when things go wrong, has helped all of us to cope with life’s ups and downs. Her ability to recount our pranks and laugh about them later has helped us to stay away from trouble and grow up much faster. Another of her ways to make us relax and enjoy the little aggravations of the day is to sing and at times clap our hands. Sometimes in our journey it is good to poke fun at our peculiarities, laugh at the depressing thoughts and tease out our trivialities.

Her strong personality and her accomplished career speak volumes about the number of young minds she was able to influence. The fact that both Thoman and Ansu followed after her in their careers speaks volumes to her ability to transfer her knowledge and skills to her children.

Although her career was second to her family, she was successful in both areas because of her determination to succeed both at home and at work. She opted for a field of medicine that allowed her to keep a 9-5 day so she could be around when we got back from play in the evening. As her children, we were able to observe first-hand that it is possible to successfully run a household with dual careers.

When she was called to serve as a lay reader at St. Johns church she was not afraid of what the traditionalists thought of such a role. She fought her way through the tangled issues of traditions and culture without flinching on an issue that was vital for the future of many women lay readers. She always affirmed the best in the cultural traditions.

She is always looking for refreshing ways to approach prayer. She has a spontaneous yearning in her heart to worship, admire, praise, and exalt God. She has an earnest desire to ask for nothing but to cherish her relationship with God, to focus on nothing but God’s love. She enjoys praying, reading, and reflecting on God’s word. She believes strongly in prayer and acting upon her beliefs.

Nature speaks to our senses without words. The glory of God is revealed to us through the works of His hands. The ears that are open can hear God speaking to us through the things in nature. Amachie loves nature. Picnics at college hill, Palamathi, Kailas, or Toad were an important part of our family life. She saw the greatness and goodness of God the creator in every bird that sings, over every hill, and under every rock. She enjoys a refreshing walk through the forest, or by the lake. Bird watching and planting trees and flowers are her hobbies. Simply lying on the terrace on hot summer nights enjoying the cool nightly breeze staring up at the starry skies above was another of our past times growing up.

Appacha’s commitment to CMC enabled her to channel all her passion and hope into an institution she had grown to love as a medical student. Convinced that in serving CMC she was serving the larger vision of Christ to serve the sick, poor, and needy, she was able to put her faith into action that didn’t come merely from her academic background but more from her love for Christ. There were many times when Appacha and Amachie could have made the decision to pursue careers that would have made them more comfortable and better off financially. Yet they stayed their course, they did not turn back on their love for God and CMC. When we let God open our hearts and minds we find that we can go a long way in accomplishing much both physically and spiritually.

It is hard to explain what it means to be a loving family. A loving family is one where a strong commitment to care for one another is an unwritten commandment. It is a call to sacrifice one’s self for the betterment of others. It is the unselfish act of putting the other first over one’s own needs. It is a love that is indestructible, patient, and forgiving. It is to believe in one’s children even when the world thinks otherwise, to continue to polish them and work with them until over time the rarest and brightest jewel starts to shine forth. It is to go beyond one’s heartbreaks and still love and care for one’s own even when all others have given up all hope. A parent’s love remains a mystery even today. We understand how much God loves us when we compare their love with God’s love for us. They constantly strove to make us not to just look at the things that are seen but also at those that are unseen.

Having children of our own has led us to see and understand the price they had to pay for the years they cared for us. Yes, today is a good time to say our thanks to Amachie for the pain she had to bear when we were born to the additional years of pain that she faced over the years. No matter how much older we have grown, Appacha and Amachie still wait, watch, and hope for signs of improvement in us, their children.

Their lives reflect the humility of not having striven after the vanities of this world. They lead simple yet happy lives with not just material things but also the spiritual. This is certainly the way to grow old, to live in a community filled with family and friends who love and care for you and you can care for.

Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy Birthday Amma!!

Trinity

2006-06-11T09:37:00.000-04:00

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

Often God is looked upon as the God of the Old Testament. Do we not look at Jesus as the God of the New Testament and the Holy Spirit mixed up between the Old and the New? There are some who would like to believe that the Trinity is three different stages of God. This view is rendered erroneous by the presence of God at the time of Christ’s baptism. Matthew says that when John the Baptist baptized Jesus, God spoke from heaven and declared that Jesus was His son in whom God is well pleased (Mathew 3:13-17). At that time the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ in the form of a dove (a symbol of the new creation after the flood destroyed all life on the earth Genesis 8). As the old hymn goes, “God in three persons, blessed Trinity”. This is the understanding of the Trinity, where God is three persons and yet one in substance. Universally, to acknowledge God as the creator is easy since many people see God as the divine architect and creator of the world. The Binitarians see God as two deities and Unitarians see God as only one deity. Liberal theology tends towards the theory that Christ was fully human, while Jehovah’s Witnesses envisage Christ as a created angel. What distinguishes us as Christians is our faith that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who came to redeem us all from our sins. We love and worship Him just as we do God the Father. The Holy Spirit is equally worshipped and glorified because we encounter Him in our daily lives.

John had been baptizing people with water and he prophesied that God would send someone who was far greater than John. This great man would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Here was John testifying to the fact that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were different. The Holy Spirit was bestowed upon us by Christ to help us to preserve our commitment to God and to preserve us from the never ending fire of judgment (Matthew 3:11-12). The fire would burn away all those who are worthless because they are proud, unrepentant and do not want to change their ways. Baptism into the Christian faith symbolizes our willingness to obey Christ’s commands and to become His faithful followers. It is representative of the purging of our sins by water and the grace of God (1 Peter 3:21). It identifies us with other believers as being part of the Body of Christ. We live in a culture where we are too scared to let anyone be the center of our lives. A commitment of this intensity, to make Christ the center of our lives, could destabilize our own selfish goals and interests. The gospel of Matthew ends with the Great Commission. The gravity of these words had a tremendous impact on the lives of the disciples as these were Jesus’ last commands to them. This was to go out not only to the Jewish nations, but to all the nations of the world. Christ wanted them to teach all the nations to obey the commands that He has given us. He further expressly commanded them to baptize new believers in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

From very early on there have been many who question the concept of the Holy Trinity (Arian Controversy). Christ clearly identified the Trinity as being three different entities, and in so doing clearly identified them as one by instructing the disciples specifically to baptize in the “name” and not “names”. We come to see a God who creates through the wonders of His creation, a God who teaches through the life, teachings, and work of Jesus, and a God who is present with us always as the Holy Spirit through our daily encounters with Him. As we live in His Spirit, walk with Christ, and celebrate the love of the Father, we grow in our understanding of the mystery of the Trinity.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Tongues of Fire

2006-06-04T06:04:00.000-04:00

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:3-4

It was during the Passover festival that Jesus was crucified. The city of Jerusalem had numerous visitors from all over the world. They all spoke diverse languages. Many believe that it was forty days following Passover that Christ ascended to heaven. It was on the fiftieth day that the Holy Spirit was given to the believers. Pentecost (meaning fiftieth) was the harvest festival (Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16) that was held fifty days after Passover. Christians today remember this day as the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given as a special gift from God for the entire world. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of a prophecy by Joel (Joel 2:28-32). From a spiritual dimension this was the day of spiritual harvest of 3000 believers who were touched by the Holy Spirit.

Later for some Jews this day became more symbolic of the day when the Law was given on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-23). It is believed that 50 days after the Israelites left Egypt the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. Just as Israelites saw clouds of smoke rising from Mount Sinai as the Lord appeared to them in flames of fire (Exodus 19:18), the disciples saw tongues of fire descend upon them and they were touched by the Holy Spirit. On that day the believers saw a powerful wind coming upon them. It signified the presence of God in their midst. Then they saw tongues of fire rest upon them as God touched their lives with the cleansing flames of His Spirit. Many celebrate the Church's birthday on this day. For us, Christ is the fulfillment of the Law that was given on Mount Sinai. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit renewed the lives of the disciples and empowered them to go and preach and teach the Word of God all over the world. Today we pray that we may be filled with the Holy Spirit that we may do ordinary and extraordinary tasks for God with fervor and dedication.

Speaking in tongues has become, in some churches, a very important gift that fosters their growth and understanding of the God. It is an encounter with the Spirit of God which has an effect that is the opposite of that on the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:9). Some believe that a powerful wind blew or a blazing fire burnt the Tower down. At that time the rebellious people were scattered all over the face of the earth, as they spoke in different languages and could no longer understand one another. This story is still retold by many to emphasize that people should not challenge God through pride and disobedience.

Today many of us are proud of our own accomplishments and are convinced that we can do a lot more by ourselves. We have no time for God and His people. We can see the Spirit of Christ working in our lives only when we are humble and obey the Word of God. It is when we allow the Spirit to work in our lives, and give to others the blessings we receive that we are filled more and more by the Spirit of God. Christ has promised that whoever believes in Him will have streams of living water flowing through them. A sailboat cannot go anywhere unless the sails are lifted up high so that the wind can blow upon them and push the boat onwards. Jesus said that He would not leave us alone. He promised to send the Holy Spirit to be our companion (John 16:5-16). So also unless we let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and minds to reach out to those in need, we cannot be filled with the Spirit. As the lovely hymn goes, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going. That’s how it is with God’s love, once you have experienced it; you want to pass it on". Do you have a spiritual gift or a special gift that can be a blessing to your community? The apostles, once they were filled with the Spirit of God went through a transformation, went out to the entire world to preach the gospel message of love, peace, and grace.

Strangers

2006-06-01T06:15:00.000-04:00

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2 (King James Version)

Abraham was stunned to see three strangers standing in front of him when God came to him by the oaks of Mamre. Was Jesus, the Son of God, one of them? Did they have the disposition of travel weary ordinary men or did they have an angelic demeanor? Abraham asked his servants to wash the stangers' feet and he personally served them their food. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,” is how Hebrews 13:2 says we should entertain itinerant Christians who depend on the support of Christian community. Is this not what Jesus reminded us would be His question on Judgment day (Mathew 25:31-46)? There is a profound spiritual dimension to our deeds of kindness and love to those in need, performed in Jesus' name. Abraham's hospitality to total strangers is the heart of the gospel message.

The strangers' appearance and their identity have piqued the curiosity of many of God's people for the last thousands of years. When Abraham saw them, he ran to greet them and welcome them into his home. He treated them like visiting royalty and threw them a worthy feast. When they enquired about his wife Sarah, he told them that she was around and in her tent. They then told him that in due time they would return and that Sarah would have a son. Sarah who was listening at the tent entrance, started to laugh. Here they stood, a couple well into their eighties or nineties, and these men were telling them that they would have a child very soon. Yet the promise of a child was the greatest blessing the couple had longed for. When the child was born, they named him Isaac, which means laughter.

Yet in the midst of the good news, they also conveyed some bad news to the couple. They said that Sodom and Gomorah would be destroyed. The decadent lifestyle and inhospitability of these cities had upset God tremendously. Abraham was shocked and pleaded for the people and the cities. Knowing that his nephew lived there, he prayed to God to spare the city if there were at least 50, later 45, and finally 10 righteous people living there. Listening to God and Abraham negotiate, we are thankful that our God is compassionate and merciful. He is always waiting for us to return to Him and seek His forgiveness. We are glad that we can approach Him with our prayers and petitions.

Abraham's nephew, Lot, was probably the only one in the two cities who knew about God. Yet he was so in love with the city that at first he was not willing to listen to the warning of the three strangers. Sin had overrun this city. The men of the city were so far gone that they even craved for carnal relations with the three strangers. Finally as the city was being destroyed the three men had to drag Lot and his family away from the city. The family's love and attachment to the city was so intense that Lot's wife turned to look at the city as it burned down, although the three men had expressly forbidden them from doing so. She was turned into a salt statue for her disobedience. Lot and his two daughters escaped, only to go back into their sinful ways.

Do we, like Lot, find ourselves so absorbed in our own lives that we have no time to think and reflect on whether our attachment to our material possessions is greater than our love for God? Are we in awe of God's Word and His commands? Although Lot's behavior was far from perfect, God still delivered Lot. The judgment on the people of Sodom and Gomorrah was probably executed by completely natural means, but it is stunning that Abraham has recorded the incident as God working out His purposes. What do we understand about the nature of God from this incident? When Lot was told of the coming fiery judgment of God why did he continue to linger in the city? He had to be physically dragged away from the city. Do you think Lot feared being consumed by the punishment of God?

Consuming Fire

2006-05-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

Wherefore we receive a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29

Wildfires over a span of 15 years burned down 10,000 homes by the end of 2000 AD. Of these 860 were family homes in the year 2000. The natural vegetation that burned down in 2002, was more than 6 million acres of forests and wildlife habitat. The fires in the West are supposedly burning hotter than they did before because of misguided management practices. Just the practice of trying to suppress forest fires has prevented ecologically beneficial fires from performing their apparent purpose of clearing dense brush and ground fuels. Felling of trees for sale has removed many of the fire-resistant old-growth trees and replaced them with trees that will burn down very quickly. Last but not least, climate changes due to global warming have resulted in longer fire seasons and droughts that cause tremendous pressure on the forests leading to fires.

We see fires in many parts of the world that cause damage to property and wildlife. It is so easy for things of this world to burn up fast. Poor judgment and self-indulgence of some people result in irreparable harm causing people to suffer enormously. However, those who are in Christ are part of the immovable Kingdom of God. When fires burn in our lives that we cannot control, our spirits are strengthened in the knowledge and love of God. Are our lives built on the physical and material things of this world or the spiritual?

St. Paul is calling us to live a life of peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ. He says we should strive hard to live lives that are clean and holy. By caring for one another we will not miss out on the special blessings that God has in store for us. He is cautioning us to watch out for the bitter roots of unbelief that spring up like weeds in a lush green meadow. For these are like poison that kills and corrupts our spiritual lives. Godlessness and immorality will lead us away from God.

In the Old Testament, fire was associated with the presence of God (Deuteronomy 4:24). A forest fire sometimes cannot be controlled even by the most sophisticated equipment. In the same way God's flame cannot be controlled by anything from this world. In the flames of God only that which is clean and holy will be preserved. So let our prayers and supplications to God be with tears of repentance that are not a consequence of bitter disobedience but sweet obedience in the eyes of God. For it is only Christ who can save us from the flaming fires of God by His grace, a free gift from God through Christ.

What are some of the fire resistant immovable possessions that will stand the test of the all consuming flames of the living God? What should be our real security in the life we live in Christ? What will protect us from the hotter flames of God that will burn us up if we continue to live lives that are misguided by the false and new age teachings of this world? Are we doing anything that is preventing us from drawing closer to the all consuming flames of God? Are we living in an environment that is causing us to change and pressurizing us to live immoral and sensual lives? Paul goes on to explain, a life that is pleasing to God is:-

1. Loving one another by doing good and sharing what we have with one another.
2. Showing hospitality to strangers.
3. Remembering the prisoners
4. Remembering those being tortured.
5. Living an honorable married life and preserving the sanctity of one's marriage vows.
6. Freeing ourselves from the love for money and strengthening our reliance on God.
7. Living a life of simplicity and contentment in what one has.
8. Remembering our spiritual leaders and their lives that we may be imitators of them.
9. Staying away from strange teachings and thoughts that may lead us astray.
10. Keeping a clear conscious, being full of joy, and continuously offering sacrifices of praise and worship to our living God.

Today we live lives that are selfish, careless, and insensitive. We have lost sight of the flame of God that burns so brightly through the lives of those who love and serve God. We should strive to lead lives that are filled with awe and reverence of the presence of the living God. We should share our lives with all those in need, so much so that their problems are our own. We should never forget that when Christ comes again, all things that were created will be completely burnt up. All of God's creation is transient. A spiritual life that is continuously offering sacrifices of loving service, joyful praise, and true worship to the living God is one that will remain fire resistant, immovable, and unshakable through the consuming flames of God.

Spiritual Temple

2005-11-02T15:41:00.000-05:00

Simon was an ordinary fisherman by profession but after he was called to follow Jesus, became His disciple and joined Him in His early gospel ministry. One day when Jesus asked His disciples who He was, Simon said He was the, "Messiah, the Son of the Living God." Based on this revelation, Jesus changed the name of Simon to Peter. Jesus said, "On this rock I will build my church." Matthew 16:13-29 In an environment where everyone was looking at Jesus as a great prophet of the likes of Jeremiah, Peter called him the Messiah. If Jesus were to ask you that question in a similar situation, what would your answer have been? However it is interesting that the next story recorded by Matthew is Jesus speaking of His impending death. To which Peter said that he would never let anything deadly happen to Jesus. Jesus replies to Peter, "get behind me Satan". Why would Jesus name Peter the rock and still later call him Satan?

In his epistle, Peter portrays Christ as the corner stone of God's Spiritual temple and each one of us are living stones (1Peter 2:4-8) . Which ties in well with the concept of Christ is the foundation of the church and we are the blocks. Thus we are described as living stones because in Christ we have a life that lasts forever (1Peter 1:23). How often do you think Peter thought of the time of Christ's reference to the rock? Peter had said that Jesus was the son of the living God. Thus in all likelihood Jesus referred to Peter's confession as the Messiah, as the rock on which Jesus would build the community of believers. To enshrine that moment of God's revelation to Simon on Jesus's true identity, Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter. However the meaning of the verse has been in dispute where many view St.Peter being the rock on which the early church will be built.

Peter tried to cheer up (1 Peter 5:12) the early Christians by reminding them of the grace of God that is always with them. Peter encouraged the struggling Christians to consider it pure joy whenever they faced trials of any kind. The life we have been offered in Christ leads to eternal life. He wanted them to see the vision of a Spiritual Building that is in the process of being built. We are living bricks in this building that is in the process of being built. By ourselves we are just bricks, but when we become part of a temple we see the larger picture of eternal life. We are all being built up brick by brick into something beautiful for God. Do we see the hands of a builder at work? If you were to watch a mason at work sometimes he chips and cracks the bricks at certain places, to make it fit appropriately into the spot that it best fits. So it is with Christ as he shapes and builds and forms us into the perfect spot where we will fit in this Spiritual building where God shall be glorified. Do you see the architect at work?

Doors of Faith (Acts 14:27) - It was a time when the doors of faith were being opened to people all over the world. People of different ethnicities were being drawn in. Along with this they were going through frightful persecution from the Romans. According to some historians, Emperor Nero watched Rome burn while he played his fiddle. They say he hoped to get rid of 2/3rd of Rome so he could build a larger palace. We don't know this for a fact but it was a time of decadence. Nero blamed the Christians for the fire and he would indiscriminately crucify them and feed them to the lions. I would like to believe that it was approximately at this time that the letter was written to the persecuted church and those suffering under the Roman rule. Many people were killed and tortured under the Roman rule. During this period in history Peter was also executed. Peter in his letter refers to, "The end being very near." (1 Peter 4:7) The Christians during that period under went intense persecution and were fervently looking forward to the second coming of Christ. This thought continues to be on the mind of many even today. My inclination is that we not be so consumed by this thought that we are unable to do our daily tasks with equal fervor. The truth is that all of us one day will pass through the valley of the shadow of death. It is not very far away, maybe soon or after a few decades. Are we prepared?

Peter says that our faith is being tested to make us pure and strong. Just as fire tests and purifies gold, so do persecution and suffering's fiery trials test our faith (1 Peter 1:7). It is this faith that is more precious than pure gold to God. Peter in the midst of mass persecution was encouraging fellow believers to hold fast to the words of Jesus. He was making them see what blessings they had in store if they continued to hold fast to their faith in God. He wanted them to see themselves as part of God's great plan of being part of a Spiritual temple which is made of living stones that cannot be seen by human eyes, but spiritual eyes. Peter like Paul, is asking us to look at Christ who is the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). It is through the life and suffering of Christ we have the strength to endure. We are convinced that if Christ suffered, so should we as His disciples learn from His life to endure patiently.

He further warns us to beware of slipping back into our old ways (1Peter 1:14). He refers to that period in our life when we had not heard the gospel message as one lived in ignorance. He encourages us to stay as obedient children of God. As living testimonies to His message of hope. He points out some of the areas where we trip - malice, deceit, pretence to be good, hypocrisy, jealousy and backstabbing (1 Peter 2:1). Then he goes on to describe our role in the church (1 Peter 2:9, 17). He describes our raison d'etre as God's own people, a chosen people, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. He says we should love and respect everyone. He further says we should revere God and our leaders. He exemplifies a Christian life as one lived in Christian unity, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds (1Peter 3:8-9.) What does Peter mean when he says we clothe ourselves with humility toward others (1 Peter 5:5)? He emphasizes that if we have a clear mind and self control we will be able to know exactly how to pray (1 Peter 4:7-8) . He goes on to speak of the potency of love. If our zeal for our fellowbeings is ardent and sincere their faults will be drowned in our genuine love for them.

