The tech-savvy people of our world might feel deterred because there are no sounds and no nifty graphics in the Bible. But the truth is, there’s more high-tech power in God’s Word than in any cutting-edge communication tool our world will ever know.

IT IS about three months that I started living in Mumbai as a paying guest with an elderly Maharashtrian family. In this time, my landlady and her reclusive husband have told me more about their lives than I perhaps have shared with them. And not just with them – but with any one – even with people who have been my friends for more than a quarter century.

In Revelation 1:10-11, we find that John heard a voice saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." God gives us messages not only for ourselves but also for others. When God speaks to us, it is a good habit to write down what we hear, as John was commanded to do here (Rev. 1:11).

A news release with the above title has come to my attention, which I include in its entirety below. Abuse of power by bureaucrats and politicians is a huge problem in India. My advice to Mr Nath is to start a movement aimed at eliminating such abuses.

NEWS RELEASE

HISTORIAN AND SCHOLAR HARASSED BY INDIAN AUTHORITIES

Driving to work, I listened to a song that urged us to ‘live like we are dying’. The truth of that verse hit me when I received news that my father – 84 years old in India and in good health – suddenly passed away. Dad knew the Lord, so his death wasn’t a dead-end but a doorway to a better life. Thanks to all who sympathized with me at my dad’s home-going. We are not just ‘growing old’, but ‘going nearer home’!

Several years ago, I published a piece of research into the top 100 Company Boards and the relationship with technology-related matters. The results were "shocking but not surprising": none of the Boards had any definition for technology competence, and none of them assessed their own competence about technological matters.

Nowadays, pastors emphasize church growth by focusing on successful strategies for understanding their surrounding culture and target audience, and examining their congregations to determine their strengths and weaknesses. What follows is an arduous process of changing the culture of a church to reflect the new methodologies in order to fulfill its mission.

I am now officially “addicted” I now develop “cold turkey” if I am not hooked for more than two or three hours. Yes, I am talking about the withdrawal symptoms one gets when one does not get the “fix” one desperately wants.

If you have seen the three words that I placed in quotes – they are usually used in the same sentence when one is describing a person who is hooked to drugs.

The Church of England will bring out new initiatives to draw members of the Asian community especially those of Indian origin after reports that they were feeling unwelcome in mainstream churches in UK.

The Church's response came after a recent conference highlighted the feeling of exclusion expressed by Asian Christians who are now reportedly forming small churches where they sing and pray in their native languages.

Reading: Matthew 9:9-13

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1)

Last night, Shainu and I were invited to a banquet for Mission Year. Mission Year is an organization that sends young people to cities across the country to love and serve a particular neighborhood for a period of one year. So nine different cities in the US (one of them being Philadelphia) have Mission Year folks working in them right now.

My motto is "Have some wine and think how good life is..." Recently, I lounged in Portland City Grill. With a drink in one hand and gazing over the city and view, I relaxed and thought about the good things of life. For a moment I forgot that I was in a crowded place. I thought about the goodness and things in life I am looking forward to.

This poem was discovered by on the door of a Chaplaincy at a hospital in Africa . . . I was hungry and you held meetings to discuss my existential needsI was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to pray…

It is written in Genesis 32:29 that “God blessed Jacob there". The word "bless" is perhaps the most frequently used word in the prayers of Christians; but few understand its real meaning.

What is blessing? What was the blessing Jacob got? It is described in verse 28 as "power with God and power with men”.

Once a wiseman went to palace. He presented three dolls to the prince living there.

Immediately the prince got angry and asked the wiseman, “Am I a girl to play with dolls? Why did you give me these dolls?”

The wiseman said, “These dolls will be useful for your future". He also gave a piece of string to the prince.

God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the moun­tain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content. Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!

Interesting as they may be, low purposes ultimately let you down since once the challenge is conquered, disappointment sets in.

"I said to myself, 'Come on, let's try pleasure. Let's look for the 'good things' in life.' But I found that this too was meaningless" -The Bible (Ecclesiastes 2:1).

The Bible gives this command, “Don’t use foul or abusive language”  (Ephesians :4:29a-NLT)

{ if yOu ArE A ChRisTiAn aNd iF YoU StIlL usE fOuL lAnGuAgE, PlEaSe sToP CaLlInG YoUrSeLf a cHrIsTiAn}

Chronic Writer

Above is the sort of slogan which is now being popularised by right-wing "celebrities, personalities and authorities".

It is true that expansionary economic policies, which were called for by some global leaders last month, can lengthen the financial debacle which started in 2007 and which is not yet at an end.

Reading: Jeremiah 1:1-19

"Young men, you are strong and the Word of God abides in you; you have overcome the wicked one" (1 Jn 2:14)
 
Bartholomeus Ziegenbalg (1682-1719) of Germany, the first missionary to translate the Bible into the Tamil language, was born today. Right early in his life as a 16 year old, he committed his life to Christ, served God faithfully in obedience to Him and died at only 37 years of age.