South Asian Christians

Draw Near To God!

Author: The Christian Messenger | Posted on: April 10, 2009 | Blogs

April 07, 2009 | 04:11:21 April 7: For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? Deuteronomy 4:7. Israel has a remarkable status among all the nations of the earth – in that it is chosen by God to be His own. In these days, God has accorded that status to all those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. James 4:8 says: ‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.’ He is near to those…

Freedom from Your Heart Prison

Author: Dr. Ramesh Richard | Posted on: April 9, 2009 | Blogs

What does it take for you to be freed from the prison of the heart? Only God has the key. Why? Because by virtue of being God, God knows all that is in your heart. You can’t hide anything from him--your grief or your evil. He knows everything. You can't escape from him. He knows you. He cares for you.Also, out the heart comes your evil thoughts but only the pure in heart are blessed. Only the pure in heart are fortunate. Only the pure in heart can see God, that for which your heart longs.Next, loving God takes your…

3000 Days

Author: 7 Mile Road | Posted on: April 9, 2009 | Blogs

This April marks the completion of eight years working the soil here, just north of Boston. As I often say, you could call it five, because the first three were a confused muddling as we (me mostly) circled around for a while until finally orienting ourselves to a clear future as a Gospel-centered and missional community. Plus, we began public worship services way too early. Nevertheless, nearly 3000 days have passed since Seven Mile Road was birthed. It’s been a long, joyful, tough, rewarding, frustrating, life-giving, like-taking, glorious run. Whenever I meet folks who are new, I inevitably inform them…

John 10:29-31

Author: Benita Joy | Posted on: April 9, 2009 | Blogs

Jesus said, "Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They'll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first." Benita Joy

Churches Worldwide Under Attack

Author: The Christian Messenger | Posted on: March 17, 2009 | Blogs

Churches worldwide under attack, says Open Doors WHILE people across America were horrified by the recent shooting death of a pastor in the US, many Christians in the West don’t realize that deadly violence against believers in many countries around the world occurs on a daily basis, according to Open Doors USA. For instance, on the same day Rev. Fred Winters, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Maryville, was killed, a man exploded a crude bomb in a church and shot the pastor in a village in Bihar, India. Inspector of police Hari Krishna Mandal told Compass Direct…

Soaring On Wings Like Eagles

Author: Asgar Ali | Posted on: March 17, 2009 | Blogs

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.Isaiah 40:28-31

Charging The Next Hill

Author: 7 Mile Road | Posted on: March 17, 2009 | Blogs

Haven’t blogged in a little bit. In a way, its sort of reflective of the past few weeks. Things have been great - it’s just a lot of our time and effort have been behind-the-scenes kinda work. We ended December on a really high note. We had a great first four months of planting 7 Mile Road and ended the year with a small, but good Christmas Celebration. We then took a break for the first two weeks of January. We let our college folks go home on break and let the rest of our team enjoy the holidays with…

This Is Taliban — How Can That Be?

Author: Benita Joy | Posted on: March 17, 2009 | Blogs

Doodling With Wordslying restless awake on this saturday night. too many thoughts in the pudding in my head. no room for sleep to make it's bed. from here to where i can hardly tell. so i had this dream the other night. i was in mumbai. took a flight to the middle east and landed in this tiny airport with three pathetic airplanes. the flight went superfast and i didn't get anything to eat. but i got to ride in the cockpit of the airplane with the pilot. upon landing in the gulf, which looked surprisingly like mumbai, i bought…

Wired Generation Of Teens

Author: Sam George | Posted on: March 17, 2009 | Blogs

Todays teens are among the most wired generation ever lived. The recent issue of India Today carried a cover story on M-GEN (the mobile generation) with the latest tech tools like iPod, cell phones, laptops with broadband wireless access etc. It is no more accessorries, but have become integral part of their daily lives. Their multi-tasking skills, knowledge of latest gadget and gizmos, software tools etc mind boggling. You will find them doing their homeworks while talking on the phone, SMS-ing, surfing the Net, listening to music and watching TV-all at the same time.Is this obession a positive trait or will it…

Analyzing David Wilkerson's Prophecy of Calamity

Author: Joseph Mattera | Posted on: March 13, 2009 | Team SAC Picks

Over the past several days Pastor David Wilkerson’s prophecy regarding a great calamity coming upon the United States (starting in New York City) has been headlined on the Drudge Report and has been read by millions. . . . In summary, it is obvious to all that this nation is in trouble and that God is judging us (including the church) for our greed, and for preaching a gospel that is based more on the satisfaction of self more than crucifying the flesh and abandoning all for the Kingdom of God. This is a season of fasting and praying, but is also a great opportunity for the church to meet the needs of the thousands finding themselves homeless, unemployed, facing foreclosure, and those on Wall Street that are on the verge of losing all of their assets. What a time to stand in the gap as salt and light for our cities, whether they are under God’s judgment or not!