How do you picture the church today ? Is it a fallible organization? If so why? Have you ever been hurt by the church and rejected it? How do forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration and healing affect our daily Christian lives? Who are those who are the weakest in the church today? Christ is calling us to serve the poor, homeless, mentally unstable, sick, suffering and the lost. They are the weakest in the church and the least in the world today. How much of our time do we spend with those in need? From Peter's letter we begin to see the church as a community of feeble people struggling to stay together by the power of love of Christ that is the center and dwells in us all. It is Christ the Son of the Living God who is our firm foundation, the rock on which we build our faith.

The greatest endorsement that anyone can give to Christian living is if we can live lives worthy of our calling.(1 Peter 2:12). Peter says no one can really harm us if we do good. Nothing can destroy what is most dear to us. If we set a special place for Christ in our hearts we will always be prepared to explain to people who ask us our reason for hope for the world (1 Peter 3:13-15). He says that even if we get into squabbles with others let us do so with gentleness and respect. Peter is asking us to be shepherds of the flock not because of certain human conditions or money, but because we are willing to eagerly serve our Savior. Let us always cherish in our hearts the consciousness of the earthly life of our Chief Shepherd. The best testimony that we as Christians can give the world is lives lived according to the will of God (1 Peter 5:1-4).

Spiritual Blindness

2005-10-19T09:28:00.000-04:00

Jesus healed a simple and ordinary blind beggar at the synagogue on Sabbath day. The Pharisees who heard of this miracle were enraged. They called him and his parents and questioned them. They wanted them to admit that Jesus was a sinner, especially since he healed on the Sabbath. This ordinary probably illiterate beggar could see beyond their intellectual reasoning. He said all I can say is I was blind but now I see. He said he believes in a God who listens to the prayers of them who worship Him and do His will. When Christ confronted Him with who He was, the blind man fell to his knees and worshipped Christ.

It was this spiritual blindness that Jesus talked about. The Pharisee who had studied the law were unable to see the hand of God working on the life of the blind man but the blind man who was healed saw Christ as the prophet/son of God. The one who had performed a miracle that no one in his life time could have offered him before. Jesus had given him a new life where he could enjoy God's creation and beauty.

The blind man was ostracize and thrown out of the synagogue for his faith in Christ. His own parents were forced to disown him in the presence of the religious fanatics. As Christians, Jesus has called us to bear one another's burdens. We are to reach out to those who have lost all hope. To those who are weary and tired we offer comfort. To those who are abused and persecuted we offer our protection. Today family violence still continues to be a problem. Despite all the awareness being created against it, individuals still continue attack women and children. How much can organizations do unless we as individuals also are willing to speak out against it. What are the chances that if we see a woman or child being subject to acts of violence that we will step out to help? Do we know what to say to them? Could Jesus have healed the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees? Was Jesus's ministry to give sight to those spirtually blind or physically blind?

Are we spiritually blind sometimes? Let us turn our backs to outward acts of piety and respectability and express our love with a heart that loves through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. The only way to reach these people who suffer is to tell them about the love of Christ and through acts of kindness instill in them hope that can redeem them from this cycle of hatred and abuse. We as the body of Christ have to be the source of hope and love. Is our home an oasis of love where those who are poor and needy can come and find refuge ?

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 9:39

Jesus said, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Matthew 23:25-26

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-4

Tried-and-True

2005-05-15T21:17:00.000-04:00

Have you been in the company of people whose lives reflect an intense faith in God. They do not display the usual want to be types of the world. If you spend time with them, you come to experience a deep devotion for God. Their deeds towards others, their speech in just the ordinary every day things of life reflect love and compassion for fellow men. As you continue your relationship, over the years you begin to know you can trust them. You are sure they will not fail you or desert you at a time of crisis. Their enthusiasm for life radiates from within them. They display a certain peace and joy in their live despite external circumstances. Their disposition brings a sense of longing within us to experience the same.
In the case of Ruth she continued to be meek and lowly until Boaz agreed to marry her. She remained loyal and obedient to her mother in law. As Boaz and Ruth bond in their new relationship of love, they always had the laws of God keeping within the boundaries of their walk of faith.

What a wonderful way to end the story of Naomi. The poor widow who lost her sons and called herself Mara (Bitter), finds through the birth of a son to Ruth , a child she can clutch to her heart and claim as her own. Is she not reborn as Naomi (Pleasant)? Is this not abundant living even in tough time? The women blessed Naomi saying, “And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.. (Ruth 4:15,16)”

The words of Isaiah come to my mind, “ When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: (Isaiah 43:2-5)”

Boaz

2005-05-14T21:10:00.000-04:00

The Book of Ruth reminds us that it was a time of wars and rumors of wars, decay in moral values, idol worship, disorder, rebellion, chaos and confusion. Boaz sparks a fire into the lives of Naomi and Ruth after a gloomy life of famine, death and transition. It is here we get a peek into the lives of the remnant of Israel that continued to "walk the walk and talk the talk" of the faithful. The story of Ruth begins to take the charectestic of an oral tale that was treasured by the faithful because of Gods divine intervention and saving grace. The two poor widows see a window of opportunity through which Gods rays of hope come streaming through their spiritual darkness. Boaz was a wealthy and influential business man in Bethlehem. He shows himself to be a caring and understanding man who respects his workers. His workers show a loyalty and good judgment when they gave an opinion on Ruth and her background.

Boaz had a keen sense of business ethics and moral values. He allowed Ruth to glean off his fields. Later under the counsel of Naomi, Ruth approaches Boaz with a wedding proposal. The circumstances could have easily led to Boaz taking advantage of the situation. Boaz could have looked down on her as a poor widow. He could have seen Ruth as a burden for him. However Boaz sincerely went about trying to get things right from the start. He agreed to marry her if the legal issues regarding their marriage were sorted out. Ruth was truly blessed, as she was already getting her reward for her labor of love toward Naomi and her family. To those embroiled in the controversies of a inter-racial marriage, the union of Ruth with Boaz stands as a paragon of stories to support the same. Their chesed (faithful) lives reflect what is expected of them as children of God.

Is it not amazing that we see the godly lives that St. Paul told the Colossians to live, so well expressed in the lives of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, garments of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness (Colossians 3:12,14).

Ruth

2005-05-13T21:06:00.000-04:00

When Naomi returns to Canaan, it was the time of the Barley harvest. So she sends Ruth to glean of the harvest of Boaz an influential and wealthy business man. It was a custom where the poor who did not have the means to support, would do to get food for themselves. Here Ruth showed that she was not only willing to be faithful and kind to Naomi but also was hardworking and caring by going out into the fields. She continued to be a loving daughter-in-law.

When Boaz sees Ruth, he immediately takes tremendous interest in her. I wonder if she was a very beautiful lady? What was it that drew Boaz to her? The foreman said that Ruth was the young lady who came back with Naomi. It must have dawned on Boaz that she was the faithful daughter-in-law. Did Boaz see in her a woman he could trust? The foreman said she had been working hard at the field. Did Boaz see an energetic, sincere and hardworking girl who would make any man a good wife?

Boaz immediately goes to Ruth and tells her to stay in his fields and that she would get all the food she wanted. She falls at his feet and thanks him for his kindness and says that she is not worthy to be one of his workers. Does the humility and grace of this poor widow tug hard at the heart of Boaz? Does he see her wisdom and understanding of the situation she is in? Boaz praises her by saying, “The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. (Ruth2:12)”

Ruth’s humility before Boaz makes him bless her even more. Ruth humbled herself before her mother-in-law by accepting her God, now it was God’s turn to bless and lift her out of her misery. The two poor widows cast all that they had into the mighty hands of God.

St Peter says. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.. 1Peter 5:6-7”

Mother-in-laws

2005-05-12T19:12:00.000-04:00

Mother-in-laws are world wide painted in a bad light. Whether it is in China , India or America they are a source of much tension and unhappiness. Was it Voltaire who said “Behind every successful man stands a surprised mother in law!!.”

When one is burdened with a lot of problems and does not have any realistic support to lean on, then how does one stay encouraged? What can give us the strength to go on? Our mind is so fragile it can easily be swayed by even the small things in life. There are some who vent over small issues because they have no solution for there larger problems at hand.

The words of Ruth to Naomi continues to give strength to many who read them over and over again. "And Ruth said, In treat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goes, I will go; and where thou lodges, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou dies, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. (Ruth 1: 16-18)”

Do you see the grace of God, working through Ruth as she vows to stay by the side of Naomi until death parts them? Do you see the grace of God working through the support of an alien? Do you see the promise of God for a Messiah being fulfilled through one of the descendents of Ruth?

In their sense of hopelessness they find comfort in one another’s companionship. It is a beautiful story where in their complete loss, they continue to stand firm in their love for God and their intense desire to be in a loving and faithful relationship. As they return to the promised land, they return with the only hope that God will continue to be by their side as support and strength.

Widows Might

2005-05-11T19:07:00.000-04:00

Have you been through a devastating experience in your life? Are there moments you feel that life is not worth living at all? Do you know someone who went through a similar experience? Have you ever wished death on yourself? You are not alone. Some of the greatest prophets have felt the same way for various reasons. Both these mighty prophets went through bouts of self pity and hatred for living itself. Yet in time they stood firm and were strengthened through God speaking to them words of comfort. Yet in the case of Naomi in the Book of Ruth, we don’t see any direct words of comfort. She seems to endure through her hardships. Persevere with no dreams or visions or revelations.

Jonah the reluctant prophet who went to spread the message of God, to the people of Nineveh, found that when God showed mercy to them when they repented, he was filled with remorse. He wanted to die. Was he more keen on their extermination than on their reformation? A very difficult prophet to understand. Another Prophet undoubtedly a major prophet was Elijah. God worked mightily through him in casting a period of draught for 3 ½ years following his prophesy for no rain. He could stand up against the whole kingdom of idol worshippers yet after causing fire to consume a water logged sacrificial mound he ran for his life and wished he were dead when the Queen issued a death warrant on him (1 Kings 19:4) .

Suppression of discouragement is a major problem. We need to express it to someone who is willing to understand and guide us wisely. The greatest source of comfort and strength is God. Through the Holy Spirit he comes to us with comfort and strength. He helps us to think through our crisis. Even Jesus on the night before He was crucified went through intense despair, and found comfort in prayer. He did did not hesitate to reveal his feelings to his disciples and ask for prayers.

Discouragement is the greatest tool that the Devil has that works on all men, rich or poor, old or young, man or woman. It is very subtle and we don’t realize it is working inside of us, until it rears its ugly head in the form of a major depression, hatred, anger…etc. We cannot really pin it down to any particular reason. It can come from following tremendous success or even after great loss.

Just like Naomi we need to have the confidence that God is there even in times of Crisis.
The greatest strength during these times is to find a good church that will help us through this crisis of hopelessness and helplessness. We need to realize the extent of the love of Christ for us and His concern to provide for all our needs. We need to reach out to those who will be able to provide us with the help we need. We need to always hope that God will provide for our needs. There may be times we fall, but through the help of the Holy Spirit we will find our way back again.

Jesus loves me this I know
For a preacher told me so
Even when I have no hope
Jesus loves me so

Jesus loves me this I know
For my teacher told me so
Even when I fall away
Jesus loves me so

Naomi

2005-05-10T18:51:00.000-04:00

The story of Naomi in the Book of Ruth, happens when the Judges were ruling over Israel. There was a lot of unrest in the land. People had forgotten the living God and strayed away to worship idols. As the book describes, it was a time when they did whatever they felt like doing.

Naomi’s family left Canaan with the hope to find a better life in Moab. From one angle it was an act of abandonment of God and His people. They were driven by their need to find food and shelter because of a famine. They had heard that Moab was a rich nation. Moving away from Canaan shows a lack of faith in God’s promise to His people that was their land flowing with milk and honey. Their sons marriage to Moabite women shows a dilution of the faith of the family with other idol worshippers.

Without the sores on her body she went through a similar sufferings as Job went through. She said she left Canaan with her whole family. Now she returns with none, empty and hopeless. Why has this catastrophe to happened to her? When her husband and two sons died in Moab, Naomi humbles herself before God and her two daughter-in-laws Ruth and Orpah. She even begs them to leave her and return to their homes in Moab. Her return to Canaan was an act of returning home to her promised land and her people. In a way can it be viewed as the return of a prodigal daughter, relying on the grace of God and her people to provide for her needs? Here was Naomi so discouraged with life. She remains faithful to God.

When we go through experiences that leaves us hopeless and helpless how do we react? Are we confident that God will work it out for us if we pray? Do we find peace with God? Jesus said in John 16:23, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." We realize that even when Christ was on earth He went through many trials but overcame them by the power of God the Father who was within Him. When confronted with the most difficult of circumstances I find confidence through reading the Word and the love of God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. I find strength in the Holy Spirit who helps me to pray and find fellowship with other believers.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Where ever I may go
Jesus loves me so

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Christians tell me so
Even when I am poor and low
Jesus loves me so

Homeless

2005-05-09T18:27:00.000-04:00

Today I was listening to Phil Collins’ song “Another day in paradise.” It is an eye opener for how many times I have ignored a needy person on the street. (In a country like India, we have so many beggars roaming the streets, we really don’t know who is a genuine or not.) It is a song about a poor lady who has been crying with blisters on her feet and can barely walk. She looks like a person who has been moved from place to place because she doesn’t fit anywhere. She cries out to the man walking on the street. She says, “Sir, can you help me? It’s cold and I’ve nowhere to sleep.” The song goes on to say that he ignores her cry and walks on. He even pretends to be deaf. He starts to whistle and crosses the street; it almost seems like he was embarrassed to have been there. Phil Collins says in his refrain, “for you and me it’s another day in paradise!”

It is amazing how callous and indifferent I sometimes become to the needs of the poor. I find myself looking at a magazine with the most heartrending pictures of poverty and starvation and just turn the page as if I have a mind block!! There are times when I look at it and then sigh with sympathy and say a prayer for God’s continued support and strength. What have I done after the sighs and prayers?? Today the media reports about even controversies on how money are used by some NGO’s to support the fancy lifestyles of their owners. How do we hold them accountable? We need to pray for the continued work and ministry of all God’s people. When we are unable to help the greatest service we can do is to become a powerhouse of prayer for those who are out there in the mission field who are the hands and feet of the Body of Christ today. They are the ones who are out there are under great stress and even take their lives at risk.

The other day my cousin sent me a picture of an African child and a vulture. The shocking picture depicted the vulture waiting for the starving child to die. This picture supposedly won a Pulitzers award, for depicting the 1994 Sudan Famine. The photographer Kevin Carter, who took the picture was so depressed he committed suicide 3 months later. In real life aren’t some of us like vultures, waiting for the fall of some innocent person so that we can glean off or laugh at or mock at their broken life? When was the last time I spoke to a homeless person? Is there somebody out there I can reach who cries their heart out and feels that no one is listening? It is when we come to God in prayer that the Holy Spirit guides us to do God’s will. 2Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord roam through out the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are loyal to Him.” The Lord strengthens us when we pray to Him. We rest assured in the confidence that God is working and will lead us to those who are in need of our assistance.

We lead such happy and comfortable lives without realizing how fortunate we are to have a roof over our heads. To be able to read this posting, we have to have access to the internet and other luxuries. We should thank God for His blessings – God has been so good to us. When we are discouraged we find our confidence in Jesus Christ. As for me, I look to the LORD for his help. "Therefore I will look confidently to the LORD; I will wait for God to save me: my God will hear me( Micah 7:7)." We begin to pray for God to save and protect all who are in need. It is through prayer, praise and thanksgiving that we find comfort in the knowledge that God will hear and provide us with all our needs.

Miracles

2005-05-08T21:20:00.000-04:00

I came across the other day a blog where a missionary in Africa was trying to understand when one can say that God has brought about a miracle.

From my understanding of the word, If there is complete disappearance of all the symptoms of the disease; then what would have otherwise resulted in certain death or prolonged illness could be termed as a miracle. However if the symptoms persist one will have to continue to do all that is within ones resources to care for the patient and leave that which cannot be provided for in God’s hands to care for. We can humbly be comforted by the words of encouragement that came to St.Paul from our awesome Lord and Savior, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)”

“Physician heal thyself!” Is it really possible to heal ourselves? Only one thing I am certain of, is the new life of a physical, mental, and spiritual reawakening that has come to me in the presence of God, and so shall it be whether in life or in death. Through the eyes of faith we see divine healing and through the eyes of a wise physician we see the patient's medical condition; it is in the intertwining of the two, we find faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Does that mean we are being of double mind? Certainly not! We come to God with all our fears of our limited understanding , to be submerged with that of God’s mind, so that in the end we may be of a single mind that hopes for God’s will to prevail. Jesus’s concluding prayer before the crucifixion to God was, “Not my will but thine be done.”

We need to believe that He is a miracle working God. By being humble and meek we do not try to supersede God’s will. With the help of the Holy Spirit we plead for their lives with prayers and petitions that helps to ease the pressure of our worries and clear our minds of our anxieties of the situation. We need to believe that if it is God’s will, He can do the impossible. We should never forget that Jesus loves them more than we do.

I remember after a major operation, my cousin brother went into a four organ failure. We all wanted him to live. We believed that God could heal him. We all prayed for strength and courage, especially for his wife and two school going daughters. The physicians had reduced his survival to lower than 5%. But we continued to pray that God will give my cousin the will to endure and come out of this crisis. He lived and it slowly dawned on us that what we see through the eyes of a physician is reality, but what we see through the eyes of faith is God’s omnipotent power to heal. Jesus said to his disciples and the crowd that had gathered with the boy who needed healing, "Canst thou believe, all things are possible to him that believeth? And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."( Mark 9:23-24).”

In times of doubt let us make this our prayer, “Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.”

Broken Spirit

2005-05-08T08:59:00.000-04:00

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

Today there are millions of people who have no healthcare and are living in abject poverty. They don’t know where their next meal will come from. They are abused and live in lands torn by famine, war, disease, disasters, and debt. More than 100 million children go without primary education and are still subject to child labor. Let us pray that world organizations such as UN, UNICEF, World Vision, World Relief, Tear Fund, and others may carry out their mission for the downtrodden. Let us pray for the downtrodden that they might find the right people, resources, and above all meet Christ who makes us whole. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

1. Forgive us when we forget your people
Wander in wicked ways
Lord teach us to be charitable
Pray for the downtrodden every day

Jesu it is your face we seek
Heal your children today

2.Those with minds double
And the proud you cast away
You give grace to the humble
So your scriptures say

Jesu it is your face we seek
Heal your children today

3.There are many who tremble
When they encounter disease, disaster and debt on their way
Make them strong and gentle
As their hearts yearn for you always

Jesu it is your face we seek
Heal your children today

4. Our passions and pleasures make us stumble
Malice, envy, and hatred draw us away
Renew us to be faithful and peaceful
Fill our hearts with compassion we pray

Jesu it is your face we seek
Heal your children today

5. Laws make us quarrel
Foolish controversies hold us in sway
Devote our hearts to the poor and feeble
Renew us with your Holy Spirit each day

Jesu it is your face we seek
Heal your children today

6. Lord have mercy on us as we struggle
It is our broken spirit we display
We come to you like cripples
Make us whole we pray

Jesu it is your face we seek
Heal your children today

Sometimes of Spiritual Darkness

2005-05-07T13:27:00.000-04:00

(Inspired by the works of St. John of the Cross)

1. Sometimes in our spiritual walk
Our thoughts are filled with remorse
Lose all pleasure
In all those things we treasure

Beloved on simple things dote
Our hearts fill with divine hope

2. Sometimes in our walk
Burdened with guilt of impure heart
Fear of evil temptations
We begin our spiritual oscillations

Make us pure from all that’s wicked
White as snow and uncorrupted

3. Sometimes in our walk
Overcome with spiritual wrath
Like a little child
Whose toy has been denied

Instill in us spiritual tolerance
Grant us divine patience

4. Sometimes in our spiritual walk
We forget what we have been taught
Look down with spiritual pride
On all those people we deride

To be gentle and humble
Faithful to God and all His people

5. Sometimes in our walk
Lost in written works
Loss of all feelings
In all of our dealings

Not on written works and bitter discord
Our minds enlighten with understanding dear Lord

6. Sometimes in our walk
We ignore all our faults
Indulge in spiritual gluttony
Prayers, penance and acts of chastity

Your strong words employ
Fill our hearts with peace and joy

7. Sometimes in our walk
We are overcome with spiritual sloth
Feed off others praise
Our egos on a pedestal raise

Wash our hearts so full of dross
Our spiritual eye see sacrificial love on the cross

8. Sometimes in our spiritual walk
The path is pitch dark
Away from the path we wander
We cry out loud “Heavenly Father”

On His chest are we comforted
As He leads us home our loving Shepherd

Breaking the Cycle

2005-05-06T09:17:00.000-04:00

I remember as a child walking home after playing on the floodlit basketball court all evening. There were times when the sun had set and I had to find my way back through the darkness. The path back home was narrow and had thorn bushes on the sides. The times I found easy to pass through that path was when the moon was shinning brightly in the sky. On a moonless night I usually would be poked by one or two thorn bushes even though I knew every bush on my path back home. So it is in our lives, if we walk through our paths when everything is sunny and bright we will encounter no problems. On a moonlit night we can feed off the light from another and find our way home. But are we ready for the periods when it is pitch dark and there is no guiding light?

