Evangelist Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran's biography tells of a 20-year-old young man caught in poverty and unemployment at the point of taking his life. On his way to throw himself in front of a speeding train, he was stopped by his uncle who introduced him to Jesus Christ. He said an immediate peace overwhelmed him, and he went home with hope and a new purpose for his life. The young Dhinakaran worked at a bank and ended up becoming a top executive for the company. Yet he had a heart for ministry that compelled him to start the Jesus Calls Ministry.
Category: Articles
Rekindling Romance In Your Marriage
The season of life just before and after the wedding is filled with passion and the flame of romance burns brightly. Thereafter, romance is often pushed to the back burner or completely evades the couple. Prolonged neglect of our mate stifles the life out of the marriage. We are created as relational beings and the longing to connect with others is one of the deepest longings of the human soul. We are internally wired for intimate and fulfilling relationship. Often when romance disappears from the marital relationship, we seek out other relationships for intimacy.
Beware of Jealousy, Anger and Suspicion
There are many lessons that we can learn from Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-12). Cain was jealous and angry with Abel, because it had gone so well with Abel (for God had accepted him). How do you feel when you find it going very well with someone whom you are closely associated with? When you find a fellow-brother who is preaching victory over sin and you find that his life is consistent with his preaching - that there is no evidence of anxiety or anger or impatience in him, but on the contrary, a perpetual spirit of triumph and joy and peace; and in contrast your own life is miserable and gloomy and defeated (because you do not believe that a life of victory is possible) - Do you then find a root of envy creeping in and a desire to see him fall somewhere so that you can gloat over his failure and drag him down in the eyes of others? That was the same spirit that drove Cain.
Meeting God In The Monsoon
When were the last time you cried wanting God more? I mean not some long, fancy, flowery prayer but deep, passionate, heart rending cry for more of God? A child when lost cries out to her mother. For it knows nothing can substitute the feel of her mother’s lap, nothing can equal the comfort of being cradled by her mother. And so should we, like a child, cry out to God for that’s where our real comfort is. Without the touch and comfort of the presence of Jesus we are but cosmic orphans, waifs of the universe, left alone and abandoned. We all have gone through many religious experiences, done many things for God, been there in that mission field, explored those mission courses, taught Sunday schools, preached in churches, poured over Bible. And yet still the heart feels an inconsolable longing to enter into intimacy with God.
I Want To Run After Things That Matter
No, I’m not talking about the next big thing, I’m talking about things that matter continually because they are of higher significance. I want to live life with a constant attitude of growth and change. I hate being put into a box. Anytime I realize that I’m ‘in-a-box’, I try and do something to grow a little bigger, become a little more mysterious. I would say that I used to dislike the mundane and commonplace. It would drive me nuts doing the same thing over and over again. Yet somehow, I’ve found myself in a place where I’ve begun to ask myself the questions of higher significance.
In Conversation: Former Imam Becomes An Evangelist In The Least Expected Ways
Abdul Haleem was trained to be a Hafiz and then to be an Alim. He was then trained to be an Imam and served as an Imam in different places for six years. Then God moved in a mysterious way through the most unexpected and unlikely events. "No one approached me with gospel of Jesus. I never heard any evangelical messages too. I came to be a Christian by reading the Quran . . . . In Surah 3:55 it states “Behold! Allah said, O Jesus, I am terminating your life, raising you to Me, and ridding you of the disbelievers. I will exalt those who follow you above those who disbelieve, till the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is the ultimate destiny of all of you, then I will judge among you regarding your disputes.” This Ayat clearly says that those who believe in Jesus will be exalted above others. This interview with Jerry Thomas of Sakshi Times captures the mind of a former Imam who now serves the Lord Jesus Christ.
Value The Approval Of God More Than The Approval Of Men
Let us seek for the approval of God and not that of men. . . . In the final analysis, when we stand before the Lord, the opinions of all the billions of people in the world will count for nothing. Only God's opinion will matter in that day. Even the praises of your fellow-believers are fit only to be thrown in the garbage bin. It's only what God thinks about you that matters. People may praise you to the skies, while God thinks nothing of you. On the other hand, people may tear you to pieces and God may consider you to be the greatest man in your generation. Few have the spiritual discernment to recognise a man's worth in his lifetime. So don't get discouraged if you find people don't understand the way you are going. If God sees that you are humble, He will give you grace and you will overcome sin and the world.
