Serving God's Purposes in Our Generation (Acts 13:36b)

Recently . . .

in general nothing exciting, tantilizing, or vaguely interesting has been going on, and i'm posting so i can postpone researching for my history paper... i saw Blood Diamond yesterday, and if you don't see any other movie this year, watch Blood Diamond- it was amazing on so many levels, great cinematography, well written script, great story, and the moral is of significance. i also enjoyed the subtle manner in which they poked fun at CNN, the UN, and "decision making" bodies ruled by the upper middle class and downright wealthy. i have a proff for Mughal India who's a tranny…

To You, My Dear …. Friend….

Sometimes, the winter seems so coldand all u see around u is the darknessand u feel like your whole world is caving inand u don't know why... Remember, that spring is just round the cornerremember that the sun will shine its rays upon u in timeremember that it is in the eye of the storm that u will find peaceremember that ur mistakes will turn into masterpieces I just want u to know, that i admire the strength i see in u.I just want u to know, that i see u clothed in gracefulness and peaceI just want u to…

Reverse Brain Drain – Indian Diaspora Returning To India

Last month, a good friend returned to Chicago after 6 months on an assignment in Hyderabad. Having grown up entirely in United States (in Chicago and briefly in California for college), he was excited about the opportunity to go to India on work. He used superlatives to describe his experience there - the work culture, professionalism, skill etc. Of course, he wants to go back. Most of 80s and 90s we heard a lot of brain drain. India loosing its brightest minds to the Western nations. American universities and corporations tapped into brain power of India by offering them opportunities…

Just Ask Jesus!

Meet Parminder Singh Puri - a carrier of the Good News par excellence. Wherever he goes, the Name of Jesus goes with him in power, love and liberty. Constantly guided by the Holy Spirit and the truth claims of the Bible in his heart, Parminder says, "The promises found in the Bible are not to be found in any religious books . . .  our lives have been  transformed . . . we have a hope that we never had before!" There is something about Jesus. That’s why I tell people, "You have a problem, you want peace…anything? Just ask Jesus! Ask Jesus to come into your heart and experience God's miracle for your life!" 

Allegorical Motherhood*

I feel like a mother for some reason. I had seen visions of myself in labor as if giving birth to a baby and then craddling that sweet innocent baby in my arms. First, I didn't think much about it. I thought those are just my biological female or maternal instincts kicking in. From time to time, I do wonder about having children. I had a vision later. In that vision, I was pregnant, my one arm held a baby against my breast, the other hand holds the hand of a child learning to walk. Around me I am surrounded…

Good Morning Lord

Morning Lord,Proverbs 30:7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Father, I hold fast to my prayers Lord,1) Thank you for your Grace and Mercy in my Life.2) Let me enjoy all the days of my life, anyway according to your…

Digital Addiction

We live in a world of emails, cell phones, instant messages, Blackberry and what not. Life without them almost seem impossible. In Jan issue of Fast Company, I found this article to be interesting - all these technology tools are aimed at helping us become more productive, right? Wrong! “A Day-timers survey confirmed that instant-communication technology is making it harder, not easier, to get things done. The number of people who report feeling very productive has dropped from 83% in 1994 to 51% today.” When we are driven by these tools and we fail to define clear-cut boundaries, these tools…

SAGC 2007 London, UK: SPREAD THE WORD AROUND

Official SAGC 2007 website www.SAGC2007.comSAGC 2007 is the 2nd International Gathering of South Asian Youth and Young Adults for Mission Mobilization Dear Friends in Christ, We personally invite you to the South Asian Global Convention 2007 (SAGC 2007) and to the beautiful city of London, UK. We will have excellent plenary speakers, dynamic seminar leaders and annointed worship teams from all around the world.  But what SAGC 2007 is really about is . . . YOU – inspiring and mobilizing YOU for local and global missions. The very historic SAGC 2004 was held in Vancouver, Canada. SAGC 2007 will be in…

Meeting God

We must meet God if we are to know Him. If you look at the world today, a rising indifference to the God of the Scriptures should not intimidate the true believer. For if they are truly believing the words of the Christ of the Scriptures, if they truly had a holistic encounter with the Christ on the Cross, they would have no qualms about following Him. It’s when we don’t know something that we create something else to combat our blatant misunderstandings. Atheists look to organized religion and say, what a bunch of bull. I look at organized religion and for the most part completely agree with the atheist. The God I serve is not about religion, rather He is about true relationship and utter dependence upon Him.

2007 – Gonna Be An Awesome Year!