Jesus says in Mathew 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” This is what Jesus said would happen to people or a generation who tried to only clean up house for a particular phase in their lives. The same evil spirit that dwelt in them would come back with more evil spirits so that they would end up in a worse state than they were before.

God assures us that if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. As God is light, if we live in God’s presence, our lives will be filled with light. St. John the apostle says in 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Just removing bad company and our idols are not enough; they have to be replaced by the Spirit of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that will break this cycle in our lives. The Holy Spirit will help us to control our lives, instill in us love for God and help us find His purpose for our lives. St. Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23,25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law….If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” The fruits of the spirit will fill our lives with light and there will be no room for darkness.

We need to look to Jesus who is our guiding light. It is He who will lead us to our heavenly home. He has set the path before us and the map has been clearly drawn. We need look to the Word of God daily for directions through reading, reflection, and prayer. It is here that we will encounter the Holy Spirit, the helper who will speak to us and strengthen us for the day. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).

Cycle of Spiritual Darkness

2005-05-05T09:10:00.000-04:00

During the period of the Judges the people went through cycles in their spiritual lives. The Israelites would stay faithful to God during the period that they had a strong leader. Once the leader died they would fall away. They would rebel and disobey the laws of God. The angel of God rebuked the children of Israel saying that since they did not completely capture Canaan, the people living in their land would be like thorns in their sides and their gods would be a constant temptation for them (Judges 2:3). The same enemies they were supposed to have driven out when they conquered Canaan, became like disciplinarians for them. When they rebelled, since they had abandoned God, they would be defeated in battles and oppressed by their enemies.

The children of Israel would go through periods of prolonged darkness. When they began to suffer, they would repent of their sins. When they repented, the ever gracious and compassionate God would send them a deliverer or a raise a leader from amongst them who would free them from their oppression. During the time of the Crisis Leader they would continue to obey God and follow in the ways that were set for them. After a while they would again rebel and fall away. This cycle continued for many centuries even during the times of the Kings (Judges 3:16-19).

1. Obedience
2. Disobedience
3. Oppression and Suffering
4. Repentance
5. Deliverance

The Israelites went through phases of darkness when they completely blocked God out of their lives, when they wandered away worshipping other Gods and living lives that were not pleasing to God. Just like the Israelites do we as Christians continue to go through these cycles in our lives? Isn’t this cycle true in churches today? When a strong pastor leaves and is replaced by another, sometimes the congregation starts to back slide or starts looking elsewhere for fellowship. We as people are so dependent on the able leadership and guidance of our pastors or spiritual guides. Have you experienced temptations from old friends and places when you wander away? Why do we disobey God’s laws and end up in a state of enslavement to our sins? When do we realize the need to free us from this enslavement? How do we find deliverance? How do we free ourselves from going through this cycle all our lives?

The challenge for us as Christians is to strengthen our faith so that we can be a support to our pastors who are there to shepherd us. When there is a void in leadership it becomes incumbent on this support structure to be so strong that people continue to be nourished during the transition.

False Teachings

2005-05-04T22:44:00.000-04:00

The book of Judges records how the people fell away from obedience to God. Once they had settled into the good life of Canaan they quickly forgot all that God had done for them. They forgot how God had delivered them from Egypt. They forgot how they had been protected and well provided for in the wilderness. They forgot how, with the help of Joshua, they had conquered Canaan. They started to lead lives of rebellion against the living God.

With the release of the book Da Vinci Code and its phenomenal sales in over 150 countries has kept people absorbed by the holy fiction and suspense of the story line. It reduced the Christian faith to a mystic cult with a secret society and where Christ and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child. It has put the Catholic Church in a bad light. As if the Catholic Church did not have its own skeletons to contend with already, with all the abuse scandals sweeping the nation, here was another to shake the faith of the people. The book even questions whether Jesus was God. Through carefully woven fiction it tries to prove with fictitious dates and incidents that the gospel message was a fabrication of the early church fathers. For one ignorant of Christ and His gospel message this is a message cloaked in sheepskins, but inside is a very vicious wolf that is tearing the truth to shreds.

When we compare these claims and what actually happened, our strong faith can so easily brush it away as bamboozlement. In 2 Peter 1:16 St Peter says “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” This verse clearly indicates that even as early as the beginnings of the church they were under constant attack about their faith. We become disillusioned if we see our faith portrayed in a bad light as seen through the eyes of an author like Dan Brown of Da Vinci Code. Jesus said in Matthew 6:23, “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Christ clearly said to beware of looking at faith through the eyes of an evil eye - an evil eye will plunge you into darkness.

Today the church is faced with all kinds of teaching. People are confused about what is the right thing to do. Preachers want to live alternate sexual lifestyles that are in defiance to teachings and the laws laid out clearly in the Bible. Yet they claim to be the ones being persecuted and draw lines of comparison to oppression of slaves and women. We have more than enough quotes in the Bible to infer that oppression of women and slaves is wrong. Do we see anything in the Bible that supports alternate lifestyles? Today some churches seem to be losing this battle. St. Peter in 2 Peter 2 clearly warns us of people who, ensnared by their own evil lusts and desires, wander away and draw those who are weak down along with them. They will try to twist the words of the Bible to mean something else. This will result in disaster for them and all who follow them.

When Christ died on the cross for our sins, his disciples ran away and lived in fear for their lives. But suddenly when they met the risen Lord, they left their homes and went out as witnesses all over the world. They were all martyred except for one, and throughout their lives were persecuted for their faith.

St Peter says 2 Peter 1:12 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” It is very important for us as believers to constantly remind ourselves of what Christ did for us and encourage one another to grow in our understanding of the Word of God. We have to remember who we are. We have to remember the saving grace and mercy that was given to us as a gift. We have to remember to serve the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. St. Peter (2Peter 2:5-7) exhorts us to live with a character that emulates faith, righteousness, knowledge of God, self control, patience, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. It is when we work toward living a pure and blameless life that we are at peace with God.

False Gods and Goddesses

2005-05-03T20:50:00.000-04:00

The children of Israel started to serve the goddess Asherah and the god Baal and worshipped them along with their neighbors. These ceremonies often had sacred prostitution and from time to time child sacrifice. They even started to marry outside the Nation of Israel and this further diluted their faithfulness to God. This desire to worship idols continued even during the period of 'Kings' until they went into captivity in Babylon. By the time they returned from exile they had been more or less weaned from Baal and Asherah. Today, do we have idols of our own that we worship? Are there any visible objects that we hold closer to us than we do God? Is there someone or something we adore excessively? How do we ensure that we stay away from worship of the powerful people who are idolized for their achievement and success today? We need to be careful that nothing, no idol, draws us away from our worship and service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When St. Paul was in Ephesus, he confronted the businessmen who made idols for the Greek goddess Artemis. This goddess worship started in 1000 BC and was a mixture of Roman, Anatolian, and Greek values. The businessmen started a riot in the city when they found that the sales of idols were dropping. Was not the courage of St. Paul amazing? He displayed No Fear? Do we have the courage to defy the system when we see that it is heading in the wrong direction? Many people’s feelings were affected by St. Paul’s stance on the gospel message and the true and only God. Even today for some religion is run like a regular business. The priests that serve in the temples and churches to raise funds step down and compromise on their principles.

Corruption is often rampant in some churches where the leaders’ lifestyles are like those of the rich and famous. They lead lives that are contrary to the life that Christ led and advocated to his disciples. God today is portrayed as a God of prosperity and wealth. A God who is worshipped to heap gold in their coffers. A God who will bless them with more talents to make more wealth. Christ said emphatically in Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Are you so proud of your own achievements and unwilling to give God credit? Where does one draw the line and say 'this is enough for me'? When does one look at his hurting neighbor and say 'let me give you a part of my life to make yours a better one'? When does one say 'it is time I spent more time to know and understand the ways of God'? Do we hear the gospel message being praised? Or do we hear that God will save all? Has the grace of God been a means for many to continue their libertine lifestyles? Do you hear the voice of Christ calling you to come and serve him?

Christ talks about Spiritual Vision when he says in Matthew 6:22, The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Christ really lays out a question here – when we look at our goals are they focused on God and what He wants us to do or on what we want and what the world has as reward? Christ said that He is the Light of the World and that we should be focused on Him to guide and lead us. If we are focused on Him, the single eye (single mind) will allow the light of the world (Jesus) to flood into our hearts, minds, and bodies.

Canaan after Joshua

2005-05-02T13:42:00.000-04:00

The last verse in Judges sums up the entire book in a nutshell, on what went on during the period after the death of Joshua. Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. This is a chilling verse in the Bible when people do whatever is right in their eyes. The lack of a strong leader who the Israelites could rely on, caused the loss in the vision, mission and values of the nation. Christ is the head of our community, family and finally us. Unless we obey Him and His commandments, we start to drift, or may even start our race of evil. We are all made in the image of God. We should be led by the Holy Spirit to be known by God and to know and understand His ways. Unless we acknowledge Him as our head we will loose our spiritual direction.

Moses and Joshua were both leaders who were filled with the Spirit of God. When they were alive they had a vision of striving to be a people committed to God. Their Divine Vision came through prayer and staying in touch with God. They could lead the children of Israel through the right paths, with the help of the Holy Spirit. While they were faithful to God, He blessed them, worked miracles, and kept them under his wings. But after their time the children of Israel lost this vision for a couple of centuries. Joshua was a military genius but after taking over Canaan he did not anoint anyone to be a competent leader after his time. This lead to a rapid decline in the Israelites' spiritual lives that was later reflected in their daily lives as well. Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

While the children of Israel were with Joshua the whole nation had one common mission which was to conquer Canaan. However when they abandoned this mission, they lost the opportunity to take over Canaan completely. Once they got to Canaan, the children of Israel were so excited to finally find a whole country they could occupy they were overwhelmed. They had been deprived for so long in the wilderness, but now they found they could enjoy all the pleasures of life. Their loyalty to God and nation were divided with their own selfish goals and ambitions, and the neighboring cultures, religions, values, and traditions.

It is natural human tendency to get involved with whatever fascinates us so that we neglect God. We find that as we build up momentum with work, personal goals, and daily activities, we have no time for God. For some, after a while the virtuous life becomes a grind. St. Paul says that trying to up-hold the law only leads to death. It is very important that people grasp the Spirit of the law. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. We as Christians should pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire us to understand and to do God’s Will just as the Spirit inspired our Spiritual fathers. We as children of God should have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit who will help us in our daily lives.

Gregory of Nyssa was one of the spiritual giants of the church who lived in the fourth century. He advocated in his book “The Life of Moses”, that the word of God rather than be used for historical reflection, should be used for growth in a virtuous spiritual life. He used the lives of the people in the Bible to foster spiritual growth. He was convinced by the teachings of Paul that we are in a divine race, competing along the course of virtue, straining toward the prize of the heavenly calling. He believed in seeking the divine guidance of God, through the confines of the laws laid down in the Bible. He urged us to increase our speed in our spiritual race. He said that if we stop the race of virtue we begin the race of evil. St. Paul said we must forget what lies behind, press on to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). Let us leave our evil past behind, and hold on to our gifts and employ them to press on to our calling to live a virtuous life.

Christ stressed on the importance of love for God and fellowbeings. It is necessary for our spiritual journeys to be focused on Christ’s teachings. When we start to love ourselves and our own selfish goals we become, separated from God and our fellow Christians. It is our calling to be known by God and to work toward emulating His image in our lives. When the children of Israel lost their love for God and his laws, the whole dynamic of their relationship with Him began to fall away. Moses' song to the children of Israel echoes in the Book of Proverbs "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.." Proverbs 7: 1,2

Amazing Grace

2005-05-01T11:54:00.000-04:00

Rahab a prostitute in Jericho had heard of the many miracles that God did for the children of Israel. So had all the people of the city of Jericho. Their hearts were melting with fear. Her inn was built right into the impregnable wall of the city.She provided a place to stay and certain special favors to those who lodged with her. It was the grace of God that led the Israelites to Rahab and protected them from the wrath of the King of Jericho. Rahab had taken a considerable risk by protecting the Israelite spies. She had faith in the God of the children of Israel and expressed it by hiding them in her inn. God gave her the faith to live through that pressure. There is much to be understood in the faith of Rahab.

Rahab displayed courage to house the enemies of her nation in her home. She may have got killed for her crime if she had been found out. A prostitute that ran a brothel or an inn for travelers, a totally weak and unlikely person was the one that God used to protect the Israelites. It goes to prove that God can use anybody He wills to accomplish His plans. Isn’t this a sign of great hope to the whole world? God will use anyone who is willing to trust in Him.

The Israelites led a procession around the city of Jericho hoping to bring the walls down and attack. Interesting enough the house of Rahab was on the walls of Jericho and she was unharmed. When the walls came down was it only Rahab’s wall that did not come down? The same scarlet rope that was used to let the spies escape was hung from her window to protect her from the wrath of God and the Israelites. Does the scarlet rope over her window remind us of the sacrificial blood over the doorpost of the children of Israel in Egypt? Does the blood on the door post remind us of Christ’s sacrificial blood shed for us?

Rahab displayed great faith in the living God (Hebrews 11:31). James also commends her along with Abraham as one who believed in the living God with a life that reflected it in deeds of faith (James 2:25). She had a faith that expressed “No Fear.” Thus we see that "belief and deeds" are two different sides of the same coin of faith. They have to be together for us to know, experience, or understand God. Further it was the grace of God that spared the life of Rahab and her relatives. Out of the ruins of the wall of Jericho emerged the House of Rahab unharmed. She was not one of the Israelites but was grafted in. Was this not an experience of rebirth for Rahab? To be born again into the household of God. Here was Rahab a reject in Jericho, being given the royal treatment by the children of Israel and the living God. Do you see many centuries’ later history repeats, where one of her own descendents is rejected by the world? From Rahab’s line will be born the Savior of the world. Isn’t this a sure sign of the grace of God at work?

She is later named in the “Who begat who” in the Bible. She is one of the few women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ. Have you wondered why they felt it important that her name was listed? Was it to clear any doubts that might question the genealogy of Christ? She becomes the mother of Boaz, who, with Ruth another alien, links King David. Who would have imagined a reformed prostitute to be the great grandmother of King David? Who would have imagined that a woman of her reputation would ever go through such a transformation? Do you think the children of Israel would have accepted her and treated her like royalty if she had not changed her ways? Do you know how they treat women with such tendencies? How would you treat a prostitute who comes to church and wants to know more about Christ? Would you be repulsed or compassionate? Do you see members in church today who lead and advocate libertine lives?

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, so goes one of the classic hymns of the last three centuries. John Newton a godless slave trader, when he was lost in a storm and feared for his life, he cried out, “Lord have mercy upon us.” This cry had a major impact on him. Later on reflection, he wrote this hymn. He began to treat his slaves more humanly after his conversion. The day of his rebirth when he converted from an infidel and libertine to a servant of the living God was always remembered by him. He said that was the day he humbled himself and submitted his life into the hands of his lord and savior Jesus Christ. Later he became a pastor of a congregation and wrote more than 200 hymns. When I was confirmed at “The Kirk” which was built 200 years ago to serve the Scottish Community in Chennai, my parents wrote these words in my Bible that was presented to me at the ceremony, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).”

Tearing down walls

2005-04-30T11:12:00.000-04:00

The people of Jericho had built this impregnable wall around them yet were shivering with fright as they watched the Israelites advance on the sands crossing Jordan. The Israelites must have been filled with confidence as they advanced through the sands of Jordan. They believed in a God that made all things possible to those who believed in Him. If God could part the Jordan River, He will tear that wall down. They had heard reports of the disheartened enemy. It was really a watershed moment for the children of Israel. Joshua’s devotion to God does not stop there, after crossing Jordan all the men of Israel who had not been circumcised, were circumcised. This ceremony must have left the soldiers completely paralyzed for a few days.

Was this not a defiant act toward the enemies to come before them and to willfully make themselves weak? A painful reminder of who was in control. A suffering that they persevered through, yet which filled them with hope that God was going to win this war for them. This was the fulfillment of a promise to Abraham 600 years ago, that one day they would possess the land of Canaan. They renewed this covenant by circumcision. A ceremony that sanctified them in the eyes of God.

As I was surfing the web the other day, I came across an innovative prayer strategy that the Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Wisconsin employed. One of their staff members challenged them to form a group that walked around their campus to bring down the spiritual walls that prevented the students from coming to Christ. It was well received and their procession attracted much attention. They were able to draw some more students to their fold. I wonder what will happen to if people of God did silent processions of prayer around strongholds of evil and corruption?

As we look into our own lives and those in our community of faith, are there walls we are building about us, willingly or unwillingly? If we do build walls, do we find ourselves walling certain people out of our lives? Do we build walls that will be broken down only after our goals are achieved? Do these walls really manage to block people out of our lives? Can we hope for a day when the entire world will be without walls?

Today I find more and more people who have built walls that keep the love of God out of their lives. They make sure that they live lives that shut God completely out. I turn the television on with fear and trembling, that something will be shown that my son shouldn't hear or see. In the news often the people who get attention is the criminal. A sexual molester or serial killer is glorified by the media as they recount his string of crimes. The madness that we are living in is invited willingly or unwillingly into the heart of our homes. We live in fear that one of these madmen is going to confront us. A runaway prisoner, runaway bride, runaway car….why are we running away from God?

God longs for us to tear down all the walls that separate man from Him. When Christ died on the cross he tore down the wall of sin that separated man from God.He opened the gates of grace for us to approach the throne of mercy. It is time to tear down the walls that separate us from Christ and let him into every area of our lives. It is time that families came together on their knees in prayer for the community and for their own families. Build walls that will keep evil out and open gates of grace that will let broken hearts and lives in to be loved and cared for.

Today we as Christians should circumcise our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:29). John Wesley elaborated on this when he preached at St. Mary's, Oxford,
before the University, on January 1, 1733. Circumcision of heart implies humility, faith, hope, and charity. Humility, a right judgment of ourselves, cleanses our minds from those high conceits of our own perfection, from that undue opinion of our own abilities and attainments, which are the genuine fruit of a corrupted nature. This entirely cuts off that vain thought, "I am rich, and wise, and have need of nothing;" and convinces us that we are by nature wretched, and poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked. That "circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;" -- that the distinguishing mark of a true follower of Christ, of one who is in a state of acceptance with God, is not either outward circumcision, or baptism, or any other outward form, but a right state of soul, a mind and spirit renewed after the image of Him that created it.

Let us pray with St Paul for out of the glorious riches Christ Jesus may strengthen our spirits with power through his Holy Spirit in our inner being. May Christ dwell in our hearts through faith. By the grace of God may we be filled with love, peace, humility, and hope. May we grasp how wide, long, high and deep is the love of Christ for us and all generations forever and ever(Ephesians3:14-21).

Memorial Rock

2005-04-29T08:44:00.000-04:00

Growing up on a campus which is nestled in a kind of a valley surrounded by hills, we have a large number of rocks strewn all over the campus. Some of these are boulders. They have probably been there for centuries. Rock solid and strong, they have been there through storms and floods, through generations. At my elementary school there is a small natural rock formation in our small play area. Out of the boulders has grown a large tree. A symbol of perseverance and courage on rocky soil. We used to call it the base. When we played catch, if we could some how make it to base, we could still stay alive until we caught our breath and were ready to run to be chased by the one who was “it.”

Memories always come back, when I walk past that rock, I think of all my friends I used play with. Such a wonderful group of guys. I met my best friend there; we continue to be very close even today. There were times even many years after we grew up, I used to like to sit on the Base and just rest for a while. I thank God for my happy childhood. It’s been more than 10 years since I saw that rock. My sister’s daughters went to that school, they played on the rock. Recently I sent an email to my sister and she says the rock is still there.

When Joshua crossed the Jordan with the children of Israel, he told one member of each tribe to take a stone from the middle of the river Jordan and make a rock formation where they camp after crossing the Jordan. He also had them place 12 stones in the middle of the river where the priests who carried the ark stood as a memorial. It was going to be memorials of them crossing the Jordan which stopped flowing for them. Even though it was a season when normally the Jordan is overflowing, by divine intervention the waters ceased to flow to let the children of Israel through. A memorial on the sands of time that could be remembered even after much water has flowed over it. It was the divine intervention of their God of Grace that the waters of Jordan stopped flowing.

There are times we have also experienced the hand of God show us the path out of an impossible situation; we have to remember and be thankful. Do you find yourself too busy with things of this world that you have no time for God? This was a moment when the children of Israel were acknowledging God when there was the fear of an impending battle on the outside and the fears of inner doubts and conflicts that manifest themselves in forces from within. It was Joshua’s way of showing the people that it was God, who could stop the flooding waters of Jordan that was going to win the victory. Their hearts needed to be filled with the same spirit that brought them strength and courage that was in Joshua and Caleb.