Unholy Matrimony – Dowry, An Evil Practice
Most of us pay lip service to condemn dowry as a contemporary social evil, however, this ancient Indian custom continues to destroy families in our present age as well. Before bringing up this issue to the whole world, I believe that this must first be addressed to the professed people of God who are called to be the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). It is for Christians to confront this issue and explore fully to know whether dowry is acceptable or despicable. Let us reason, examine and find out - Is demanding dowry a perverted practice? Do we have any biblical proofs in order to come to this conclusion? Is requiring dowry in marriage unbiblical, or to say further, an anti-biblical practice? This message might be offensive and discomforting to many money-loving readers. However, the fact remains – truth is bitter but makes our lives better. Therefore, I encourage you to read this message with an open mind and a humble attitude.
Is Tithing in the New Testament?
There is presently a teaching that is gaining traction among Christians which asserts that the giving of tithes is no longer a requirement in the present New Testament church. Although the giving of tithes is not one of the cardinal beliefs necessary for redemption (it is not as important as the deity of Christ, etc.) it is still an important issue we must grapple with. Although there are arguments against tithing that seem persuasive on the surface, the following are reasons why I believe tithing is still a requirement in this present kingdom age. Brother Bakht Singh – A Saint and Servant Of God Who Lived For Christ
According to his autobiography, Brother Bakht Singh first experienced the love and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ when he was an engineering student in Canada in 1929. Even though previously he had torn up the Bible and was strongly opposed to Christ and Christianity, he developed a great love for the Lord Jesus Christ and an intense desire to read and study the Bible. After hearing the Lord's voice and having been convicted of his sinful life, he confessed his sins and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and dedicated his life to serving Him. Many of Brother Bakht Singh messages are available in book form, which can be downloaded and read. There are also a few of his audio messages that you can listen to online.
For Three Thousand Years, I Have Been Oppressed
This girl represents the 250 million Dalits (doll-leets) , formerly called Untouchable, who have been told by the upper castes of India that they are less than human. If even a Dalit’s shadow falls on an upper caste person, that person is polluted according to caste rules. A Dalit is not considered part of human society, but instead is considered something less than human. The Dalits generally perform the most menial and degrading jobs. Caste rules hold that Dalits pollute higher caste people with their presence. If higher caste Hindus touch an untouchable or even come within a Dalit’s shadow, they must undergo rigorous series of cleansing rituals. Approximately 250 million Indians (a full 25% of the population), are Dalit. In a country where everybody is supposed to have equal rights and opportunities, one out of four people is condemned to be untouchable.
Persecution In India: 2007 Is The Most Violent Year For Indian Christians
Thus far in modern India, 2007 was the most violent year for Indian Christians. With more than 800 attacks around Christmas time 2007 in Orissa state, the number of attacks on Christians last year crossed 1,000 reported cases for the first time since India's independence in 1947. Persecution against Christians isn't stopping in India's Orissa State. Over 90 churches and Christian institutions have been burned and vandalized, over 700 Christian homes destroyed, and the number of pastors and Christians killed is yet to be known. The situation is bad in some areas. Just days ago, four pastors in the state of Orissa were burned alive. And about 200 Christians leaders are now in the forests hiding, fearful for their lives. Please pray for India.
Calaspia International Story Competition: Conspiracy Of Calaspia By The Guptara Twins
Anyone aged 26 or less on 15 January 2008 can enter the competition by writing a story of up to 1,000 words based on the characters of the best-selling fantasy novel, Conspiracy of Calaspia, by the Guptara twins. The Guptara twins are 18, were born to an Indian father and English mother, and live in Switzerland. They completed the first draft of their highly-acclaimed novel when they were only eleven. Several complete re-writes later, Conspiracy of Calaspia is a 600 page blockbuster. Jyoti, the younger twin, became probably the world's youngest full-time writer at the age of 15, shortly after becoming the youngest-ever writer to be published by The Wall Street Journal. Suresh, the elder twin, has just finished (summer 2007) the British School-Leaving Exams ("A" Levels) and is spending a year as a full-time writer too, before he decides about his future. Their fantasy novel, Conspiracy of Calaspia, rose to number 2 on the Indian best seller list, second only to Kiran Desai's Man Booker Prize Winning Novel, The Inheritance of Loss.
Jesus Is The Answer To Your Every Need!
