I saw James Cameron AVATAR - brilliant movie. While fully absorbed in the 3D digital animation, I couldn't help but notice many biblical themes, symbolism and imagery in James Cameron AVATAR. After the movie, I came back and Googled Avatar and wrote to Michael Bull from Australia who gave me permission to feature this entry in the South Asian Connection website.________________________The entry below is from Michael Bull - Bully's Blog - Theology You Can Eat And Drink. Just saw Avatar with the kids and thought I’d post some thoughts.[WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS.]Firstly, as with the few other films I’ve noted around…

As I direct the training of nationals pastors for evangelism and church planting in restricted access countries, once again, I’m convinced of the importance of “keeping the main thing as the main thing” – Evangelism !Think about this… Jesus had 3 years of public ministry, the reason people stopped following Christ is because evangelism was essentially much of what He did, and it got more dangerous everyday…When Jesus preached 5000 would attend as long as He fed them When he cut out the food, only 500 showed up When He said I’m preaching; you’ve got to pray only 120 turned…

I remember passing by the Millennium Park many times... even praying and visioning a Christian event there... One day... One day... One day...And who can forget the books of the great evangelist BG. He preached everywhere from Kerala to Vancouver on numerous occasions. He was a man who brought alot of credibility to evangelists one again. So much can be said about him. Even his son's bio was compelling!And who can forget Skillet. They were one of the first Christian Bands that can drop a tune. It was HM 2001 or something. Pr A was playing this crazzy rif out…

Perhaps it was a wrongful relationship, premarital or extramarital, which you entered. You gave yourself without reserve to this person who violated the sanctity of your body and devastated your spiritual life. Oh! By the way, you were not only victim, you were also perpetrator; you caused the other person to sin. Now you wonder if God will ever forgive.Perhaps, it is a wrongful habit which enslaves you. You know full well that it is wrong--spiritually, mentally, and monetarily. The habit is not beneficial to you--it could be cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, glamor, greed, shopping, acquisitiveness, sleeping around, and autoeroticism. But…

On January 13, only one day after the most devastating earthquake in Haiti for over 200 years, televangelist Pat Robertson said the nation has been “cursed” by a “pact to the devil.”He said: “Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it….They were under the heel of the French. You know Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you’ll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it’s a deal…Ever since,…

Prayer is one of the places where the Lord is working on me. It’s not an in-your-face, all-the-time, kind of deal. It’s just one of those undercurrent realities. I can sense in this season that prayer – my need for prayer, my lack of prayer, my understanding of prayer – is something the Lord continually brings me back to. I think it began with a conversation with a local pastor and has been in the picture since.Anyway, one of the things I’m learning is is that prayerlessness reveals certain things about my heart. Here are some.1. Prayerlessness reveals that deep…

The majority of American view abortion as morally wrong. Yes, you read it right. Almost six out of 10 Americans are now leaning more towards a pro-life stand. See here for details of Marist Poll and the report in Citizen’s Link.According to the study, millennials (those 18-29) consider abortion to be “morally wrong” even more (58%) than Baby Boomers (those 45-64) (51%). Generation X (those 30-44) are similar to Millennials (60% see abortion as “morally wrong”). More than 6 in 10 of the Greatest Generation (those 65+) feel the same.On the eve of the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s…

An evangelical leader who read my PhD proposal and encouraged me in my research was John Stott. As I return to my teaching and ministry in India, he prayed with me and exhorted me to “stick to Scripture and be loyal and faithful to the Spirit of Christ”. Many of us involved in missions in the developing world know leadership is better caught than taught. John Stott models leadershipToday there is no shortage of material and views on effective leadership – its role and vision, the need and criteria for it, the demands on it, etc… The truism “everything rises…

MOST Brits are concerned about the growing influence of Islam in the UK and believe that Islam is dividing the nation, according to a new survey.The annual British Social Attitudes survey found that 52 per cent of the population believe that Britain is deeply divided along religious lines, with just one in four people feeling positive about Islam.The survey also revealed that 55 per cent of the population would be strongly opposed if a large mosque was built in their area.Only 15 per cent of the population said they would have similar concerns about a church being built.The survey’s results,…

Solid ChurchFormalInstitutionalOrganized CongregationStructured Time And SpaceFaithfulnesss = AttendanceSuccess = NumbersWorship And Teaching Are StandardardizedMembership Is Exclusive And Self ServingLiquid ChurchInformalFluidRelationship With Others Through Communion With ChristFlexible To Needs Of CommunityNot About The Building But Spiritual ActivityChurch Is A Verb Not A NoundFundamental Motivation Is MissionGuder, Darrell L. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.Mr. Bilson

As we begin the new year 2010, I am reminded of Paul’s words to Timothy, “Keep A Close Watch On All You Do And Think. Stay True To What Is Right And God Will Bless You And Use You To Help Others” (1 Timothy 4:16). Consider the following questions in order to be proactive and intentional about becoming all that God has called you to be. 1. Am I Content With Who I Am Becoming?Every day we get one day closer to who we will ultimately be. Am I satisfied with who this will be? 2. Am I Becoming Less…

Foreign student enrollment from India exeeded 100,000 for the first time in USA. Over the last eight years Indians were top of the international student category. Number of international students at American universities increased by 8% to an all-time high of 671,616 in the 2009 academic year and students from India made up 103,260 of the total.Here is Open doors 2009 Report from Institute of International Education. See also news report in Times of India. China remained in second place, although there was a sharp 21 per cent spike in students from China, going up from 81,127 last academic year…