Shepherd

2005-04-28T17:48:00.000-04:00

Moses when he prayed for a leader, he asked God for a shepherd for the sheep and military commander who will lead the battle. God told him to appoint Joshua. God assured Moses that Joshua had the Holy Spirit in Him (Numbers 27: 15-18). Joshua had distinguished himself as a humble servant of God, serving Moses with strength and honor in battle against Amalek and in faith when he reported that Canaan could be overcome against the report of the cowardly spies. Joshua had proved beyond a doubt that he believed in a God of grace who inspires us by the working of his Spirit in our hearts and minds to express ourselves through works of faith. Why was the role of a Shepherd critical for the children of Israel?

Canaan was a hostile nation whose culture and values were totally alien to the Israelites. If they entered, their faith would be embroiled in differences and would have found themselves in a similar predicament as they did with the Egyptians with conflicting religious values. When two different religions merge, the natural course of action is to find those values that the two have in common. This leads to the dilution of the faith of both religions. Christ said if the salt looses its saltiness, it is only good to be discarded. Thus they needed the watchful eyes of a strong spiritual leader who could guide them through the transition. God promised Joshua the land flowing with milk and honey was going to be theirs. He promised them of his presence, that he would never fail or abandon them. God encouraged them to be strong and courageous. God told them to follow the path set for them through obedience to the laws given through Moses, and to read the scriptures day and night. He assured them that they would succeed (Joshua 1:6-9). Here God was revealing to Joshua the strength and power that came from reading, listening and obeying the word of God.

Psalm 23 is the model Psalm for the role of a Good Shepherd. This is probably one of the psalms many Christians today know by heart. It has a ring of the voice of our Lord Jesus to it. We can almost sense Him softly whispering these words to our heart, except when we get a hard knock with the rod and staff. This is one of the psalms of David. It is a psalm of abundant living in green pastures. We can sense the watchful eyes of the good shepherd upon us as he leads us through the paths of righteousness. The Good Shepherd anoints our heads with His Holy Spirit and our cup salvation is overflowing. The Good Shepherd assures us of His presence in the shadow of death.

Christ said that He was the good shepherd who lay down his life for his sheep. He was the good shepherd who was the role model for all those who wanted to be shepherds for his flock. The role of a shepherd (John 10:9-15) is critical, as it is the shepherd that protects the sheep from thieves who kill and destroy. St. Paul warns us to watch out for savage wolves who will come to distort the truth and entice people away from the flock (Acts 20:17-38). They are ones that cause divisions in the church. It is this gift of discernment that must be always active in the role of a shepherd. Without this discernment it is very difficult to shepherd the flock.

Do you hear the voice of Jesus asking you if you love Him? Do you hear the voice of the Jesus asking you nourish the needs of someone you know? Have you ever denied or felt ashamed to acknowledge your faith in a loving saviour? Jesus after his resurrection met Peter by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:15-19). He asked Peter three times, “do you love me?” Each time Peter said he did. Jesus told Peter feed (tend) his lambs. It was as if Jesus was going through Peter’s repentance for having denied him three times. This spiritual exercise had a major impact on Peter. Peter who retraced his steps to fishing returned to the ministry of fishing for men and feeding his sheep.Let us affirm our faith with these simple words, "Lord I love you, empower me with the Holy Spirit to strive to be a good shepherd."

Passing the Torch

2005-04-27T11:49:00.000-04:00

My son’s choir in church sang the song, “The Lord is my strength and my song….Sing with Moses and the people”. How many of these songs of strength continue to inspire the young and old even today? “Alleluia, Alleluia. Oh give thanks to the Lord, and praise his name forever”. He has been promised a special yellow bead at the end of the year, which he will string to his choir chain he wears around his neck if he learns this song by heart.

Moses was inspired by the Holy Spirit as he faithfully wrote the holy scriptures of the Israelites in the Pentateuch. The Pentateuch gave the Israelite’s faith definition, form and structure. In the wilderness we witnessed the birth of a nation, the start of a community of faith. The children of Israel were a people that loved and worshipped God (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37-41). What has been the contribution of the children of Israel to the world because of their holy scriptures? It was through Moses that the Ten Commandments came into existence. The Pentateuch and Ten Commandments lay the foundation stones for the Old Testament. The Israelites had been suppressed by the Egyptians and had wandered through the wilderness for 40 years. They were ready to occupy the Land of Canaan.

Moses had been a dominating figure in the lives of Israelites and now the time had come to pass on the leadership to someone who was younger. Joshua himself must have been well into his eighties. God told Moses to lay his hands on Joshua, and to present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community and publicly to commission Joshua with the responsibility of leading the people. He told him to transfer all his authority to him so that all the people will obey Joshua. Here was Moses setting a trend for the smooth transition of effective leaders. Moses was a leader who was humble enough to set another in his place, to be led henceforth under his directions.

What does being an assistant to one of the biggest leaders and major contributor baring St. Paul in the history of the Bible for 40 years mean? How does one slip into the shoes of such a dominating figure as Moses? It is only human to compare. These are problems many new leaders face. The book of Joshua is similar to the Acts of the Apostles. Here Moses laid down the laws. Now Joshua moves on to uphold the law and keep the message alive in the future community of Israelites in Canaan.

Faithful Footprints

2005-04-26T09:25:00.000-04:00

You cannot see faith, but you can see the footprints of the faithful. We must leave behind "faithful footprints" for others to follow. Dr. Dennis Anderson

The children of Israel really struggled with their faith. The times they found they were rewarded were when they faithfully followed the divine will of God. Looking at the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and later Moses and Joshua a common thread that links them to God is their belief in God and their trust in his divine intervention when they were in need. Joshua had spent many years under the shadow of Moses. Joshua had been extremely faithful and close aid of Moses through out the 40 years in the wilderness. He had come to know and understand the ways of God through the leadership of Moses. Moses had been able to effectively groom Joshua to succeed him.

St. Paul says that everything was written for us so that through the experiences that our spiritual fathers went through , it may encourage us to have perseverance, that leads to endurance, that leads to Hope (Romans 15:4).

Joshua had been faithful to God all his life. He was one of the two living eye witnesses of the plagues in Egypt. When 12 scouts had initially been sent to see Jericho, only Joshua and Caleb returned to say that they could conquer the land. As Joshua stood over the flowing banks of the river Jordan and saw the city of Jericho, he must have wondered what now Lord?? There were no bridges, boats, airplanes or hovercrafts to take them across. But Joshua knew that if he remained faithful to God, that He would show a way. Lois the mother of a good friend of mine laid these encouraging words in my heart,Where there is no way, God has promised to show a way.

Early Spiritual Fathers

2005-04-25T23:09:00.000-04:00

The book Joshua is all about how the Israelites forcefully occupied the land of Canaan. It is full of stories of one bloody battle after another. Didn’t Christ teach us to love our enemies? How do we as Christians try to reconcile these battles with our every day lives? But then again, without the rich history of the faith of the Israelites, they would never have seen the fulfillment of God’s promise of a Messiah being recorded so well. Christ said, “ When I was with you, I told you that what was written by Moses, the prophets and in the psalms must all come true (Luke 24:44).” By saying this didn’t Christ ratify Moses as an authentic teacher of our faith? The text of the Old testament was what Christ based a lot of His teachings on. The only difference being the emphasis shifted from strict adherence to religious laws, to a God of grace who loved them, and wanted them to love Him and one another as well.

Ansalem, who became the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093, was one of the great thinkers of his time. His motto, credo ut intelligam ("I believe so that I may understand"), reflected his intention to explain faith in God by reason. As one ventures into the book of Joshua we continue in our mode of Fides quarens intellectum - Faith seeking understanding. The times of the Old Testament were times when there were many gods with many different powers. Moses was trying to make the children of Israel understand their faith in Yahweh the one true God. Israel was a theocracy and had their own system of justice. The Israelites as a people even under the able leadership of Moses were so easily swayed by the gods of Egypt even in the wilderness. Forty years in the desert had successfully weaned them from Egyptian gods. As Joshua and the children of Israel approached the promised land, the people of Jericho had a religion contrary to their own. Joshua must have had his own fears about the impact their religious views would have on the community. By their laws they saw no other alternative than to eliminate them completely to preserve their faith.

As a child I remember singing “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho” action songs and diving for the floor when the walls came tumbling down. It was an awesome song that we enjoyed singing, as we recounted his proclamation of faith that the battle is in his hands. Don’t we enjoy reading, singing and sharing these stories with our children? I wonder if the Israelites had their children sing songs and psalms of praise of their spiritual fathers of faith? I wonder how many times these stories were told generation after generation keeping our faith alive? If these stories had not been recorded what would our faith be built on? As we study the old testament, we have to come with hearts and minds that are open to receive the message that we get from the lives of those who preserved our faith.

If our early spiritual fathers were Joshua and Moses, their faith is a reflection of how they understood God and were inspired to follow Him. As Christians we try to focus on their faith in the living God. What is it that kept their faith alive? How did they do all these miracles, unless there was divine intervention? Do you see the grace of God in action, as He fulfills his promise made to Abraham many years ago? Moses before he died told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous! God will neither leave you nor forsake you (Deut 31:7-8).” Don’t these words still ring true to us ? Didn’t Jesus also use a similar words to assure us before his ascension? Jesus said, “ I will be with you always, even unto the end of the age (Mathew 28:20).”

Spiritual Growth

2005-04-24T08:59:00.000-04:00

Now that winter is over and the snow has melted away, the gardeners are here to lay mulch. My son, as he descended the stairs of our apartment building, said “Dad it stinks out here?” But for the growth of the plants mulch is necessary. In the same way in our spiritual lives, we need our seasons when we need to be shown areas in our lives that are or have grown weak, and find the right mixture of people or the right environment where we will be strengthened to be more fruitful in our lives.

We need to make a strong commitment to God. St. Paul says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). How many of us really understand the gravity of such a verse? How many of us really desire this pearl of great price to reside within our bodies? Does the counsel of the Spirit of Christ have any impact on our decisions?

It is only when we read the Bible and good Christian literature about the lives of fellow Christians and their views that we get spurred on to tuning our hearts and minds to God. We need to make a strong commitment to be disciplined in our reading of the Bible and staying in touch with God through prayer. An ancient way of reading the Bible practiced in monastries is called lectio divina. Depending on the need, an appropriate scriptural passage is selected. The process involves reading, meditating, praying and contemplating on the word of God with open hearts. If reading the word becomes a part of our spiritual lives, we will be like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in season. Our leaves will not wither and whatever we do we will prosper (Psalm 1:3).

We need to be careful in the company of those intent on following the desires of their ungodly natural instincts. They are the ones that will cause divisions in the community of Christ and in our hearts as well (Jude 1:17-19). They are people who cannot understand the ways of the Christ Jesus and consider such ways as foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14). If we are in the company of people where we find ourselves becoming conceited, envious and provocative of each other then we need to be extremely careful. These are factors that will stunt our growth substantially and make us unproductive. We need to be very careful that we don't get sidetracked.

We need to find ourselves in a group of strong believers who will support us in our growth. They will inspire us and will speak the truth to us with love. They will help us grow to accept Christ as our head and show us how all his people are joined together as we work, grow and build ourselves up in His love (Ephesians 4:15).

How will we really know for sure that we have a spiritual gift?

It begins by our response to Gods word laid down in our hearts. When we look around our community, do we see those who are in need? When we begin to serve the community just as Christ served when he was on earth, and when we faithfully administer our gifts of grace, we realize the needs of those around us and find what our purpose is (1 Peter 4:10). We begin to realize the need to help someone in certain areas of their lives. In turn they also realize need to be helped.

Those who have the Spirit of Christ in them would have given up their foolish desires and stepped up to a life devoted to good Christian living (Galatians 5:22-26).If Christ dwells in us we will flourish in the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Talents

2005-04-23T22:40:00.000-04:00

Jesus told the parable of the man who, before embarking on a long trip, gave five bags of gold to one servant, two bags of gold to a second, and one bag of gold to a third (Mathew 25:14-30). The servants with 5 bags and 2 bags doubled their money, while the one with one bag hid the money safely and did not make use of it. When he returned, their master rewarded the servants who had doubled their money, and rejected as a worthless servant the one who had hidden his money. So it is with the spiritual gifts that God gives us – if we make use of them and double them we will be rewarded. Did God expect the servant with one bag to make the same effort as the other servants? Do we have any talents that have made us grow stronger in our understanding about God? How do we use our spiritual gifts to help our fellow men increase their understanding about God?

Is there a difference between talents and spiritual gifts? Bach was a brilliant musician who channeled his God given talent of music into a spiritual gift of inspiring people to love, understand and obey God’s word. Whenever Bach composed a piece of music, he wrote the letters S.D.G. at the bottom of the music. Those letters stand for the words Soli Deo Gloria which means "To God alone be the glory". Bach was convinced that his music was a gift from God and that he had a responsibility to use his gift to bring glory to God. Do you use your talents and spiritual gifts to bring glory to yourself or to God? Do you regularly make use of your spiritual gifts and talents so that you improve them over time? Do you have any talents that you find are drawing you away from God?

One of the sayings of Jesus was that the purpose of a lamp is to be seen and not to be hidden (Mark 4:21).

Speaking in tongues

2005-04-22T21:57:00.000-04:00

Speaking in tongues is a step of faith to speak in a language that is not understandable to others. It is for the edification of the individual – for the spirit and not the mind. Though it does not bring about understanding to the mind, it brings strength and comfort to our spirit.Speaking in tongues has been a gift that brings unity and enthuisiasm among many christian groups today. However St. Paul says that if someone can interpret what you speak in tongues about then it brings about edification of the body, mind and spirit. This is when through interpretation of the tongue it becomes a gift similar to prophecy (1Corinthians 12:10). What spiritual gift is it that people have that can inspire us and draw us to them? What is it that can cause us to be lead by them to reach heights we have never ventured out to climb? Is it the soundness of their faith, the peace that exudes from them, the sense of joy, the life of challenge?

In the gospel of Mark when Jesus commissioned his disciples to go into all the world and preach the good news, he said that one of the signs that will accompany those who believe is that they will speak in new tongues (Mark 16:17). When Jesus spoke of speaking in tongues, did He mean the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues or a natural gift of speaking a new language to spread the gospel?

Depending on which stage of our life we are in, we have certain natural gifts and abilities. Through the empowering of the Holy Spirit we will be able to use it effectively for the growth and development of the Body of Christ. Today three major gifts of the Holy Spirit are emphasized among end of days evangelicals and Pentecostals are: Speaking in tongues, Prophecy, and Healing.It is when we come to Christ with all our gifts and talents that God starts to work within us and accomplish great things through us.

Prophesying

2005-04-21T21:56:00.000-04:00

A prophecy is a revelation that comes directly from God. It lies as a burden on the prophet’s soul until s/he, by the power of the Holy Spirit, forth tells or foretells the message to the people to whom it was meant to be delivered. Joseph was a prophet who has had a significant impact on the ancient world through prophecy. It was through his ability to interpret dreams that he could envision the future strategy for Egypt, and all the surrounding nations, tribes, and kingdoms. A good prophet has a vision of what can and should be done, and communicates this to others. John the Baptist was a prophet who was a voice forth telling in the wilderness crying out to the people to repent. This is also a form of prophecy where the individual cries out to the people to change their ways. John had the ability to speak from his heart and mind the will of God. It is telling forth from his personal experience where he had a spiritual experience of faith that cannot be explained rationally. Do we have a role as prophets today to cry out against injustice, to ask people / leaders to change their ways?

Healing

2005-04-20T21:55:00.000-04:00

Healing of the body, mind and spirit is holistic healing. James, the brother of Jesus and a leader of the Jerusalem church writes (James 5:14-15) that the elders of the church must pray over those who are sick and suffering, and anoint them with oil in the name of Jesus Christ. By healing physical ailments with oil, the patient is put on the road to speedy recovery. The prayers, offered in faith, enable the mind and spirit to adapt to the physical healing. This is an important aspect of the spiritual growth of people in Christ. When Christ was asked by the disciples why they could not cure a boy possessed by a demon, He replied that it was because of their lack of faith in God (Mathew 17: 14-23). He said that if we had faith of the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains!! Faith in God plays a vital role in the healing ministry. Not only must the healer believe, but the one who needs healing must trust in the healer’s ability to heal.

Leading

2005-04-19T21:52:00.000-04:00

A good leader is also a good follower (Jeremiah 10:23). A leader knows that it is God who leads us individually and as a group. This is the paradox of being a good leader – s/he is a follower (servant) and a leader. Therefore it is the leader’s task to bring followers to a direct personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A good leader is one who will focus on the vision and mission of Christ for this world.

A good leader is one who can groom others to take over the responsibilities from them. A good leader is one who has the trust of his /her followers and tremendous faith in the living God. When Paul spoke of Timothy, his student, he said he was one who had a genuine interest for everyone and not just in himself. Paul groomed Timothy for a leadership role and considered him to be like his son (Philippians 2:20-22). Like Timothy, a spiritual leader works wholeheartedly for the common good of the body of Christ. A good leader finds it so easy to connect with people spiritually at an emotional, physical and intellectual level. It is the person who touches a chord in your heart that you are willing to serve or follow.

Teaching

2005-04-18T20:27:00.000-04:00

A spiritual guide or teacher should be able to read and interpret the scriptures for people so that we understand how God wants us to live our lives. St. Paul says that all scripture has been written by people who were inspired by God, and so can be used to guide us on the right path (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Through study, the scriptures equip us for teaching, correcting and training in righteousness.

There is a phrase in Latin Optimus magister bonus liber that means ‘The best teacher is a good book’. A good teacher is able to not only tell other people what to do but have the respect of other people as well, or gain that respect over time. This is accomplished by being well-versed in the scriptures and living the life s/he teaches about. A good teacher is able to reach into the mind of his / her weakest student and impress upon them what the word of God has to say. Eventually the teacher is the one who learns the most in the process, and the more the teacher knows the better they will be able to help the students. However a good teacher realizes that it is not actually possible to teach somebody – a student has to have the desire to learn. It is the Holy Spirit and not the self that kindles the burning desire to learn and to understand.

Charisma – II

2005-04-17T20:23:00.000-04:00

The song I Surrender All was written by Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896 when he was struggling with the direction his life should take. He wondered whether to study the Arts or to go into full-time evangelism. It was at this crucial point in his life that he surrendered his life to God to serve as an evangelist. The Holy Spirit inspired him to write this song, which has become an anthem for many evangelists when they call for those souls who have surrendered their lives to Christ all over the world.

There are some people who emerge as spiritual leaders with special gifts that God uses as instruments to speak directly to us of the word of God. These spiritual gifts take a lot of personal effort to build and develop. It is through a continuous process of refinement in our spiritual lives and our commitment to Christ that these gifts are developed.

• Teaching
• Leading
• Healing
• Prophesying
• Speaking in tongues

Charisma

2005-04-16T11:22:00.000-04:00

In today’s world the word charisma is used in many different contexts. There are many who view it as personal appeal or magnetism. Is charisma about style, power or money? Are people viewed as being charismatic because of the car they drive, the clothes they wear, or the circle of friends they move in? Beauty seen only externally could have repercussions on our own sense of self-worth. We may be led to have a false image of ourselves or to believe we have certain limitations which make it impossible to live spiritually.

St. Paul does not view charisma as being the self confidence that exudes from us because we are a trendsetter or the best in our field. The charisma St. Paul refers to is the spiritual gifts God gives us, which He uses for the building of the church (Romans 12: 1-10). These gifts will be evident in a person’s life, work and virtues. It is through these gifts that we as fellow believers come to know and experience at some point a spiritual dimension of Christ. The song We are one in the spirit, We are one in the Lord comes to mind as I think of the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit helps us develop. The chorus says They will know we are Christians by our love. It is by the love for our Lord Jesus Christ that we are all bound together as one. Our God-given spiritual gifts enable us to care for one another and unite us in the one Body.

How do we bring out the latent gifts and talents God has given us for the growth of those around us and ourselves? St. Paul identifies the gifts that all of us can easily work on building up within us as:

Loving - Jesus highlighted His ministry with the commandment for his disciples to love God and their neighbors. Charles Wesley wrote the hymn “Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?” It is when we realize the full extent of what Christ did for us that we will be able to effectively express our love for God and our neighbors. In 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 St. Paul says that all our gifts maybe done away with but the greatest gift we have, love, will stay with us forever.

Forgiving - It is critical for Christians to forgive those who have hurt them in some way. It is very difficult to build a relationship within the Body of Christ if we carry these burdens of resentment and grief with us. They always come back to haunt us. We need to show mercy just as God has shown mercy to us. St. Paul is calling us to cheerfully show mercy and forgive.

Encouraging - A Christian should encourage fellow believers to follow in the way that God has set before them. Encouragement is the ability to get the children of God moving despite their setbacks to do the will of God. Barnabas was one who had this exceptional gift and was credited with having mentored and encouraged St. Paul in the initial stages of his new life in Christ.