1. Yeah so it's a new year. No, I didn't make any resolutions. Frankly, I'm really not looking forward to this year. It's going to fly by because it's so crammed with stuff happening... Generation Unleashed in January, Deeper Walk in March, graduation (God-willing) in May, WPC Vancouver in July, SAGC and India Mission Trip in August... and who knows what else (research papers, applications, church and leadership stuff, selling shoes and praying that somehow my part-time job will finance everything, prep, teaching, prayer, Integrated practices, fundraising, stress... just shoot me now!). It's not that things won't work out or…

Teen Boom And Generation Gap

In many parts of the world there is teenage boom…much like baby boom in USA after the second world war. Currently, the total population of 10 -24 year-olds is estimated at 1.5 billion, of which 86 percent live in developing countries. The growth is most rapid in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. Some suggest the possibility of a critical, and potentially dangerous, global generation gap as emerging adolescent populations age and their political and economic expectations rise. The World Bank’s 2006 World Development Report found: - Nearly half of all unemployment in the world is among young people.- 500,000…

Surrendering It All To God . . .

Sounds simple in words, doesn't it? Yet something believers constantly struggle in. Why do I cling on so fondly to my past? My past consists of bad events, mistakes and regrets. Harbored feelings of anger, bitterness and sorrow has produced a poison or toxin in my mind. I cannot understand why certain things happened. Nothing can ever change the fact that my past will always be a part of me. However, the only difference as a Christian is the effects of my past is dead at the acceptance of Christ. Of course, I will remember them but it shouldn't affect…

Thank You Lord

Dear Lord,I want to thank you for all that you have done for me. Dear Lord, I have learnt so much ironically from "samaritans". Your word is food for my spirit, strength to my mind, knowledge to my zeal, esteem to my confidence. Let me not be divided, O, do not pass me by. I am all but a fool without you. Let me be blessed in this year of double portion, let that rainbow colour my life, tell me the secrets of the stars, Kings, give me insturction in wise dealings in righteousness, justice and equity. Please Lord let…

Check this – Cutting Edge or What! 24/7 WebTV, mobile downloads, podcasts. . .

In May 2003 God gave Sanjeevan Chandrabose, a 16 years old student in Oslo, Norway a vision...to reach the global Tamil community with the love of God through radical, cutting edge means. This vision has grown from an online song portal to become the prime Tamil Christian Multimedia website with its first ever WAP site for Tamil Christian mobile users, the world's first 24/7 live Tamil Christian WebTV and the site with the largest collection of Tamil audio & video songs. Sanjeevan dreams BIG for God and is now focussing on a new generation of media and mobile technology...broadcasting Jesus on the airwaves.

Indian Diaspora

1.         Western Australia seeks skilled migrants from India:  From cooks, welders, plumbers, hairdressers, electricians, to engineers and accountants, the State of Western Australia is facing a shortage of skilled labour and professionals, and is keen on getting more skilled migrants from India.  Some 43000 jobs would be created in the next ten years.  Apart from the requisite academic qualification and experience, knowledge of English is essential for such migrants.  (The Hindu 30 November 2006 p.8)  2.         Indian Diaspora in Australia:  25 per cent of skilled migrants in Australia are Indians.  (The Week 10 December 2006, p.4)  3.         From the youth…

This Week

I had a good Christmas. I hung out with my family and in the morning we did our gift exchange. Every night, we put presents for each other under the tree and in the morning we open it. It is so true that it is more fun to give than to receive. I liked seeing their faces when they open their presents. My dad gave me a giftcard. Spending time in prayer with them was nice.Me and Surya went shopping the day after Christmas. I wanted to get a few good deals. I couldn't believe how crowded the malls were. It…

URBANA South Asian Lounge

I am just about to leave for Urbana Missions conference. Driving from Chicago to St. Louis. I have fond memories of past urbana - about the worship, message, standing at a India Mission booth, sharing about mission with students and everything else that goes on at such large conferences. This is my third urbana and the Coconut book is being released there. I will be at the South Asian Lounge during the breaks. Dr. T.V. Thomas, past urbana main speaker and who wrote the foreword for the Coconut Book will also be there. If any of you are going to…

Nativity Story – Teenage Girl Becomes A God-Bearer

Hey, seen the new movie - The Nativity Story yet? I hope to make it before Christmas. Or it will be next year when the DVD version comes out. I am sure this will make this familiar story come alive. Last week, a friend of mine saw the movie and spoke highly of it. Since then I really wanted to go. Just the scheduling difficulty. See the official site www.thenativitystory.com. Read a review of the movie. The Nativity Story doesn’t recite word for word from scriptures as in Jesus Film made by Campus Crusade. But it is heavily drawn from…

Jesus Christ – Reason for the Season

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit . . . . an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." . . . . With this timeless truth and hope, we wish all South Asian Connection readers, viewers, friends and family a Blessed Christmas.