I had contracted a disease, which the doctors couldn’t explain. After two years of unsuccessful treatment, I decided I had had enough and asked the Lord to heal me, and I decided to trust Him only. And true to his word my Lord kept His word and healed me totally. Then a few months later I developed boils, which would ooze with blood and puss. I once again placed my trust on the Lord and asked Him to heal me. And miraculously the Lord healed me completely. Only the scars remain . . . I am a living example of the power and faithfulness of God. It’s no fairy tale, it’s real life, it’s not hearsay. I am a first person witness to this miracle.
Professor Prabhu Guptara – A Portrait
The Guptara family starts with Professor Murli Manohar Guptara (died 1957), who changed his name to "Guptara", from "Gupt" or "Aggarwal" (the two usual surnames for our previous family, though these names have various spellings nowadays in English, since English is a non-phonetic language). He did this because he did not believe in caste (Gupt and Aggarwal are both caste-names). "Guptara" is a name with a meaning, from the original "Gupt" which, literally, means "hidden" and "Tara" which literally means "star". Thus, "hidden star". Professor M.M. Guptara was in reality a hidden star. As for the rest of us, history has yet to make a judgment . . . and while reading about Professor Prabhu Guptara, check out his beautiful poems!
Why Christmas For Me Is Not ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ . . . . Look At The State Of Our World Today
Christmas disturbs me this year! I cannot sing ‘Silent Night – Holy Night’ when the pain and suffering in the world is all around me and is out of control in so many other places around the globe. But I have hope! Hope that we Christians can bring light into these dark places because Jesus came into the dark places of our lives and lived among people with a dark past. So don’t waste your life! Make a difference in the world- in the places were it counts and amongst people that are otherwise lost and without hope.
The Commercialization Of Christmas . . . And Doing The Right Thing
The commercialization of Christmas is here, and it is here to stay. I do not know if you listen alot to Christmas music and got drifted into the Christmas jingle, or in fighting your urge to splurge you felt small at the shopping mall or you may have even faked a smile if your friend had asked about your plans for Christmas. We are increasingly overpowered by the commercialization and it takes a lot of insight and spiritual discipline to recognize (and to re-discover)the Christ event . . . Obedience to God might take us through embarassment, ridicule and public disgrace. And doing the right thing is to look for an easy way out. But that may not be the RIGHT thing to do. The strength of what we believe in is measured by how much we are willing to suffer for it. O Come all you faithful” , O come to Bethlehem and come let us adore him - Jesus born in Bethlehem for us.
What It Means For Us To Be Holy In Our Lives
In this article, we will focus on ‘what it means for us to be holy in our lives’. Often the concept of Christian holiness is misunderstood and misinterpreted and this results in a lot of pseudo-holiness (fake or false holiness which is not biblical). There are people who think that holiness is about wearing white clothes or men having short hair or women having long hair, not watching any movies of any kind, anywhere, at any time, not watching TV, not wearing jewelry, and so on. The tendency is to totally externalize holiness. This is a very superficial understanding. However, when we look into the Bible we find that the heart of Christian holiness is, primarily the holiness of the heart. Of course, this holiness of the heart is manifested in our external behavior – words, actions, reactions, relationships, etc. Therefore, in this study we will try to understand our holiness in all its aspects or dimensions in a biblically balanced manner.
Not Mahatma Gandhi but Jesus Christ
In May 2005, I was in South Korea in connection with my work as a lead consultant with a multinational firm. A work related problem was vexing me. After trying many solutions, I was left clueless. The problem appeared intractable. I was at my wit’s end and frustrated. . . . . In December that same year, I was in China confronting a far serious problem. Failure to resolve it would mean an end of the project. The team would have returned admitting failure. The system had crashed. Then I recalled my Korean experience and called my wife on the phone. She listened to the problem and then told me that she would pray and the system would be revived.
I Found Jesus On The Internet – God's Love Toward A Radical Muslim
I was born in a wealthy Muslim family in Pakistan, but when I was a few months old, I was carried to Saudi Arabia by my father . . . One day I was passing with a friend through shops and I came to an internet cafe. I was on the internet on yahoo.com and there came a thought in my mind: "Type "Who Is Jesus?" and I got lots of web sites. I was amazed that I could search about Jesus Christ there . . . I kept coming to this web site often. Some of the other Christian web sites were blocked as you may know very well. One day I thought of giving Jesus a try and so I said the salvation prayer on their web site.