Giving – I am reminded of the drummer boy who had nothing to offer the baby Jesus but his heart and drumbeat, and the most famous parable of Christ where the widow’s mite was considered as being generous. St. Paul says that we should give with simplicity and not make a big show of what we have done. When we keep account of how much we are giving we become more focused on that, leading to pride in our giving. It is not important how much we give in the world’s eyes. What is important is how much we sacrifice in God’s eyes.

Serving – This is a gift where we serve those who are in need because we feel the Holy Spirit within us prompting us to reach out to them. When James and John asked Jesus if they could sit on the thrones next to Jesus, the disciples were clearly distressed with that request. Jesus clearly indicated that leadership must start with servanthood on earth. Jesus said that He gave his life on earth to serve and not to be served (Mathew 20:20-28). The gift to serve is exemplified in the lives of Mother Teresa who cared for the dying, and President Carter who builds for the homeless. They dedicated their lives to serve specific groups of people who are in need.

It is when people see these gifts manifested in us that they will see the need to become fellow believers. They will clearly see that we live lives not for own glory but to bring glory to Christ Jesus by following the way he has set before us. As we grow spiritually do we find ourselves being blessed with multiple gifts? Do we see new ways that enable us to build the body and help to groom others who have similar gifts? It is through the process of developing our spiritual gifts that we become more conscious of the needs of those around us. When we realize the need for each other, and that we belong to one another, that we come to experience the unity in the Body of Christ.

Transformation

2005-04-15T08:15:00.000-04:00

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that either man models himself on the god of his own invention, or the true and living God moulds the human form into His image. There must be a complete transformation, a metamorphosis (Romans 12: 22, Corinthians 3:18). Dietrich Bonhoeffer is trying to make us realize that it is not we who effect this transformation, but the Holy Spirit living in us who brings it about . It is up to us to immerse (baptize) ourselves in the Holy Spirit in an environment that enables this transformation to come upon us. Transformation must not just be in our external selves. The Holy Spirit needs to do His work from within as well.

Our hearts and minds are often clouded with doubts, fears, and errors in judgment on the meaning of godly living. Our hearts and minds cannot ever be fully purged of these beliefs and feelings. St. Paul talks about the need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that our actions, beliefs and feelings will be in line with the will of God.

As the worship chorus goes, Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me. It is an ongoing and continuous process of first being baptized and then being filled with and immersed in the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist (Mathew 3:11) claimed that he baptized with water when his followers turned from their sins, but that Christ would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. So it is today. Our pastors can baptize us with water, but it is Christ who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. Christ knows the needs of the community so if we are led by Him, He will identify our spiritual gifts, develop them and make use of them.

Martin Luther says that the scriptures presented Christ in two aspects, first as a gift and second as an example (sacramentum et exemplum). We should realize that there is more to following Christ than just trying to imitate his example. It is to accept Him as God, Lord and the Savior of our souls and that of the whole world. It is to accept Him as the Son of God, who existed even before the world began. It is to realize that it is only by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that any transformation takes place in our lives. It was divine will of God the Father to send Christ to be with us, giving up all the glory He had above. God showed us the extent of his love, and He wanted this love to fill all our hearts and minds. He sent Christ with the message of love. We realize with thanksgiving that Christ’s ministry on earth was a gift, an act of love. Christ’s role as Messiah is not diminished in any way if a person follows in his footsteps and is subject to greater suffering than Christ on earth. We as Christians should realize that whatever we may do on earth, our roles are not the same as that of the role of Christ.

St. Paul exhorted us to be humble, (healthy ego - Romans 12:3). There is bound to be a conflict between what we believe we are and what we truly are. We should not become too proud of our gifts or achievements but should be fully aware of what we are capable of doing. St. Paul describes us as different parts of a healthy human body that need to work together as one body under the direction of Christ as the head. We are all different with different spiritual gifts but we need each other and should learn to depend on each others’ strengths. Our gifts should be used to build up and foster the growth of love and faith within the Body of Christ. Our hopes should be fixed on that day when Christ will return, our bodies will be completely transformed, and there will be peace.

A Tribute

2005-04-14T09:59:00.000-04:00

"You have to begin to lose your memory, if only in bits and pieces, to realize that memory is what makes our lives. Our memory is our coherence, our reason, our feeling, even our action. Without it, we are nothing”. Luis Buñuel (1900-1983)

I remember Vallia Appacha (Grandfather) in his last days who though he had lost his memory on whether he had one motta (egg) or more, could succinctly remember his younger days. His family and achievements were very dear to his heart. An engineer by profession, he planned towns, built dams, raised buildings, and many other civil structures. Being the eldest of many brothers and sisters he was largely responsible for their upbringing. He later raised his own family of 7 children. Every time he spoke of them he came alive with those memories. The tharavadu (family house) he built in Ernakulam has always been a home away from home for us. On the plaque outside our family prayer room are the words in latin Ora et labora - Pray and work. Carved in wood. Our Vallia Appacha (Grandfather) helped build our church in Ernakulam, and also had a passion for building low income houses for the poor and needy.

I have nostalgic memories of all the fun I had during our long summer holidays. Climbing the guava tree, mango tree, playing dark hide and seek, going to Lotus club, chatting with the office staff, playing in the children’s park, and so many activities which kept us very busy. Vallieappacha (Grandfather) and Vallieamchie (Grandmother), Alexappacha (Alex Uncle) and family, Achaappacha (Acha Uncle) and family, and so many others were there to take care of all of us. We are really blessed that we can continue in these traditions to meet and to have the support of our large family.

As we grow older and open our diary of memories, Appacha (Father – Dr. Benjamin Pulimood) figures as our major support and strength. It feels like he coauthored many of the chapters of our book of life. Appacha (Father) continues the family tradition of work and prayer as a motto for life. A life centered on God is a life that is a prayer. To get five different lives to come together morning and evening to say prayers was quite a task. Yet Appacha (Father) persevered and today we continue to pray together as a family and stay together through thick and thin.

Appacha (Father) was blessed to grow up as the youngest son of a business man. He trained to be a physician from Trivandrum Medical College. He was well known for his outstanding leadership in sports as he represented the state for football, hockey, and tennis. As a son of a prominent member of the church, he was regular at church. At a Billy Graham evangelistic campaign, he gave his life to Christ. From then he decided that he was going to serve God in the best way he can. He met my mother at CMC Hospital, Vellore, while doing his senior residency. His family and friends all encouraged him saying that she was a good Christian girl with a strong commitment to serve Christ. They got married by the end of the year. After getting his membership from Edinburgh UK, he returned to CMC Vellore (http://www.cmch-vellore.edu/main.asp) and served there for 30 years.

As children we were expected to go to church, and Sunday school, and rest on Sundays – although I enjoyed skipping Sunday school and swinging on the Banyan trees with the monkeys and sometimes my buddies. Sunday was never complete for us until we heard the CMC (Christian Medical College, Vellore) choir sing the final blessing after the evening service.

A charismatic leader of the Church, Appacha (Father) represented the church to World Council of Churches, and attended and chaired many church related organizations and meetings all over the country and world. Being in CMC we had the privilege of meeting with many Christian world leaders and were influenced by their thoughts and their work.

“Christ is all to me”, is how the old hymn goes, written by one of Appacha’s (Father’s) patient and spiritual guide, D.T. Niles. So it is for Appacha (Father). I remember on countless occasions asking him “why don’t you make some more money and have a comfortable life”. But he patiently explained his calling to serve. As the Bible says once you put your hand on the plough you should never turn back. I could see that there was nothing that would change his mind. He worked extremely hard and was greatly blessed spiritually and helped many spiritually. God continues to greatly bless all of us by providing for all our needs.

Appacha (Father) is a passionate Christian Servant. His sacrifice and dedication to his mission to serve God with his heart, mind and soul through CMC is something to be greatly admired. This passion to serve continues to burn in him, as not a day passes when he doesn’t think of, advise a patient, speak to a staff, or chat with a friend associated with CMC. His love for us and for CMC is almost the same. He made us realize that when we learnt to let go and let God do his work in us, we would have a deep and rewarding relationship with God.

D. T. Niles says, “The only way to build love between two people or two groups of people is to be so related to each other as to stand in need of each other. The Christian community must serve. It must also be in a position where it needs to be served” (This Jesus ... whereof we are witnesses, p. 25). Appacha (Father) has great compassion for the larger community especially the poor and needy. He makes us stop and examine our hearts and minds to determine whether we are living our lives only for ourselves and our families, or whether we are looking at the needs of the community and those around us. Do we see those who are hurting and are we there to comfort them?

As a teacher he was well appreciated and loved by his students. He wanted students to live responsible lives and above all to be committed to God and their work. He cared for them and prayed with them and us for their needs. He inspired one of his gifted students to depict a painting of an Indian Jesus caring for a sick patient. This painting hangs in the main hallway of CMC. He was able to capture the vision of Ida Scudder and pass it on to students for the need for committed Christian healthcare professionals in the backward village communities of India. Meeting Ajit Singh at Orissa, whose wife Pushpa delivered Nikhil my son, exposed me to this dimension of Appacha (Father). Here was Ajith, serving in what is probably one of the most backward areas in India, saying that Appacha (Father) had been major influence in his life

Appacha (Father) was at the forefront in Academics. Being in CMC he had carved a stature for himself in the national and international medical community. He was Principal and later Director of the medical college for many years. He was Secretary and President of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology; attended and chaired medical conferences abroad and in India; and presented and published papers. He is well recognized in his field and many come to listen to him teach and lecture.

As a holistic healer he is well sought after. His devotion to his work with the touch of the Spirit of Christ in him makes him an exceptional physician. As children we were exposed to pain and suffering at a very early age. Our conversation on the dining table was often serious discussions about some patient’s health or treatment. His skills as a physician are greatly admired. The standards that Appacha (Father) has set and preserved help to groom some of the best healers in the world

Love is his greatest strength. Appacha (Father) and Amachie (Mother) gave us a lot of hugs and kisses. They taught us the importance of caring for one another’s needs. We grew up on a campus where we were sheltered from the evils of society. The greatest gift parents give their children is unconditional love. Their unconditional love for us as children has been the key to all our successes and support in all our failures.

Simplicity is his hallmark. He lives a very disciplined and holy life. In his early years wearing white khadi pant and shirt was his way of expressing patriotism to the struggle for freedom. After a point it seemed like his way of expressing simple living. He lives a life centered on God and not on money. Comforts and luxuries were last on the list of the Pulimoods in Vellore. We were happy with what we had. The joy of being a family together, simple lifestyles and simple food. We learnt to appreciate the nature around us, climb trees, climb hills, ride bikes through the villages (Edanchath and Otterri), and swimming in Kassam. We played a large variety of games and built a wide network of friends many of whom have become like family. He taught us to be thankful for God’s blessing of having a very stable family

Mercy, Tolerance and Patience for all types of behavior – There are some who don’t appreciate his approach, but this doesn’t deter him from being kind to them. He always helps everybody, even though they may give him a hard time. He is unaffected by the behavior of people who are rude and out of control. Over time he always manages to calm them down. To have a son like me must be his biggest test in tolerance and patience. I must have brought home any animal I could catch on our campus, some of them were pretty weird as pets. I had squirrels, mongoose, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, different varieties of pigeons, a kite (hawk family), parrots, sparrows, chicken, ducks, fish, butterflies and beetles. He patiently took care of them when I got bored. But his support has been a source of great comfort and strength.

Humility is another great hallmark. He reaches out to all in need. Always with a caring smile, open heart and mind full of concern for them. On countless occasions we accompanied him to Palamathi hills to minister to the poor people in the villages. We visited RHUSA many times where we could see many of his colleagues and students hard at work serving the neighboring village communities. His desire to establish Ida Scudder Ward in CMC is an expression of his passion for the poor and needy which instills in us a desire to serve them in whatever way we can.

Openness, Integrity and Candor. Our house is always open to all our relatives and friends. This is a blessing because we got to know so many of them and spend many long holidays sharing their homes as well. At work also he tried hard to make himself accessible. He always left our house open to students to come and discuss their needs and problems. Our house was always open for SCM to host their meetings on Sunday and Class prayers for medical students on week days. The first thing he did when he became Director of CMC was to put in a little glass window on the door. Anyone who wanted to see him could flash their face, and if he was free, he would quickly take time and step out and sort the problem out. He has never been threatened by smarter physicians than him. He encourages both his colleagues and students to excel and makes them work toward providing world class treatment in an Indian setting.

Too often we underestimate the power of a smile, a touch, a kind word, a listening ear, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. (Leo Buscaglia)

Joy is another great strength. I remember walking the hallways of CMC with him, there were so many people who knew him and stopped to talk with him. He always had a contagious smile and something good to say. Even when things were rough, we would never know, because he was always very enthusiastic and bubbling with a lot of energy.

What can be more rewarding than to live a life of faith where you are doing what God has called you to do, passionately serving those who are in need, and sincerely teaching the young to care for the sick and suffering ? What can be more important than to live a life faithfully devoted to ones calling, offering ones life, gifts, talents and resources to God as a sacrifice? God will use them in our everyday life to help strengthen His children and bring glory to His name. What can be more challenging than to not be anxious about the future, but living in hope that a loving God will provide for all needs.

I am thankful that the same Spirit of Christ that works in him continues to work in the hearts of his children and grandchildren. I would like to wish him a very happy 70th birthday and many more joyous blessed occasions like this one. I end this tribute with another hymn by D. T. Niles whom we used to often visit as kids when he was sick in CMC Hospital Vellore. "Saranam, Saranam, Saranam."

Spiritual Directions

2005-04-13T00:33:00.000-04:00

St. Paul is calling us to offer our bodies as a holy and living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). What does that mean? Does that say we give ourselves up to a Holy Life? How would you define a Holy Life? Do we stop doing all that we are doing and live a saintly life? Does that mean we must relinquish everything? How different will this life be from our ordinary lives? What is good Christian etiquette?

Today my son was half hour late coming home from school. The reason he gave was they had a new bus driver, who had a wrong set of directions. He did not turn into the road to our apartment community where we lived. As the group of 20 kids passed their customary turn, they started to wail that they missed their stop. Eventually the driver realized his error and brought them home.

The ordinary way for most Christians maybe compared to a much longer journey to our Heavenly Home. Where should we make our turns? When should we make our stops? Finding our way back when we get lost. We are usually never traveling alone. We have family, friends and others coming along as well. People and places may change but the directions have been clearly spelled out to us. But if they are read wrongly, if the directions are forgotten, we board the wrong bus, or get a poor guide we may head in the wrong direction.

Fostering the growth of spiritual gifts and setting of good Christian standards will help us in our journey. St. Paul in Romans 12 helps us identify some of the spiritual gifts that come to us through the working of the Holy Spirit and gives us some practical insights on instructions for our journey through life on earth. St. Paul is encouraging us to offer our lives, gifts, talents and resources to God as our sacrifice. God will use them in our everyday life to help strengthen His children and bring glory to His name.

Hardness of Heart

2005-04-12T23:01:00.000-04:00

St. Paul says, Egypt’s material prosperity or the children of Israel’s poverty is not a direct reflection of what God thinks of them as his children (Romans 9:14-18). Why did God allow the unrighteousness of Pharaoh to flourish? Why did God bless Jacob and curse Esau? Is grace of Jesus Christ retroactive for someone like Esau? St. Paul says that it is not for us to ask why to God. It is Gods discretion as to whether He should show mercy or compassion. It is impossible for us to understand God (Romans 11:33-36). Can we even compare all the wisdom of all the most intelligent people in the world against the wisdom of God? Can the pot ask the potter why he was created to be used for menial work and not as a decorative piece? We should never judge a person by their outward appearance. It is the state of a person’s heart that really matters. Can we really say for sure what the condition of a person's heart? Only God knows and understands. St. Paul says that God looks for radical change in a person’s heart that is transformed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:29).

God allowed Egypt as a Nation to Flourish. A great natural disaster of monstrous proportions that could have wiped out the whole nation of Egypt was averted by the wisdom and prophesies of Joseph. The Children of Israel were initially treated well by Pharaoh. Later the Pharaohs forgot all about the protection that was given them by Gods servant Joseph. Pharaohs’ wealth, greed and power made their hearts hard to those that were subject to their laws. They viewed Israel as a threat. Slowly they started to persecute them by subjecting them to merciless slavery and other inhuman acts. The evil they commenced, gradually accumulated over the years.

Then it was a question of when God was going to act. He filled the children of Israel with hope that He would send them a savior. But they didn’t know who and when. He continued to make Egypt a powerful nation. He continued to bless them with more than they really needed. When the time came for the redemption of the children of Israel, the sons of Pharaoh had become extremely proud. Pharaoh had forgotten about the power of the Living God. Do we find ourselves forgetting all that God has done in the past for us? When Moses came to the Pharaoh did he see him as a shepherd with some kind of magical powers? Pharaoh couldn’t believe that Moses would take him down with the help of the living God.

Every time Moses came up with a miracle God would allow Pharaohs heart to be hardened. Pharaoh came to see it as a personal vendetta with Moses’ God. He decided in his heart that he was not going to let the people of Israel go. Was this a case of the super power of Egypt attempting to go up against the divine power of God?

Are there things in your life that you can’t let go? Are there people or places that mean more to you than the living God? Have you hardened your heart to certain areas or issues in your life that you have accepted as impossible to overcome? Do you remember King David when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan of his sin, he admitted his sin with repentance? We must with King David beseech the Lord that the Holy Spirit will create in us a pure heart, and renew a right spirit in us. That God will not cast us away from His presence. We must pray that the Holy Spirit will show us the log in our own eyes before we search for the speck in our neighbors eyes. Do you remember Miriam who thought highly of herself and criticized her brother Moses, but was struck with leprosy?

Can we hear the words of Jesus beckoning us to come to Him when we are weak and heavy laden, and He will give us rest? We must come with the expectation to reform, renew and redirect our hearts to the Living God. We must plead for compassion and mercy for our hardness of heart that comes about knowingly or unknowingly, and for the need to restore our hearts by the help of the Holy Spirit. We must learn to show mercy and compassion just as our Heavenly Father has shown it to us. Finally we must realize that it not by any action of ours that we are saved, but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. So let us confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Abba’s House

2005-04-11T12:04:00.000-04:00

When we are led by the Holy Spirit we accept the proposal of the living God to be his children. We see the dawn of a new relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Are we content to know that we are loved so much by God that he has adopted us as his own children? Do we really believe that God would go to any extent to establish a close bond with us? It is the Holy Spirit that helps us establish and preserve this relationship, with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

We see a horizontal relationship structure being described by St. Paul. St. Paul says we are all children of God (Romans 8:14-17). We are all brothers and sisters with the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Father and son, mother and daughter, all come into this new spiritual dimension in their relationships. Can you imagine the joy that one will experience when we are reunited with our loved ones who went ahead? If we are all equal then this will be a harbinger to peace, love and unity. Nevertheless, these relationships are very difficult to perceive with our human intellects.

Our relationship with God is not based on fear and trembling as we approach the Holy of Holies or damnation and hell fire when we fail to live a righteous life. We no longer live in fear of endangering our relationship with the living God. It heralds a new relationship where God accepts us as His own adopted children where we can call him Abba, Father. Abba is a term of endearment where one refers to informally in a face to face encounter with ones own Dad or Daddy. It reflects a very intimate relationship.

It is the Holy Spirit that enables us to establish this relationship with our Father. He encourages us to bring all our needs to our heavenly Father. He gives us the passion, understanding and articulateness to approach God. The Holy Spirit Himself gives us the blessed assurance that we are children of God. If we are children of God, we become joint heirs with Christ, so we may suffer with him and be glorified with him.

Isn’t this another great promise to be a joint heir with Christ? A joint heir is one who enjoys all the riches of the Kingdom that belongs to the King. We have become heirs to what God gives to all who have the Spirit of Christ living in them. As Christ was the only begotten son of God, we also have become children of the living God. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. Part of the responsibility that this relationship brings, is the commitment to share in his suffering. There are many in the world that has rejected Christ and his glory. It becomes incumbent on us at times to share in His suffering. In a Christian Nation it is not so evident. Still it hits us in subtle ways. Many employers shy away from those who are open about there faith. In a world that is driven by the dollar, Christians are difficult people to convince as they are driven to be more compassionate and morally right. To exploit opportunities at the cost of their high moral ethic, makes Christians less effective and viewed as soft in the hard world of business.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39). Isn’t this another great promise that brings us to our knees to thank God for his goodness? Can we measure the depth of the power of God’s love toward us? God loved us so much that he gave his only begotten son to be delivered into the sons of evil, that through this encounter, death will be defeated, and evil will no longer have dominion over the children of God. As death has been defeated we live in the Spirit of Christ. So neither death, life, angels, demons, the past, the present or the future will separate us from the love of our heavenly Father that has been so lavishly given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior through the eternal fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Spirit Filled Life

2005-04-10T20:57:00.000-04:00

Christ has promised us that, just as the Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead, if the Holy Spirit lives in us, He will raise us also from the dead. The promise of the resurrection is the greatest possible reminder of a God who will share his glory with us. Do you believe in the resurrection? Have you ever wondered how and when we will resurrect? St. Paul reveals to us the Holy Spirit will be responsible for our resurrection (Romans 8:11-13). We were created to love God and to love our fellowmen. He says our spirits need to form a bond of love with the Holy Spirit who will lead us according to God's purpose and plan for our lives.