Growing Women Smokers in India

Author: Sam George | Posted on: March 13, 2009 | Blogs

Urban Indian women are leaving a new trail - smoke. Women are catching up fast and narrowing the gap across gender lines in the domain of smoking or chewing tobacco. See a report in India Today. It is based on a World Health Organization’s global survey of tobacco usage.Here are some disturbing finding:31% women tobacco addicts in India are between age 15-49.25% Indian women light up over 10 cigarettes per day.62% of women smokers die in their prime compared to 38% of those who don’t.1 in 20 women in India to die between age 30-69 due to tobacco in 2010s.20%…

My Life Would Suck Without You!

Author: Samuel Thambusamy | Posted on: March 11, 2009 | Blogs

Discusion on Kelly Clarkson - “My Life Would Suck Without You” Guess this means you’re sorryYou’re standing at my doorGuess this means you take backWhat you said beforeLike how much you wantedAnyone but meSaid you’d never come backBut here you are againCuz we belong together nowForever united here somehowYou got a piece of meAnd honestlyMy life would suck without youMaybe I was stupid for telling you goodbyeMaybe I was wrong for tryin’ to pick a fightI know that I’ve got issuesBut you’re pretty messed up tooAnyway, I found out I’m nothing without youCuz we belong together nowForever united here somehowYou…

Globalization, Caste and Arranged Marriages

Author: Davita Maharaj | Posted on: March 10, 2009 | Relationship And Marriage

Like every girl, I enjoy a good love story. However, this one was different. As children growing up in Kerala, Marcus and Annamma Chacko lived just five kilometers apart. Their communities never intermingled. Marcus explains, "Though we hail from the same place, her people and my people had nothing much to do with each other because we belonged to two different castes." They finally met in Uttar Pradesh. Marcus was a guest singer at a music hall where
Annamma was in the audience. She instantly felt an affinity to Marcus when he sang in their mother tongue, Malayalam. After a three-minute conversation, they parted ways. Two years later they ran into each other again while working for the same nonprofit organization. Though in separate departments, they couldn't help but admire each other's warmth, energy, and passion for social justice.

CONNEXT 2007 – North American Youth Leaders Conference in NY

Author: Sam George | Posted on: March 9, 2009 | Blogs

Just got back home last night after 10 days being in London, UK. I went there primarily for SAGC, a gathering of young leaders of South Asian from around the world. It was humbling to see what God is doing among the South Asian Diaspora and the challenge of what need to be done.It was a great time reconnect with old friends and make new ones. With some of them, I had been communicating over email for some time and it was great to sit down and hear their life stories. I also had the opportunity to visit two of…

The Future of the Global Crisis

Author: Professor Prabhu Guptara | Posted on: March 9, 2009 | Blogs

Recording of my talk, "The Future of the Global Crisis", delivered a couple of days ago, is now on the Internet.The talk itself is at: Click Link HereThe other mp3 is where I respond to questions from the audience: Click Link HerePrabhu Guptara

Note To Self

Author: Benita Joy | Posted on: March 8, 2009 | Blogs

Every butterfly has to struggle out of the cocoon. Every flower has to grow through the dirt. If it's worth having, it probably won't come easy. So don't wish away the most difficult moments; Because when you finally overcome, The victory will be that much sweeter. Benita Joy

Web Surfing, Watching TV, Video Gaming & Depression Among Youth

Author: Sam George | Posted on: March 8, 2009 | Blogs

Family advocates and scientists have long debated puzzled over whether video gaming, watching TV, and Web surfing are healthy or harmful. Here is another recent research finding. Read the report in US News.All parents and youth workers are aware of the increasing consumption of television, music and web activity among young people. This research also confirms prevalence of depression and addictive behaviors as a result of media intake. They warn adult care givers to wise to take a look at how their children use media, not just how much.There’s good evidence that kids get fatter as they watch more TV…

All You Need

Author: Dr. Ramesh Richard | Posted on: March 7, 2009 | Blogs

We don't know all that we need to know. Could we know all that is right to know? How can we decide and who can decides what is right, let alone knowing what is right to know? Usually, cultures, background, training, makes us comfortable with what we think is right. We are trained by those around us. Culture is a thing of the mind. Some of us like to eat with our hands, others with spoon and forks, and yet others with chop sticks! I can make a case that eating with the hands is the right way because that…

Living for Jesus

Author: Ashish Joy | Posted on: March 7, 2009 | Blogs

Over the past few months, I have been hit with a few realizations. Life goes on; people continually grow and change; you can experience moments of great hope and happiness; and life can also come crashing down on you. You sometimes wish things wouldn’t turn out the way they have turned out, and then there are those moments which take your breath away. Through it all I’ve been thankful to know that the constants in life remain the same, and that God is still same, yesterday, and forever. I’ve been encouraged by the words of Christ: Then Jesus told his…

Divorce Is Bad For Health

Author: Sam George | Posted on: March 7, 2009 | Blogs

More reserach findings are pouring in. Strained marriages take a toll on health. Emotional and relational health affects physical health. The latest one comes from University of Utah. See reports in US News, BBC, and WebMD. The study found that the cardiovascular damage wrought by an unhappy marriage is greater for women than men. The women in the contentious relationships were more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and other markers of what’s known as ‘metabolic syndrome’ which is known to boost the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Several other studies have shown…