Whats up with families north of the border? Much of the same – gradual breakdown of families. Much of the social liberal policies are undermining the society and the nation. The southern neighbor may have contributed to this decline as well.

For the first time there are more single Canadian adults than married Canadians. Canadians are also working longer hours, and spending less time with their families and the families they have are less likely to be the traditional nuclear family. The number of married couples without children also outnumbered married couples with children for the first time.

In today’s world, if there is a certain attention getting word, if there is a word that capture anyone’s imagination in this turbulent, noisy environment it is Confidence.  Since it is written by a Pastor and a Theologian, you’d quite naturally expect Dr. David Jeremiah to be a dispenser of hope, but the contents of this book are certain to stir you cover to cover.  Whether it is quoting the personal journey of Bobby Jindal or drawing from empirical evidence, he makes a compelling case of how people all over the world are gravitating towards the spiritual quest after many years of futile intellectual chases.  When your world falls apart, not only do you need intellectually compelling answers but hope, comfort and assurance that can lift  your soul.

Reading: Hebrews 10:19-27

"Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage each other" (Heb 10:25)
 
The secret of the strong faith of the early saints of God was in their regular gatherings. If this can become true of all the believers of all the Churches today, we too can "turn the world upside down" — no, no, set the upside-down world straight! (Acts 17:6). Lord, do it again!

I remember being shy as a teenager. I mean really shy. I was outgoing and funny, and usually the loudest person in the room. However when it came to “making a move” I would get petrified. I would break out in cold sweats; it was a horrible sight to behold.

I went on a lot of dates, had sex and messed around with girls (before I knew it as sin) yet held onto the title that I never asked a girl out on a date or made a first move. In the moments of searching for companionship (dates) when the well was dry, there was porn. I had a plethora of girlfriends who in my mind pursued me. Being so paralyzing shy this was a great escape for me. When I became a follower of Christ, porn was even more of a convenience. “At least I wasn’t having sex anymore, or messing around” was my common excuse.

Well, well, well..., here we are again... at the end of another year... called 2010. It is that time again. Sounds like a rap song huh? Anyway, time to reflect on the highlights and pitfalls of this year.

Overall it has been a wonderful one. A year where God would close doorways and open up new ones. As you may or may not know, Mr. Bilson became the unwilling victim of corporate downsizing. Yes it is true! In the midst of a global economic downturn, yours truly was laid off from about a decade of involvement at PMC. It was memorable, emotional but also inevitable.

This question is not often asked.

When it is asked, the answer is usually framed in technical economic terms - forgetting that economc results come from a complex interaction between policies, technology, money, and indeed social and personal values and efforts.

For a deeper exploration of these issues, I recommned, Dr Vishal Mangalwadi's THE BOOK THAT MADE YOUR WORLD (to be published by Thomas Nelson in April 2011).

There has been much confusion regarding the difference between apostolic and prophetic function.

Regarding these two functions, when we examine the Scriptures we find only a slight difference regarding ability in executive leadership roles, the main difference being the actual ministerial expression of leadership ability.

Few decades ago in India, a majority of Indians were illiterate.  Only a few who had the ability to read and write would control and manipulate others.  In one of the villages in the South, there lived a rich zamindar (landlord) who was able to read and write English and Tamil.  He used to receive letters and would reply them.  Many in that village and neighbouring village would come to him for reading their mails (from relatives, government etc) and also replying to them.  The man became old and died. 

Everybody likes ‘new beginnings’, fresh starts! Having said that, I also believe in continuity and faith-fulness to the task at hand or, in the way I sign off my letters – ‘Pressing On’. There is much value in ‘positive, forward thinking’. I understand the Greek god Janus, from whom we get the name for the month January, has two faces. One looks backward with a frown, and the other ahead with a confident smile. Paul, the early Church’s missionary and gospel preacher was once Saul of Tarsus, its menace and persecutor. But, an encounter with the resurrected Jesus, transformed his life. He made a startling statement in Phil. 3:13-14 that can help us have a fresh start and as Christians ‘press on’ in our faith, work and witness, no matter what…

No other topic evokes my attention as the subject of pride. This may be because the Lord has caused me to become more aware of its vicious activity within me. Praise be to the Lord of mercy!

The worst nature of pride is that it is best visible in others than in oneself, unless the Lord mercifully opens our eyes to see its merciless destructive work within us and through us in others.

“Father in Heaven, enlighten our eyes to clearly see that arrogance within us and deliver us for this evil. Humble us, O God of humility, to walk with you intimately and to get along with people peacefully.”

I have a young rapper friend,  Jeevan. God has been using his style and music to bring many pub goers and drug addicts to Jesus. He is at times disliked by some traditional Christians for wearing his hair in dreadlocks. Let’s not forget that we are all in the process of being shaped according to God’s will. We would not want to be found judging someone’s appearance to please our cultural mannerisms; God has different purposes with each of our lives.

These days as spiritual things gets commercialised just like any other market commodities in the buisness, we as christians have truly lost what it means to be in relationship and intimacy with Jesus. The saints of old longed for fellowship with God, this was the greatness in life they intensely desired after. Loving Jesus in an intimate way will make our hearts tender and will lead us to love others unconditionally (Matt 18:3; 1 John 4:20-21). This is what made the apostles who were sold out lovers of Jesus to share through their apostolic letters, how we as the child of God can have a tangible fellowship daily with Jesus (1 John 1:3; 1 Cor 1:9).

In The New York Times last week (27 November 2010), Paul Vitello reported on a debate which has been sparked by a Hindu group’s campaign trying to reclaim yoga as belonging to “the Hindu religion”.

Apparently, yoga is practised by about 15 million people in the United States, “for reasons almost as numerous - from the physical benefits mapped in brain scans to the less tangible rewards that New Age journals call spiritual centering. Religion, for the most part, has nothing to do with it”.

Fellowship is a two-way matter. Every part of the human body needs to Receive assistance from, as well as give assistance to, the other parts of the body. So too in the Body of Christ.

We must be humble enough to acknowledge our need of encouragement from others. It is a proud spirit that professes to be able to carry on without any encouragement from anyone. If we are honest, we must acknowledge that we are able to live and work much better when encouraged. Each of us needs encouragement.

According to a report in Bloomberg Businessweek, more than one-quarter of this year's 6.3 million college graduates in China are unemployed, despite shortages of workers in manufacturing.

Why? Becasue the number of college graduates in China has tripled since 1998 and the Chinese economy simply isn't creating that number of jobs.

This is the problem with a state-controlled economy (as China's still is).

Yet another take on the essentials of the Christian Faith, inspired by Dr. Charlie Self:

Four Uncompromisable Absolutes

• The Lordship of Jesus

• The Worship of the Trinity
  
  

I was knee deep in worries and no matter how much I prayed I got little or no relief. The battle I fought loomed large before me and I lost my breath.
 
Then Lo! I started seeing my problems as too big and the devil all too powerful. I was attacked hard and bad. I was even frightened of what the devil could do! And I even found myself asking  on the use of wrestling in prayer when he ( the devil) can do anything he wanted: I was deceived that bad!!! Yes, the journey was tough