As believers we no longer live according to our own spirits desires. It is these desires that draw us away from fellowship with God and His children. We must be ever vigilant of our desires that so easily make us trip and fall. Some times our desires very subtly draw us away from our walk. In our own frustration we do things we shouldn’t. We hope for things we shouldn’t really hope for. We find ourselves living in fear of some event happening. We continue to remain angry about something that was said or done to us many years ago. We moan over some broken relationship. We find ourselves doing things just for fun and then regretting them later. We find ourselves going in the wrong direction, unable to break the momentum of the wrong path we are spinning into.

How do we break away from hurtling away from God's ways? We need to have a certain amount of discipline in our lives. Does that mean we plan our lives to take a path that will lead us to get the best only for ourselves? That is a dangerous road to take. When our lives are self-centered, there are bound to be disappointments. There are going to be things that will make us trip and fall. Certain tragic events happen that make us rethink our lives' direction. The goals of our peers may not necessarily be our own and we are bound to clash. When we don’t realize our goals, in our frustration we do things that are more unthinkable. Our needs may not be the same as those of our families. This only leads to clashes in families. We have to stop relying just on our needs, our emotions, our peers, and our selfish goals. Instead we should base our thoughts and actions on the commands and words of Jesus through the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said I am in the Father and the Father is in me. We need to invite the Spirit of Christ into us that we may do his bidding. It is the Holy Spirit that enables our spirits to combat all those thoughts and feelings that make us spin away in the wrong direction. The Holy Spirit begins to refocus our thoughts and feelings and actions based on God's principles. Our spirits are no longer led away by every whim and fancy that the world has to offer. Our spirits no longer are pressured into conforming to the standards set by the world.

St Paul says that God causes all things to work for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Is it not a great assurance to be called by God, to feel his chords of love draw us into his plan and purpose for us? Our spirits have no idea what they should do for the Lord. He slowly reveals it to us. He gives us gifts that we can use to build up his Kingdom. When we are led by our own spirits we are not in line with God's plan for us. But when we are led by the Spirit of Christ we start pursuing the purpose for which we were created. If we do as the Holy Spirit leads us, we will begin to see God working for the good of us all. Our spirits feel secure in the hand of God that is leading us through our lives towards living in peace with God and our neighbors.

Trials and Tribulations

2005-04-09T09:56:00.000-04:00

Life sometimes is full of joy, and sometimes it is a struggle. As the old metaphor goes is your cup half full or half empty. How do we perceive the situation we are in ? Do you see an opportunity that can be accomplished or do you see a tragedy that is bound to happen? Beethoven the great music composer continued to write some of the best music even after he had lost hearing from both his ears. Paul went through many trials and tribulations, nevertheless even from prison he had the confidence to say, “I can do all things through the spirit of Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

We are bound to face trials in our life. But our trials work patience in us, which gives us staying power through our tribulations. Our patience is strengthened when we actively hold fast to the promises of God. Over time we build the experience to endure our trials. It is hope of sharing in God’s glory that pulls us through our trials. Christ at the last supper told his disciples to trust in the Father and in Him, and he was going to prepare a place for us in his fathers house (John 14:1 & 2). It is hope that fills our hearts with the peace of God.

Do you find yourself saying, “I love Jesus, its God’s laws I can’t stand?” Obedience to his laws is how we can live a Christ centered life. When we move away from God’s laws we find ourselves moving away from Peace with God. St. Paul says to the Romans that he longs to be encouraged by their faith and in turn he is eager to encourage them in their faith (Romans 1:12). Often it is by example and words of encouragement of our fellow believers that we abide by the laws of God. It is through these bonds of fellowship that he says we may enjoy “spiritual blessing.”

“O Lord, help me to understand that You ain't going to let nothing come my way that You and me together can't handle.”

Anonymous

Peace through Grace

2005-04-08T10:18:00.000-04:00

St. Paul says that we have peace with God, because by grace we can come to our Father in heaven (Romans 5:1-2).

What is grace? Grace is the ultimate expression of God’s mercy toward us, given as a free gift through Christ to all who come to him for forgiveness of sins. When Jesus sees that our lives are empty, and in need, He gives liberally. By the grace of God, Jesus gives us faith when we have no faith, hope when we have no hope, above all gives us in abundance the love of our heavenly Father.

To all those who find it hard to make it up the ladder of the beatitudes we are given the gift of Grace. Sometimes we think we are growing spiritually we have reached the last rung of the ladder, and some situation blows us off and we fall flat back where we started, or we find we have slipped down a rung or two. Let us not deceive ourselves we are human and we are frail. We have our moments, we have our lapses. St. Paul talks about our human nature that is always in conflict with our spiritual nature. But it is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit that comes to us in these moments and touches our lives.

There are times when we need to be ministered to. We need the Holy Spirit to minister to our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit is like a medicine that soothes us. Christ realized that he could not physically be with everyone, but he said that once he ascended to heaven he would send a helper, the Holy Spirit whose presence will be with us always (John 14:16). As the African American Spiritual goes, there is a balm in Gilead that heals a sin sick soul. The hymn goes on to say there are times when we feel discouraged and think life is vain, but it is the working of the Holy Spirit that revives us by the grace of Jesus Christ, that fills us with God’s peace. God will keep us in perfect peace whose mind is centered on Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

St. Augustine says, “God gives where He finds empty hands.”

Everlasting Peace - Shalom

2005-04-07T11:51:00.000-04:00

The peace that Christ offers surpasses all comprehension. (Philippians 4:7) When we come to Christ with all our fears and anxieties, we are comforted by the knowledge that he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7). The peace that Christ offers us is one that gives us the strength to face the worst of life’s tragedies and the greatest of successes with the same level of composure. It is a level of spiritual acceptance of Gods complete control of one’s life. The peace that Christ promises is forever. The peace we offer as peacemakers is the assurance that God is in control despite whatever tragedy we may face in life.

The hymn, " When Peace Like a River Attendeth My Way," was written by Spafford who faced two titanic tragedies in his life. In the devastating Chicago fire in the late 1800’s where more than 300 people perished and 100,000 people were left homeless, Spafford, a very rich business man, lost his entire fortune. 2 years later, even before this loss could sink in, a second tragedy struck. Spafford's wife and daughters were crossing the Atlantic to join Moody, the famed evangelist, for an Evangelistic campaign, when their ship collided with another ship. Four of his daughters died in the disaster. Fortunately his wife survived. As Spafford travelled to join his mourning wife, his ship sailed past the point where his daughters drowned. His heart was moved by the Holy Spirit to compose one of the classic Christian hymns on peace with God.

This hymn has brought solace to many Christians who face tragedies in life. Over time the words get ingrained in our hearts and minds and build a fortress of protection from despair and doubt. This everlasting peace fills our hearts with blessed hope for a time when Christ shall return and our faith will become reality.

Does this mean that Spafford was never discouraged or disheartened? Surely he must have felt every nerve in his body tearing him apart with grief as he came to terms with the death of his daughters and the loss of his livelihood. What enabled him to cross this bridge? What made him accept the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done” and say “It is well with my soul”?

It is faith in Christ that spurred Spafford on to help the poor people who suffered in the fire in Chicago. He realized that material things do not bring true peace. It is living a life devoted to one's calling and purpose that brings peace between God and humanity. It is by forging relationships with people in need and with God that one can sense this everlasting peace. When we bring the knowledge of Christ to God's children we are overwhelmed with a peace that surpases all understanding.

Later Spafford sensed a calling to move to Jerusalem with his wife and two daughters, born after the shipwreck tragedy. He founded the Jerusalem Colony whose mission is to serve the poor and needy.

Are we inspired by the faith of those who face tragedies in their life? Or do we avoid them? Do we find it hard to believe that a loving God will allow tragedies to happen in the lives of his children? Did people stay away from Spafford because of his misfortunes? Did Spafford leave Chicago because he felt he was not wanted? Or did he do so out of the realization that there were people in Jerusalem who were not being adequately looked after? Did Christ send him as a messenger of peace to Jerusalem?

The Spafford family suffered tremendously but remained faithful to God. They were at peace with God and hence could be peacemakers for God in Chicago and Jerusalem.

Peacemaker - Mediator

2005-04-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

Mathew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Jesus on the cross is a powerful image of one trying to make peace with God and man. In a world that mocked, beat and crucified Jesus, He looked up to heaven and pleaded with God the Father to forgive his oppressors. (Luke 23:34). “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”:. Wasn’t this an appeal of a son to a father? Wasn’t this an appeal from a child to a parent? A peacemaker and a child of God. The sacrifice of Christ’s death on the cross, has made an irrevocable agreement with the Father and Son where all of mankind can make peace with God, being justified by faith (Romans 5:1).

As we survey the brutality of the act of Christ hanging from the cross, we realize the frailty of the human mind. We can kill with our hands and save a life with the same hands. We can love some humans and hate some others. We can love someone today and hate them equally tomorrow. Do you think God forgave Judas and the mob who crucified Christ? Do you think God forgave those who were standing around and mocking him?

Can we think of a more suitable mediator who loves God our Father and all of God’s children? Could God find a greater mediator than His only begotten son? Is there anyone who can come to Christ, and say that He doesn’t know what it means to suffer? Is there anyone who can come to Jesus and say He doesn’t know what it means to be poor and needy?

Formerly the high priest entered the holy of holies with the blood of a sacrificial lamb as atonement for the sins of the children of Israel. With the coming of Christ his sacrifice is viewed as the once and for all final sacrifice by God. Previously an earthly priest used to stand as mediator between God and his people for their sins, but now we have an everlasting high priest who is constantly pleading on our behalf with the father. (Hebrews 9:24-28) The role of Christ is seen as that of a mediator and high priest, who brings about peace between God and Man. (1 Timothy 2:5)

Pure in Heart

2005-04-05T22:30:00.000-04:00

Mathew 5: 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Jesus one day put a child in his lap, and said, “Unless you become like a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.” A child’s heart is the embodiment of innocence. A child's heart needs to be loved and to love in turn. The child finds it easy to trust, obey, and love. A child’s heart is rarely weighed down with sorrow, hatred, anger, or jealousy. Do you still remember the innocent thoughts and feelings you had as a child? Have your thoughts matured for the better?

Purity of Heart is at the top rungs of the ladder where imitation of Christ comes naturally to us. Our hearts, minds and bodies are almost completely controlled by the Holy Spirit. When we show mercy, we sense the mercy of God purify our hearts. As the old hymn goes, “Are you washed in the soul cleansing blood of the lamb.” The disciples on the road to Emmaus sensed a burning in their heart when they were talking with Jesus. Do you sense a burning in your heart where the strongholds of Satan are being burnt down? Christ said “I am the light of the world”. Do you sense a bright light of illumination that comes and shows specific areas that need to be dealt with, to brighten our hearts? When our hearts are pure we sense the presence of the Holy Spirit living and moving within our hearts and minds. We can sense the springs of living water flowing out of our hearts making them pure from within.

When Saul and his band of fanatics were persecuting and stoning to death many Christians, his group narrowed in on Stephen. In Stephen’s last sermon before he died he said, “I can see Jesus standing at the right hand of God”. He was basking under the glory of the love and mercy of Christ. Was Christ standing to receive Stephen into the Kingdom? Stephen when he was being stoned, said, “Lord receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them.” An echo of what was heard from the cross. It was the Spirit of Christ in him that made him forgive his persecutors and purity in heart that enabled him to see Christ.

Do we see the image of God in people around us, irrespective of what race they belong to? Do we see Christ in them regardless of whether they are rich or poor? Do we see God working through people and situations leading us through the path he has set for us? We need lenses of love, which allow us to see only the good in people and filter out the bad, just like a good pair of sunglasses filters the harmful ultraviolet rays. When our lives are centered on Christ all that is impure and harmful will have no place in our hearts.

Mercy

2005-04-04T08:22:00.000-04:00

Mathew 5: 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Jacob doted on his son Joseph. He was the eldest child of his beloved wife Rachel. But this made his other sons very jealous of the excessive attention that Joseph received. Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors and gave many other special privileges. Joseph as a child had been blessed with the ability to have prophetic dreams. He must have had a very special relationship with God. His father may have seen this ability in him and realized from the start that he was an extraordinary child. When Joseph spoke of his dreams his father listened and so did his brothers. His brothers were greatly offended by his dreams. His dreams portrayed Joseph as their ruler in front of whom they all, including his parents, bowed. This sparked off seething rage among his brothers. They were ready to kill him, instead they sold him to slave traders who were on their way to Egypt.

Joseph went through many years of darkness imprisoned and betrayed by those very close to him – first by his brothers, and later in Egypt by Potiphar’s household where he was a slave. In prison he met the baker and the cup bearer of Pharaoh and correctly interpreted their dreams. When the cup bearer returned to Pharaoh, he forgot about Joseph, but remembered him eventually when Pharaoh had dreams that no one could interpret. Pharaoh was so impressed by Joseph that he made him his right hand man. All of Egypt now bowed before Joseph. Yet when he faced his brothers who begged for food to live, he forgave them. He said that what they meant to do as evil, God used to preserve them all.

Joseph saw the hand of God working through tragedy to preserve the future of the children of Israel. It was Joseph’s love for his brothers, despite all they had done to him, that overwhelmed him. He burst into tears from the sheer joy of seeing them, and restored a relationship that had been torn apart by so much hatred and jealousy. Joseph’s mercy and his brothers’ repentance united them together as a family again.

Here we see this beatitude being fully manifested in the lives of the father's of the tribes of Israel. When we find ourselves in powerful positions, do we use them to lash out at all who betrayed our confidence or ignored us? Or do we use our power to foster a stronger relationship of trust, love, and understanding with those around us? Could Joseph have ever seen himself thousands of years later on a Broadway stage or a huge Disney production? Yet his story today is one of the most popular shows on the power of mercy. Do we have a real life story that can be preserved for many generations?

The image of Christ on the cross saying “Father forgive them”, is a very powerful image of one who is merciful. Under extreme torturous conditions he could beg God to forgive. Blessed are those who are forgiving of one another. It is this unconditional love displayed through Jesus’ words of forgiveness and mercy that we are challenged to live by as Christians. It is the sacrifice made by Christ that is found pleasing in God’s sight. When we completely surrender to God’s will in our lives, we can view through the lens of love that which is done with evil intent. Often it is one harsh word, one wrong deed, one lost moment that cause relationships to be permanently broken.

Christ is calling all who are in need of mercy to come to him, and he will forgive and be merciful. As Christians, our biggest stumbling block is self-righteousness. Do we see Christ as God of mercy? Do we see mercy in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? Do we look at our neighbors with a sense of self righteousness or with unconditional love? When we are merciful we will find mercy in Christ. Just as Christ was merciful we learn to be merciful.

Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

2005-04-03T00:14:00.000-05:00

Mathew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

The image of hunger is one of a lion that has been starving for many days and will stop at nothing to get its prey, or the deer that pants for streams of water after being chased by a starving lion. Jesus was saying that those who passionately hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.

What are some of the thoughts on righteousness in the Bible? Christ is our righteousness. It is through him that we have access to our Father in heaven. In Psalm 1, the righteous delight in obeying and meditating on the laws of the Lord. It further says that the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the ways of the wicked will eventually lead them away from Him. To give generously to the poor is considered as righteousness (2Corinthians 9:9). Righteousness is living a life that is holy and pleasing in the sight of God. Abraham had faith in God and this was considered as righteousness. It was his simple trust in God.

In Luke 4:1-4 we learn that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when he returned from the Jordan, where he ate nothing for 40 days. He must have been ravenously hungry when the devil asked him to turn the stone to bread and eat. But Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone. Did he mean that though we need bread to live, we also need the fruits of the Holy Spirit?

The deer that drinks from the cool streams of water after being pursued by his predator, finds rest and comfort in the streams. Do we not find ourselves in similar situations in life, when we are under tremendous pressure from different directions and finally reach a point where we have really dried up inside? Do you at times feel the desperate need to escape and spend time alone? Christ tried his best to balance time spent with the people, his disciples, and with God.

The righteous are described in Psalm 1 as trees planted by streams of water. Are our lives drinking from these streams of the living word of God and feeding off His life giving bread? To be filled is to be assured of the presence of God and to find the comfort that all our needs have been met. Peace and joy comes from knowing that we doing all we can to lead a righteous life through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are comforted in the assurance that God provides for all our needs. To be filled with righteousness is to have the absolute knowledge that it can never be taken away from us.

The Meek

2005-04-02T23:46:00.000-05:00

Mathew 5:5 (KJV) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Jesus was saying that blessed are those who are humble, gentle and considerate. When Christ was on trial he was meek. He did not try and justify himself, because he was convinced that this was the path he had to take. Yet he bravely admitted that he was the King of the Jews. How many of us will be able to make a stand for our faith in Christ under such heavy pressure? He bravely faced the might of the most powerful nation of the day knowing fully well that he was staring straight at a death sentence.

Meekness is not a sign of weakness or cowardice but one of absolute trust in God’s control in all situations. Christ knew that it was God’s will that he would have to accept the verdict with courage. Nevertheless he knew that his fight was not against the people of that time. It was against the principalities and powers of darkness. It was against the very forces that held the keys to hell. It was a fight against death itself (Hebrews 2:14). It was a spiritual warfare of monstrous magnitude that was beyond human comprehension. It was a fight that even if the whole world united they could not take on by themselves. When Jesus resurrected on the third day he was victorious over death.

Meekness is to never to doubt the hand of God that is at work in all of creation. Job refused to believe his friends and wife when they told him that God had abandoned him. He stood fast to his faith. Even though he lost everything he still had the confidence to say that, “I know my redeemer lives.” To be confident that God does not let anything happen to us that he feels we cannot endure. It is to have the strength and courage to accept whatever happens in our lives as the will of God. To shift the focal point from our lives to God and His work for the furtherance of His kingdom. In the final analysis Job came out of period of suffering with a more profound understanding of God and more blessed than he had been in his earlier life.

Meekness is to be unsure of oneself, but sure of God's power. When God asked Moses to lead the people of Israel he was so unsure. Moses must have thought of the power and might of Pharaoh and of the Egyptian nation and wondered how he could come up against such a mighty force. When God assured him that he would go with him, to guide him and lead him he was strengthened and his confidence was renewed. In the eyes of God he was the right man for the job because of his absolute faith in the power of God. Once he agreed to do the task, he became an instrument through which God could bring freedom for the children of Israel from the Egyptian iron rule. Moses did not raise a sword against Pharaoh – it was God who waged the war. It was through the elements of nature and His creatures that God overcame Pharaoh and the might of the Egyptians. It was Moses’ willingness to surrender completely to God, and to be used by Him in the struggle for freedom from Egyptian rule. It was a long struggle, but through the grace of God Moses was able to overcome all obstacles and yet continue to be humble in the sight of men and God.

It is only when we come as clay to the potter’s house and ask to be molded into vessels for service in his kingdom, can God really start working on us. Until we are willing to come, it is hard for Him to use us. This is what it means to be meek, to be willing to be transformed into a new creation by God, to be willing to do his will under any circumstance.

When I go back to visit the town I grew up in, the faces and many of the buildings are all new to me, but the sun, moon, starlit sky, mountains, hills, valleys, rivers and lakes are all the same. We have lost nothing but rejoice in all that the earth has to offer us. Meekness is refocusing our aspirations from those that the world values to those that God values; learning to enjoy God’s creation as opposed to man’s creation; realizing that people can take all that we own, but the mountains and valleys, the rivers and all of nature, will always be there.

They that mourn

2005-04-01T15:21:00.000-05:00

Mathew 5:4 (KJV) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Jesus was saying there are many who are mournful and sad. He said that such people are closer to reaching out for God than those who are cheerful. God is listening to them. People mourn because of the way things have become. People no longer want to live godly lives but clamor after things that draw them away from living in harmony with God. It is disheartening that the world’s priorities are not the same as God’s. Some people mourn when they are unable to do anything worthwhile for God, because they don’t have the means to do so, or the situation is such that they have been prevented from doing so. They feel that they are like prisoners in a world that has slowly fallen away into evil ways.

In our fast paced world how many of us have the time to mourn? When we hear of families dealing with horrors like drug addiction, alcoholism, divorce, eating disorders, child pornography, prostitution, kidnapping and sexual molestation of children, murder, rape, and imprisonment we usually like to avoid them. We feel uncomfortable in their presence. These are things we don’t want to deal with, so we live in our own glass house and try to breathe the air that is within our own little worlds. Scarcely do we realize that there is a rage that is building up that if left unnoticed, our own little ceilings will come caving in, and we may be the next victim. In New Orleans before the advent of lent, the city goes into a week of celebration till Ash Wednesday. To think that a festival that is associated with Christian traditions is today one wild party of excess in over eating, display of wealth, alcohol, and sexual depravity. Can we deliberately go into overdrive mode in celebration of our sinful nature and then come to God in repentance?

Yet Christ exalts those who mourn. He says if we mourn we will be comforted. God will give us the strength to go through our period of mourning. One of the biggest causes of mourning is when a relationship is broken because of death or other circumstances. When his dear friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept. We cry for this relationship that should have been there. Another reason why we mourn is when we see those dear to us under tremendous suffering – physical, mental, or spiritual. When Jesus thought about the persecution of the prophets in Jerusalem he lamented. Peter wept bitterly when he betrayed Jesus. He had denied any association with him. Was his mourning one of repentance? Do you repent with mourning? Have you found yourself in a similar situation?

Those who come to God cry out to God because neither they nor their neighbor are able to keep this relationship with Him intact. We need help from God. In Romans 8:19-22 St. Paul says that as Christians we eagerly wait for the day when God will show us who belong to the kingdom of God. He describes it as all of creation groans as in the pains of childbirth. All of us groan because of all the pain and suffering in the world. When we hear of wars and rumors of war, ethnic cleansing, starvation, drought, tsunamis, and earthquakes – the list is endless – we long for a better world. Christ has sent the Holy Spirit so that He can intercede for us with groans for things that we don’t even realize we need. It is through Christ we are comforted by the grace and forgiveness of God. We have the assurance that even those who have died are alive in him. One day we will reunite and be together again.

A word of caution – beware of what you mourn for. Is it an Ivy League school, a fancy job, a mansion, a brand new sports car?

Jesus told Peter that when he had repented he was to strengthen those who were weak. Do we reach out to those who mourn and comfort them? Do we reach out to those who are sad and weak?

Poor in Spirit ???

2005-03-31T11:42:00.000-05:00

Mathew 5:3(KJV) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

To be poor in spirit is to be humble, realizing, as we draw closer to God, that we are unable to measure up to the greatness of His Spirit. People who are not poor in spirit are those who feel no need for God, but are haughty, dominating and proud. They believe that their achievements are a result of their own efforts.

In the eyes of the world to be ‘poor’ in anything is frowned upon. John 4:24 clearly says that God is spirit and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. When we approach the Holy Spirit, we realize how spiritually poor we are and we humbly ask for strength to live fruitful spiritual lives. We realize our desperate need for God. We realize we are really in no position to offer God anything, but whatever we receive is a gift from him. In Acts 1:8 the disciples were told to wait until they received the Holy Spirit. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit they would be empowered to be witnesses of God to the ends of the earth. We have become poor in spirit when we realize that without the Holy Spirit we are spiritually poor and incapable of living godly lives. Our poorness in spirit cannot be fully measured by any standards established by people, but only by those set by Christ.

Christ’s coming to earth was the ultimate example of voluntary sacrifice to make oneself poor in spirit, by giving up His glory above to come and live with us and to die for all of us at the hands of some wicked and foolish people. There are many who embrace poverty by their free will, like St. Francis and Mother Teresa who have been exceptional examples. They gave up everything, made their spirits poor, and were rewarded with the grace of God that made them remarkable instruments reaching out to the poor and needy.

When heavy burdens are laid on our spirits we suddenly realize our poorness in spirit. When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane he was going through a phase of feeling downcast, and he was desperately seeking comfort in the Spirit of God. But Jesus did not have any problem asking for the prayers of his disciples. He asked his disciples to watch and pray. When Jesus prayed droplets like blood flowed down his face. Was his flesh under great conflict with his spirit that wanted to do the will of God? Was he drained spiritually and physically? How would he have felt spiritually when his disciples fell fast asleep when he felt this tremendous burden upon him?

It is our poorness in spirit that attracts us to the omnipotent spirit of the one true God. When we come to God in poorness of spirit, in some miraculous way we are able to pass through the eye of the needle easily and enter into the Kingdom of God. Christ has bestowed on us our citizenship in heaven even before we are dead. This means the kingdom of God is not just the kingdom of the dead but of the living as well. Jesus did not come to establish a physical kingdom on earth but a spiritual kingdom that stretched from earth to heaven. In spirit we are all part of the kingdom of God.

Close to the Heart of God

2005-03-30T23:41:00.000-05:00

When Jesus started his ministry he was widely popular. His ministry had started gathering a large following. Jesus had healed many people from all kinds of sicknesses. Sick people came to him from all over the country side. Large crowds were following him wherever he went. He traveled throughout Galilee spreading the good news. His message was pretty clear and simple - he was asking the people to repent - turn away from their sins and to turn to God. He told them to have a complete change in their attitude to life.

This message is still equally applicable today. Christ wants us to not pursue a lifestyle that will eventually destroy us, but to pursue one that will eventually draw us closer to the heart of God and give us peace with God. He was showing us how to find true happiness.
In the midst of this potentially large ministry where Jesus could have become a prominent leader, he called his disciples aside and expounded the beatitudes to them. (Mathew 5:1-12) He told them not to be carried away by the ways of the world but as his followers they had a different path to follow. These were Christ’s directions for servants of God. He told them that those who were closest to the heart of God were those who were most dependent on God’s will in their lives.

His views were in many ways countercultural. He exalted those who were poor in the eyes of the world. The disciples had proved their faith and dependence on Jesus, when they dropped everything they were doing to follow him. They really owned nothing in the world, but had access to everything that God could offer them through Jesus.

Some of the early fathers of our faith saw the beatitudes as a ladder. We start with the first beatitude as the lowest rung and start climbing upwards. The beatitudes can be seen as a journey taken step by step. We cannot stake claim to one beatitude here and reject another one there. It is to be viewed as a whole and not dissected into different parts. Initially most of the teachings of Christ did not make sense to the disciples. But after the brutal crucifixion and death of Christ, they started seeing his teachings in the light of his life as a suffering servant and son of God.

The word blessed means to be happy. Where do we derive our happiness? Jesus ascribed happiness to people that the world sometimes totally ignores, sometimes ridicules, sometimes falsely accuses, and sometimes even murders. Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Mahatma Gandhi are some of the internationally recognized leaders in our recent past who greatly admired the beatitudes expounded by Christ and fought for the rights of the poor and downtrodden. They had to pay a heavy price.

As Christ’s disciples what are the things we aspire for? Where is our hearts desire? What are the comforts that we can’t go without? Do we aspire for wealth, power and prestige more than we do to draw near to the heart of God?

Disciples to Apostles

2005-03-29T07:37:00.000-05:00

The disciples’ of Jesus were living in fear that they may get arrested, tortured or crucified. They had witnessed his brutal execution. Jesus had been a dynamic public figure and they had accompanied him on most occasions when he ministered to the people. Many had seen them as his disciples. Peter’s encounters at the trial and how people easily recognized him had probably set off an alarm that they were sitting ducks. Could they have still been recovering from Judas' cold blooded betrayal and death?

Jesus was the son of a poor carpenter. None of His disciples were scholars or holy men. They were simple ordinary people who were mainly fishermen, one an unethical tax collector, and one a political fanatic who killed himself after betraying Jesus. However Jesus saw them as having the full potential of being strong witnesses for him. Was Jesus looking for disciples who would give up everything and follow Him? Was Jesus looking for disciples who could identify themselves with the poor and needy? The disciples had been with Jesus for three years of his ministry and had learned to live with limited means and in the most unlikely places. Jesus had said, “Foxes have holes and the birds have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” They had dropped everything to follow him. For three years they had held on to every word that Jesus said and did. They had blindly followed him everywhere he went.

But this was a time when any association with Jesus could mean imprisonment or maybe even death. They had spent time with Jesus, but had lost all courage after they saw how brutally he had died. They lived in fear and doubt. Threat of death can be paralyzing. Had Jesus’ three years with the disciples all been a waste of time? They were so weak, that without the presence of Jesus they really felt crippled. They could not believe that Christ had risen from the dead. Even when the women came and told them they had seen the Lord they continued to live in fear. They were unwilling to trust anyone. After all one of their own closest comrades had maliciously betrayed their master and friend.

Then all of a sudden Christ appeared before them! His first words to them were, “Peace be with you.” It must have been such a relief for them to see him again – to see Christ at last right before them, in his newly resurrected body. Their fears had finally found an outlet. Christ had at last brought them peace. He had meant everything to them. He was their leader, teacher and guide. He was their God. To see him was a huge watershed in their lives. Then He proceeded to show where the nails pierced His hands and the spear pierced His side. They saw and believed.

He breathed his Holy Spirit into them and gave them the power to forgive other peoples sins. He empowered them to go out and to be witnesses to all giving them powers to heal, pray, and preach the good news to everyone everywhere.

One of the disciples, Thomas, did not believe the disciples when they said that they had seen Jesus. He was full of doubts. He told them that he wouldn’t believe unless he saw and touched the nail-pierced hands and the wound on his side. Eight days later, as the disciples were again bolted in a room, Jesus appeared before them. He spoke directly to Thomas and told him, “Put your fingers on my hands and see the scars of the nail, touch the sides of my body and feel the scars. Now do you believe Thomas? Blessed are those who will never see me, yet will believe.”

If Jesus had not returned and spent time with his disciples, surely they would have all been scattered. They would have become like lost sheep without a shepherd. Christ had to come back to them. He reassured them that they did not need His physical presence, but that the Holy Spirit would always be with them.

Did they need this assurance of the resurrected Christ to go on to spread the gospel message? After they met with the resurrected Christ they were not the same men anymore. From Disciples of Christ they later became known as the Apostles of Christ. They had physically and spiritually been touched by Christ and the Holy Spirit. From then on they were not afraid anymore. Like David they were convinced that even if they died they would not rot in their graves. There was another life waiting that was much better than the one they were living. It was a life where they would be reunited with their master, savior and king. Christ had promised them that he was going ahead to prepare a place for them in heaven. To them death had lost its sting.

The Apostles now knew that with the Spirit of Christ within them, they could go anywhere and be faithful witnesses to the Gospel message. Christ had promised to be with them always. So began the Acts of the Apostles, where they spread Christianity into all the world, built and established churches, and converted countless number of people to become Disciples of Christ. The Apostles were crucified, speared to death, or killed in some other brutal manner; except for John who went into exile for his faith and died of old age. The Gospels and the Letters of the Apostles continue to be a source of inspiration for the millions of Christians all over the world. Generation after generation, century after century Christians read and rejoice in the word of God that was written by these men of faith who lived, and were martyred for, the spread of the gospel. As Christians we await Christ's second coming - not as a suffering servant, but in power and majesty - when he will establish a world of peace.

Road to Emmaus

2005-03-28T08:44:00.000-05:00

Jesus met two of his followers who were traveling along the road to Emmaus, going away from Jerusalem thoroughly disheartened over the series of macabre events that had taken place. Jesus joined them in their travel. He asked them why they were so sad and dejected. They were so overwhelmed with sorrow that they could not see that they were walking and talking with Jesus. They looked at Jesus strangely and asked him if he was new to the area. They said that a great teacher, admired by God and men had been arrested, crucified and buried. They had thought he was the Messiah, but he had been brutally killed. Do we see Jesus only as a good teacher but not the Messiah? The travelers had heard that some of the believers had found the tomb empty and had said that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Jesus looked at them in wonder. Here were two men who had heard the Good news that the angels proclaimed, “Jesus is alive,” but they had decided that it was unlikely. They were going away toward Emmaus dejected and sad. Did they realize they were walking away toward the sunset with Jesus by their side, in the wrong direction? To them the Son of God was dead. How many of us hear the good news yet turn our backs to the truth and walk away because we find it inconceivable? Do we encounter Christ on our life journeys but do not recognize him because of our own spiritual blindness? Jesus called them foolish people. He asked them if they found it hard to believe in the prophets? He reminded them that the prophets had said that the Messiah had to suffer before being crowned King.

Then Jesus quoted passages from Moses' writings, and all the prophets, elucidating to them what the scriptures had to say. Could Jesus have been referring to God’s promise to Abraham that through him the entire world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3)? Was it not Jesus’ coming, being a blessing to the world, that God was referring to here? Could Jesus have referred to Psalm 2, used for the coronation of the kings of Israel and could also be applied to the coronation of the Messiah as King of Heaven and Earth? David clearly foresaw a relationship between a father and son, in God and the Messiah? Did Jesus refer to his encounter with the Pharisees in Mathew 22:41-46, when the Jesus asked Pharisees, “Whose son is the Messiah?” They replied He was David’s son. But when Jesus asked them why David referred to him as Lord in Psalm 110:1, they could not answer. The Pharisees probably could not conceive that the Messiah, a descendant of David could be God himself. Do we have a problem in seeing the only begotten son, Jesus as the son of God? Could Jesus have referred to Isaiah 53 and the role of the suffering servant, where he had to suffer and die? In Psalm 16:10 David prophesies and is filled with great joy that God will not leave his soul among the dead. He says that God would not allow His holy one to rot in the grave. This verse was often quoted when the disciples spoke about the resurrection of Christ. Did not this promise of King David come true when Christ rose from the dead?

Following this long discussion, they stopped to rest for a while as it was late. When Jesus broke bread with them, suddenly their eyes were opened. Jesus disappeared, but their faith had been reignited. They asked each other, “As he spoke to us did you not feel your hearts burn?” They hurried back to Jerusalem to tell Jesus’ followers about their encounter. “Do we go down our own Road of Emmaus where we turn our backs to God’s message?”

Easter - The Lord is risen

2005-03-27T06:46:00.000-05:00

At break of dawn on Sunday morning several of the women followers went to Jesus' tomb. They had been unable to embalm his body after his late burial on Friday night because of the Sabbath. However they had followed Joseph and the others and had made sure they knew where they had laid his body. They were carrying with them spices they had prepared to embalm his body. They had seen a huge rock being placed by the Romans to seal the entrance. They must have wondered as they walked to the tomb, how they were to move that boulder and enter the tomb. They may have thought the guards who had been posted outside would help them. Did they secretly hope that Christ had risen? And so came to see if the grave was empty? They had heard the Leaders talk amongst themselves that there were rumors that this could possibly happen. They had heard Christ say that he would rise again. Did they come with spices so that they would not look foolish if Christ lay dead in the tomb? How come it was the women who were the first to go and not the men? Did the disciples not expect Jesus to have risen from the dead?

When the women approached the tomb, suddenly there was an earthquake. An angel of the Lord appeared, and rolled away the stone that was blocking the entrance to the cave. The Roman guards who had been posted there trembled with fear and went into a state of unconsciousness. The Romans had been posted there at the insistence of some who felt that if rumors circulated that Christ rose from the dead, then it would only open Pandora’s box. The angel assured the women that Christ had risen. Then he invited them to see where Jesus' body had lain. The women were filled with hope of seeing Jesus again.

Inside the cave they saw another angel who reminded them of what Christ told them. Jesus would have to be betrayed into the hands of men who were sinful, crucified and on the third day he would rise again. Jesus had told the questioning, infuriated Pharisees that he would destroy the temple (i.e. His body) and in three days raise it again (John 2:13-24). Nevertheless no one understood the significance of his statement. But in retrospect it dawned on the disciples - all that he had said and how the scriptures were fulfilled.

The women were told to go quickly and give the good news to his disciples and to tell them that Jesus would meet all of them at Galilee. As they were hurrying out to go and give the news to the disciples, they suddenly encountered Christ who greeted them. In shock they stumbled and fell at his feet. Then in their joy they clung to his feet and worshipped him. How could one who had been so sorely beaten, crucified, dead, and buried, rise from the dead? Surely these thoughts may have crossed their mind. What was happening was beyond their comprehension. Their hearts filled with joy which only a while back had been downcast. The only words ringing in their minds, “The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed.” Jesus said, “Fear not and go tell all the believers to come and meet me at Galilee.”

Death has lost its sting. We who believe live on in Christ.

Seven Last Utterances of the Suffering Servant

2005-03-26T19:17:00.000-05:00

As Jesus was being led away to be Crucified, there were many women who stood helplessly mourning and wailing seeing the plight of Jesus. Jesus looked to them and implored them not to weep for him, but for themselves. “If these are the things they do when the branch is green, what will happen when it is dry?” If this is what they will do when the Son of God was alive, what will they do when he is dead? Barclay says, if this is what they do to Jesus who was innocent, beware of what will happen to those who are really guilty. It is a difficult statement to interpret.

"Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing". Words said by Christ from the cross. Passionate words said by many saints of God under crushing and treacherous circumstances. Can we be so forgiving of our persecutors? Do we find ways to get our revenge on those who give us a hard time? Do we simmer with hatred when we are helpless in the face of the taunts from those who torment us? Christ is showing us the way to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Such is the nature of Christ that his concern for his enemies far exceeds whatever harm they have done to him.

“Eloi Eloi Lama Sabatachathani.” The bystanders thought that he was calling out to Elijah. “My God My God why have you forsaken me?” Jesus was under tremendous physical and spiritual distress with his seperation from God. Mary the mother of Jesus as she heard her son’s heart rending cry must have been inconsolable. It is probable that the many women, who stood at a distance and heard the cry, would have been shrieking equally loud hearing Jesus' cry. Was Jesus dreading death as he saw it fast approaching? Was Jesus crying out to God for not answering his prayer at Gethsemane? Did the thought of separation from God overwhelm him? Was it at this point that the sins of all mankind were laid on his heart and he experienced a complete blackout of the presence of God?

“My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” This is one of the most powerful utterances that Jesus made from the cross. Psalm 22 begins with these words. The spiritual significance of what really transpired on the cross, is beyond human comprehension. But we do believe that in some way by the grace of God we have all been forgiven of our sins. There have been many who felt that Jesus prayed Psalm 22 as he hung on the cross. These were the words that he verbalized loudly as he cried out in pain and anguish. He was living and fulfilling the word of God that had been prophesied about him a long time ago.

As Jesus hung from the cross exhausted, bleeding and almost naked, the things he heard and saw were disparaging. Apart from his dear family and friends that hung around, the major characters were only people who jeered and derived sadistic pleasure in watching the men die. Leaders laughed and scoffed saying, “let him save himself, if he is God’s chosen Messiah”. The soldiers mocked him saying, “If you are the King of the Jews save yourself”. A signboard nailed to the cross read, "This is the king of the Jews." The verses in the Psalm 22 elaborate that the bystanders would mock him saying that he heard the cries for help and saved many who put their trust in Him, but when it came to himself he could do nothing. The words, “Physician heal thyself” come to mind. But Jesus hung on the cross not to save himself but the world. To show us that God loved us so much, that even while we were sinners, he was showing us a map for us to take, to find this way of grace and mercy that will enable us to live with him to eternity.

The psalmist says “my strength has dried up like sun baked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth”. Jesus was extremely thirsty and physically tired as he hung on the cross. The psalmist says, “They divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice for my garments”. Even as he lay dying, the soldiers gambled for Christ’s clothes by throwing dice (probably his only worldly possession was gambled off). Christ’s robe was given to the one who won the draw on the dice. “You have left me in the dust and left me for dead”. Once Jesus died his body was left on the ground for dead. “Not one of the bones of the righteous will be broken”. One way to speed up the death of those crucified was to break their bones. However Jesus died before the need arose. These words of King David, expressed at a time of deep anguish, are some of the words Jesus expressed as he hung on the cross. Though the psalm starts with deep sorrow it ends with great hope.

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “if you are the Messiah save yourself and us as well”. Are these the words to be heard when one is dying? Is this the death deserving of an innocent man? Even as Jesus leaves this world as the son of man, the scars on his body and spirit are going to stay with him. Christ did not see any other way, than to become a man to understand the plight of humans and above all to show them what God expected of them. The other criminal said, “He has done nothing wrong”. He turned to Jesus and said "Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom”. These words have been cherished in prayer and song as thousands beseech Jesus to remember them when He comes. Amidst all that taunting while Jesus hung on the cross, one person who showed sympathy to Jesus was an undesirable criminal…the thief on the cross. He realized that Jesus had done nothing to deserve crucifixion. Jesus assured the man that “today you will be with me in paradise”. Again we see the grace of God in action, even at the last minute there is salvation for the sinner that repents. Does that mean we can live a life of immorality or disobedience and wait until the last instant when we can look to Jesus for forgiveness? James and John had wanted to reign with Jesus in his Kingdom, one on the left and the other on the right. Should they have also hung by the sides of Jesus on the cross?

“Woman he is your son.”, “She is your mother.” Jesus entrusted his loving mother to his beloved disciple John. Even while dying Christ thought of his mother. Joseph, it is believed, had died. Did Jesus have any siblings? Were they still living? Was it Mary his mother, or John his disciple, or both of them that were in need of this new relationship? Here was Jesus handing over, probably his only living dependent family member, his loving mother, into the hands of one his trusted disciples. He must have been having problems breathing. They say one of the hardest things to do when you hang on the cross is to breathe. Speaking must have been extremely difficult. Here was the consummation of a new relationship, of a mother and a son brought together as the last wish of a dying man. A relationship brought about by the living God.

“I am thirsty.” I thirst for water. Was it only water that Christ was crying out in thirst for? Did he also mean than he was thirsty for the living God. Was his soul thirsting for the communion he had had with the living God since the beginning of time?

“It is finished.” The job is done. Father, there it is, the last of my breath, I have been faithful to the end. I have endured the cross, suffered the pain, and now I am ready for the crown. Isn’t this what we all look forward to in our Christian walk? To finish well.

“Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” Even in death Jesus shows us how to die. He calmly surrenders his spirit to the Lord. Where did the Spirit of Christ go when it left his human body? On Easter day it reunites with the human body and in some strange way appears to the disciples and many others who believed in Him. The mysterious disappearance of Christ’s body from the grave keeps the world embroiled in debate whether he rose from the dead or not.

The sun went down. Thick veil in the temple was torn apart, implying God’s presence is for all people and not restricted to the high priests. There is to be only one mediator between God and people – Jesus.

The captain of the Roman soldier says that surely Jesus was innocent. Joseph, a member of the Jewish high council and one who had not agreed with their decision to crucify Jesus, took the body down from the cross. He laid Jesus in the grave he had purchased for his own eventual death. Many who had come to watch the crucifixion had to rush back home to observe the Sabbath. However they wanted to make sure that Jesus was dead before they left. Is it not a paradox that we call this day Good Friday and not the Black Sabbath?

Good Friday

2005-03-25T19:17:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 53 beautifully portrays the role of Jesus as the suffering servant. Isaiah says that there was nothing beautiful and majestic about the suffering servant’s appearance. The servant was despised and rejected. He was a man of sorrow, acquainted with the bitterest of grief. No one really cared for him. They all turned their backs to him. Yet he was weighed down because of our weaknesses. We misunderstood, and thought his punishment was for his own sins. He was wounded for our sins and beaten so that we may have peace. We have, as lost sheep, strayed away from the path set for us by God. But the servant was led like a lamb to be slaughtered. He went silently. He did no harm, but he was dying for all of our sins. He was buried like a criminal, but in a rich man's grave. It is hard to foresee this prophesy about Jesus that was made nearly 700 years before his crucifixion.

Jesus was taken for questioning by Caiaphas the high priest. They tried to make false charges at him. But none could hold any serious charge. Finally they twisted one of Jesus' statements that he would destroy the temple and build it in 3 days. When Jesus remained silent to all charges leveled against him, Caiphas rebuked him. Infuriated he tried to incite the crowd by asking, if Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah. To this Jesus calmly accepted that statement, and said that soon he will see him in the seat of power at God's right hand and return in glory in the clouds. Caiaphas exploded and screamed, 'blasphemy' and the frenzied crowds in unison cried that Jesus was guilty and that he must die. Forgotten were the times he healed the sick, fed the hungry, and even hailed as king just a week back by the same mob that now was thirsty for his blood. In all the discombobulation, Jesus remained calm. He was prepared for the verdict and his sentence to death.

Meanwhile Peter was confronted by a servant girl, later another servant girl and finally a bystander who all asked him separately if he knew Jesus. Peter vehemently denied any association with Jesus. Then the rooster crowed. It was then that he remembered what Jesus had told him. He went away from there and wept bitterly. Can you imagine the guilt Peter would have felt when he denied Jesus? It came very close to Judas' betrayal. Have you felt that way in your Christian walk? There are countless times we stumble and fall. But Christ is always there to pick us up. Just as he did with Peter. All Jesus told Peter was that when he had repented he was to be a source of strength and support to the other disciples. That is what Christ is calling us to do. When we are strong we should strengthen those who are weak.

Then brutal Caiaphas and the other blood thirsty accusers took Jesus to Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews. Jesus said he was. But when the leading priests and other leaders made trumped up accusations at him, he remained silent. Pilate was awestruck and asked Jesus if he had anything to say. He remained silent. Pilate tried to release Jesus as it was customary during Passover to release one prisoner. But the verdict of the people was final - they wanted him crucified. Again the courage and strength of Jesus was greatly to be admired. He kept silent and did not in any way see the need to defend himself.

Pilate ordered him to be flogged with a lead tipped whip, and then to be crucified. The soldiers took him away and whipped him, mocked him and led him away to be crucified. It is hard to imagine the control Jesus had over himself, to keep silent and not plead for mercy. To accept the punishment that in no way he deserved. He realized that this was the course he was to take. To sacrifice his life into the hands of a wicked generation that had rejected him. To play the role of a servant of God, falsely accused and being sentenced to death. To overcome evil with good. To be the source of inspiration to the millions of Christians who would willingly lay down their lives to build a non-violent and peaceful society that believes in the Triune God. A society that loves justice believes in mercy and walks humbly with the living God.

Maundy Thursday

2005-03-25T02:51:00.000-05:00

Is there a loved one you dearly miss, with whom you remember sharing Holy Communion for the last time? Do you remember where it was? Do you remember how you felt at that time? How do you feel now remembering their death? Now can you imagine how Jesus would have felt when he shared the last supper with his disciples? Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday in particular is a time of remembrance of the death of Christ on the cross. Christ instructed us that participating in the last supper should be a time of spiritual blessing.

Jesus started the evening by washing the feet of his disciples. He showed the depth of his love by this act of kneeling at the feet of all his disciples and washing the dust off their feet. He showed that as a leader one must play the role of a servant who personally cares for the well being of one's family, friends and associates. Washing of feet was normally done by the servants in the house. But Jesus took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and washed the feet of his disciples. We see the extent of his humility - though he was God, he played the role of a servant to his disciples. One can only imagine the shock of his disciples and Peter the loud mouth even questioned Jesus.

Jesus said that this Blood that was being shed was for the forgiveness of many. He said that his shed blood would seal the covenant of God and the people. What made Jesus the sacrificial lamb that could seal this covenant? His life was one that was sinless and his sacrifice was pleasing to God. This new covenant that God sealed with the entire human race was in keeping with His plan for the whole world as opposed to the old covenant that was restricted to those of the Jewish faith.

During the last supper Jesus finally confronted Judas the betrayer. Here we see that Jesus, inspite of knowing this, did nothing to prevent Judas from completing the task that he had set out to perform. The plot to kill Jesus had permeated the inner circle of disciples where one of his own stepped out to betray him. One wonders whether Jesus had known that Judas would betray him, even as he invited Judas to be a disciple.

Jesus went on to say that all his disciples would desert him. When Peter heard this, he said that he would never forsake Jesus. But Jesus said that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed. He said that Satan would sift them like wheat and try to see if they were chaff. However Jesus assured them that He had already prayed that their faith should not fail them. He exhorted Peter to strengthen and build up his brothers and sisters after he had repented and turned back to Jesus.

Following the last supper Jesus went to an olive grove called Gethsemane with Peter, James and John. He was in deep anguish and told them to stay with him and pray. The disciples who had no idea what Jesus was going through fell fast asleep. Jesus prayed for the cup of suffering to be taken away, but his prayers went unanswered. God could see no other way but through the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus's final words of prayer in the garden were "Your will be done". Even in the midst of his own distress Jesus continued to groom his disciples to stay alert in the face of danger. Our spirit may want us to do what is right, but our flesh may lead us away.

After his acceptance that this was the divine will of God, Jesus went to his three sleepy disciples and told them that the hour is at hand. He was ready to face his betrayal into the hands of sinners. When he saw Judas approaching with a mob armed with swords and spears he told them that there was no need for violence, for those who live by the sword die by the sword. If they really thought they could overpower him with swords, they were sadly mistaken; at his command 1000's of angels would protect him. This makes us realize that heaven has angels with not just harps and stringed instruments. What was happening was in fulfillment of the words of prophets as written in the scriptures and Jesus would not go against God's will.

What caused Judas to commit this heinous act? He was the only non-Galilean and was the treasurer of the group. He craved money, but 20 pieces of silver was a small sum. Did Judas have a political or militant agenda, believing that Christ was the King of the Jews? Did he hypothesize that if Jesus was led to the cross by the power of Holy Spirit, he might turn into the savior of the Jewish people, rescuing them from Roman dominion? Jesus's distress for Judas was evident when he said it would have been better if Judas had not been born. Judas preferred to hang himself rather than go back to the other disciples and plead for forgiveness. The remaining disciples, although they deserted Jesus in his hour of need, regrouped and eventually went on to play dominant roles in the spread of Christianity throughout the world.

We cannot begin to fathom how many, like Judas at that time, had heard the good news but whose lives Jesus could not touch and transform. Further we wonder whether if we had been alive at that time, would we have supported or joined the crowd who wanted Jesus crucified.

People of Faith

2005-03-23T13:47:00.000-05:00

What does faith mean? Faith is the assurance that God is in control. It does not rely on the wisdom of humans but on the power of God (1Corinthians 2:5). Faith is to hope when there is no hope at all. Faith is our actions as James says. Faith is belief without any doubts (Genesis 15:6). Faith is belief in the word of God. Faith is to be loyal and faithful to ones calling. Faith is to trust. Faith is our intention or desire to do what is right in God's eyes.

The founder of the Jewish nation, Abraham, is often referred to as a pioneer in faith in the living God. He was greatly respected for his wisdom, power and wealth. He was very considerate to the needs of his fellowmen. Above all he believed in the Living God and for his faith God regarded him to be righteous. Abraham was called to leave his country, family and house and go to the land God was going to show him. God promised to make him a blessing to all the families on earth. He was seventy five years old when he heard God's call and started on this journey of faith.

The instances when he lost faith in God, were when he tried to be practical. When he saw the power of Pharaoh he feared Pharaoh over God. Yet God protected him, and no harm came to him or his household. When he was 86 years old and still with no child Sarah coerced Abraham to bear a son through Hagar her servant. This was a decision that she lived to regret for the rest of her life. He continued to trust in God even though it did not seem possible for his beloved 90-year old wife Sarah to bear a child. Yet Abraham believed that God would give him a son. Isaac was finally born to the old couple. God further tested him by asking him to sacrifice his son. When Isaac asked Abraham where the sacrificial lamb was, Abraham confidently told him, "God will provide". This phrase has been on the lips of all men of faith who venture out into the unknown with nothing but their faith.

It was Abraham’s faith in God that he will fulfill the promise made to him when he was called to start his journey of faith that made him acceptable in God's eyes. Abraham lived in a time when there were many gods and idols and people lived lives that were not pleasing to God. It is from such a culture that God called Abraham to come out and be a separate nation. Two of the most important factors to faith is patience and endurance in adversity. We are called to imitate our fellowmen who through faith and patience inherited what was promised to them. Another very important factor that determined Abraham’s faith was the grace of God. As we see there were times when Abraham had doubts and fell away. But by the grace of God that was working within him, he was spurred on to the eventual fulfillment of God's promise.

The founder of the China Inland Mission was the son of James Taylor a Methodist preacher. James and Amelia Taylor had prayed fervently for a child, who would work as a missionary in China. Hudson Taylor who trained in theology and medicine started his mission work in China. Taylor in his early years desired passionately to be spiritually holy. He tried hard, but failed each time. Only later did he realize that he was holy by the Spirit of Christ that dwelt in him. St. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20 that it was no longer him, but the Spirit of Christ that dwelt in him. The life he lived, he lived by faith in Christ who was crucified. Faith that Christ was always with him even when he failed gave him the confidence in the power of God that was working within him, making him holy in the sight of God. Taylor’s strong faith that God moves men through prayer enabled him to be a pioneer in Christian mission in China and to labor tirelessly to establish mission posts all over the country.

For Taylor life was not always easy. When he first started his mission work he was forced to return to England because of ill health. Though this seemed like a set back he used the time to complete his study in medicine, work on his Chinese translation of the New Testament and organize his China Inland Mission. Taylor returned to China with 22 missionaries. He was tested by fire when his daughter died, when his first wife died at child birth, when his second wife died of cancer, and when sicknesses continued to plague him constantly. Despite all the anguish and suffering he remained true to his calling, mobilized many missionaries to China and was responsible for the conversion of thousands to the Christian faith. His pioneering sacrificial work laid a strong foundation for the continued growth and preservation of the church even during the persecution of the communist regime. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 St. Paul wrote that the grace of Christ is sufficient, for his strength is made perfect in weakness. It was these words that made Taylor strong in his faith and stand firm on the promises of God.

Humility

2005-03-22T23:35:00.000-05:00

"Oh God, it’s hard to be humble!" That’s how we feel when people appreciate us and we are on the top of the world. It’s true we all go through these feelings when there are not many who come close to our achievements considering the circumstances we came from. Jesus says in Luke14:11 about the guests who chose the places of honor, that he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. It is better to be humble and if God sees the need to exalt we will be honored.

In Numbers 12:3 it is written that there was no one more humble than Moses in the entire world. Yet Miriam, who set her baby brother afloat on the river Nile to protect him from being killed by the Egyptian soldiers, was over come with jealousy when Moses became a celebrity as the leader of the people of Israel. Miriam and Aaron felt insecure that there was too much praise going to Moses. We feel slighted when our work goes unrecognized or someone younger is given the role to be leader over us.

This criticism by Miriam offended God. He raised Moses on a pedestal and said that he spoke through visions and dreams to his prophets but to his servant Moses he spoke face to face. It is clear that Moses’ distinguished service to the living God had won his admiration. Miriam gets struck by leprosy and the one who is very upset is none other than Moses who pleads for her healing.

We see God humbling Miriam and raising Moses above them all as a leader. This brings home to us that just because God speaks through us it does not make us very special. We need to be humble and accept the fact that there are some whom God has set as our leaders or shepherds and who may have a much deeper relationship with God. Beware of feelings that drive us to be much-admired and of dreams of greatness. They usually lead to frustration and disappointment.

Being humble does not mean that we should have low self esteem. In 1Corinthians 15:10 Paul gives us insight into what is a healthy self esteem. It is one that by the grace of God the Spirit of Christ in us makes us do all things that are possible. In Galatians 6:14 he says "let me boast in nothing but the cross of Jesus". He says that all his interest to make himself righteous in the eyes of the world died long time ago. It doesn't matter if he has not conformed to all the traditions that is required of him. What matters most is his change into a new creation and whether the Spirit of Christ dwells in him.

All our efforts to be righteous have no significance if our hearts and minds are not right with God. We have to heed the advice of Christ who says in Mathew 26:41 that we must watch and pray in all circumstances because though the spirit is willing, our heart, mind and body may lead us away from the right course of action. Jeremy Taylor in his book on Holy Living says that humility is a gift from God, but it is increased by exercising it. When we feel overcome with pride, the traditional Jesus Prayer “Lord have mercy on me a sinner”, a letter of appreciation to someone who greatly helped us overcome a weakness, or words of praise to a person who depends on us are all effective ways of diverting attention away from one's own high self esteem.

The relationship between God and people

2005-03-21T20:14:00.000-05:00

God spoke to Moses out of a fire with no shape or form. Yet out of the darkness God spoke and shed light on the path the Israelites were to follow and how they were to lead their lives. The commands that God gave Moses were to be carefully observed. Not to be forgetten nor allowed to slip away from their hearts. He instructed the Israelites to hear, learn and follow them. The ten commandments were laws that enabled the Israelites to build a strong relationship with God and each other. Moses urged the Israelites to search for God with all their heart, mind and strength. He did not want them to make any idols in any shape or form.

Moses had a very well founded personal relationship with God. He was able to speak and listen to the voice of God. It was this relationship that empowered him to be the one who brought them their freedom from the Egyptians. It was not that Moses was any different from them. It was his relationship of trust and faith in the living God that enabled him to perform the impossible. The courage to speak to Pharoh and command him to free the people of Israel from slavery.

God wanted Moses to establish a similar relationship between God and the Israelites. Then Moses summed it up by saying that they should love God with all their heart, mind and strength. It was not really enough to follow these commands but they should also do so out of an insatiable desire to do the will of the God. It was a relationship that would not allow contention with another idol that represented God in another form.

Unfortunately no one could follow all the commands that Moses laid down. As Paul says in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. This is why God had to send Jesus so that He could be our mediator and judge between God and us. This relationship could only come into being by the grace of God. It is through Christ we really came to understand the depth of this personal relationship. Frank Laubach, a modern day mystic, through his journals brought number of people to a strong relationship with God by increasing their awareness of God. They were encouraged to ask God in every waking moment what it is God wants them to do next, then to wait and try to discern what God is saying.

When Samuel heard the voice of God, Eli the then High Priest told him to say to God that he was his servant and he was listening (1 Samuel 3:10). It is this attitude, where we have a willingness to go down on our knees and humble ourselves before this awesome God, and say that we are God's servants and will do whatever it may be that God bids us do. It is then we will know and experience the will of God in our lives. Proverbs 3:16 tells us that if we seek Gods will in all that we do, God will direct our path. To seek the will of God is to live in the light of God's words. If we follow our own desires we end up in darkness.

Deuteronomy - Reflection

2005-03-20T20:31:00.000-05:00

The people of Israel left Egypt to travel to the promised land. Under normal circumstances it would have been an 11-day journey to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh Barnai. It took the Israelites 40 years. On reaching the outskirts of the land of Cannan they did not believe that God had given them the land. They sent spies out to survey the land. The scouts returned with news that it would be impossible to take over the land. They rebelled, grumbled and lost faith in God.

This maybe a good time to pause and ponder why this happened? Inspite of all the miracles performed in Egypt and on their journey the Israelites did not trust God. The journey became a long-drawn-out and painful one. A wandering through the desert where an entire generation of Israelites passed away. A period where many who rebelled perished under the wrath of God.

It was also a time where a new generation learnt to fear and walk humbly before God. It was here in the desert that they got a new identity as a nation. They learnt to live and work togather. They learnt to worship God and be faithful only to him. They lost all their ties to Egypt and all the alien gods and idols they worshipped. Moses gathered them together as distinct tribes and chose leaders who were wise and respected to have authority over them. He laid down religious and civil laws for them to follow. They built up a powerful army to defend their nation. Yet through the 40 years of wanderings God protected them and provided them for all their needs.

Isn't this true of many of our lives? Haven't we travelled through life sometimes through dark periods in our lives? Haven't there been periods when we have scarcely had no idea where God was leading us? Periods when our burdens so overwhelmed us that we felt that God was no longer there. These doubts only gave way to new fears and temptations. We were allured into phases in our lives when we turned away and rebelled against God. Yet God takes us through these deserts and wild experiences and instills in us a passion for him. A longing to be in fellowship with him and his people. Through it all we learn to trust in Jesus and believe in his saving grace.

The early pilgrims left the shores of England in search of a new life. Some of them died on the way and some in their early years in America. They had to face many hardships such as rough weather, food, and diseases. But through it all they saw the hand of God working and guiding them through all their trials to a new life and to build a nation that in this century has emerged as the most powerful nation in the world.

Servant of the Living God

2005-03-19T10:29:00.000-05:00

Philippians 2:3-8

³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. ⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. ⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

There are some christians who spend their entire lives in heated and bitter conflicts. In such an environment it is very unlikely that people can live in an community of brotherly love. As christians we should not become boastful and be filled with unwarranted pride in our accomplishments or qualities, for this leads to self worship and self glorification. Whatever we accomplish or qualities we emulate we must humbly accept as the grace of God.

As brothers and sisters in Christ we are not to be overly concerned about our own possessions but also to the needs of those in our family, our community of faith and the world at large. The mind that Christ had when he was on earth was one that was submissive to the will of God in his life. Though he was God he took the form of one that was not equal to God. He became like a servant in the likeness of man. In his humility he obediently laid down his life for the salvation of all mankind.

Amy Carmichael gave up everything that life had to offer her in England and proceeded to her mission with undiminished commitment. She went to South India, where she led a life of complete devotion to her calling as the shepherd of temple children. Being a gifted writer, she has many books to her credit. She yeilded her life completely to Christ.

Statement of faith

2005-03-18T10:43:00.000-05:00

My relationship with Jesus Christ is based on an agape relationship of a Father and Son. It is through this relationship that I have come to value the importance of servant leadership, by humbly submitting my life in the hands of God to serve, do his will, and depend on his mercy to forgive my trespasses. I was raised in a Christian family where my father and mother nurtured my relationship with Jesus Christ. I read the Bible and pray everyday so that the Holy Spirit will inspire me to do the will of the Father, direct my path and grow mature in my relationship with Christ. I have daily family prayers with my wife and son, to seek the help of the Holy Spirit to build a family that is one in the Spirit and centered on Christ as our head. I believe that through praying for others, Christ will make us strong, protect us from evil,and provide for all our needs. I go to church, lead and participate in Bible studies to increase my relationship with the Body of Christ. I am happy to speak about my relationship with Jesus Christ anywhere and at anytime. I enjoy being involved in the outreach ministries and prayer circles of the church.

2005-03-01T10:30:00.000-05:00